Verified archive entry

Hit ’Em Up

Hit ’Em Up is a diss track by 2Pac targeting The Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Mobb Deep and Chino XL. The recording also credits Outlawz. The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

Released1996
Annotated10
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Intro: 2Pac]

    02

    (Sucker-ass) I ain't got no motherfuckin' friends

    03

    That's why I fucked yo' bitch, you fat motherfucker (Take money)

    04

    Westside, Bad Boy killers (Take money; You know)

    05

    You know who the realest is, niggas, we bring it too (Take money; Haha)

  2. 06

    (That's aight, haha; Take money) Haha

  3. 07

    [Verse 1: 2Pac]

    Multi-line diss block
    08

    First off, fuck your bitch and the clique you claim

    09

    Westside, when we ride, come equipped with game

    10

    You claim to be a player, but I fucked your wife

    11

    We bust on Bad Boys, niggas fucked for life

    Block noteMakes the feud personal through family

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You claim to be a player, but I fucked your wife,” 2Pac brings a relative or family boundary into the exchange with The Notorious B.I.G., moving the dispute beyond music and into private life. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. Family references explain why the conflict feels personal: they raise the emotional cost for The Notorious B.I.G. and make the line more consequential than a routine comparison of rap skill.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  4. 12

    Plus, Puffy tryna see me, weak hearts I rip

    Multi-line diss block
    13

    Biggie Smalls and Junior M.A.F.I.A., some mark-ass bitches

    14

    We keep on comin' while we runnin' for your jewels

    15

    Steady gunnin', keep on bustin' at them fools, you know the rules

    Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Biggie Smalls and Junior M.A.F.I.A., some mark-ass bitches,” 2Pac addresses The Notorious B.I.G. directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. Naming or plainly addressing The Notorious B.I.G. removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  5. 16

    Lil' Caesar, go ask your homie how I'll leave ya

    Multi-line diss block
    17

    Cut your young ass up, leave you in pieces, now be deceased

    18

    Lil' Kim, don't fuck around with real G's

    19

    Quick to snatch yo' ugly ass off the streets, so fuck peace

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Cut your young ass up, leave you in pieces, now be deceased,” 2Pac converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at The Notorious B.I.G.. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts The Notorious B.I.G. as unable to return for another round.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  6. 20

    I'll let them niggas know it's on for life

    21

    Don't let the Westside ride tonight (Haha)

    22

    Bad Boy murdered on wax and killed

    23

    Fuck with me and get yo' caps peeled, you know, see

  7. 24

    [Chorus: 2Pac]

    25

    Grab your Glocks when you see 2Pac

    26

    Call the cops when you see 2Pac, uh

    27

    Who shot me? But you punks didn't finish

    28

    Now you're 'bout to feel the wrath of a menace (Uh-huh, yeah)

  8. 29

    Nigga, I hit 'em up

  9. 30

    [Interlude: 2Pac & Hussein Fatal]

    31

    Check this out, you motherfuckers know what time it is (Take money)

    32

    I don't even know why I'm on this track (Take money)

    33

    Y'all niggas ain't even on my level, I'ma let my lil' homies ride (Take money)

    34

    On you bitch-made-ass Bad Boy bitches, feel it (Ayo, ayo, hold the fuck up, yeah; Take money)

  10. 35

    [Verse 2: Hussein Fatal]

    36

    Get out the way, yo, get out the way, yo

    37

    Biggie Smalls just got dropped

    38

    Little Mu', pass the MAC and let me hit 'em in his back

    39

    Frank White needs to get spanked right for settin' traps

  11. 40

    Little accident murderer, and I ain't never heard of ya

    41

    Poisonous gats attack when I'm servin' ya

    42

    Spank ya, shank ya whole style when I gank

    43

    Guard your rank 'cause I'ma slam your ass in the paint

  12. 44

    Puffy weaker than the fuckin' block I'm runnin' through, nigga

    45

    And I'm smokin' Junior M.A.F.I.A. in front of you, nigga

    46

    With the ready power tucked in my Guess under my Eddie Bauer

    47

    Your clout petty, sour, I push packages every hour, hit 'em up

  13. 48

    [Chorus: 2Pac]

