But what really, really takes âWho ShotâŻYa?ââŻÂ a step further is what happened over in L.A.īiggieâs onetime pal, and the most hands-down transfixing MC out of the west (if not the best), Tupac Shakur, was shot in late 1994 during a robbery at a Manhattan recording studio, which ended with Tupac recovering from gunshot wounds in hospital. It was noted that B.I.G came into the studio twenty minutes later, yet managed to remain safe. âWho ShotâŻYa?ââŻÂ captures Christopher George Latore Wallace â who is, lest we forget, widely remembered as the greatest rapper ever â at the height of his powers, claiming his crown as the King of New York. So, itâs a nasty-ass song, and it's got an incredible beat. Perfect situation, with those drums.â⯠Itâs been used about 10 times at least.â. NashiemâŻexplained to⯠Dubspot, âBasically the drums are already in the record.⯠WeâŻstarted to mix one night, and Puff said,âŻâwhere is the rest of the track?ââŻI saidâŻâthereâs no more track, its just a loop!â This is where the second sample originated.⯠âPoke from theâŻTrackmastersâŻcame through and give me drums that fit so lovely, fluffy drums that just put right in the mix. Porter is one of rapâs most sampled artists â Drake, Wu-Tang and even Will Smithâs âGettinâ Jiggy Wit Itâ use his songs. âThis record is probably one of âŻtheâŻhip hop templates. Listen to them keys drop made me feel like I was tripping on dust, and I never smoked or inhaled dust in my lifeâ.âŻâŻâŻĪt the core of the record is David Porterâs "I'm Afraid the Masquerade isâŻOver" , a 1971 Stax / Volt classic.
When I first heard itâŚmy mind couldn't comprehend how otherworldly the track sounded.
The man behind the beat is NashiemâŻMyrick, one half of the Hitmen, Bad Boy Recordsâ inhouse production squad.įormer managing editor of the source, Combat Jack, summed up the extraordinary beat: âNashiemâŻwas such an ill producer for how he came up with the beat. Before Biggieâs irresistible flow starts, even before Puff Daddy intros the tune, comes the beat.