Exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Kastro, former member of the Outlawz and cousin of Tupac Shakur, has been released by Napoleon another ex-member of the iconic Hip Hop group.
The classic diss record, “Hit ‘Em Up,” was released on June 4th 1996, just days after it was recorded on May 31st. Produced by the late Johnny J at Can-Am Studios in Tarzana, California; “Hit ‘Em Up” was featured as a B-side on the “How Do You Want It? / California Love” CD single.
Outlawz would join Tupac on what many call the greatest diss record of all time. One of those members of the Outlawz was Kastro. During an interview for Napoleon’s “Life Of An Outlaw” documentary, Kastro, Tupac’s cousin and former member of the Outlawz, was asked about the impact in which “Hit ‘Em Up” had on Hip Hop.
“It shook up the rap game because in Hip Hop you got beef records and people going back and forth, but what Pac did with that record is he made it very personal.” Various artists within the Hip Hop community till this day reflect on what many call the greatest diss record of all time. Eminem in the past has ranked the song as the number one diss song of all time.
Others such as Ice Cube felt Shakur and the Outlawz took it “too far”. Appearing on the Genius YouTube channel, Cube was interviewed by Rob Markman where the west coast legend stated, “I think he went too far. If I’m mad at you trust me I could think of five verses for just you. I don’t have to go at your family, your kids, your whole life. It’s one on one mano a mano in a way.”
Hit ‘Em Up shocked the industry as Shakur claimed to have had sex with Biggie Smalls wife at the time, Faith Evans. The lyrical assault did not end there, as Tupac out lashed at the end of the record on anyone siding with Biggie Smalls.
“He [Tupac] made it to where you had to do something. You couldn’t just rap no more. You either had to do something or say nothing,” Kastro said. “It changed the way beef songs were done ever since then. Now they’re more personal. So, what Hit ‘Em Up did for the Hip Hop community is turned that sh-t upside down.”
