During an interview with Vlad TV, Hawthorne, California rapper Kurupt spoke on his intentions for Tha Dogg Pound’s “New York, New York” music video prior to the group being shot at while filming the visual. According to Kurupt, he saw the record as an ode to New York and was “hurt” when he was shot at for trying to pay homage to the city with “New York, New York.”
Kurupt even referred to New York as “the Mecca of this mic” before adding that all they wanted was for those in New York to give them their props as emcees.
“It wasn’t tense until they shot at us…We was hurt,” Kurupt said. “We thought New York would love us for that record. [It’s] a Melle Mel record. It’s ‘New York, New York.’ I put battle raps on there. And we thought they would love it. Cause it was like New York is the epicenter. It’s the Mecca of this mic. And I put that mic shit on there, man. And we thought we did—We like ‘We in there. Oh we in.’ All we gave a fuck about was winning over New York and them saying ‘You guys are good.’ That’s all we gave a fuck about…I just wanted to be known as a great emcee. And they shot at us, cuz. That’s why we kicked everything the fuck over.”
Tha Dogg Pound lyricist continued to speak on the concept for the “New York, New York” video as he recalled wanting Nas, Big L, and the Notorious B.I.G. in the visual. Kurupt later explained that no one knew who was responsible for the shooting and simply credited the incident to “the streets.”
“The whole concept of the visual video was to get all the New York rappers in with us,” he said. “And have a good time. We were in Times Square. We wanted Nas there and Biggie. And everybody that was rocking at the time, we wanted ‘em right there. Big L I think was still alive. Big L, we seen him in the mall, ‘Come on through man. This record is dedicated from the West Coast to you guys who opened up these doors for us.’ They didn’t see it like that. And they shot at us. Well, they didn’t. But the streets did.”
“New York, New York” was released in 1995 and featured Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, and Daz Dillinger. The song was featured on Tha Dogg Pound’s debut album, Dogg Food.
Kurupt’s interview with Vlad TV can be found below.
So that’s why you were knocking down buildings
Nigga really thinks we stupid. Fucking asshole
everyone who was around back then knows that the knocking down buildings wasn’t done until they went back and did it in a studio… They were made because they were shot at. It was a dumb move at the time (just like releasing “Who Shot Ya” – which was recorded before Pac was shot)… If you listen to the lyrics though – there is literally nothing that disses NY
DAMN I forgot they were shot at. You right. My bad. Good looking out. I heard cause biggie said Pac was there recklessly on the radio. but who knows maybe they were gunning for all West niggas
What kind of drugs was this dude on in this video???
NY rappers just str8 haters they hated on the west in the 90s and they hated on the south in the 200 now they the worst rap region #karma
The inventors can’t be “haters”
Your right man
Bullshit, you shot a disrespectful video, you got your trailer shot up, End of story…
damn, i thought since Kurupt’s Moon Rocks are getting so popular he’d be off the dope by now…. doesn’t look like it : /
At least Nas was able to make a song with him and Daz, “Don’t Stop Keep Going”.
rule york you bitch ass niggas. Ja rule for ever the king of ny
You probably are ja rule. Cause I can’t think of anybody who would say some stuff like that. Unless you’re talking to us from 2004.
new York hiphop is dead like nas said.. aint nobody listenin to their music nomore.. it was funny when jayz drop a new album nor 50cent nobody even bother to listen….its wacker than a motha…even diddy fly south…this westside is started to takin ova again..
Kurupt is a wannabe west coast rapper. He’s really from philly
Kurupt has been on the West Coast since 15 and earned his stripes through the west coast. Not Philly. Kurupt is just like Kobe. Philly doesn’t claim neither one.
even jigga want the crown, how that sound..poor thing
Those dudes in Red Hook peez off of the paradise side banged at yall. You know who did it! Dudes in ur entourage was crying. I remember that shit like yesterday. That song was a straight diss to NYC factz. Always remember that Brooklyn is in the house!
Somebody snitchin online I see.