Back in 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy were warned that there was a revenge hit put out on Biggie. The person who cautioned them was Rap-A-Lot Records CEO James Prince, who paid Biggie and Diddy a visit on the set of the “Hypnotize” music video while it was being shot in L.A.
James spoke with the two just a few weeks before Biggie’s murder on March 9, 1997, and according to TMZ, the conversation could have potentially saved Biggie’s life. James gleaned the information while he was in L.A. with his artist Scarface, when he heard about a potential hit. At that time, 2Pac had just been murdered six months earlier; and though unproven, rumors spread about Diddy and Biggie’s involvement, fed by the bad blood between the west coast and east coast.
Though James implored them to leave town, the two seemed undaunted by his information, and were focused on finishing the video. Biggie was shot and killed outside L.A.’s Petersen Automotive Museum a few weeks later.
According to TMZ, James didn’t specifically know that Biggie would get murdered, but had heard enough whispers that he was worried.
This, among other hip-hop stories, will be included in James Prince’s forthcoming book The Art and Science of Respect, which is set to release next month.
Rap-A-Lot Records was founded in Houston in the 1980s, and is known for bringing the Geto Boys to prominence. Besides his storied past in hip-hop, James Prince also once managed Floyd “Money” Mayweather.
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