Toss It Up

Behind the catchy R&B-rap lies a minor feud: the first version of Toss It Up had to be re-recorded due to allegations of plagiarism. Under the name Makaveli, the song was ultimately released as the first single from The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, recorded with K-Ci & JoJo, Aaron Hall, and Danny Boy.

Plagiarism Dispute with Teddy Riley and Jabs at Dr. Dre

The original version sounded so similar to Blackstreet's hit No Diggity that its producer, Teddy Riley, sent a cease-and-desist letter. Tupac and his team subsequently re-recorded the song with new music and new lyrics. The new lines contained jabs at Dr. Dre: he had left Death Row in the spring of 1996 and was working with Riley. In this way, a party song also became a commentary on the split in West Coast rap.

Blowtorch in the Auto Shop: The Last Music Video

Director Lionel C. Martin shot the video on the evening of September 6, 1996, in an auto repair shop. Tupac appears wearing safety goggles, wielding a blowtorch and a baseball bat. It was the last music video he filmed, one day later, he was shot in Las Vegas. Aaron Hall is not seen in the video.

Four Versions on the British Maxi-Single

The British maxi-single contains four versions (12" INT 95521, released via MCA).