Shyne and Tupac’s legendary group, Outlawz, would get into an altercation at the 2000 Source Awards in California.
Four years after the passing of their friend and mentor, Tupac Shakur, the Outlawz found themselves nominated at the 2000 Source Awards. The group formed by Tupac Shakur, were up against The Youngbloodz, Tha Eastsidaz, Made Men, and Dead Prez for “New Group of the Year.”
The Outlawz was fresh off their collaborated debut album along with Tupac entitled, Still I Rise. The album saw immediate success selling 408,000 units its first week and debuting at number 7 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
After being the first to take the red carpet, the Outlawz went on to their seats. According to E.D.I. Mean on a recent Talk My Truth episode, “the energy was already there.” With Death Row records in the building and a few incidents already taking place, the tone for the evening was set.
“We sitting. We chilling waiting for the show to start and we look and I don’t know who it was, but somebody said, ‘There go Shyne,'” recalled E.D.I. Mean.
Shyne had just released his hit single Bad Boyz featuring reggae artist Barrington Levy. The single put the Brooklyn rapper on the map and the Outlawz were all a fan of the new song.
“We all thought the s*** was dope. Even though it was a Bad Boy artist, to us Shyne wasn’t necessarily a part of the generation of Bad Boyz we had beef with. We looked at him almost like not an enemy or a foe. None of that,” explained E.D.I. Mean.
The Outlawz were ready to salute Shyne, but the Belize born rapper was already on edge. Coming into Los Angeles and being at The Source Awards didn’t help.
“As soon as he seen us, I think Napoleon was like, ‘Waddup Shyne. We the Outlawz.’ As soon as he heard that he just, ‘What! What y’all wanna do?!,” said E.D.I. on Talk My Truth. “He’s energy was immediately matched with Napoleon’s energy. Next thing I notice, Napoleon spit in his face.”
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Those around immediately broke things up with only punches being thrown. Tha Eastsidaz would eventually go home with the New Artist of the Year (Group) award.
