Background · Runnin' (Dying to Live)
Ten years after their first joint session, Eminem brought Tupac and Biggie together once more. Out of Runnin' he made a new song: Runnin' (Dying to Live) was released as the first single from the soundtrack Tupac: Resurrection and became one of the most successful posthumous Tupac songs in Europe.
Two Verses Remain, Framed by Feud and Death
Of the original recording, only Biggie's and Tupac's verses remained; Eminem cut the parts by Dramacydal, Stretch, and Lil' Vicious. As a counterpoint, he set the chorus from Edgar Winter's ballad Dying to Live against them, transposed to a higher key.
In addition, he framed the song with interview excerpts: at the beginning Tupac speaks about the feud with Biggie, at the end Biggie speaks about Tupac's death. A street rap from 1993 was thus turned into a song about two lives that both ended violently.
Archival Footage in the Video, No. 19 on the Hot 100
The video edits together archival footage and interviews of both rappers, but is more heavily censored than the radio version.
The single reached No. 19 on the Hot 100 in December 2003. In 2005, ASCAP honored the song at its Rhythm & Soul Music Awards as soundtrack song of the year.
Four Versions on the US 12", Different Tracks in Europe
Shown here are four versions, as contained on the US 12" from Amaru/Interscope.
The European CD maxi instead contains the song, Still Ballin' (Nitty Remix), the instrumental, and the video. Back then, the song was sometimes listed as “Runnin' (Dying To Live)” without Biggie in the title.