2pac: greatest rapper Alive

April 20th 1990

At first, Poetic Justice was just a masterpiece of storytelling, a groundbreaking album that elevated Tupac from a rising star to a global phenomenon. But the moment the media latched onto the album's intro, the conversation shifted.

"Fuck N.W.A."

One line. Two words. That was all it took.

Suddenly, journalists weren't just talking about the album's success—they were dissecting the drama. Was Tupac's departure from N.W.A really as peaceful as it seemed? Had there been bad blood all along? Did Tupac always intend to take shots at his former group?

The news cycle exploded.

Headlines ran wild:

"Tupac Declares War on N.W.A?"

"Tupac Disses His Former Group—Beef Incoming?"

"N.W.A Betrayed? Tupac Exposes the Truth in His Album Intro!"

Radio hosts debated the meaning behind the diss, and TV panelists speculated about what had really happened behind the scenes.

Some fans were shocked. Others were thrilled. But most of all, people were entertained.

Because if there was one thing the public loved, it was drama.

In barbershops, street corners, and record stores, the discussion was the same.

"Yo, you hear what Pac said?"

"Man, that was cold. Straight-up disrespect."

"Nah, bro, Pac just tellin' the truth. N.W.A lost their best member, and now they mad."

The line in Poetic Justice wasn't just music—it was fuel. Fuel for fans to pick sides, for people to argue, for the streets to buzz with anticipation.

Tupac vs. N.W.A.

This wasn't just about music anymore. It was about pride.

And everyone wanted to see what would happen next.

Journalists couldn't get enough. Every TV station, magazine, and newspaper wanted a piece of the story. Reporters dug into Tupac's history with the group, looking for any sign of tension from the past. Old interviews were resurfaced, analyzed frame by frame.

Some outlets painted Tupac as the aggressor, claiming he had betrayed the very group that gave him his first platform. Others argued that N.W.A had never truly respected him, and that his departure was inevitable.

But one thing was certain—this was the biggest story in hip-hop.

And it wasn't dying down anytime soon.

Unintentionally, Tupac's album had done something no one expected.

It had shifted the perception of hip-hop worldwide.

While controversy brewed in the U.S., international markets were starting to embrace the genre in ways they never had before. Countries like Japan and parts of Europe, which had been hesitant about gangsta rap, were now treating it as mainstream music.

And with Tupac's clean version dominating sales, even parents were buying the album for their kids.

Hip-hop wasn't just growing—it was evolving.

And now, as the tension between Tupac and N.W.A continued to rise, the world was watching.

Because no matter what happened next, one thing was guaranteed—

This was only the beginning.

The success of Poetic Justice was undeniable, but not everyone was celebrating. In a dimly lit office, Jerry Heller sat behind his desk, staring at the latest Billboard reports. Tupac's album had taken over the world, breaking records, dominating charts, and making him one of the most influential artists of his generation. And Jerry had nothing to do with it.

He clenched his jaw, his fingers tapping against the desk. This should have been his success. Tupac should have been under his management, bringing millions into his label. But no—because of a mistake, because of one bad decision, he had let a goldmine walk out the door.

The worst part? Tupac wasn't just succeeding; he was rubbing it in his face.

Ever since Poetic Justice dropped, news outlets had been buzzing about the album's intro. The media played the clip on repeat, emphasizing Tupac's now-infamous words:

"Fuck N.W.A."

It wasn't subtle. It wasn't indirect. It was a direct attack.

Journalists were dissecting the statement, debating its meaning, analyzing the tension between Tupac and N.W.A. Fans had already picked sides, fueling an online and street-level war between those loyal to N.W.A and those backing Tupac.

For Jerry, it was personal. He had spent years building N.W.A into a brand, fighting battles, making deals, and now, in one sentence, Tupac had flipped the narrative. Jerry wasn't just the businessman behind one of the biggest rap groups in history—he was the guy who let Tupac go.

And he knew it.

As he leaned back in his chair, a sick feeling settled in his gut. He had underestimated Tupac, dismissed him when he first joined N.W.A, treated him as replaceable. If he had known what was coming—if he had any idea what kind of artist Tupac would become—he never would have let him go.

