The Observer, September 22, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 4
Memory and talent of Tupac Shakur not forgotten
No amount of words can bring justice and praise to the skill of Tupac Shakur. Last week, Sept. 13 marked the ten year anniversary of the death of Shakur. I write this column to pay tribute to the one of the greatest artist ever to live and to wonder what could have been if Shakur had not died.
To look at where the genius of Shakur started, one must learn about his years as a child and teenager. Shakur was named after Tupac Amaru II, an Incan revolutionary who led a Peruvian uprising against Spain and was consequently sent to his death. As a son of a Black Panther mother, Shakur was influenced to be aware of black social issues. Tupac displayed his artistic talents while attending Harlem's famous 127th Street Ensemble and the Baltimore School for the Arts. These influences on Shakur's life shaped him as an artist and person.
No one can question the lyrical skills of Shakur. Many regard him as the greatest rapper ever to live. Selling over 73 million albums worldwide, including over 44.5 million in the United States, one must look beyond the numbers to truly understand how great an artist Shakur was.
With all of his skills came an equal amount of flaws. Shakur had an immense amount of talent for someone at such a young age. However, his young age was the enemy. Shakur had a tendency to speak too quickly and unwisely.
One controversial topic that Shakur spoke on was violence against police. Lawyers defending a man accused of killing a Texas state trooper claimed that their client had been influenced by Tupac's first solo album, 2Pacalypse Now, which contains references to violence against police officers.
Being real and upfront, trouble always seemed to come naturally to Shakur. He was charged with rape, and was convicted of sodomy (though his guilt is questioned). The artist was also charged with shooting two off-duty police officers, but those charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
It is interesting to wonder what Shakur could have become. It is his artistic gifts and imperfections that made him into the man and artist that he was. The quick tongue and attitude Shakur possessed gave him the flare and attitude needed to help shape his controversial lyrics. The controversy in his lyrics assisted him in expressing the frustrations of many in the black community.
At the age of 25, he was shot and died of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. The world was cut off from his beautiful poetry and music. What if Shakur was still alive now? Would his immature character have developed? Would his thoughts have become more deep and concentrated? Would Shakur conform to the current mainstream rap, or would he stay true to himself and continue to be a true artist? One can only imagine and hope that his gifts would continue to grow for us to enjoy.
Shakur was the modern Shakespeare, maybe even better. There is no telling how good Shakur could have become with time. Nevertheless, we cannot look to the what – ifs we must see that he was great while still on the rise at a young age.
Shakur gave a voice for many in the black community and his voice has continued to be heard by millions around the world. He has paved the way for many artists like Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and Immortal Technique, to express themselves and talk about political, economic, and social problems in America.
