Hit 'Em Up

Outlawz, 2Pac, Tupac Shakur

About Hit 'Em Up

"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss song by hip hop artist 2Pac featuring the Outlawz, a group associated with him. It is the B-side to the single "How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996. The song's lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chief among them, Shakur's former-friend-turned-rival, the Notorious B. I. G., also known as Biggie Smalls. The song was recorded in Los Angeles, California at Can Am Studios in May 1996. Reporter Chuck Philips, who interviewed Shakur at Can Am, described the song as "a caustic anti-East Coast crusade in which the rapper threatens to eliminate Biggie, Sean Combs (Puffy), and a slew of Bad Boy artists and other New York acts. " The song was produced by long-time collaborator Johnny "J" and samples the bassline from "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards and interpolates "10% Dis" by MC Lyte, "Get Money" by The Notorious B. I. G.'s group Junior M. A. F. I. A., which used the Dennis Edwards sample as well. The video, itself described as infamous, includes impersonations of Biggie, Puffy and M. A. F. I. A. member Lil' Kim. 


Year:
2005
4:25
877 

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Yeah
Ayo
I think y'all gonna like this next song
When this song drops, I want all the West coast people to give up some love when this song come up
Y'all about to go crazy
They try to ban this song
They don't wanna play my song
But they want to play Fat Boy all goddamn day

(What) Come on, come on (take money)
Come on, come on (take money)
Come on, come on (take money)
What's up niggas

First off, f*ck your bitch and the click you claim
Westside when we ride come equipped with game
You claim to be a player but I fucked your wife
We bust on Bad Boy niggaz fucked for life
Plus Puffy tryin' ta see me weak hearts I rip
Biggie Smalls and Junior M.A.F.I.A. Some mark-ass bitches
We keep on comin' while we runnin' for yo' jewels
Steady gunnin, keep on bustin at them fools, you know the rules
Lil' Ceaser, go ask ya homie how I leave ya
Cut your young ass up, leave you in pieces, now be deceased
Lil' Kim, don't f*ck around with real G's
Quick to snatch yo' ugly ass off the streets, so f*ck peace
I let them niggaz know it's on for life
So let the Westside ride tonight
Bad Boy murdered on wax and killed
F*ck wit' me and get yo' caps peeled, you know, see

Grab ya glocks, when you see Tupac
Call the cops, when you see Tupac, uh
Who shot me, but ya punks didn't finish
Now ya bout to feel the wrath of a menace
Nigga, we hit em' up

(Take money)
Yes, yo, Outlaw to this mutherfucker (take money)
West Coast, what's up? (take money)
What's up

Get out the way yo, get out the way yo
Biggie Smalls just got shot
Little Moo, pass the mac, and let me hit him in his back
Frank White need to get spanked right, for settin' traps
Little accident murderers, and I ain't never heard-a ya
Poisinous gats attack when I'm servin' ya
Spank ya shank ya whole style when I gank
Guard your rank, 'cause I'ma slam your ass in the paint
Puffy weaker than the fuckin' block I'm runnin through nigga
And I'm smokin' Junior M.A.F.I.A. in front of you nigga
With the ready power tuckin' my Guess under my Eddie Bauer
Ya clout petty sour, I get packages every hour to hit 'em up

Oh
Call the cops, when you see Tupac
Who shot me, but ya punks didn't finish
Now ya bout to feel the wrath of a menace
Nigga, I hit em' up

Peep how we do it, keep it real, it's penitentiary steel
This ain't no freestyle battle
All you niggaz gettin killed with ya mouths open
Tryin' to come up offa me, you in the clouds hopin'
Smokin dope it's like a sherm high niggaz think they learned to fly
But they burn motherfucker, you deserve to die
Talkin' bout you gettin' money but it's funny to me
All you niggaz livin' bummy, why you fuckin' with me?
I'm a self made millionaire
Thug livin' out a prison, pistols in the air
Biggie, remember when I used to let you sleep on the couch
And beg a bitch to let you sleep in the house
Now it's all about Versace, you copied my style
Five shots couldn't drop me, I took it and smiled
Now I'm bout to set the record straight
With my A.K. I'm still the thug that you love to hate
Motherfucker, I hit 'em up

I'm from N-E-W Jers'
Where plenty of murders occurs
No points or commas, we bring drama to all you herbs
Now go check the scenario
Little Ceas' I'll bring you fake G's to your knees
Copping pleas in de Janeiro
Little Kim, is you coked up or doped up?
Get your little Junior Whopper click smoked up
What the f*ck, is you stupid?
I take money, crash and mash through Brooklyn
With my click looting, shooting and polluting your block
With a 15-shot cocked Glock to your knot
Outlaw MAFIA clique moving up another notch
And your pop stars popped and get mopped and dropped
And all your fake ass East coast props
Brainstormed and locked

You's a, beat biter
A Pac style taker
I'll tell you to your face you ain't shit but a faker
Softer than Alize with a chaser
About to get murdered for the paper
E.d.i Amin approach the scene of the caper
Like a loc, with Little Ceas' in a choke
Gun totin' smoke. We ain't no motherfucking joke
nigga, better be known
We approaching in the wide open, gun smoking
No need for hoping, it's a battle lost
I got em crossed as soon as the funk is bopping off
Nigga, I hit em up

Oh oh
Hah
yeah

We hit 'em up
Grab ya glocks, when you see Tupac
Come on with the next shit
Who shot me, but ya punks didn't finish
Now ya bout to feel the wrath of a menace
Nigga, we hit em' up

That's right
Go
Yo
Y'all gotta keep this shit real

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2Pac

Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is considered by many to have been one of the best rappers of all time. Shakur was born in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City but relocated to California in 1988. more »

27 fans

Written by: Dennis Lambert, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Yafeu Fula, Johnny Lee Jackson, Malcolm Greenidge, Bruce Washington, Frannie Golde, Duane S. Hitchings

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Diss Track
"Hit 'Em Up" is considered one of the most blistering diss tracks in hip hop history. It is primarily targeted at 2Pac's rivals, including The Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, and their label, Bad Boy Records.
Released Posthumously
Even though "Hit 'Em Up" was recorded while 2Pac was still alive, it was released posthumously as part of the double album "Death Row's Greatest Hits" in 1996.
Recording Studio
The song was recorded at Can-Am Studios in LA. The Outlawz, a hip hop group that 2Pac was part of, made significant contributions to the track.
Impact & Controversy
The track is renowned for its explicit content and profanity. It fueled the East Coast-West Coast feud in the 90s.
Unusual Format
Instead of a normal song structure, "Hit 'Em Up" has five verses and no chorus. Each verse is rapped by a different member of The Outlawz, with 2Pac performing the first and last.
Billboard Hot 100
Despite not being officially released as a single, the song still managed to reach number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Recognition
Rolling Stone Magazine listed "Hit 'Em Up" as one of the 20 greatest diss tracks of all time.
Music Video
The music video features Tupac and his group, the Outlawz, chasing and assaulting a Biggie lookalike. It garnered notable commercial and critical attention.
Subsequent Parodies
The song, particularly the video, has been parodied by many artists. These include Eminem in his song "The Warning," released in 2009, and Tory Lanez in his music video for "The Most High," released in 2020.
Final Diss Song
"Hit 'Em Up" is the final diss track from Tupac before his death in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996. It remains a classic and significant part of his legacy.
Sampled song
The track is laced with samples, primarily from "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards.
Cover Version
In 2002, Ja Rule released a cover version of "Hit 'Em Up", featuring various artists. The cover has been notably criticized for allegedly not capturing the ethos and raw energy of the original.

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