* The following is a reprint of my take on the anniversary of 'Pac's death. Why is it being reprinted? Simple. A reader asked me to.
To be honest, I don't even remember where I was when Tupac died.
But today, gangstas 'round the world are commemorating his death. But I'm not going to dip back into the past too much and do some long, introspective narrative about what 'Pac meant and all that. Although, All Eyez On Me got me through college and I get sort of sentimental thinking about that first sip of Thug Passion.
But forget 'Pac's life, let's talk about his death. Seriously, I think black folks in particular need to put 'Pac's death in real perspective. So let me remind you of what Chris Rock said about 'Pac and Biggie: "Tupac and Biggie didn't get assassinated. 'Dem niggas got shot. School will be open on their birthdays."
And there it is, black people. For real, I ain't nevah seen one person's death get taken so out of context. 'Pac's music was hitting and I ain't trying to take that away. But I think he is the most over-glorified black celebrity of all time. Of course, this ain't 'Pac's fault. There are a lot of people still getting paid because of his music and legacy.
It's almost a farce that he is still "releasing" CDs from the grave. By the way, with the exception of Machavelli, I think all the stuff that has been released post "asassination" has been mediocre, bordeline awful. I know a lot of it is his early stuff, or studio boo-boos, but it nevertheless waters down his musical impact.
A few of you probably think I'm a hater right now, but I'm mot. It's funny, 'cuz there are 19 year olds tipping 40s and shit like 'Pac was one of their uncles. I'm thinking...wasn't yo ass somewhere watching Teletubbies when 'Pac was alive? Anyway, black folks are so desperate for a "leader" that they've made 'Pac one from the grave. It's sort of ridiculous to hear people talk about his "teachings."
Martin Luther King and Malcolm had teachings. 'Pac had rhymes. Big difference. 'Pac had some serious, introspective hits, of course, but in textbooks 10 years from now, the history teacher will not be holding up Ain't Nuthin' But A Gangsta Party like the Magna Carta. Yeah, I know 'Pac is like the black folks' Bob Dylan, but sometimes we need to remember things like they really were, and not how we want them to be.
Truthfully, 'Pac was like the dude in church who, during altar call, says, I'mma get saved ... but after I hit this cabaret on Wednesday. Yeah, we've all been there. And nobody is perfect. But as you celebrate/commemorate/remember 'Pac's birthday, please keep these things in mind today, black people:
- Tupac is DEAD. He is not in Puerto Rico or the rainforests.
- Be your own leader, and stop trying to make a rapper into one.
- He did not get assassinated and it was not part of a large government conspiracy. That fool whupped the wrong ass on the wrong night.
- Best 'Pac Song: When My Homiez Call
- Best 'Pac movie performance: Juice...Bishop!
- Worst 'Pac movie: Poetic Justic...real quick: Janet in dookie braids?
- Best 'Pac invention: One part Alize, one part Cristal
- Worst 'Pac invention: Making bulletproof vests a fashion statement.
Oh, and next time you see Ja Rule, tell that fool to give 'Pac his identity back.
To be honest, I don't even remember where I was when Tupac died.
But today, gangstas 'round the world are commemorating his death. But I'm not going to dip back into the past too much and do some long, introspective narrative about what 'Pac meant and all that. Although, All Eyez On Me got me through college and I get sort of sentimental thinking about that first sip of Thug Passion.
But forget 'Pac's life, let's talk about his death. Seriously, I think black folks in particular need to put 'Pac's death in real perspective. So let me remind you of what Chris Rock said about 'Pac and Biggie: "Tupac and Biggie didn't get assassinated. 'Dem niggas got shot. School will be open on their birthdays."
And there it is, black people. For real, I ain't nevah seen one person's death get taken so out of context. 'Pac's music was hitting and I ain't trying to take that away. But I think he is the most over-glorified black celebrity of all time. Of course, this ain't 'Pac's fault. There are a lot of people still getting paid because of his music and legacy.
It's almost a farce that he is still "releasing" CDs from the grave. By the way, with the exception of Machavelli, I think all the stuff that has been released post "asassination" has been mediocre, bordeline awful. I know a lot of it is his early stuff, or studio boo-boos, but it nevertheless waters down his musical impact.
A few of you probably think I'm a hater right now, but I'm mot. It's funny, 'cuz there are 19 year olds tipping 40s and shit like 'Pac was one of their uncles. I'm thinking...wasn't yo ass somewhere watching Teletubbies when 'Pac was alive? Anyway, black folks are so desperate for a "leader" that they've made 'Pac one from the grave. It's sort of ridiculous to hear people talk about his "teachings."
Martin Luther King and Malcolm had teachings. 'Pac had rhymes. Big difference. 'Pac had some serious, introspective hits, of course, but in textbooks 10 years from now, the history teacher will not be holding up Ain't Nuthin' But A Gangsta Party like the Magna Carta. Yeah, I know 'Pac is like the black folks' Bob Dylan, but sometimes we need to remember things like they really were, and not how we want them to be.
