Greg Kading

Early life and education

Gregory James Kading was born on May 1, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario, establishing his Canadian origin before his family's move to the United States. He completed his secondary education at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, California, graduating with the class of 1981. For his post-secondary studies, Kading attended California State University, Long Beach, a large public university in the Los Angeles area. He also pursued studies at Calvary Chapel Bible College, which provided a different educational perspective before he entered law enforcement.

Law enforcement career

Greg Kading's career in public service began in January 1986 when he joined the Orange County Sheriff's Department as a deputy. His initial assignment was working within the county jail system, a role he held for two years and eight months until September 1988. Seeking a different challenge, he then joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1988, where he would spend the majority of his career. Kading served with the LAPD for a total of 22 years, earning a position in the elite Robbery-Homicide Division, which handles the city's most high-profile murder cases.

Greg Kading retired from the Los Angeles Police Department in June 2010 after 22 years of service. He had worked in the robbery homicide division. The following year, he released his book. He now works as a private investigator in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

• January 1986: Begins work as a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
• September 1988: Leaves the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
• 1988: Joins the Los Angeles Police Department.
• June 2010: Retires from the LAPD after 22 years of service.
• 2011: Publishes his book 'Murder Rap'.
• February 2021: Featured as an expert in the Netflix series 'Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel'.
• Present: Works as a private investigator in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Tupac and Biggie murder investigations

Kading's most prominent investigative work came when he was assigned to a multi-agency law enforcement task force in the mid-2000s, a period roughly a decade after the original crimes. His work involved synthesizing evidence from various sources, including previous police reports and new interviews, to build a comprehensive theory of the cases. The investigation's conclusions pointed toward a narrative of retaliation between rival factions associated with the East Coast and West Coast hip-hop scenes. Many law enforcement observers and journalists credit the foundational work of Kading's task force with creating the evidentiary path that led to the 2023 arrest of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis for the murder of Tupac Shakur.

Publication and content of 'Murder Rap'

In September 2011, Greg Kading self-published his book, 'Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations'. The book presented what Kading described as previously unreleased evidence from the task force investigation, directly implicating powerful figures in the music industry. Kading's central allegations were that entertainment mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight were involved in orchestrating the murders as part of a violent business rivalry. The release of the book prompted significant media attention, with MediaBistro.com calling it a new round of explosive media coverage about the unsolved killings.

The book also served as a critique of the original police investigations, detailing what Kading described as behind-the-scenes failures by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department. He argued that a lack of cooperation and missed opportunities prevented the timely arrest of the killers, allowing the cases to grow cold. The families of Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace have not issued public statements responding to the specific allegations Kading made in his book, leaving his narrative to stand without their direct rebuttal. The key figures and events discussed in 'Murder Rap' include several specific claims and subsequent developments that have kept the cases in the public eye for years.

• Allegation: Sean 'Diddy' Combs implicated in the murder of Tupac Shakur.
• Allegation: Suge Knight implicated in the murder of the Notorious B.I.G.
• Critique: Details failures in cooperation between the LVMPD and LAPD.
• Media Impact: Prompted renewed explosive media coverage in 2011.
• Adaptation: A full-length documentary based on the book began shooting in 2013.
• Legal Outcome: Kading's work is credited by many for contributing to the 2023 arrest of Duane Davis.

Reactions and controversy

The claims made in 'Murder Rap' generated immediate and strong reactions from the individuals named and others connected to the hip-hop community. Sean Combs responded to the allegation that he was involved by telling Los Angeles reporters via email that the story was pure fiction and completely ridiculous, offering a direct and categorical denial. Suge Knight, the other central figure implicated, has not publicly addressed Kading's claim, maintaining silence on the matter. Other figures from the music world offered scepticism, with rapper Lil' Cease, a childhood friend of Christopher Wallace, telling radio host Sway Calloway on the 'Sway in the Morning' show that he did not believe Combs had ordered Shakur's shooting.

In response to Combs's denial, Kading defended his work during an appearance on the All-out-Attack Podcast with host Harry Robinson. He stated that Combs needed to let the people have what they deserve, and what they deserve is the truth, standing firmly by the conclusions of his investigation. The public debate surrounding the book's allegations highlighted the enduring mystery and cultural weight of the two murder cases. The varied responses illustrate the contentious nature of Kading's findings and the difficulty of resolving historical crimes within the court of public opinion.

Media profile and ongoing influence

Kading's expertise has made him a sought-after commentator for media projects dealing with true crime and high-profile investigations. His feature in the February 2021 Netflix docu-series Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, which covered the death of Elisa Lam, demonstrated his credibility extends beyond the hip-hop murder cases. The 2013 commencement of shooting for a documentary film adapted from his book indicated sustained commercial and public interest in his investigative narrative. The 2023 arrest in the Tupac Shakur case brought Kading's earlier work back into the spotlight, with many news analyses connecting his task force's findings to the recent legal developments. He works as a private investigator in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is a Canadian American author and former Los Angeles Police Department detective. He is best known for working on a task force that investigated the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. In February 2021, he was featured in the Netflix docu series Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.

Questions about Greg Kading

Is Greg Kading Canadian?

Yes, Greg Kading is Canadian-American. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, and received his early education there before moving to California for high school. He maintains a professional presence in Canada, working as a private investigator in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His Canadian birth and current work location establish a clear and ongoing connection to Canada.

What did Greg Kading's investigation conclude about the Tupac and Biggie murders?

In his book, he included new evidence in the rappers' murders that he said implicated entertainment mogul Sean Combs and CEO of Death Row Records, Suge Knight. The book also details what Kading described as the behind the scenes failure by the LVMPD and LAPD to arrest Shakur's and Wallace's killers. In response to Combs's denial of the claims, Kading said that Combs needs to let the people have the truth. The families of Shakur and Wallace have not responded to the allegations.

What is Greg Kading's book called and when was it published?

Greg Kading's book is titled 'Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations'. He self-published the book in September 2011. The release generated significant media attention for its explosive allegations about the unsolved killings, described as a new round of coverage. A documentary film based on the book began production in 2013, extending the reach of its narrative.

How is Greg Kading connected to the 2023 arrest in the Tupac Shakur case?

Many observers credit Greg Kading and his LAPD task force's investigative work for laying the groundwork that led to the 2023 arrest. Duane 'Keffe D' Davis was arrested in 2023 for the September 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur. Kading's task force had compiled evidence and conducted interviews in the mid-2000s that pointed toward Davis's involvement, which was later detailed in his book. This prior work is seen as a crucial component in the case that eventually resulted in an arrest nearly three decades after the crime.

Where does Greg Kading work now?

Following his retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department in 2010, Greg Kading works as a private investigator. He operates his private investigation practice in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In this capacity, he applies the skills honed during his 22-year career with the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division. He has also been featured as an expert in media projects like the Netflix series Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel in 2021.

How did people like Sean Combs react to Kading's book?

Sean Combs reacted strongly to the allegations in Kading's book, denouncing them as pure fiction and completely ridiculous in emails to Los Angeles reporters. Suge Knight has not publicly addressed the claims made against him. Rapper Lil' Cease, a friend of the Notorious B.I.G., expressed disbelief on a radio show that Combs was involved. Kading responded to Combs's denial on a podcast by stating the public deserved the truth, maintaining his position.

Sources and further reading

• Greg Kading (Wikipedia)
• Episode 60: Investigations & Interrogations, Looking Outside. (looking-outside.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-31.