Omar Epps sits down with Math Hoffa and talks about Tupac creating ‘Brenda’s Got A Baby’ on the set of the iconic movie Juice.
The talented actor from New York, has been featured on screen in some of the most memorable television series and movies. House, Scream 2, and Love & Basketball. None is perhaps more iconic then the movie Juice, where Epps co-starred with Tupac Shakur.
All those who contributed to the movie, still till this day share stories about the set life. Many of the stories include, Tupac Shakur, who played the iconic character, Bishop. Speaking with Mat Hoffa, Omar Epps breaks down how and when Tupac wrote ‘Brenda’s Got A Baby.’
“He was on a different level. He was writing his first album,” Omar Epps recalled. “A woman had thrown her baby down the trash. We all from where we’re from, it is sad to say but that was kind of normal to us, to hear stories like that. ‘Pac was f–ked up. Like the whole day, cause it was in the newspaper in the morning. He was like, ‘I can’t believe she did that.'”
“I hear Brenda’s got a baby, but Brenda’s barely got a brain
A damn shame, the girl can hardly spell her name
“That’s not our problem, that’s up to Brenda’s family”
Well, let me show you how it affects our whole community,”Tupac, “Brenda’s Got A Baby”
Epps continued on with his day, but for Tupac, who was disturbed and heartbroken over the story, had to express himself the best way he knew how. “By lunch time, he was like, ‘YO, come in the trailer.’ He started spitting this rhyme for me,” Epps explains. “He’s spitting it and I’m not catching it though. I’m listening to it, but I’m not catching it. Six months later his album comes out and I hear ‘Brenda’s Got A Baby’ and my mind was blown.”
Released in October of 1991, ‘Brenda’s Got A Baby,’ was packaged as a promotional single for Tupac’s upcoming debut album ‘2Pacalypse Now.’ The single would peaked at number 7 on the U.S. Got Rap Songs Billboard chart.
Epps also spoke about the infamous elevator scene from the movie Juice. According to the actor, the cast was given an opportunity by director Ernest R. Dickerson, to “freestyle” most of the film. Omar Epps also talks Tupac’s genius and impact. Watch the clip below.
