The Day Biggie Found Out How Real Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Really Were

In the mid-1990s, hip hop was not only evolving musically but also engaging in multi-layered rivalries between artists and crews, reflecting street realism, ego, and New York’s ever-competitive spirit. The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace), Ghostface Killah (Dennis Coles), and Raekwon (Corey Woods) were front-and-center in this dynamic era. Each hailed from different corners of New York City, but their stories were more interconnected than most realized.

A New York State of Mind

By the time Biggie released his debut album, Ready to Die, in 1994, he had already become a mainstay in Brooklyn’s rap scene. His intricate wordplay and gritty storytelling reflected Bed-Stuy’s hard knock life. Meanwhile, over the East River in Staten Island, the Wu-Tang Clan had erupted onto the scene, bringing nine formidable emcees together under one banner: among them, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, who would become two of the group’s most popular and respected lyricists.

With the Wu’s 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Raekwon’s solo effort, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… in 1995, the group carved its place in hip hop history. Their music crackled with street imagery, mafioso tales, and deeply introspective lyrics, delivered with a rawness that some listeners interpreted as not just art, but autobiography.

Rumblings in the Rap Game

Hip hop, especially in the ’90s, reveled in competitive bravado. Rappers often threw “subliminals” or veiled shots at one another, directly or indirectly. Among the tracks that surfaced were Wu-Tang songs that seemed to take issue with the commercialization of rap, often associated with Biggie and his then-burgeoning partnership with Puff Daddy (Sean Combs) at Bad Boy Records.

The rivalry came to a boil on Raekwon’s 1995 song “Ice Water,” and especially, “Shark Niggas (Biters)” from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…. Here, Raekwon and Ghost (who voiced the opening) warned so-called “biters”—artists they felt were imitating Wu-Tang’s rugged, streetwear-infused style and grimy, code-heavy lyricism. There was speculation in the streets and among fans that some of these lyrics were aimed at Biggie, especially regarding his cover for Ready to Die and his Versace-inspired fashions, elements which Wu-Tang claimed to embody before Bad Boy’s embrace of luxury wear.

New York was abuzz. Were Wu-Tang coming for Biggie? Would this rivalry spill into the streets?

Crossing Paths: A Tense Encounter

One vivid story cemented the perception of how “real” Ghostface and Raekwon were—its details whispered from basketball courts to barbershops across New York. As legend has it, Notorious B.I.G. crossed paths with Ghostface Killah and Raekwon in Midtown Manhattan—not in a club, but in a music industry office building.

At the time, rumors were swirling that Biggie was upset about “Shark Niggas” and the shots Wu-Tang seemed to be firing. But Biggie was no stranger to confrontation. As the story goes, he entered the building flanked by his Brooklyn crew, Bad Boy affiliates on alert, ready for whatever.

In the lobby, Biggie spotted Ghostface and Raekwon. The tension was palpable. Stories differ on who made the first move, but one thing’s clear: this was no ordinary run-in.

Ghostface—known for his intensity and no-nonsense attitude—was the first to break the silence. “Yo, what’s good?” The phrase, in New York slang, could mean anything from a simple greeting to the precursor of a fight. Biggie, never one to back down, returned the energy. A brief, loaded conversation ensued. Did Ghost and Rae mean everything they were saying on the tracks? Was Biggie really swagger jacking Wu-Tang’s style?

But instead of erupting into violence, the situation diffused. No punches, no shoving. Accounts say it was respect, not fear, that took over. After brief words, they sized each other up and realized something important: everyone in that lobby was genuinely about what they rapped—a rare commodity in an industry where, even then, real and fake were often blurred. Mutual respect was born in that moment, evidence that authenticity wins out.

The Art of Keeping It Real

What makes this encounter legendary isn’t a brawl or a provocation, but the mutual recognition between three future icons. They understood that rap battles, competitive as they might be, were as much about respect as they were about rivalry.

Ghostface and Raekwon’s reputations as “real” were never again questioned by Biggie. It’s said that after that encounter, Biggie realized the Wu members were as uncompromising in person as they were on wax. Meanwhile, Ghost and Rae saw in Biggie someone equally unafraid to embrace the realities of his upbringing, who wore his pain and triumphs with pride.

For a brief moment, the possibility of violence gave way to the higher value placed on street code and artistry. In an industry rife with “studio gangsters”—artists who exaggerated or fabricated their criminal histories—these three men stood out as authentic voices for their respective streets.

Legacy: Mutual Respect Amid the Rivalries

Ultimately, the day Biggie found out how real Ghostface Killa and Raekwon really were is more than just a footnote in hip hop folklore; it reflects the complex, delicate balance between rivalry and unity within the culture.

Biggie would later pay homage to Wu-Tang in interviews, speaking about the respect he held for their talent and authenticity. Ghostface and Raekwon, for their part, have spoken on the tragedy of Biggie’s loss, mourning not just an artist, but a kindred spirit who understood the stakes and burdens of telling your story raw and unfiltered.

Today, this moment remains a testament to New York’s hip hop golden era—a time when keeping it real was the ultimate badge of honor, and when even the fiercest rivals could find common ground in authenticity. It serves as a reminder for every new generation: longevity in hip hop is built on truth, respect, and realness—the codes that Ghostface, Raekwon, and Biggie embodied that day in Midtown Manhattan.