Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur (1971-1996)
Rest in Peace


There has not been a figure like Tupac in Hip Hop.
The ability to inspire millions of people all over the world, from all walks of life.
His work as been dissected in institutions of Higher Learning,
and it's the voice of the street.
The self-confidence and intelligence he spoke with at such a young age.
The complexity of speaking about the state of the world
while being a Hip Hop icon.
He was the Muhammad Ali of Rap.

He died too soon.

He died when he was submerged in media fueled turmoil,
when he was the face of gangsta rap,
when he was in the middle of the notorious "east coast/west coast beef".

He had multiple personalities which made him difficult to understand at times,
but being the son of a panther,
you knew where his heart stood.
He was an actor.
Not those rappers that act.
Not one of those rappers who play the same roll on the
movie screen that they play on records.
He was an ACTOR.

Tupac was not finished delivering his message.

What if Malcolm X died before he went to prison?
What if Muhammad Ali died when he was Cassius?
What if Marvin Gaye died before 'What's Goin On?'

When I hear the question "What would Hip Hop be if Tupac was still alive"?
The most common response is "Half of these niggaz wouldn't be in the game!!"
It's hard to say.
My response is, he would have been refined.
He would have been uplifting the youth, while making them dance at the same time.
He would have reached more people.

Tupac is now a martyr.
His life is still examined and interpolated by millions,
but we'll never know.

He will always be in the game, and he will always be with us.

He will always be missed.


The picture above is one of the best photos of Tupac. I feel it incompasses everything about his life, struggle, personality, and vision.

This is Tupac from my perspective, and he touched so many people, each in different ways. If you would like to share something, pls leave a comment.