DJ Envy recently shared his insights on the notorious feud between 2Pac and Biggie in the mid-1990s. In an interview with AllHipHop, he disclosed that he was the first DJ in New York to play 2Pac’s provocative diss track “Hit ‘Em Up” on the radio.
Envy, who was mentored by DJ Clue and rose to fame through the mixtape circuit before becoming a host on The Breakfast Club, made a bold decision despite his alignment with Biggie and New York. He chose to play “Hit ‘Em Up” to differentiate himself in a crowded field. “I got that record first, and I knew a lot of DJs weren’t going to play it,” he explained. He mentioned prominent DJs like Kid Capri, Craig G, and even his mentor DJ Clue, who were all against giving 2Pac air time.
Envy’s strategy paid off. By featuring “Hit ‘Em Up” on his mixtapes, he attracted significant attention, both positive and negative, which helped elevate his profile. “I decided, ‘I’m gonna play this record’ and see what happens,” he recalled. Confident in its impact, he declared, “This is going to be one of the biggest mixtapes ever.”
The decision did not go unnoticed. “It went crazy,” he remembered. “At the time, I knew Big and Puff were mad. But I was getting my foot in the door, and it was music. That’s where it all started.”
