over analysis
April 12, 1990
The headlines were still fresh. No Vaseline was the most talked-about song in hip-hop, and Dr. Dre's arrest had only added fuel to the fire. N.W.A. was in free fall, and everyone could see it.
But that morning, a new article dropped in gossip Magazine, one of the biggest publications in the country. It wasn't just another news piece—it was an analysis, a deep dive into how Tupac had systematically destroyed N.W.A. step by step.
The title?
"The Chess Game: How Tupac Outsmarted N.W.A."
The article was written by one of the most popular journalists in the industry, known for exposing the truth behind music biggest feuds. And this time, he wasn't just talking about a diss track—he was breaking down an entire strategy.
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The First Move: Leaving N.W.A.
"Most people think the beef between Tupac and N.W.A. started with a diss track, but they're wrong. The first move in this chess game happened the moment Tupac left the group. And the key detail? He didn't just leave—he made sure everyone knew he left because of Jerry Heller."
The article explained that while the full story of what happened behind the scenes wasn't public, one fact was clear: Tupac walked away from the group because of N.W.A.'s manager, Jerry Heller.
And that was the moment everything changed.
Without Tupac, tensions within N.W.A. exploded. Members started questioning their contracts. They started questioning each other.
The journalist wrote:
"It's easy to forget, but before Tupac left, he was the most popular member of N.W.A. He wasn't just another rapper in the group—he was the face of it. And when he walked away, it forced the world to ask one question: why?"
And the more people looked into it, the worse Jerry Heller looked.
Tupac didn't even need to diss anyone at that point. All he had to do was leave.
And that alone started the downfall.
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The Second Move: Setting the Trap
The article then pointed to Tupac's album, Poetic Justice.
"Most rappers would wait until a diss track was dropped on them before responding. Not Tupac. He made the first move on the very first track of his album. In the intro, he doesn't just call out Jerry Heller—he calls out all of N.W.A. by name."
The line was simple but effective:
"Fuck Jerry Heller, and fuck N.W.A."
The journalist wrote:
"At the time, it seemed like just another angry statement. But looking back, it feels like Tupac was baiting them. It's like he wanted a response. And when N.W.A. took the bait, they didn't even realize they were stepping into his game."
And then came the next move—the Pump It Up! interview.
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The Third Move: Using the Media Against Them
The Pump It Up! news clip was everywhere. Tupac and N.W.A. both took shots at each other in the interview, but the real damage wasn't in the words—it was in how the public saw it.
"People always say media controls the narrative. But in this case, Tupac controlled the media. He knew that once N.W.A. saw that interview air, their egos wouldn't let them stay quiet. They had to respond. And when they did, they played right into his hands."
N.W.A. dropped a whole EP filled with diss tracks aimed at Tupac. And this was where, according to the article, N.W.A. made their biggest mistake.
"The production on the EP was great—Dre is a genius when it comes to beats. But the rapping? It was clear something was missing. And that 'something' was Tupac."
Fans who once believed N.W.A. was unstoppable suddenly had doubts.
People were asking questions:
"Why do these songs feel weaker?"
"Why isn't this hitting the same way?"
And that's when people realized—Tupac was more important to the group than they thought.
And right at that moment, Tupac made his next move.
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The Fourth Move: The Distraction
Just as the N.W.A. diss EP was gaining traction, Tupac pulled off a business move no one expected.
He released Mariah Carey's debut album.
And it exploded.
"Imagine this: You're in the middle of a heated rap beef. Your enemy just released a full EP dissing you. What do you do? If you're Tupac, you don't respond right away—you shift the attention somewhere else. And what better way to do that than dropping an album that sells millions in its first week?"
Suddenly, the conversation wasn't just about the beef anymore. It was about Mariah's success.
And in the industry, success speaks louder than words.
"N.W.A. was looking bitter. Meanwhile, Tupac was looking like a genius businessman. He wasn't just beefing—he was winning."
And just when people thought he had moved on—
He made the final move.
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The Final Move: No Vaseline
After weeks of silence, when no one was expecting it, Tupac dropped No Vaseline.
No promotion. No warning.
"Most rappers tease a diss track. They drop hints. They let the world know it's coming. Tupac? He dropped the most brutal diss track in hip-hop history like it was nothing."
The journalist described No Vaseline as not just a diss track, but a destruction track.
"This wasn't just about calling people out. This was about ending careers. And Tupac did it with no mercy."
The article quoted a well-known DJ:
"When I first heard No Vaseline, I knew it was over for N.W.A. There's no coming back from something like that."
And the people agreed.
On the streets, in record stores, on the radio—everywhere, people were saying the same thing:
"Tupac didn't just win. He played them."
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After the article dropped, the conversations changed.
It wasn't just about No Vaseline anymore. It was about the entire strategy.
At a barbershop in new York, an argument broke out.
"Nah, man, I knew Tupac was smart, but this? This is different."
"So you're telling me he planned all this from the start?"
"Man, look at the facts. Every move he made lined up perfectly. N.W.A. never stood a chance."
Another man shook his head.
"Damn. And here I thought this was just about rap."
Over in New York, DJs were discussing it on air.
"Yo, you see that Today Magazine article?"
"Bruh, Tupac was playing chess while N.W.A. was playing checkers."
Meanwhile, in industry offices, executives were taking notes.
One producer laughed. "If you ever beef with Tupac, just retire. Man plays a whole different game."
A major label executive leaned back in his chair.
"Tupac isn't just an artist. He's a movement."
And the streets?
The streets understood one thing—
If you went against Tupac, you weren't just fighting a rapper.
You were fighting a mastermind.
At the end of the article, the journalist left readers with one last statement:
"I can guarantee you this—if any rapper dares to beef with Tupac in the future, they better be ready to risk their entire career. Because Tupac isn't just great. He's too big to fail."
And with that, the legend of Tupac Shakur only grew stronger.