Photographer T. Eric Monroe didn’t realize he’d been sitting on a rare Hip Hop artifact for almost two decades. But while organizing his archives in 2012, the former Thrasher Skateboarding Magazine and The Source photog stumbled upon an old photograph of Tupac Shakur — which in itself was a prized possession — but as he looked closer, it suddenly dawned on him The Notorious B.I.G. was in the photo as well.
“The picture was taken in 1993,” Monroe tells HipHopDX. “So 1993, I set up a shoot with Onyx to do an article in Thrasher. They were in concert, opening for either Ice-T or Public Enemy or something. So I get there around soundcheck time. We’re standing in the dressing room, talking to the guys, planning it out. We go down to the stage area because the performance wasn’t starting yet and I got our group shots that I needed from them.
“As I was packing my equipment away, someone from the other side of the stage goes, ‘Yo, come take our picture.’ I literally said, ‘Yes, give me a second.’ Then I ended up going over to the guys who said it. Literally just look at them, line up the picture and took one picture and said thank you and then went back to the dressing room to Onyx. I got the film developed at some point and I kept remembering this giant middle finger. I remember writing the name Tupac on it, but I didn’t really understand who he was in 1993.”
Back then, it was almost unheard of for magazines to publish a photo with someone flipping the middle finger to the camera, so Monroe basically stashed it and left it alone.
“So the picture, yeah, it’s cool,” he says. “It’s 2Pac with the finger, but there’s nothing to it. I can’t do anything with it. So when I got that picture, I just put it with the rest of my slides and stored it.”
Nineteen years later, as Monroe was sifting through his storage, he picked up the 2Pac photo, got out his light box and magnifying glass to study the image further — and all he could do was laugh.
“To me, it was always a moment I knew I couldn’t publish,” he explains. “I’m looking at it and looking at it — something makes me stare at it. Then I just started laughing. I get up from the light box and can’t stop laughing. I realized it was Biggie and 2Pac together in 1993 wearing ‘I’m A Bad Boy’ t-shirts, which was Biggie’s label. He said that in his first song ‘Party & Bullshit.’ That was basically his catchphrase.
“The only thing I could do was start laughing at that point because it’s just like, who knew? That’s the beauty of just paying attention to your surroundings. If someone says, ‘Hey, can you take my picture?’ — just be a cordial person. I could have turned around and said, ‘Who the fuck are you guys?’ That’s not of my nature, but I’ve seen people do that. Photographers do that to other people. That’s not the way I get down because for me it’s like going back to skating or being friends. You just be cordial to everyone around you as much as you can or give as much of yourself as you can while also capturing moments. You’re not there because you’re cool. You’re not there because you’re on stage.”
After Monroe’s shocking discovery, he quickly digitized the photo but didn’t tell anybody about it until 2013.
“Monster Children magazine ended up doing a video interview with me about the picture,” he explains. “It was a part of a bigger article. So in 2013, there was a little buzz, but I wasn’t that heavy or hard on social media just yet, so when social media started, I waited a while, waited a while and then I’d post it but I’d have my stamp on it. Whether it was a watermarked T. Eric Monroe or the rectangular @tdoteric in it, I just wanted to let people know I’m the one who took this picture.”
Hip Hop Photography Has Told The Culture’s History Decades Before Instagram - Just Ask These Lens Legends
Monroe eventually connected with Biggie’s longtime friend and fellow rapper Lil Cease to see if he could recall that particular show — which he could.
“I have a whole video of him talking about that night and he remembers that night vividly of all of them hanging out,” he says. “So that’s another piece of content that I was able to create and create a new friendship with Lil Cease who didn’t know me from Jack. Now he has a face with an image of a historic moment of him, Biggie and Tupac together being friends, just pure friendship. So it’s helped bridge the gaps in the story.”
Monroe captured numerous Hip Hop legends throughout the 1990s during his time at The Source and Thrasher, many of which can be found in his books Rare & Unseen Moments of ’90s Hip Hop Vol. 1, a collector’s edition and the Broadened Exposure collection.
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Cool photo
These are the type of articles I like seeing. Things we all could agree on instead of the divisive politics. Pac is one of the best to ever do it. Passion, heart, and presence is unmatched. You could feel his emotions through his lyrics. Today’s artists either are inspired by him, or openly talk down him; yet still want to be him. A legend.
