Angie Martinez Tupac Shakur Interview (1996 Interview Featuring Tupac Shakur, 1996)

Angie Martinez Interviewing Tupac

Status: Partially found

In the world of hip-hop, few interviews are as legendary as the one between Angie Martinez and Tupac Shakur in 1996. This conversation, between one of the most influential rappers of all time and the rising radio host from New York's Hot 97, is a mystery. Though it was recorded, most of it was never aired, and to this day, fans are left wondering what Tupac said during that conversation.

Background

By 1996, Angie Martinez was making a name for herself on New York’s Hot 97 radio station. Tupac Shakur, on the other hand, was at the center of the East Coast vs. West Coast feud, one of the most intense rivalries in hip-hop history. He was signed to Death Row Records and was very outspoken about his feelings toward the East Coast and artists like The Notorious B.I.G.

The interview was supposed to be Tupac’s chance to share his side of the story. It wasn’t just about music—it was about setting the record straight on the beef, his frustrations with the industry, and his personal struggles.

The Interview

Angie has said that the interview was intense. It lasted for over two hours, and Tupac spoke openly about the East Coast-West Coast beef, as well as bigger social and political issues. Martinez described Tupac as very passionate, smart, but also angry and emotional at the time.

However, the full interview was never released. Angie Martinez and the team at Hot 97 decided not to air most of it because they were worried it could make the tension in hip-hop even worse. At that time, violence between East Coast and West Coast artists was a real problem, and just a few months later, Tupac was killed in a shooting.

In 2010, Martinez talked more about this decision in an interview with Rap Radar. She explained that she didn’t want to add to the heated situation in hip-hop. "I really believed that things were getting too heated," she said. Only about 12 minutes of the two-hour interview were ever aired, and the rest of it has remained locked away.

The Lost Tapes

Over the years, fans have been curious about what Tupac said during the parts of the interview that weren’t aired. Since Tupac was known for being open and honest, many people believe that the lost tapes contain important thoughts from him, especially since the interview happened so close to his death. On Reddit and other forums, fans often talk about the Angie Martinez interview as one of the most sought-after pieces of lost hip-hop history.

In her book My Voice, Angie reflects on the decision to keep most of the interview hidden. She says that she didn’t want Tupac’s words, spoken in anger or frustration, to be taken out of context or used to start more conflict. Even now, she’s careful about Tupac’s legacy and the impact that releasing the full interview might have.

Availability

There are a few reasons why this interview might never be fully released. Some people think legal issues or concerns about the content have kept it locked away. Others believe that Angie Martinez and Hot 97 might still feel that airing the full interview could be risky, even today. While the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry is no longer a major issue, there may still be concerns about how people would react. One popular theory speculates if Sean "Diddy" Combs bought the footage from Angie Martinez because of Diddy's sexuality being outed by Tupac (possibly during that interview).

Angie herself has said that she feels conflicted. On one hand, she knows how important this interview is to hip-hop history. On the other hand, she’s worried about how releasing it could affect things now, especially in the age of social media, where things can quickly spiral out of control. "Maybe one day it will come out, maybe not," she has said, leaving open the possibility that it could be released in the future.

Conclusion

Angie Martinez’s lost interview with Tupac Shakur remains one of hip-hop’s biggest mysteries. Only 12 minutes were ever aired, and the rest of the conversation has stayed locked away. Fans continue to wonder what Tupac said during those two hours and whether the full interview will ever be released.

As Martinez looks back on that moment, the lost interview highlights Tupac’s lasting influence and how even the smallest decisions can have big effects on hip-hop history.

Audio

Some audio of the 1996 Angie Martinez and Tupac Shakur interview

Images

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  Angie Martinez and Tupac Shakur (1/3)

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  (2/3)

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  (3/3)

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  Tupac talking in interview

Videos

Some of the 1996 Interview

Tupac talking about women in interview

External Links

• 2Pac Lost Interview (Angie Martinez)
• Angie Martinez Remembers the Pivotal Moment When Tupac Declared War on Her Radio Show