In a few days, many fans in the Hip Hop community will likely pay respects to the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot and killed on March 9, 1997. One such fan will probably be Boston Celtics center, Shaquille O’Neal, who not only recorded with B.I.G. but also counted the critically acclaimed emcee as a personal friend. During an interview with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” O’Neal recalled that a then-budding Biggie drew his attention with the following line from the song, “Gimmie The Loot:”
“I’m slammin’ niggas like Shaquille / Shit is real / When it’s time to eat a meal / I’ll rob and steal…”
O’Neal would record with the Fu-Snickens, Fat Joe, Erick Sermon and dozens of other Hip Hop artists. Sean “Diddy” Combs said B.I.G. respected O’Neal’s rhyme skills enough to collaborate with him, as opposed to just recording a duet because O’Neal became his friend. The pair would go on to record “Can’t Stop the Reign,” from the platinum-selling 1996 album, You Can’t Stop the Reign.
After joining the Los Angeles Lakers, O’Neal had more run-ins with Biggie in California, but he told ESPN he’d always question the one night he didn’t hang out with him. O’Neal originally planned to party with Biggie the night the legendary emcee was murdered after partying at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
“I think that may have changed things,” Lil Cease added. “If Shaq had have said, ‘You know what, I’m gonna come with y’all.’ I’m sure him and B.I.G. would’ve rolled together. That’s the type of person B.I.G. was. If you’re hanging with him, he would’ve been like, ‘Alright, one of you other homeboys ride in the other car, I’m riding with Shaq.’ I’m sure Shaq would’ve had security, and I’m sure B.I.G. would’ve had another security come with him that day just to make sure Shaq was alright. So, definitely think if Shaq would’ve been there it would have changed.”
Only thing that would be different today had Shaq rode with B.I.G. that fatal night would be we would be celebrating Shaq’s death on March 9th as well.
You speak the truth!! There was nothing that night that would have stopped the hit that was put on Biggie!!
Exactly.
Totally disagree. A dead rapper is one thing but to kill an athlete, and one as big as Shaq? no one would have wanted that heat
that nigga fat….also shaq is fat
^^^ And you’re a homo.
wtf man?.u keep sayin niggaz fat wat duz dat hv to d wit shit u fucking gayfish
No Hooks was better than Can’t Stop The Reign
that no hooks was nasty shaq went off
I disagree with that, Can’t Stop The Reign is his best song period, followed by No Hooks and Legal Money (w/ Mobb Deep and Lord Tariq on the hook I think).
^^^
yeah, shaq had EVERYBODY on that CD. truth is, shaq will eat 2/3rds of the new rappers out now
Check Out:
(EXCLUSIVE) Deuce’s single “When I Wanna” Ft. Gorilla Zoe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn03WP9n0Ts&feature=channel_video_title
both them niggas fat
My ears miss Biggie daily! :o(
MAN DAT NIGGA BIG WAS GONNA GET SHOT DEAD IF NOT DAT DAY SUM OTHER DAY N DA WEST..DATS JUS HOW IT GOES..DEY TOOK 1 OF OURS WE TOOK 1 OF THIERS POINT BLAKE..COULD OF SHOULD OF BUT DIDNT SHAQ U FUCK BOY..BIGGIE R.I.P BUT U HAD IT COMING BIG BOY..SAY HI TO 2PAC..I BET YALL GETTING FUCKED UP N HELL..
West West, Yo man when the hell you got out, Simply because you sound stupid on here, how you know someone from the east Kill 2pac, Got too let you know, is dumb ass people like you that got people thinking all black people are stupid, Pac gone Biggie gone R.I.P to both, now they are gone two of the best, you got a white boy running around talking about he is the greatest, we keep killing our best so the other race can get and master what we own, Nigga you need to stop saying west west, and go to School School instead educate yourself, cause once again you comments make you sound like you are stupid stupid and lost.
i woulda shot big in his face and shaq i dnt regret it
Shaq and Biggie is an example of the powerful cultural connection between hoops and hip-hop. Shaq and Biggie the two towering icons to hoops-n-hip-hop culture in America would’ve made more music together. Since 2009 June has been proclaimed as NBHHCM (National Basketball & Hip-Hop Culture Month).
You get assassins being paid to do a job and best believe they will do it, no matter whose in the car at the time. Remember too that more and more NBA stars are being robbed, shot and home invaded now all the time. Shaq or Howard may be imposing on the basketball court, but in the streets, they know they would get taken out fast if the situation called for it.