Killa (Original Version)
Track Information
| Artist | Bumpy Knuckles feat. 2Pac & Ray Dogg |
| Track | Killa (Original Version) |
| Performers | Ray Dogg (Benzino), 2Pac, Bumpy Knuckles (Freddie Foxxx) |
| Producer(s) | Stretch |
| Writer(s) | Freddie Foxxx, Tupac Shakur, Raymond Scott (Benzino) |
| Recorded | 1993 |
| Released | Unreleased |
| Length | 3:03 |
Overview
Killa (Original Version) is an unreleased collaboration between Bumpy Knuckles (Freddie Foxxx) and 2Pac, recorded during the original sessions for Crazy Like A Foxxx in the mid-1990s. Unlike the commercially released Jailhouse Version, the original recording features a darker production style which many collectors believe bears the distinctive characteristics of Stretch's work during the same period.
Although the original version has never received an official commercial release, it circulated privately among collectors for many years before the album was finally issued in 2008. The released version features a noticeably different production, suggesting that the song was remixed before its official release.
The recording contains one of the clearest acknowledgements of Stretch on any 2Pac collaboration outside the Live Squad catalogue. During his verse, 2Pac raps, "Big Stretch hit me off when I hit the set," directly referencing Stretch's involvement during the recording session. Together with later comments from K-Low that Stretch was involved in the creation of the song, this strongly suggests that Stretch played an important role in the original recording.
Recording History
The original version of Killa was recorded during Freddie Foxxx's original Crazy Like A Foxxx sessions, which took place around 1993–1994. Although the project was completed during the mid-1990s, the album was shelved and remained unreleased for more than a decade.
When Crazy Like A Foxxx was finally released in 2008, the song appeared as Killa (Jailhouse Version). Comparison of the two recordings shows that the commercially released version features substantially different production, indicating that the original recording had been remixed prior to release.
Collectors have long noted that the original version closely resembles Stretch's production style from the same period. Combined with 2Pac's lyric, "Big Stretch hit me off when I hit the set,", and K-Low's statement that Stretch was involved in the creation of the song, the available evidence suggests that Stretch may have contributed to the original production. However, no official production credits for the original version have yet surfaced, and the precise nature of his involvement remains the subject of ongoing research.
Samples
Samples Used
No confirmed samples are currently documented.
Lyrics
[Hook]
"Killa"
"Killa"
"Killa"
"Killa"
Ray Dogg
It's the return of the troublemaker, cause they couldn't keep me cuffed upI be a dog so I'm never getting roughed up
I grab a motherfuckin' trigger of an M1
You get done, this ain't a fuckin' water gun
Cause I'm a bad boy, so you know the kid goes
Into a thing when I let another nigga know
I get wrecked on a crew if they diss
Cause 2Pac and Foxxx'll die for this
I don't go for it, never have and never will
I call shots for my crew, if you step you get killed
And fuck doing things in an orderly fashion
Let your ass do the walking, I let my fingers do the blasting
And don't never think a nigga take shorts
Cause I'm in the rap game, ain't NOTHING changed
We're all killers just to say the least
Fuck cuties, Ray Dogg to beasts
Yo, I'm a killa...
[Hook]
Don't fuck with a "Killa"
2Pac
Sick, thicker than most of these tricksI got my mind on making money but you stuck on these fake bitches
I stay blunted and never fronted and I doubt if I do
Cause if I did then I'd get beat up by my fuckin' crew
A real nigga since you figure that you ready to box
You catch knots from my nigga Freddie Foxxx
Uh, you don't really want none from 'Pac
Cause I be strapped with a Glock
And throw thangs like I'm born to pop
I hit this motherfuckin' gin and I be all in
Hell yeah, young nigga straight ballin'
And everybody wants to see if I'm a G
Weighing 165 and I'm high till I fuckin' die
Thug Life in this motherfucker catchin'wreck
Big Stretch hit me off when I hit the set
But now I'm cool cause I'm tipsy and I feel a
Nigga tryna see if I'm a killer, come on
[Hook]
Don't fuck with a "Killa"