Special Ed Reflects on 2Pac’s Role in Securing His ‘Juice’ Cameo

Hip Hop pioneer Special Ed has never shied away from giving credit where it’s due, and during a recent interview with Drink Champs, he shared a heartwarming story about the late 2Pac’s pivotal role in helping him secure a cameo in the iconic film “Juice.”

In the interview, released on Saturday (September 16), the Brooklyn native recounted his journey to landing a role in the film and the instrumental support he received from the California rapper.

Special Ed explained, “I wasn’t really supposed to be in the movie. What happened was, I read for the part because I wanted to be in the movie at the time. So when I went to the set, I went to the set to go fuck with Pac, you know?”

He continued by shedding light on his close friendship with 2Pac, revealing their previous collaborations on music projects. When Special Ed saw the actor cast for the role he auditioned for, he was taken aback. He expressed his surprise, saying, “When I saw who they casted for the part I read for, I was like, ‘how the fuck y’all get a lookalike?'”

In a heartwarming twist, 2Pac decided to step in and make a significant gesture. Special Ed recalled the moment: “So Pac, he acted like he was about to do something, and was like, ‘yo, Imma be right back.’ And when he came back, he was like, ‘yo, Ed, I got you a little part in the movie.'”

While he didn’t secure the role he initially read for (Raheem, which went to Khalil Kain), Special Ed was given a small part in a scene involving a character with Raheem’s girlfriend, Keesha.

“Juice” remains a beloved classic in the world of Hip Hop and cinema, and Special Ed’s heartfelt reminiscences about 2Pac’s generous act add an extra layer of appreciation to the film’s legacy. It’s a testament to the bonds formed within the Hip Hop community and the willingness to support one another’s dreams and aspirations.

In a similar vein, Treach of Naughty by Nature shared his own memories related to “Juice” during an interview with HipHopDX in 2022. Treach discussed a particular scene involving 2Pac (playing Roland Bishop) and a Puerto Rican gang, revealing that there was an amusing and unseen part of the scene.

He mentioned, “You’re going to know me because I’m the only dark-skinned guy in the Puerto Rican gang. When you see that, you’re going to be like, ‘Why is this black dude over here?’ No, I said for the movie’s sake, I was Dominican. It was Uptown. It was actually one part with me and 2Pac when I yanked him up and grabbed him.”

Treach went on to describe how 2Pac had to suppress his smile during the scene because he was surprised by his friend’s actions. Despite the unexpected moment, 2Pac’s exceptional acting skills allowed him to stay in character until the director called “cut,” resulting in a memorable and lighthearted behind-the-scenes story from the making of “Juice.”

Check out the interview below.