Rappers became worldwide superstars in the 90s and Tupac Shakur was one of the biggest names. Born and raised in Harlem, he moved to California in 1988. With connections in both cities, many hoped he'd be able to smooth out the coastal tension. Unfortunately, he stoked smoldering flames.

For a while, Tupac was friends with New York's greatest rapper, Christopher Wallace - The Notorious B.I.G. (AKA Biggie Smalls). Biggie's unique style of rapping had recently revitalised the East coast hip hop scene. His breakthrough was engineered by Sean Combs' (AKA P.Diddy and AKA Puff Daddy) record label, Bad Boy Entertainment. That label had fashioned Combs as a hip hop mogul, capable of making and breaking rap talent. A rival, Death Row Records (founded by Suge Knight, who had also signed Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg), offered the opposite: unimpeded fame for all rappers on their books.

Tupac and Biggie's friendship ended in 1994, when Shakur was shot in a recording studio lobby in Manhattan. He survived, this time. He spotted Combs and the B.I.G. at the scene and alleged they were behind the shooting. In 1995, while Tupac was 11 months into a jail sentence, Suge Knight posted his $1.4 million bail and signed a released Shakur to Death Row Records.

Death Row Records now had a figurehead powerful enough to challenge Combs' and Biggie's combined celebrity.

Next came the two tragic deaths...