Tupac Amaru Shakur, born Lesane Parish Crooks, also known by his stage name 2Pac and briefly Makaveli, was an African American rapper known for his humour and ability to mix with all crowds. He was more than just a rapper; he was a legend. Tupac was a skilled rapper, songwriter, and poet who considered the face and spirit of hip hop culture. Of him, it has been spoken that Tupac Shakur is the most influential hip-hop artist of all time. Even in death, 2Pac remains a transcendental rap figure.
In the 90s, Tupac and Snoop Dogg were regarded as the two top American rappers. During 2Pac’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Snoop Dogg acknowledged him as “greatest rapper of all time”. Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, was an active member of the Black Panther Party and one of the defendants at the “Panther 21” trial. Tupac got his start in the rap game while living in Oakland, California, after moving there from Harlem, New York as a teen. The city recently honoured him by renaming MacArthur Boulevard between Grand Avenue and Van Buren Avenue as “Tupac Shakur Way” following unanimous city council vote.
Tupac’s impact on the music industry was immense. He recorded about 150 songs during the final year of his life, often completing three per day. He felt that rappers who could not perform their verses on the first try weren’t ready to be rappers. His skill in articulating the travails and injustices endured by many African Americans made him a spokesperson not just for his own generation, but for subsequent ones who continue to face the same struggle for equality.
His music earned attention and respect through his poetic style that embraced street vocabulary while being innovative. His 1996 song, “Me and My Girlfriend,” chronicles his relationship with his pistol and was covered by Beyonce and Jay-Z in 2003 03 Bonnie & Clyde, with a slightly different chorus. 50 Cent once wrote, “Every rapper who grew up in the Nineties owes something to Tupac. He didn’t sound like anyone who came before him”. Shakur renamed his publishing company “Joshua’s Dream” in honour of a terminally ill boy whose dying wish was to meet him.
Tupac appeared on Forbes “Top Earning Dead Celebrities” list in 2002, 2003, and 2004, earning $7 million, $12 million, and $5 million, respectively. Even this year, his legacy continues to grow. The Allen Hughes-directed docuseries, “Dear Mama,” which takes a deep dive into the history between Tupac and his mother, Afeni Shakur, broke records as FX’s most-watched unscripted debut in cross-platform viewers.
Ten years after Tupac’s death, Madame Tussauds debuted an eerily life-like wax figure of the artist. The creators of the wax Tupac researched hours of videos of the rap star, his personal measurements, and photos provided by his mother. They even hand-painted his tattoos to capture the uncanny resemblance.
Despite his untimely death on September 13, 1996, Tupac’s lasting influence on the music industry and hip hop culture is undeniable. Ten albums have been released after his death, and all of them have gone platinum. More of his music has been released since his death than when he was alive. “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” was recorded and mixed in seven days in August 1996. It was released a few months later and debuted at number one on both the pop album and R&B/Hip-Hop album charts.
He is the first rap/hip-hop artist in history to have a wax model of himself in Madame Tussaud’s. In addition, Tupac is the only artist to have an album at number one on the Billboard charts (“Me Against the World“) while incarcerated.
Africa Giant is highlighting the achievements of 2Pac Shakur, a remarkable artist whose legacy continues to live on. His lyrics articulated the hardships and injustices that many African Americans endured, and his music continues to inspire generations. He was a true icon of hip hop culture who will forever be remembered and revered.