What a great story!! ❤️?
Thanks for this article.
As well as Lil Cease, Biggie and Pac…. Big Syke has his head below Biggie and second from the right I think it’s Stretch. Not sure about the rest.
Pac always said he helped Biggie get started, let him get up on stage and get on the mic. The photo proves he literally wore the t-shirt too.
That’s Chico Del Vic under Biggie
Remember seeing this 1 a minute ago…back b4 they both really blew…rest in peace to Stretch as well
RIP Biggie
This is hip hop content- and the reason I check this site daily. Less Saweetie and spaghetti, more rap shit please and thanks.
There you go
Man, what could have been had they just sat down and had a conversation instead of letting the people around them and the media control the narrative.
Not “They”. Just Tupac.
You don’t know if they did have a conversation. People forget it’s entertainment and both these men, for sure Biggie, were murdered by people who didn’t understand that it was just entertainment. These cats may have needed in public and laughed about behind the scenes. Pac was most likely marked by Bill Clinton but that’s a conversation for another day.
I would like to know more about this Bill Clinton/Pac thing M.kees. Can you explain?
i look at that pic and just shake my head…what could have been without all the bullsh!t in pac’s ear.
fantastic article though..need more of these on here!
Right, but would we have gotten All Eyez On Me? Makavelli? Never know. RIP to these legends.
suge lit a fire under an already burning gas can! that’s for sure. it didn’t take much to get pac there but suge made sure he kept him there! you have to admit, pacs music got intense during the last stage of his life. to be a rapper suge thought that gang bangin was a priority. if only suge directed pac to sing to the women like puffy directed biggie. the world would be a different place filled with lyrically genius tracks from each!
Tupac is the one who advised Biggie to sing good about women not Puffy. Biggie asked Tupac for advice because Puffy wasn’t really that big yet either and wanted Tupac to be his manager but Tupac told him to give Puffy time and he didn’t wanna mix their friendship and business.
Just watched the biggie doco on Netflix and so many tears but love him even more. Thank u for yr story because the radio is dead when it comes to real Hip-Hop and this is how we keep it alive.
I watched it last week. I wasnt aware of all the stuff I watched. it definitely answered a few questions I had prior to it. Dont get me wrong neither deserved the death they were handed but damnit, biggie was just a big ole teddy bear! I’m straight but I think I had a man crush for the big, lazy eyed lyrical professor!! you know he was just waiting until he could get his old friend alone and explain the whole situation. I’m sure pac wouldve started out hard and ended with hugs and love. almost turns my stomach watching the 2 best end over each other at such a youthful time in their life.
So Tupac used to be a Bad Boy member ?
No, he supported Puffs label movement. It’s like me and you being friends and I ask you to wear my shirt. Or you ask me for a shirt to where cause you like the message i.e. “IM A BAD BOY”
The initial idea was for the east coast to stick together. PAC WASNT BAD BOY PER SAY. BUT HE DEFINITELY WAS EAST COAST RAP. BAD BOY KINDA WAS IN CHARGE BAK THEN .. PAC WAS DEFINITELY AN EAST COAST RAPPER
puffy had pac killed. suge had biggie killed. or, heres the twist, did they work together puffy and suge and stage a beef and feed it to pac and biggie in order for them both to die so only puffy and suge would have sole rights to their music? I’ve always questioned that. regardless its sad.
just odd they both died very similar deaths. drive byes. and havent convicted anyone for either murder!? we can find a man in a desert half way around the world but cant find a man on the west coast full of surveillance. always struck me as odd. I know pacs murderer is supposedly dead but should still seal the case and close it for closure if they know for sure.
on they were close pac took baggie under his wings for a bit have lot of music together that’s unreleased
If I wore a roc a wear shirt taking a random pic with Jay, does that mean I’m signed to him? Dumb fuck. No he wasn’t stupid.
You don’t have to be a RUDE FUCK and an ASS over dudes question yo, wats wrong wit you…. DUMB ASS prick
Get him bro thats right
My comment to Charles Dunton is actually for you yo
To Dumb ass question, you’re an asshole for nothing yo and my bad Charles
I think it was bigger then dat beef da reason they got murder… Rest in Peace Biggie & 2Pac.. Thank u for this article..2 Legends gone to soon.?
