After nearly a quarter of a century, the file on the two assassinations that rocked the global music industry remains dormant. This gang-style murder case not only claimed the lives of Christopher Wallace (Notorious B.I.G./Biggie Smalls) and Tupac Shakur, but also left an unfillable void in American Hip Hop. The core question – “Who pulled the trigger?” – remains unsolved.

File Data: Two Perfectly Missing Pieces

The deaths of the two rappers occurred approximately six months apart, coinciding suspiciously with the peak rivalry between the two music industry “giants” – Death Row (represented by Tupac) and Bad Boy (represented by Biggie).

Subject 1: Tupac Shakur (2Pac/Pac)

Background: Lesane Parish Crooks (birth name). Born into a family connected to the Black Panther Party. Studied at Baltimore School for the Arts. Rose from the group Digital Underground, quickly becoming a West Coast icon with revolutionary, anti-racism, and anti-violence themes in his music.

Accomplishments: Interscope’s “hit-making machine.” Sold over 75 million albums worldwide by 2007. Ranked 86th on Rolling Stone‘s list of the greatest artists of all time.

Assassination Details: September 7, 1996, after leaving a Mike Tyson fight. Vehicle stopped at a red light at the intersection of East Flamingo and Koval Lane. An assailant drove up and fired 4 shots from a Glock into his chest, arm, and thigh. Died several days later due to respiratory failure leading to cardiac arrest. Age: 25.

Subject 2: Christopher Wallace (Biggie Smalls/Notorious B.I.G.)

Background: Grew up in Bedford – Stuyvesant. Started selling crack cocaine at age 12. Previously incarcerated for 9 months. Developed exceptional rap talent in the late 80s.

Characteristics: Nearly 2 meters tall, weighing 140 kg. Initial stage name was Biggie Smalls. Changed to The Notorious B.I.G. Collaborated with major names (Michael Jackson).

Assassination Details: Six months after Tupac’s murder. Vehicle carrying Biggie left a music industry party in Los Angeles, stopping at a red light at the intersection of Wilshire Blvd and South Fairfax Ave. Shot 4 times. The assailant was a Black man, wearing a suit and tie, driving a Chevy Impala. Died that night. Age: 24. A 2012 autopsy revealed death was caused by a single gunshot to the right hip, penetrating internal organs.

Scene and Motive Analysis: A Horrifying Connection

The two cases share shockingly similar details, suggesting they are not coincidental: Both were shot dead in their cars, both represented opposing factions of Hip Hop (East Coast – West Coast), and the assassin in both cases was described as a Black male driving alongside the victim’s car.

The Duet of Rivalry: From Friendship to Vendetta

Despite a personal friendship dating back to 1993, the relationship soured after Tupac’s imprisonment. The rivalry between Death Row and Bad Boy escalated into a war of words (Tupac’s Against All Odds, Bomb First targeting Biggie; Biggie retaliating with Long Kiss, Goodnight) and ultimately violence.

Hot Theories and Focal Points of Suspicion

1. The CEO Target Scenario:

This theory suggests Tupac and Biggie were only unwilling victims, and the real targets were the powerful CEOs: Suge Knight (Death Row) and Sean “Puffy” Combs (Bad Boy). This theory was quickly overshadowed by other evidence.

2. The Questionable Role of Suge Knight (Death Row CEO):

Motive: Suge Knight reportedly owed Tupac approximately $3 million USD.

Tupac Murder Suspicion: Before the shooting, Suge Knight was involved in an altercation with members of the Southside Crips gang (Tupac had punched member Orlando Anderson). Suge insisted Tupac ride in his car, and after the shooting, both Tupac and Knight showed signs of recognizing their attacker. This heightened suspicions of a setup.

Biggie Murder Role: Police initially focused on Biggie Smalls as the prime suspect in Tupac’s case. However, after Biggie was killed, suspicion shifted to Suge Knight, who was accused of collaborating with corrupt police officers to kill Biggie in retaliation for Tupac.

3. The Dirty Cop and Conspiracy Theory:

Former LAPD officer Russell Poole theorized that Suge Knight worked with corrupt police (like David Anthony Mack, Suge’s former bodyguard) to carry out Biggie’s assassination. The department’s subsequent order for Poole to cease his investigation only strengthened these theories.

4. The “Profit After Death” Conspiracy Theory:

Some suggested that members of the record labels planned to assassinate their own “cash cows.” They believed the rappers’ deaths, especially those with ongoing financial and legal disputes with their labels, would generate higher profits for the label through posthumous album sales.

Preliminary Conclusion

After over two decades, the file remains open. Lack of cooperation from witnesses and the intertwined complexity of the music industry, gangs, and law enforcement have made this one of the most notorious cold cases in history. Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls left behind a vast legacy, but the story of their deaths remains a dark and unfinished chapter of American music history.