08/06/2023
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Almost 20 years after his epic rise to fame & notorious death, Tupac is inducted to the Hollywood Salk of Fame. Accepted in honour by his sister Sekyiwa Shakur on 07/06/23.
More than just a rapper & talented, budding actor. Tupac represented a voiceless and opressed generation coming of age in the 80s and 90s. Who used music - namely HipHop - to share their personal experiences of growing up in 'the projects'
Born from blues in the 1970s, this particular genre was used as a medium to arriculate the unique hardships of the Black struggle. Which continue(d) well after the abolition of slavery in 1865. The painstaking process of assimilation began and music became a tool to counter oppression.
Both his parents were part of the Black Panther party and Tupac continued that tradition as a vocal advocate and activist for Black Rights. He used his artistry to create brutally honest and unaplolgetic takes on the reality of being Black in Amerikka.
More so, he made legal history and gained cult status after successfully beating aggravated assault charges. For shooting 2 off duty police officers attempting to harass a black motorist.
Sadly, His life was cut short when he was shot 6 times at a traffic light. The circumstances for which remain a mystery. Whilst some speculated the Shug Knight may have played a role, others believed Biggy was connected. We believe it was likely Tupacs power, status & counter-violent message that made him a threat.
whilst other record labels were purposefully pushing hyperviolent music, that encouraged crime in order to fill lucrative prisons,
Tupac promoted knowledge for radical self care
The ongoing beef between death row & bad boy likely provided a perfect cover. Its common knowledge that Martin Luther and Malcolm X were assassinated by the government, so this theory is highly plausible.
There was also that theory that he planned his own death like his namesake, Makavelli, but honestly we don't have enough character space to go there....