Industry killed them both,you can see it more now cause there more messy.There is a temperature for another dead rapper.King Von you can see his own (manager) $setup for industry kill.Rapper is worth more dead then alive.Why because they can steal it all.SAD!!BUT….TRUE.
You have it right. Not only, the industry, for it is, whom, they are, in allegiance, to. Behind the veil, of all things. ??
To much talent gone to soon for nothing. Rest in peace my kings……no on can replace u 2
You are absolutely right.They both died for nothing,unfortunately just like a lot of our young black males
Thug life got them killed…
Both Big & Pac had such natural born talent…loved both of their art but Pac lyrics touched my soul. Rap has never been the same and will never be and those 2 men paved the way for all these young rap artist today and Jay Z owe big & pac a huge thank you cause he wouldn’t be where he is if either was still alive…especially Pac. R.I.P to both
Well said. U hit that right on the nail.
Back when the east and west ate at the same table back when 4 lane highways hade to go to 6 we all know pac had his own lane and so did biggie rip
Dope picture
Big Tupac fan I really miss that guy real hip hop
Yes i Agree tupac was the most greatest rappers of all time he will Always be truly missed . one ❤
so much talent, so little time! the music they.bith put out it’s almost they has to leave the world as early as they did! aint nobody can imagine the world if they both lived until today! they would both have over 500 number 1 hits that nobody could could ever give a straight answer to what is their favorite song. it’s hard now, I dont think I can give a real answer of what my favorite song for each is! just too many great songs between both of them. I have to say biggie was my favorite between the two, it’s so hard to say i like someone s music more than pac’s but biggie is the only one I can say that about. think how rare it is to have the 2 best living and actually losing a friendship and being enemies with one another. think how rare the situation was!? the absolute 2 best was living amongst each other Began as friends and died as a result of a beef between the 2. I’m sure it wouldve been resolved before long if they lived because it was definitely a misunderstanding between those 2. suge and puffy kept it going strong and in turn ended up losing both their aces. I hate puffy but he made biggie’s best. he guided biggie to sing to the female crowd and not so much the thuggin, druggin, gang bangin biggie thought he had to do. it was such a rare, beautiful, greedy, perfect, stupid and sad situation but like I said it almost had to happen that way. the world couldnt handle that much love and perfect music the 2 put out for anymore than 5 years. we’re almost lucky to have them for as long as we did. rip to you two legends! never any before and will never be another, hope your up there keepin the tracks hot for all us to listen to when it’s our turn.
First off suge is the reason both of them are dead he played the field on both sides neither one of them seen it coming he made them enemies so they can kill one another a dirty ass game he had to get them out the way so he can come up he sucks
Pac told biggie rap for the bitches not puffy , he just put the visuals on it..
At this time… They where not enemies. Big and Pac grew up with each other. At this time…
The East Coast vs West Coast was not written and spittin on wax yet. It is very sad to say this but if these 2 didn’t die …. I’m 100% positive there would have been thousands of more deaths in hip hop and rap. It really woke up the world and shook the world at the same time. Some people dont really get it…. Why does it take something so painful and heartbreaking to do something the right way???? Take this Covid bs for example. Look at how many lives have been taken just bc of not washing hands or covering your mouth or not giving people space…. Wake up people! ✌ ? Unity! Respect!
…so kill a hundred to safe a thousand…
No you ?% positively think there would be thousands of more deaths & murders in hip hop
My name is Mikey Davis from michigan city indiana…. these are two great artists I believe the l.a.p.d had alot to do with the murders but suge as well suge is set for parole in 2037 if he makes it out I’m sure someone is gonna come after him …these are great photos … I’m still wondering where that impala went that suge got for pac before he died … it’s a big mystery we’ll never know the truth behind what really happend cause noone would talk for nothing …
You have no idea what you are talking “Mikey” Davis from Michigan city, Indianapolis.
Legends
I also have a rare photo of 2pac. I’ve been holding on to it for years.
There are way too many people playing detective here. None of us actually know what happen so let’s stop spreading lies, rumors, they were both GREAT and both have AMAZING music. To all my young up coming artist don’t sleep with your partner girl, don’t believe gossip and rumors if you have a issue go to the source directly and try to resolve not to the media and air them out. Be a MAN of your words. Sometimes we allow others to hype us up and set us up O and remember the one close to you may be the REAL enemy. I live on the east coast but frequent the west all the time. Just be you and stop all this fronting and faking.