The trailer summarizes the documentary's exploration of the still unsolved murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. It shows archive footage of the two rappers as well as those connected to them like Suge Knight. Several people interviewed claim Suge Knight and corrupt police were behind the killings, suggesting an organized criminal conspiracy. The documentary aims to uncover the truth of who orchestrated the drive-by shootings and why, providing closure to the victims' families.

1. ‘Biggie and Tupac’
FILM TRAILER ANALYSIS
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2. • Trailer opens straight up to footage of the city skyline
(Presumably Brooklyn, New York, as Biggie Smalls was
born there and an influential rapper from the area)
before showing people holding signs of the Notorious
B.I.G’s face saying ‘Big Poppa’ – Most likely, in support of
him and the ‘West Coast’ as the voice speaking says “…
East Coast, West Coast. East Coast was Puffy, West Coast
was Suge Knight. East Coast was Biggie, West Coast was
Tupac”. This immediately reinforces the idea that this
feud between the East and West Coasts was very
distinctive and everybody knew which side they were on
and who they supported.
• Shows various archive footage to reinforce the voice, i.e.
Tupac at an awards ceremony, Suge Knight (below, the
owner of Death Row Records and the alleged planner
behind both rappers’ deaths) and people rapping in the
streets.
• Then cuts to Biggie Smalls’ mother, Voletta Wallace,
surrounded by artwork of her son and saying “… Come
on, you’re messing with people’s lives here.”
• This broad statement could mean anything in the
context of this documentary, however, the way that it is
delivered in contrast to all the archive footage is done in
a way that is attention-grabbing.

3. • Shot of cameraman, possibly Nick Broomfield,
knocking on a door. When answered, the man inside
says “… You was just knockin’ like you was scared,
man.” and then laughs. This shows that the man is
obviously nervous about being here, suggesting it is a
dangerous subject for him to be looking into.
• Follows up with more archive/home-made footage
of Tupac joking and laughing with friends, possibly to
show Tupac in a good light, as many people do see
him.
• Possibly to also reinforce the idea that his death was
especially tragic or happened too soon.
• Tupac’s joke also references a well-known fictional
figure, Scarface, and his infamous line “Say hello to
my little friend!”. Scarface is arguably one of Al
Pacino’s most famous roles.
• Additionally, an
aspect of rap was
the emphasis on
being a ‘gangster’
and rising from the
bottom, so
Scarface would
serve as an
inspiration to those
in this mind-set.

4. • A lot of the scene changes are punctuated by a
gunshot to symbolise how both rappers died (in drive-by
shootings) and the sound of DJ Turntable scratching,
which was a common instrumental sound in 90s rap, is
heard periodically throughout.
• Shows Biggie Smalls’ stating “… Even though we had our
drama I would never wish death on nobody. Know what
I’m sayin’? ‘Cause there ain’t no comin’ back from that.”
showing that, possibly, he thought of the feud as just
within the music even though he didn’t particularly dislike
Tupac or any West Coast rapper.
• Scenes could be put together in this way to show that
both of these people were actually good people
despite the negative assumptions that come with
people involved in rap and gang crime.
• More archived footage of Tupac laughing and joking,
again possibly used to show how light-hearted or fun he
was.
• Goes on to show Tupac at an awards ceremony stating
“… I make music to bring us together, not separate us,
and all this ‘East’ and ‘West’ needs to stop” linking slightly
with Biggie Smalls’ statement, that they did not
particularly dislike each other and didn’t particularly
want to continue the ‘East vs. West’ feud.

5. • Also shows many other influential rappers, such as Snoop
Dogg and Jay-Z (West and East Coast, respectively)
nodding. This indicates that everyone felt the same but
nobody would really stop.
• Shows the whole audience applauding to further reinforce
this idea.
• Then contrasts it with footage of Biggie shouting
“…Representin’!” to show that, as the person speaking right
at the beginning of the trailer said, Biggie quite literally
represents the East Coast.
• This contrast shows that even though nobody really seemed
to want to continue the feud, they did anyway.
• This is shown in the way that the title for Biggie actually
identifies him as “Bad Boy Records (East Coast)” just in case
people didn’t know whether to support him, or not.
• Shows a man talking over scenes of police officers
marching, police cars, crime scene tape etc.
• States “… There was an East/West rivalry. Let’s make it seem
as if Bad Boy Records had something to do with the shooting
of Tupac Shakur.”
• Then shows footage of Tupac spitting at somebody off
camera, showing that, despite his good reputation shown
before of a light-hearted, fun joker, he was still involved in
violent/hostile situations.
• The statement is a quick introduction to the theme of the
whole documentary, as it explores one theory of who
‘masterminded’ the murders.
• Also contradicts with Biggie’s statement moments before
where he said he would never wish death on anybody.

