Culture – 5 hours ago

Photo Credit: REVOLT

On Drink Champs, NBA veteran Shaquille O’Neal shared why his all-star collaboration with The Notorious B.I.G., JAY-Z and Nas never dropped.

The world may never hear Shaquille O’Neal‘s all-star version of “No Love Lost” featuring The Notorious B.I.G., JAY-Z and Nas. The four-time NBA champion recently appeared on Drink Champs to discuss why the song, which also featured Bronx emcee Lord Tariq, was never released.

“People didn’t clear it, but I didn’t take it personal,” Shaq said in the episode. “Me being in the studio with Nas, I’m happy. I get to call my boy and say, ‘Come over, Nas here.’ I get to call my boy and say, ‘Jay in here.’ I get to call my boys and say, ‘Yo Biggie at the house he ’bout to jump in the seat.’ That’s what it’s all about.”

The version of “No Love Lost” that appeared on Shaq’s third album You Can’t Stop the Reign under his rap moniker Shaq Diesel, only featured JAY-Z and Lord Tariq. Lead single “You Can’t Stop the Reign” featured Biggie, whose verse was reused on Michael Jackson song “Invincible” from his 2001 album Invincible.

Shaq added: “And not to disrespect you guys, it wasn’t enough money in that for me. I went platinum right, and they showed me the check, and I was like, this some bullshit.”

Shaq explains why his JAY-Z, Nas & Biggie collab never came outhttps://t.co/FoC4kydEIQ

Via: @Drinkchamps pic.twitter.com/EIuBErM2rw

— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) October 13, 2022

Elsewhere in the conversation, Shaq revealed an earlier version of “You Can’t Stop the Reign” had an unreleased verse from Biggie that Shaq still has. According to the former NBA player, he had to leave the verse off because it wouldn’t be suitable for child listeners.

“And the first verse, I’m the only one that got it, and I’ll never play it,” Shaq said. “He went off, and I damn near had a tear in my eye ’cause I had to press that button and I’m like, ‘Umm Big,’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, for the kids, for the kids. My bad, Diesel,’ and then he did the verse in the song. I got it, but I’m not going to play it.”

Shaq’s fourth and final studio album Respect, was released in 1998 with guest appearances from Peter Gunz, Sauce Money, the late Kobe Bryant and more.

Watch the full Drink Champs episode below.