Hollywood Life - For Shaquille O’Neal, 45, it’ll always be a lingering question of “what if?” He was supposed to join Biggie Smalls and attend an after-party for the Soul Train Music Awards on March 9, 1997, but ended up sleeping through it, according to The Undefeated. As Shaq slumbered, Biggie was fatally shot just fifty yards away from where the party was held. “I don’t say I could’ve prevented it,” said Shaq, looking back on the fateful night. “I was just saying, if I was out there by the car, would they still have fired? That’s the only thing I would say to myself.”
This story came out some time ago, but on the 20th anniversary of Biggie Smalls' death, now feels like an appropriate time to share.
Shaq's recollection of the events strikes an emotional chord for both himself and fans of the deceased rap icon, who was gunned down in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997 following an afterparty for the Soul Train Music Awards. It also allows, however, allows an opportunity to remember the Biggie-Shaq connection.
The Notorious B.I.G. first gave love to Shaq on his hit Gimme the Loot, and would later collaborate with the NBA legend on Shaq's You Can’t Stop The Reign.
Warning: Language may be NSFW
One can only imagine the scene watching these larger-than-life figures hang during their rise to stardom in the '90s.
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