Jay-Z Reveals He Pulled a Tupac Diss Out of Respect: “Me and Pac Was About to Get Into It”

A newly resurfaced interview clip featuring Jay-Z is giving hip-hop fans a rare glimpse into an almost-forgotten crossroads in rap history—one that involved Tupac Shakur, competitive egos, and a diss record that never officially saw the light of day.

Speaking candidly on the Front Page Podcast, Jay-Z revealed that he and Tupac were on the verge of a lyrical confrontation before Pac’s death in 1996. According to Hov, the situation never escalated publicly because he made a conscious decision to pull back—out of respect for Tupac’s legacy.

“Me and Tupac was about to get into it… and he passed away. I pulled away from all those records out of respect for a legend,” Jay-Z said.

While snippets of the unreleased material have reportedly leaked over the years, Jay-Z made it clear that shelving the diss was a personal choice rooted in reverence rather than fear or industry pressure.

The Competitive Era of Independent Black Labels

Jay-Z used the moment to zoom out and contextualize the tension of the era, describing the mid-to-late 1990s as a time when multiple independent Black-owned labels were simultaneously fighting for dominance.

“It was two, three guys at a certain point with three independent labels of Black men all fighting to be the best in the world.”

Rather than pinning blame on any single executive, Jay framed the conflicts as a collision of ambition, ego, and cultural momentum—an arms race of creativity during one of hip-hop’s most transformative periods.

The “Is Murder” Records and Early Murder Inc. Origins

Jay-Z also addressed long-standing questions around the “Is Murder” records and their connection to Murder Inc., clarifying that the song predated the label itself.

“That song predated Murder Inc. The song that I made—Is Murder—dead or alive, is murder.”

He confirmed that one version of the record was indeed aimed at Tupac, but reiterated that it was never officially released due to Pac’s untimely passing.

DMX, Ja Rule, and a Bronx Pool Hall Battle

One of the most revealing parts of the interview involved Jay-Z’s reflections on early collaborations with DMX and Ja Rule, long before their superstardom.

Jay recalled a competitive—but healthy—dynamic with DMX that dated back to a battle in a Bronx pool hall.

“Me and X had a thing… he loved me to death, but he was super competitive with me, and I was super competitive too.”

That competitive edge translated into studio sessions where everyone was pushing to out-rap each other, sharpening what would become era-defining performances.

As for Ja Rule, Jay offered a rare, unfiltered assessment of Ja’s early days.

“J was just happy to be in the room at the time… he hadn’t become the Ja Rule we all come to know.”

According to Jay-Z, Ja’s presence in those sessions was driven largely by loyalty to Irv Gotti, not by industry hype or expectations of future superstardom.

Irv Gotti’s Vision and the DMX Prediction

Jay-Z closed the reflection by highlighting Irv Gotti’s foresight—specifically recalling a moment when Irv confidently predicted DMX would sell five million records.

“He’s selling five mil, Hov. I’m telling you.”

Jay admitted he was skeptical at the time—not out of hate, but realism. DMX went on to prove the prediction correct, selling millions and even releasing two massive albums in the same year.

“And he did it. And then he dropped another one the same year.”

Why This Interview Matters Now

This resurfaced interview adds critical nuance to hip-hop history—revealing how close the culture came to another defining rivalry, and how respect ultimately outweighed conflict.

For fans, historians, and artists alike, Jay-Z’s reflections underscore a larger truth: some of hip-hop’s most impactful moments are the ones that didn’t happen.