Rosie Perez Reveals How Madonna Asked for Help to Hook Her Up with Tupac Shakur Ahead of Secret Relationship

On the Wednesday, Nov. 6 episode of 'The Drew Barrymore Show', Rosie Perez opened up about how she became Madge's wingman

Rosie Perez essentially played matchmaker for Madonna and Tupac Shakur.

On the Wednesday, Nov. 6 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the Do the Right Thing star, 60, opened up about how she became Madge's wing-woman when it came to the "How Do You Want It" rapper, per Entertainment Weekly.

Perez revealed that back in 1993, her then-beau had bailed on being her date to the Soul Train Music Awards, so her good friend Shakur stepped in instead.

Related: Tupac's Prison Letter Reveals He Ended His Romance with Madonna Because She's White

"So I was going to the Soul Train Music Awards and my date calls me up a half an hour before I'm getting in the car," she said, "and says, 'I can't go with you because my girlfriend will see me.'"

At this point, an outraged Barrymore is ready to teleport back to 1993 and fight this man — whoever he may be — with her bare hands, but Perez continues.

"I was like, 'You mother...!" she said. After the conversation with her ex-beau ended, the phone rang again and she initially thought it was the jerk she had been dating, but she realized it was Shakur. The White Men Can't Jump actress then began crying and spilled the story to him.

"And he said, 'You know what, I'm gonna go with you, we're gonna walk up in there, we're gonna act like we're on a date, and he's going to die,'" Perez recalled.

During the awards show, Madonna, 66, arrived and was immediately intrigued by the late hip-hop icon.

"She was there and she came up to me and she was like, 'Yo, what's up? Y'all are together?' And I said, 'No,' she goes, 'Really?' I go, 'Yeah,' she goes, 'Hook me up. I said, 'You got it,'" the Birds of Prey actress said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Related: Madonna Can't Stop Auction House From Selling Lock of Her Hair, Underwear, Tupac Breakup Letter

Madonna and the "Hit Em Up" musician dated secretly from 1993 to 1994.

In 2015, the Queen of Pop confirmed their relationship during an interview with Howard Stern.

“I was dating Tupac Shakur … and he got me all riled up on life in general,” the "Ray of Light" artist said at the time, adding that she felt “very gangster” with him.