Tupac Amaru Shakur
Bought this the other day at HMV. Great doco. Tragic ending to a man of vision. He showed us all what it is to be human.
Listened to my copy of All Eyez on Me in the car after watching the movie.
If he was still alive there would be quality hiphop/rap instead of eminem, p-diddy, and other wannabes out there at the moment. Watch the doco. you’ll be surprised how much of an influence he had, and how political he was too.
To some 2Pac was an angry man. Considering his life it’s no wonder he was angry, but it wasn’t all about anger. It was about injustices that he saw as a black man growing up in America.
He was beaten up and abused by a white police officer for “resisting arrest” after he was approached whilst crossing the street and asked for ID (for no real reason other than the colour of his skin). Apparently he had j-walked. So they beat him up, bashed his head against the pavement. He sued and won (out of court but still a win).
The thing about 2pac, before the whole Death Row thing, was his lyrics were deep and he told it like it was. A lot of politicians were against him because of that.
Interesting fact – he studied Shakespeare, poetry, ballet, acting and writing at a performing arts school. However due to the environment he was in (the ghettos) he fell into drugs, hung with pushers, and none of what he learnt he could discuss with the people he was around. However he had an analytical mind and he started to see that poverty was a problem for black people and no matter where he went it was a recurring theme.
Anyways, very talented writer (if you get past the later albums and involvement with Death Row Records, where some argue he sold out).
Some tracks worth listening to (and exploring the lyrics of)
“Dear Mama” – written for his mother, a Black Panther, who supported him. Also for all mothers.
” Life Goes On” – touching song, where he searches more for the meaning of life. He gives it up for his fallen mates and speaks of how he wants to go.
“Pour out a little liquor” – another one for the fallen
“Pain”
“Keep Your Heads Up” – tribute to women and encouraging them to hang their heads high in times that are low.
“Changes” – explores racism
Info
- Tupac Resurrection on imdb.
- Wiki: Tupac Shakur
- Interview: Vibe April ’95. Tupac gives his account of the shooting where he suffered 5 shots to the body, and survived.
- Interview: Vibe October ’96. Two weeks before his death.
- The murder of gangsta rappers – Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G
- TupacFans.com
Theories
- Top 20 Reasons Why 2Pac is Alive
- Top 10 Reasons Why Suge Knight Killed 2Pac
Measure a man by his actions fully, through his whole life, from the beginning to the end. — Tupac Resurrection
Respect.
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