Persons familiar with the interview say they used different names after the magazine received threats from Henchman. Shakur announced the names of his ostensible conspirators to Kevin Powell, a journalist for Vibe however, to mask their true identities, Vibe referred to Henchman as "Booker," and Jack as "Nigel" in the published interview. He also singled out businessmen James Rosemond ("Jimmy Henchman"), and Jacques Agnant ("Haitian Jack") of orchestrating the assault. Shakur admitted to releasing "Hit 'Em Up" as a response to "Who Shot Ya?" In a Vibe interview, the rapper called out Sean "Puffy" Combs and Biggie Smalls and accused both of them of setting him up, or of having knowledge of the attack and not warning him. Shakur was also enraged by Biggie's release of " Who Shot Ya?" provocatively only months after the shooting incident, and although it did not directly involve Shakur's name, he believed it was directed towards him. Johnny "J" also stated that he had never seen Shakur so angry and that the words he rapped were in no way an act, describing the recording process as the most "hard-core he had ever done." Although he was very happy with the work he had put into it and the resulting song, Johnny "J" went on to say that he had no desire to work on anything of that magnitude again. Shakur used this fury, which Johnny "J" described as "superhuman", to attack Biggie and other East Coast rappers. He claimed that Biggie and his crew knew of his shooting and wanted him dead. He explained that Shakur was initially fueled by his anger against Biggie and Bad Boy Records for the belief that they had a role in the November 30, 1994, ambush and attack on Shakur. The ferocity of Shakur's raging vocals, as said by long-time collaborator and producer of "Hit 'Em Up" Johnny J, was entirely authentic. The bassline of the soundtrack is a sample from a song called ' Don't Look Any Further', by ex- Temptation Dennis Edwards that was previously used in Paid in Full (Eric B. The first and third verses are performed by Shakur, while the second verse is performed by Hussein Fatal, the fourth by Yaki Kadafi and the fifth by E.D.I. Together, the rappers (along with other associates) formed the original lineup of the Outlawz. For the song, Tupac Shakur recruited the members of the former group Dramacydal whom he had worked with previously, and was eager to work with again. "Hit 'Em Up" was written and recorded at Can-Am studios in late 1995. The song is widely regarded as among the greatest diss tracks ever recorded. The controversy surrounding the song is due in part to Shakur's murder in a drive-by-shooting only three months after its release. Following its release, the East Coast rappers insulted in the song responded through tracks of their own. "Hit 'Em Up" had a large role in exacerbating the East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry. The video, itself described as infamous, includes impersonations of Biggie, Puffy and M.A.F.I.A. Reporter Chuck Philips, who interviewed Shakur at Can Am, described the song as "a caustic anti–East Coast jihad in which the rapper threatens to eliminate Biggie, Puff, and a slew of Bad Boy artists and other New York acts." The song was produced by long-time collaborator Johnny "J". A previous version of the song was recorded in October 1995. The song was recorded at Can Am Studios in 1996. (also referred to colloquially as Biggie Smalls). The song's lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chiefly Shakur's former friend turned rival, the Notorious B.I.G. It is the B-side to the single " How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996. " Hit 'Em Up" is a diss track by American rapper 2Pac, featuring the Outlawz.
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