A newly remixed version of a once-unreleased The Notorious B.I.G. verse has surfaced online, reigniting interest in the late rapper’s complex relationship with the West Coast hip-hop scene.

The original verse was part of a track titled “The Ugliest,” produced by J Dilla and featuring Busta Rhymes alongside Biggie. It was initially intended for Busta’s album The Coming but was held back from release due to its controversial content.

In a recent appearance on the All The Smoke podcast, Busta Rhymes provided insight into the track’s history. According to Busta, Biggie’s verse contained pointed disses aimed at Tupac Shakur, recorded during the height of their rivalry.

“I ain’t putting this out,” Busta recalled telling Biggie, explaining his reluctance to fuel the ongoing East Coast-West Coast conflict. He emphasized his friendship with both artists, stating, “Pac was my friend too.”

The verse was eventually released, albeit in a modified form. Busta explained that after Biggie’s passing, he worked with Diddy on Biggie’s posthumous Born Again album. The verse appeared on a track called “Dangerous MC’s,” but Busta ensured that the lines dissing Tupac were muted and covered with other bars.

The new remix that has surfaced combines Biggie’s original, unedited verse with Kendrick Lamar’s “They Not Like Us,” a track known for its intense lyricism and complex wordplay. This mashup creates an intriguing blend of two generations of hip-hop, connecting Biggie’s previously unheard words with a contemporary beat.

The remix carries complex undertones, given Biggie’s tumultuous relationship with the West Coast during the infamous East Coast-West Coast rivalry of the 1990s. This feud, which began as a friendly competition, escalated into a bitter conflict that many believe led to the tragic deaths of both Biggie and Tupac.

Biggie, born Christopher Wallace, was killed in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997, in a drive-by shooting that remains unsolved. His death on the West Coast, where the rivalry was most intense, added a tragic irony to the conflict.

Despite the animosity that marked the latter part of his career, Biggie had expressed a desire to end the coastal feud before his death. This remix serves as a reminder of that complex history while also highlighting Biggie’s enduring influence on hip-hop, even decades after his passing.