Released September 26, 1996 Genre Dirty Rap, g-funk, R&B | Recorded August 1996 Length 5:06 | |
Label Death Row Records/Makaveli/Interscope Writer(s) Tupac Shakur, Aaron Hall, Danny Steward, Demetrius Meech Shipp, Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, Joel "JoJo" Hailey, Teddy Riley | ||
"Toss It Up" is a song by rapper Tupac Shakur under the new stage name, Makaveli, hence making it the first song released under this name. It released as the lead single from the album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. It was released just under 2 weeks after his death. There are 3 versions of this song (Album version, Radio cut, and video versions). The song contains a diss to Dr. Dre questioning his sexuality and calling him gay. The song features vocals and singing from Aaron Hall, Danny Boy, K-Ci & JoJo. The song contains samples from No Diggity which both came out close to each other. The single only peaked in the RnB singles chart at number 34.
Contents
The song was also included in Greatest Hits with a new mix and some altered lyrics.
Controversy
After hearing No Diggity (which features Dr. Dre) for the first time, several of Dr. Dre's former Death Row colleagues, including Makaveli, recorded and attempted to release the song, containing numerous insults aimed at Dr. Dre and using a deliberately similar instrumental to "No Diggity", but were forced to replace the production after Blackstreet issued the label with a cease and desist order stopping them from distributing the song . He also made an indirect reference to the song Straight Outta Compton of Dr. Dre's former rap group N.W.A. On the outro of the song, Puff Daddy and Lil Kim were dissed. 2Pac also responds to what Puff Daddy said about him in an interview.
Music video
The music video features both features Shakur, Danny Boy, K-Ci & JoJo; and was directed by Lionel C. Martin. According to Death Row Records, this is the last music video Shakur filmed. Video also includes an appearance from actress LisaRaye McCoy.