Tupac Fallout That Led To Quad Studio Shooting

Haitian Jack and Tupac

Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant was a music promoter and figure in the New York nightlife scene who had a significant and ultimately contentious relationship with Tupac Shakur. 

Initial Friendship

Tupac and Haitian Jack were initially friends in the early 1990s. Shakur, who was filming Above the Rim in New York, was reportedly drawn to the "street" persona that Agnant embodied. Agnant was known for his connections with celebrities, including Mike Tyson and Madonna, whom Shakur also briefly dated. 

Deterioration and Conflict

Their relationship soured due to a number of incidents:

• Sexual Assault Case: Shakur was charged in a sexual assault case that allegedly occurred on November 18, 1993. The woman involved was reportedly affiliated with Haitian Jack and his associates, leading Shakur to feel he was set up.

Arrest Date: Shakur and his road manager, Charles Fuller, were arrested shortly after the woman reported the incident to police in November 1993.

Conviction Date: Shakur was found guilty of first-degree sexual abuse in his trial in late 1994, with the verdict reached on November 30, 1994.

Sentencing Date: He was sentenced to a term of 18 months to 4 and one-half years in prison on February 7, 1995

• Quad Studio Shooting: The primary point of contention stems from the November 30, 1994, ambush and shooting of Shakur at Quad Recording Studios in Manhattan. Shakur came to believe that Agnant, along with music executive Jimmy Henchman, was involved in orchestrating the robbery and shooting.

• Disrespect and Warnings: Friends and mentors, including Mike Tyson and The Notorious B.I.G., reportedly warned Shakur to be careful around Agnant, indicating that Shakur was "out of his league". Agnant allegedly wore Shakur's stolen jewelry after the incident. 

The phrase "Jimmy Henchman set me up, wet me up, stuck me up, but you never shut me up" is a lyric from Tupac Shakur's classic "Against All Odds," referencing his belief that Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond (real name James Rosemond) was involved in setting him up for the 1994 Quad Studio shooting where Tupac was shot multiple times.

Aftermath

The fallout led to a very public feud. Shakur directly accused "Haitian Jack" of being a "snitch" and being involved in the attack in his song "Against All Odds". In a letter written from Rikers Island, Shakur expressed concern that the conflict was a "matter of life & death" and asked Madonna if she had any information on Jack and his crew. 

Haitian Jack denied any involvement in the attack and has maintained his innocence regarding the various accusations. He was later featured in the 2021 FX documentary Hip Hop Uncovered, where his life and influence in the hip-hop world were explored.