    49

    Grab your Glocks when you see 2Pac

    50

    Call the cops when you see 2Pac, uh

    51

    Who shot me? But you punks didn't finish

    52

    Now you're 'bout to feel the wrath of a menace

  14. 53

    Nigga, we hit 'em up

  15. 54

    [Verse 3: 2Pac]

    55

    Peep how we do it, keep it real as penitentiary steel

    56

    This ain't no freestyle battle

    57

    All you niggas gettin' killed with your mouths open

    58

    Tryna come up off of me, you in the clouds hopin'

  16. 59

    Smokin' dope, it's like a sherm high, niggas think they learned to fly

    Multi-line diss block
    60

    But they burn, motherfucker, you deserve to die

    61

    Talkin' 'bout you gettin' money, but it's funny to me

    62

    All you niggas livin' bummy while you fuckin' with me

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “But they burn, motherfucker, you deserve to die,” 2Pac converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at The Notorious B.I.G.. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts The Notorious B.I.G. as unable to return for another round.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  17. 63

    I'm a self-made millionaire

    Multi-line diss block
    64

    Thug livin', out of prison, pistols in the air, haha

    65

    Biggie, remember when I used to let you sleep on the couch

    66

    And begged a bitch to let you sleep in the house? Uh

    Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Biggie, remember when I used to let you sleep on the couch,” 2Pac addresses The Notorious B.I.G. directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. Naming or plainly addressing The Notorious B.I.G. removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  18. 67

    Now it's all about Versace, you copied my style

    68

    Five shots couldn't drop me, I took it and smiled

    69

    Now I'm 'bout to set the record straight

    70

    With my AK, I'm still the thug that you love to hate

  19. 71

    Motherfucker, I hit 'em up

  20. 72

    [Verse 4: Kadafi & E.D.I. Mean]

    Multi-line diss block
    73

    I'm from N-E-W Jers' where plenty murders occurs

    74

    No points or commas, we bring the drama to all you herbs

    75

    Now go check the scenario

    76

    Little Cease, I'll bring you fake G's to your knees, coppin' pleas in de Janeiro

    Block noteTreats the target's persona as fabricated

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Little Cease, I'll bring you fake G's to your knees, coppin' pleas in de Janeiro,” 2Pac says The Notorious B.I.G.'s public story or image is false rather than a reliable account of who the target is. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. Once the persona is presented as invented, the boasts and accusations built on it become easier for listeners to dismiss.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  21. 77

    Little Kim, is you coked up or doped up?

    78

    Get your little Junior Whopper clique smoked up

    79

    What the fuck, is you stupid?

    80

    I take money, crash and mash through Brooklyn

  22. 81

    With my clique lootin', shootin' and pollutin' your block

    Multi-line diss block
    82

    With 15-shot cocked Glock to your knot

    83

    Outlaw MAFIA clique, movin' up another notch

    84

    And your pop stars popped, get mopped and dropped

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “With 15-shot cocked Glock to your knot,” 2Pac converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at The Notorious B.I.G.. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts The Notorious B.I.G. as unable to return for another round.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  23. 85

    All your fake-ass East Coast props brainstormed and locked (Haha)

    Multi-line diss block
    Block noteTreats the target's persona as fabricated

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “All your fake-ass East Coast props brainstormed and locked (Haha),” 2Pac says The Notorious B.I.G.'s public story or image is false rather than a reliable account of who the target is. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. Once the persona is presented as invented, the boasts and accusations built on it become easier for listeners to dismiss.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  24. 86

    [Verse 5: E.D.I. Mean]

    Multi-line diss block
    87

    You's a beat biter, a Pac style taker

    88

    I'll tell you to your face, you ain't shit but a faker

    89

    Softer than Alizé with a chaser

    90

    'Bout to get murdered for the paper

    Block noteSays the target's identity is borrowed

    TargetThe Notorious B.I.G.

