2pac: greatest rapper Alive

Dr. Dre's POV –

Dr. Dre sat in the back of the club, a glass of Hennessy in his hand, barely listening to the music blasting through the speakers. His mind wasn't here. It hadn't been here for a while.

He was still thinking about Tupac.

It had been months since Pac left N.W.A. Months since everything changed.

Dre had tried to push it out of his head. He had told himself that it was just business, that people come and go in this industry. But deep down, that wasn't how he felt.

This wasn't just about the group.

This was personal.

Pac was his closest friend in N.W.A. Out of everyone, Dre had always felt like they had the tightest bond. They spent hours in the studio, working on beats, talking about life, dreaming about where they were going to take this music thing. Pac always had his back, and Dre had his.

Or at least, that's what he thought.

Then one day, Pac was gone.

Just like that.

No warning. No conversation. Just out.

And it wasn't just that he left. It was how he left.

One second, they were a crew, a family. The next, he was doing his own thing, acting like N.W.A didn't matter.

Dre heard all the excuses. He heard Pac's reasoning.

But he didn't care.

Because no matter what Tupac said, it all boiled down to one thing in Dre's mind—

Pac turned his back on them.

Pac turned his back on him.

And now, here he was, walking into his club like everything was cool.

The Club Incident

Dre's grip tightened around his glass. He watched as Tupac strolled in, his crew behind him, dapping up people like he owned the place.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn't walked away from them.

Like he hadn't walked away from him.

Dre wasn't even thinking at this point.

He wasn't worried about what would happen next.

He just knew one thing—

Pac needed to know that shit wasn't okay.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he was up, pushing through the crowd, moving straight toward Pac.

Tupac turned, his face breaking into a grin when he saw him.

"Wassup, homie?" Pac reached out for a handshake.

BAM!

Dre's fist connected with Pac's face before he could even react.

The whole club froze for a second.

Then—

Chaos.

Pac stumbled back, grabbing his jaw. His crew immediately tensed up, ready for war. N.W.A members jumped to their feet, not knowing what was about to happen next.

For a moment, it looked like an all-out brawl was about to break out.

But then—

Tupac, instead of swinging back, just stood there, staring at Dre.

The look in his eyes wasn't just anger.

It was something deeper.

Realization.

The Moment That Changed Everything

Up until that moment, Pac had never truly hated N.W.A.

Even after leaving, he still saw them as brothers.

He was frustrated. He was disappointed.

But deep down, he still had love for them.

But this?

This changed everything.

Dre had just made it clear—

We ain't homies no more.

Tupac didn't say a word.

Didn't throw a punch.

He just let it sink in.

Then he turned to his crew.

"Let's roll."

They left the club, walking out into the L.A. night.

But something inside Pac was different now.

That punch?

That wasn't just a hit.

That was a statement.

And now, Pac had something to say, too.

The Ripple Effect

That moment in the club didn't just start a beef.

It started a war.

Because the next time Pac stepped into the recording booth, he wasn't just making music.

He was making history.

That's why, when his debut single dropped, the first thing people heard wasn't just a beat.

It was Tupac's voice.

"fucknyou jerry heller , fuck N.W.A."

One moment of anger.

One mistake.

And now, the world would never be the same.

Back to present.

March 5, 1990 – N.W.A Drops 100 Miles and Runnin'

The Release

On March 5, 1990, N.W.A officially released their new EP, 100 Miles and Runnin'.

From the moment it hit stores, the streets knew this wasn't just another project. This was war.

The EP wasn't just about the music—it was a full-scale attack on Tupac. Almost every track had some type of subliminal or direct shot at him. Ruthless Records had made sure that everyone in the industry knew about it, and by the end of the day, 100 Miles and Runnin' was the only thing people were talking about.

The First-Day Sales & Industry Response

By midnight, record stores were already reporting massive sales.

In Los Angeles, long lines wrapped around mom-and-pop record shops, with fans eager to get their hands on the project.

In New York, despite not being N.W.A's territory, the EP still moved strong numbers, with bootleg cassette copies spreading fast.

Down South, the streets ate it up—Houston, Atlanta, and New Orleans saw stores selling out within hours.

By the end of March 5th, 100 Miles and Runnin' had already sold 320,000 copies, an insane number for an EP. Ruthless Records' marketing push, combined with the hype around the beef, made sure the project would dominate conversations.

The Tracks That Had Everyone Talking

While the entire EP had aggressive, no-holds-barred energy, three tracks in particular stood out:

The most direct diss at Tupac. The hook alone made it clear where N.W.A stood:

"Ain't no love for a traitor, no love for a clown,

He ran from the set, now he ain't welcome in town."

Dre's verse hit the hardest, throwing shots at Pac for allegedly chasing mainstream success:

"Went solo, now you dancin' for a check,

But the hood don't love you, you lost our respect."

The song wasn't a direct diss, but the energy was undeniable. It painted a picture of N.W.A staying strong despite the industry and the haters.

A brutal track where Eazy-E rapped about cutting off people who weren't real. While he never mentioned Pac by name, everyone knew who he was talking about.

The production was classic Dre—hard-hitting, aggressive, designed to sound loud in car stereos and clubs.

The Streets React

By the evening, 100 Miles and Runnin' was playing everywhere—from Compton to Watts, from Long Beach to South Central.

At liquor stores, barbershops, and lowrider meetups, the conversation was all the same:

"Yo, they really came for Pac's head on this one."

"Dre went crazy on 'No Love for a Sellout.' That hook alone? Damn."

"Man, Pac gotta respond to this. He can't just let this slide."

Some fans were riding with N.W.A, saying that Pac had it coming for leaving. Others thought the group was bitter, taking things too far.

But one thing was clear—this was officially the biggest beef in hip-hop.

The News Media Weighs In

That night, every major hip-hop radio station was covering the EP's release. DJs debated whether N.W.A was justified in dissing Tupac so openly.

Even MTV got in on the discussion. On Yo! MTV Raps, host Fab 5 Freddy mentioned the brewing war:

"Hip-hop's heating up, y'all! N.W.A just dropped 100 Miles and Runnin', and let me tell you—if you thought the tension was high before, you ain't seen nothin' yet."

The L.A. Times published a piece titled "N.W.A Declares War on Tupac", breaking down the lyrics and speculating whether this was just the beginning of something bigger.

Rolling Stone's review of the EP was also blunt:

"N.W.A is out for blood, and their target is clear. Whether you love or hate Tupac, it's impossible to ignore the shots being fired."

Carl Johnson's Reaction

Carl Johnson sat in his office, watching the chaos unfold. He had expected some drama, but this?

This was bigger than he thought.

He knew this wasn't just about music. This was personal.

Carl leaned back in his chair and exhaled.

If Pac didn't respond the right way, this could get ugly fast.

Tupac's Silence... For Now

The most surprising thing?

Tupac hadn't said a word.

No statement. No interview.

Nothing.

The industry was waiting. The streets were waiting.

Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Pac responded.

And when he did?

It was going to change everything.

To Be Continued...