Most people know of Shaquille O’Neal’s foray into hip-hop but many would be surprised to know that he was once good friends with the late rapper Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace. In a candid interview with ESPN’s “Outside The Lines,” the basketball star speaks about his friendship with Biggie and admits that he sometimes believes that he could’ve prevented the rapper’s murder.
As O’Neal explained, he met Wallace in 1994 after the rapper mentioned him in one of his songs. In 1996, the two hit the studio together for the first time to record the hit song “Can’t Stop The Reign,” which O’Neal readily admits was only a hit because of B.I.G.
“Basically, I was nervous. The reason why I was nervous was because he was the greatest. We went to the studio and he got done in five minutes,” said O’Neal. “I’m a realist. It was a hit because he was on it.”
The next year, O’Neal was supposed to attend a party with Biggie on the night of his untimely death. However, O’Neal says that he fell asleep, missing the party.
As O’Neal explained in his 2001 autobiography, Shaq Talks Back, he believes that if he would’ve attended that party, then perhaps Biggie would not have been murdered.
“If I would’ve been standing by his truck, would the killer still have shot? I’ve always asked that question,” wrote O’Neal.
Rapper Lil’ Cease, who was also interviewed, admits that he believes having O’Neal at the party probably would’ve saved B.I.G.’s life.
“If Shaq would’ve said, ‘you know what? I’m a come with y’all,’ I’m sure him and B.I.G. would’ve rode together,” explained Cease. “And I’m sure Shaq would’ve had security and I’m sure B.I.G. would’ve had enough security for him to come with him that day just to make sure Shaq was all right.”
“So I definitely think if Shaq would’ve been there it definitely would’ve changed. It definitely would’ve changed,” added Cease.
Altough O’Neal’s birthday, which occurred three days before B.I.G.’s death, is a yearly reminder of the tragedy; he says that he is still just thankful to have known B.I.G.
“I just think I was fortunate enough to say that I knew him, fortunate enough to say that he blessed me with 32 bars on my album and I’m blessed enough to say the he knew me and I knew him,” said O’Neal.
Do you think Shaq is being too hard on himself about Biggie’s death? –nicholas robinson