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You's a beat biter, a Pac style taker,” 2Pac presents The Notorious B.I.G.'s style or work as imitation rather than an original contribution. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. The accusation strips The Notorious B.I.G. of artistic ownership: success looks less impressive when the sound, image, or idea is framed as somebody else's first.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  25. 91

    E.D.I. Mean approach the scene of the caper

    92

    Like a loc, with Lil' Caesar in a choke

    93

    Gun totin' smoke, we ain't no motherfuckin' joke

    94

    Thug Life, niggas better be knowin'

  26. 95

    We approachin' in the wide open, gun smokin'

    96

    No need for hopin', it's a battle lost

    97

    I got 'em crossed as soon as the funk is boppin' off

    98

    Nigga, I hit 'em up

  27. 99

    [Outro: 2Pac]

    100

    Now you tell me who won

    101

    I see them, they run, hahaha

    102

    They don't wanna see us (Take money)

    103

    Whole Junior M.A.F.I.A. clique dressin' up tryna be us (Take money)

  28. 104

    How the fuck they gon' be the mob when we always on our job? (Take money) We millionaires

    105

    Killin' ain't fair, but somebody gotta do it (Take money)

    106

    Oh yeah, Mobb Deep, huh, you wanna fuck with us? (Take money)

    107

    You lil' young-ass motherfuckers (Take money)

  29. 108

    Don't one of you niggas got sickle-cell or somethin'? (Take money)

    109

    You're fuckin' with me, nigga, you fuck around and have a seizure or a heart attack (Take money)

    110

    You better back the fuck up 'fore you get smacked the fuck up

    111

    This how we do it on our side

  30. 112

    Any of you niggas from New York that wanna bring it, bring it

    113

    But we ain't singin', we bringin' drama

    114

    Fuck you and yo' motherfuckin' mama

    115

    We gon' kill all you motherfuckers

  31. 116

    Now, when I came out, I told you it was just about Biggie

    117

    Then everybody had to open they mouth with a motherfuckin' opinion

    118

    Well, this is how we gon' do this

    119

    Fuck Mobb Deep, fuck Biggie

  32. 120

    Fuck Bad Boy as a staff, record label, and as a motherfuckin' crew

    Multi-line diss block
    121

    And if you wanna be down with Bad Boy, then fuck you too

    122

    Chino XL, fuck you too

    123

    All you motherfuckers, fuck you too

    Block noteMakes the rejection unmistakably direct

    TargetChino XL

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Chino XL, fuck you too,” 2Pac drops any pretense of a subliminal and rejects Chino XL in blunt, unqualified language. Why it was said: The record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute. The direct wording removes plausible deniability: listeners are not left guessing whether Chino XL is part of the dispute or whether a response is being invited.

    ContextThe record belongs to 2Pac's conflict with The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy Records, and associated rivals after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and the ensuing East Coast–West Coast dispute.

  33. 124

    (Take money, take money)

    125

    All of y'all motherfuckers, fuck you, die slow, motherfucker

    126

    My .4-4 make sure all y'all kids don't grow

    127

    You motherfuckers can't be us or see us

  34. 128

    We motherfuckin' Thug Life riders, Westside, 'til we die

    129

    Out here in California, nigga, we warned ya we'll bomb on you motherfuckers

    130

    We do our job

    131

    You think you mob? Nigga, we the motherfuckin' mob

  35. 132

    Ain't nothin' but killers and the real niggas, all you motherfuckers feel us

    133

    Our shits go triple and four-quadruple (Take money)

    134

    You niggas laugh 'cause our staff got guns in they motherfuckers belts

    135

    You know how it is, when we drop records, they felt

  36. 136

    You niggas can't feel it, we the realest

    137

    Fuck 'em, we Bad Boy killers