Hip hop history is full of legendary beefs, but some of them started in ways nobody expected. One surprising example is the tension between De La Soul and the late 2Pac Shakur. For years, fans have wondered what really happened and why two respected forces in rap and hip hop ended up at odds.
Recently, De La Soul finally decided to clear the air, giving fans a deeper look into what caused the issue. As someone who loves delving into the stories behind iconic rap moments, I found this one especially interesting because it illustrates how quickly misunderstandings can spread in the music industry.
This situation wasn’t about disrespect or rivalry; it was simply a case of miscommunication that grew into something much bigger. The fact that it involved 2Pac, one of the most influential voices in hip-hop, makes it even more important to understand.
How a music video sparked De La Soul and 2Pac’s tension
According to Posdnuos, the group’s problem with 2Pac started after De La Soul released the video for “Ego Trippin’.” Pac believed the visual was mocking his own video for “I Get Around,” which left him disappointed.
Pos explained in an interview with Ambrosia For Heads: “2Pac, we had an issue with because when we did the ‘Ego Trippin'' video, he unfortunately thought we were mimicking and trying to make fun of the ‘I Get Around’ video.”
He added that Pac reached out, saying, "Yo, man, I love those dudes. I didn’t know they had an issue.”
Pos tried to clear things up immediately, but timing made communication difficult. At the time, Pac was reportedly dealing with a police incident in Atlanta, and both sides kept missing each other.
Why the misunderstanding grew in ’90s hip-hop
By the mid-’90s, De La Soul released Stakes Is High, a project that criticized certain trends in mainstream and gangsta rap. Some listeners, including 2Pac, felt the criticism was directed at them.
Pac responded through his music. In “Against All Odds” from The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, he fired back: “Look at De La Soul tryna player-hate on my sh*t, n***a, eat a fat d***!”
On the unreleased track “Watch Ya Mouth,” he went further, accusing the group of looking down on “hard” rap acts.
Even though the conflict never turned into a major hip hop battle, it became a notable moment that highlighted larger cultural divides within rap at the time.
Over the years, De La Soul has insisted that the issue was never personal. They maintained that the tension came from misunderstanding rather than disrespect. And despite the lyrics, 2Pac was known for showing love to many East Coast artists.
Sadly, Pac never publicly revisited the situation before his death, leaving the moment frozen in hip hop history.
This story is a reminder of how quickly things can escalate in the rap world, especially when communication slips. It also shows how respect and admiration can still exist behind the scenes, even when the public sees conflict.