Run-DMC Was Supposed To Be In The Car With 2Pac On The Night Of Fatal Drive-By

The fatal drive-by that took the life of rap icon Tupac Shakur has been examined from various vantage points over the years, with a number of Hip-Hop figures revealing that they narrowly avoided getting caught in the crossfire.

During a recent appearance on Drink Champs, Run-DMC member Darryl “DMC” McDaniels reavealed that he and his group mates were booked to perform at Club 662, the venue Pac and Death Row Records founder Suge Knight were traveling to at the time of the shooting.

“I remember the night ‘Pac died,” he began, speaking on the evening of Sept. 7, 1996. “We was hired by [662] to perform at the afterparty for the Tyson fight. This was when the Luxor was new. It was fly sh*t. So I’ll never forget, Suge [Knight] brought us there, paid for everything. We was hired for entertainment.”

The 59-year-old then shared that he, Jam Master Jay, and Reverend Run were actually supposed to ride to the club with Pac and Suge, and pointed out that the backseat of the vehicle was unoccupied when the shooting took place.

“So, we get a call, it’s Suge. This a funny [Jam Master] Jay story,” he recalled. “‘Yo, me and ‘Pac coming to get y’all. You’re gonna ride to the fight with us.’ ‘Cause remember, who was in the [BMW 750iL] with them? Nobody was in the backseat.” He added, “Me, Run and Jay was supposed to be in that backseat. He calls him up and says, ‘Yo, I’m coming to get y’all. We want y’all to ride to the fight with us.’”

While DMC says that he and the group took Knight up on his agreement, Jam Master Jay’s failure to decide on a outfit to wear caused them to decide to travel in their own car and meet Pac and Knight at 662 instead.

“Eric, my manager [says], ‘Y’all go ahead without us,’” DMC told the Drink Champs co-hosts. “[I said] ‘Why, what’s the problem?’ [Eric says] ‘Jay’s getting dressed.’ [I said] ‘Huh, what you talking about?’ When Jay would get dressed, Jay would have all his clothes out there. It’s worse than your wife or girl getting [dressed].”

He continued, adding “The reason why we ain’t ride to the fight with ‘Pac is ’cause Jay was getting dressed. Jay would spend hours. It would be a fashion show. Jay’s getting dressed. We say, ‘We’ll meet y’all at the afterparty.’”

DMC says that when they arrived at 662, MC Hammer, producer Mel Man, and others were present, but never took the stage. A member of Death Row’s team approached them with their payment for their performances, informing them that the show would no longer be taking place.

“It’s me, Run and Jay. Everybody leaves. Guy comes with a briefcase, puts the briefcase [on the table]. Opens it up, it’s all cash. $200,000 cash there. ‘Y’all getting paid tonight, just no show. Go home.’ We didn’t know what was going on.”

The Queens, N.Y. native says it wasn’t until the next morning that he discovered that Shakur had been shot and realized the reasoning for the canceled performance. “So next morning, I had an afternoon flight. I’m in the gym on the treadmill and then CNN — ‘Last night in Vegas, 2Pac got shot.’ Like, ‘Oh sh*t, that’s why that happened.’”

Shakur would be hospitalized in Las Vegas following the shooting and ultimately succumb to his injuries six days later on Sept. 13, 1996.

Watch DMC share his fondest Pac stories, Knight’s plan to sign their group, and the night of the fatal shooting below.

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