6. • Furthers these suspicions as Biggie’s mother,
Voletta, asks “… If the FBI was following my
son… Where were they that night my son was
shot?” over footage of music videos and
other footage of police officers marching.
• These suspicions are reinforced further by the
statement from the man pictured below “…
Y’know, I was thinking like, that there was
something fishy goin’ on.”
• This coincides with the posters of the film
claiming it is controversial as this is a rather
significant theory surrounding both rapper’s
deaths.
• This sudden change in tone from light-
hearted/fun musicians to fairly sinister
‘behind-the-camera’ style revelation of ‘all is
not as it seems’ is a good way to promote the
idea of the documentary – To reveal the
truths about this event, good and bad.

7. • Again shows Suge Knight, this time walking around what
looks like a prison.
• Suge Knight had a history of violence so it may be
suggested that he would be capable of committing or
ordering a murder.
• The person below claims that somebody told him “…
Yes, Death Row Records wants you dead.” which
coincides with the images of Suge Knight and the
allegations that he (i.e. Death Row Records) were again
capable of manufacturing something like that.
• Scenes are now punctuated by multiple, rapid gunshots,
rather than single gunshots as it was before.
• Continued use is obviously there to reinforce the theme
of these two rappers being murdered in drive-by
shootings and by linking it to scenes/images of Suge
Knight the association is that he was directly or indirectly
responsible.
• Also has a man stating that “… Law enforcement officers
were working for gangsters, known felons, basically
organised crime.” to support this conspiracy theory and
would explain how it was covered up.
• Along with these are images of two police officers’
‘mugshots’ with possible written charges over the top of
them.

8. • Shows the cameramen walking through a prison,
possibly to interview Suge Knight or the police
officers who were arrested.
• This suggests the information in his documentary
will be reliable as he is directly interviewing his
sources.
• Also suggests that he has some influence as he
has actually been allowed to film an interview
within a prison environment.
• Has audio of a man claiming that “There are
certain people within the DA’s office that knew
about this thing all along.” to reinforce this idea of
organised crime and corruption.
• Shows a picture of Tupac and Suge Knight sat
together to keep reinforcing this idea of the
connection between them and Tupac’s death.
• Plays audio (presumably genuine, archived audio)
of what sounds like somebody involved in an
investigation/radio report asking “Y’know, had it
been your ordinary drive-by shooting we would
have solved it a long time ago. You gotta think
‘Who could do this and get away with it?’”

9. • Then cuts to a woman who is visibly upset saying
“Please stop rolling ‘cause this is nothing to do with
the interview.” indicating that they have
uncovered something sensitive or upsetting (again
supporting it’s “controversial” content).
• Reveals one person they interviewed in prison,
claiming that they came forward because of
“Guilt.” as they begin to cry.
• Shows footage of what appears to be a televised
interview of Suge Knight.
• When the interviewer asks if he would tell the
police who killed Tupac, if he knew, he replies
“Absolutely… Not.” which could be suggested
that he either would not want to turn himself in to
the police or would not want to have any of the
investigation link back in.
• Could also suggest that he actually wanted Tupac
dead and would not want to help any process in
finding out who killed him.
• Cuts back to show archive footage of Tupac and
other people in the streets as somebody else films
them.

10. • Cuts back to show the man who claimed he felt
guilt admitting that he “… Transported moneys to
arrange the hit on Biggie Smalls.”
• This proves that it was definitely a pre-meditated
attack that somebody had ordered (at least, in
the case of Biggie Smalls).
• Tupac’s shooting was allegedly revenge from a
fight between Tupac and a member of the street
gang, the Crips.
• Man in the below picture appears in the trailer
again admitting that he believed the same person
was responsible for both killings and that the LAPD
has know “… All along.”
• Biggie Smalls’ mother then states that she “…
Would like to know why. Ms. Wallace would like to
know why.” this suggests that the documentary
would not only help from a legal standpoint but
would also benefit Biggie Smalls’ mother and other
people close to him emotionally.
• Ends with the repetition of a single gunshot.