The Loving Legacy of Tupac Shakur

Tupac cares, if don’t nobody else care – Keep Ya Head Up, Tupac Shakur

This week marks 26 years since the passing of the hip hop legend, Tupac Shakur. It is easy to remember the contributions the revolutionary artist has made in hip hop through the Death Row era of feud and his classic album All Eyez on Me. It is important we acknowledge Pac used his platform as a musician to spread love and calls for unity. Two of the West Coast’s most important modern musicians continue that musical loving essence of Pac: Kendrick Lamar and YG. 

Both artists have directly stated Tupac as an important inspiration. YG has said Pac was an inspiration for his 2020 album, My Life 4Hunnid. Kendrick has stated in an early Home Grown interview that Tupac gave him a direct message through a dream, “Keep doing what you are doing” and “Keep my [Tupac’s] music alive”. 

One of the biggest love songs Tupac made was for his mother Afeni Shakur in “Dear Mama”. Through this song, Pac learns to appreciate and show unconditional love for his mother. YG created a similar love song for his mother in “Sorry Momma”, showing her appreciation and love through health issues. Kendrick’s “Momma” doesn’t tell a story of his mother, but one of returning home. The Compton artist shows love and appreciation for his growth and history through his interaction with a boy resembling his features.

“I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin’ changes. Learn to see me as brother instead of two distant strangers”

“We need to come together, f- they system. Tired of being a victim, tired of racism. So imma spit this ism ‘til this shit stop”

“It shouldn’t be shit for us to come here and appreciate. The little bit of life we got left dog. He follows up saying. It’s-it’s mando, right, it’s mando. And I- I and I and I say this. Because I love you n-, man. I love all my n-, bro.”

Larger than personal history, Pac shows love for his people and calls for unity against oppression in his song “Changes”.  In the same vein, YG calls for unity through his song “Blacks & Brown ” and brings Sadboy Loko showing his part in the call to action. Kendrick’s “i” best shows a call for unity and action rooted in love. In the second half of “i”, people fighting interrupt Kendrick, which he uses as a time to call for unity. 

In the West Coast, it’s no secret Pac’s music is rooted in love with one of his highest charting songs, our anthem California Love. When we speak about Pac, we should not forget to mention he was a revolutionary, rooted in love, fighting against injustices in this country. A reminder that although Pac is no longer with us, his loving legacy for justice continues with our West Coast artists. 

With Love,

Tony 

Article by: Tony Morales