I heard an early version of that beat about a year after BIG's album was released, and it sounded nothing like the final version. It was dope for sure (which is why it was being passed around ON TAPE in the dorms), but the Hitmen definitely added that sheen to it by the time it was released on Life After Death (check the credits - there's co-production). I do not blame Foxy for not seeing the potential up front, and not recognizing it on the back end.

Funny you posted this story, though. That beat was the first one I thought of when I saw the original post.