Hot 97’s Summer Jam is the best place in Hip Hop for MC’s to get things off their chest. At 2001’s show, Jay-Z was on his “Brooklyn bullsh*t” when he sent a direct shot at Queens’ Prodigy (of Mobb Deep).
“When I was pushing weight back in ’88, you was a ballerina/I got the pictures, I seen ya.” (“Takeover”)
Throwing salt on the wound, pictures of Prodigy were promptly displayed on the screen behind him. The pictures ignited a firestorm as even Prodigy was puzzled as to how Jay got his hands on the rare photos.
“I put Mike Jack’ on stage at Summer Jam, “Billie Jean.” I put Prodigy in his place on that Summer Jam screen.” (“Put On” Remix)
16 years later, the Summer Jam mystery has been solved. Rumors surfaced years ago, with one prime suspect.
During an interview on the Murder Master Music Show, Infamous Mobb member Big Twins confirmed Queens’ own Ashanti, assisted JAY-Z in putting Prodigy in his place. Proof that the streets don’t love nobody.
Here’s what Big Twins had to say:
It had a lot to do with the label and there was more politics at the time. I was telling P to shit on’em in an intelligent way because P is smarter than that nigga when it comes down to do different things. Plus he was in the group Mobb Deep maybe Havoc didn’t want him to do anything. I think he struggled with it not because of what he said and what he did but who put him onto that picture he was a little confused by it because it took him years to find out who did it.
If you look up his Grandmother she is a famous person and people who went down in history went to her school. Ashanti went there and that is the person who gave Jay-Z the picture because she had the book that’s how she got the picture of G.
That’s why you see Irv try to give Prodigy props on Drink Champs but ni—a you the one who gave Jay-Z that picture, get the f—k outta here!