If he had played his cards right, he could have kept Tupac locked into a five-album contract. He could have owned Poetic Justice, and every other album Tupac made after that. The contract he had in mind? A 5% royalty cut for Tupac, complete label ownership of all his music, and total control over his tours. Tupac would have been a prisoner in the industry, making millions for Jerry and his label while getting next to nothing in return.

But now? Now Tupac was the one making all the money.

And that pissed him off.

Jerry slammed his fist against the desk. He needed to do something. He needed to remind the world that N.W.A was still the dominant force in gangsta rap. And he wasn't the only one thinking that way.

Eazy-E's Plan

On the other side of L.A., in a studio filled with cigarette smoke and low beats playing in the background, Eazy-E sat with the remaining members of N.W.A. They all knew the same thing—Tupac's success wasn't just big; it was changing the game.

The controversy from Poetic Justice had put N.W.A in a strange position. On one hand, people were talking about them again, just because of Tupac's diss. But on the other hand, it was bad press. Fans were questioning their credibility, asking if they had fallen off, and the comparisons between Tupac's work and theirs were unavoidable.

Eazy wasn't about to let that slide.

He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "You know what we gotta do, right?"

The room was silent for a moment.

Then one of the members nodded. "We diss him back."

Eazy's grin widened. "Exactly."

Controversy had always worked in their favor before. It had made Straight Outta Compton a hit. It had put them on the map. Now, they'd use that same formula again—only this time, the target was Tupac.

The plan was simple: in a month, N.W.A was set to release a new album. But they weren't going to wait that long to fire back. Instead, they'd drop a diss track ahead of time as a promotional single, letting the world know they weren't backing down.

The track? A direct attack on Tupac.

They'd call him out for leaving the group. They'd paint him as a sellout, a fake gangster, a wannabe revolutionary. They'd make fun of his clean album version, clown him for appealing to kids, and mock his whole image.

And the best part? They'd make sure everyone knew exactly who they were talking about.

Eazy knew this would get attention. The media would eat it up. Fans would debate it. The streets would be talking. It was the perfect way to turn the controversy in their favor and put N.W.A back at the center of the conversation.

But the real question was—how would Tupac respond?

That answer would come soon enough.

As the studio speakers blasted the first rough cut of the diss track, Eazy smirked.

This was just the beginning.

The music industry was already divided between Tupac and N.W.A, but the media wanted more than just division—they wanted war.

TV segments, newspaper headlines, and radio stations were obsessed with Tupac's Poetic Justice intro. They played his "Fuck N.W.A" statement repeatedly, exaggerating its impact, asking if this was the biggest hip-hop beef in history. Talk shows brought in rap critics, psychologists, and even politicians to discuss whether Tupac was becoming a dangerous influence. Some compared him to previous rap rebels, while others labeled him reckless for starting a feud with N.W.A.

Journalists weren't just covering the story; they were shaping it. They highlighted old tensions between Tupac and the group, replaying clips of past interviews where N.W.A had downplayed Tupac's role in the group. Articles dissected Tupac's lyrics, suggesting he had been holding onto resentment for years, waiting for the right moment to strike back.

One morning show even invited Jerry Heller to speak, hoping to get a reaction.

"I think it's sad, really," Jerry said, keeping his voice controlled. "Tupac was part of something historic, and instead of appreciating that, he's tearing it down. Poetic Justice is a great album, but this kind of disrespect? That's not how legends act."

The host nodded. "So you're saying N.W.A won't stay silent?"

Jerry smirked, giving the media exactly what they wanted. "I'm just saying… they know how to respond."

By the time the interview ended, headlines were everywhere:

"Jerry Heller Breaks Silence on Tupac Diss—Says N.W.A Will Respond."

"Tupac vs. N.W.A: The Biggest Hip-Hop Battle of the 90s?"

"Rap Feud or Real War? Will Tupac and N.W.A Take It to the Streets?"

The media wanted conflict, and they were doing everything possible to ensure they got it.

Author's Notes

By now, if you haven't guessed—Jerry is one of the villains in this story.

And yes, there are more coming.

End