Will.I.Am revealed that The Black Eyed Peas and Tupac Shakur had a heartbreaking interaction in the 90s on the latest episode of the Drink Champs podcast with NORE and DJ EFN. Despite never collaborating musically, the incident was memorable for Will and his group.
“I got a story about Pac,” said Will.I.Am when asked if he’d ever met Tupac. “So, me and Apl [Apl.De.Ap] are best friends, right? We started the Black Eyed Peas together … So, it’s 1994. I’m 19. He’s 19. I’m a virgin. He’s not. And he [Apl] had this girlfriend. She looked like Rosie Perez, bro. She was beautiful—a Puerto Rican girl. Named Rosario… Everybody thought, ‘Wow, she’s amazing.’ So one day, he’s like, in a heavy Filipino accent, ‘I think I want to take her to Roscoe’s Chicken N’ Waffles.’ I’m like, ‘Yo bro, I think she’s going to like that.’ We’re 19, right?”
Tupac unexpectedly arrives during Apl and his girlfriend’s date, creating an unforgettable memory for the Black Eyed Peas.
Will.I.Am continued: “So he [Apl] goes and takes her [Rosario] to Roscoe’s Chicken N’ Waffles. And they sit there, havin’ they lunch. And in walks Tupac. So Tupac eyes … All eyes on Rosario. ‘Oh gosh, Tupac’s here, I’ll be back. I want to get his autograph.’ So she goes sits with Tupac. N***a, 20 minutes turn into 30 minutes, turn into 40 minutes, and the chicken and waffles get real cold. Grits turn real hard. And he’s like, ‘I’m outta here, I’m outta here.’ And so he walks home. So, our story within our family, is that, Tupac – they didn’t do nothing – but, they at Chicken N’ Waffles, they ain’t doin’ sh*t at the freakin’ booth. They stayed at the restaurant. But, he [Tupac] snatched Apl’s girl up.”
In the 90s, Tupac was known as a ladies’ man with his relatively popular songs “I Get Around,” “How Do You Want It,” “Ratha Be Ya N***a,” and “Temptations.” He had high-profile relationships with actresses Jasmine Guy, Madonna, Whitney Houston, and later revealed Jada Pinkett Smith.
Although Tupac was born in New York, he credits Oakland, California, with raising him and teaching him the ways of life after he moved there in 1988. Before his untimely death in 1996, Tupac reigned over the West Coast after signing with Death Row Records in 1995. A month before his death, he released “To Live & Die In L.A.,” paying tribute to Los Angeles.
The Black Eyed Peas originated from Los Angeles and signed with Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records as a trio in 1993. They released their debut single in 1994, but their progress stopped after Eazy E died in 1995.
Later, the group added Fergie, and in 2003, they reached iconic status with their award-winning third album, Elephunk, which included smash hits such as “Where’s The Love,” “Hey Mama,” and “Let’s Get It Started.”
On Drink Champs, Will.I.Am, N.O.R.E., and DJ EFN deeply discussed the history of the Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, A.I., and more.