Truthfully, 'Pac was like the dude in church who, during altar call, says, I'mma get saved ... but after I hit this cabaret on Wednesday. Yeah, we've all been there. And nobody is perfect. But as you celebrate/commemorate/remember 'Pac's birthday, please keep these things in mind today, black people:
- Tupac is DEAD. He is not in Puerto Rico or the rainforests.
- Be your own leader, and stop trying to make a rapper into one.
- He did not get assassinated and it was not part of a large government conspiracy. That fool whupped the wrong ass on the wrong night.
- Best 'Pac Song: When My Homiez Call
- Best 'Pac movie performance: Juice...Bishop!
- Worst 'Pac movie: Poetic Justic...real quick: Janet in dookie braids?
- Best 'Pac invention: One part Alize, one part Cristal
- Worst 'Pac invention: Making bulletproof vests a fashion statement.
Oh, and next time you see Ja Rule, tell that fool to give 'Pac his identity back.
6 comments:
First, I just wanted to thank you for re-posting it. I had a feeling I wouldn't be happy about the message, but I'm glad I read it. Let me ask you, have you researched the life of Pac? I'm not talking about his music, just his life in general? Did you know there is actually a university in California that studies Pac's works?...not his songs, but his works. I believe it was UNLV, but i may be wrong. Nonetheless, anyone who is just a 'fan' of his music, I can see your logic about him. But anyone who has actually studied his life and the Shakurs would not put Pac in another generalization as 'just another dead nigga'. Biggie- yeah...but not Pac. He wasn't just a rapper and poet. Yes, Pac made mistakes just like all of us, but I think the way he spoke, expressed himself thru music and actions speaks more volumes than a lot of our so-called "leaders". So-called leaders condemned Pac because they never took the time to listen to him. They did what probably u did, pick out a couple of 'bitches' songs and labeled him as an 'ignorant black fool that didn't have any sense' but could rhyme.
He was an activist. He cared about his people and he did things that was not showcased to the public because for 1) it was positivity which the world did not want to see that side of him and 2) he didn't care about it getting publicized because he did it from the heart. He created a code of ethics for gangs. He consistently visited jails to teach brothers their wrongdoings. Yeah he contradicted himself a lot, but he was human and that’s what made him so great . No one is perfect. Preachers ain’t perfect.
I don't care about folks not liking his music, i care about his legacy staying alive because he was actually a person who young folks should look up to...not the 'I'm a gangsta' side of Pac, but the Black Panther, the love of black women, the love of his black people, the side where he can explain to ladies what is not ladylike and why they are called a hoe, and so forth. I am proud that I was alive during his time and I will let my kids listen to him because in actuality, he DID teach. He was able to do something these artists today can't. He showed positivity and got respect from the hoes and self-righteous women and also got respect from the hood and was not one-dimensional. He made music for everybody…something Jay Z can't and won't even attempt to do. He actually had content in his music CONSISTENTLY..something these rap artists can't do today. So 4 real, he needs to be kept alive and remembered because he is the blueprint of what hip hop is about. But on the other hand, he was not JUST a rapper...he was more than that. And he deserves the attention he gets and more.
The problem with Pac is that he was as shallow as he was deep.
Yes, we're all conflicted. And while I didn't believe him to wholly be the dangerous thug that the media claimed him to be, the fact remains that he did go to prison for rape, he was shot multiple times (twice), he did beat a man with a baseball bat, and he did shoot at the police.
The one thing any true leader realizes is that you must always maintain the moral high ground in order for your message to be effective. Pac wasn't strong enough or mature enough to do that.
He might have brought us Brenda's Got A Baby, but he also popularized Thug Life and the general attitude that young, black men should resort to violence and drugs. That can't be argued against, and it taints his "legacy."
He was a rebel, but a rebel with a confused cause. He made great music. But was he a great leader? Not really. Unfortunately, whatever good deeds he did were miniscule compared to the other chaos in his life.
Fact is, he called women bitches in songs way more than he lifted them up.
He talked about shooting people way more than he talked about ending violence.
He talked about drinking and smoking way more than he talked about getting a job and an education.
Rappers fail to understand some key things about image. The media is waiting for you to say something that reinforces negative stereotypes of your people. So if you appear on hundreds of album covers, holding your nuts and a 40 and one in a business suit, you can't complain that people didn't understand you.
Tupac let his own brilliance be subverted by trying to be something he wasn't. Real leaders don't do that.
You said "he did go to prison for rape, he was shot multiple times (twice), he did beat a man with a baseball bat, and he did shoot at the police." Again, you have to research those incidences. He didn't "rape" anyone..that wasn't the charge he went into jail for. Yeah, he shot at police as self-defense because the police was beating another man down that Pac witnessed it and was trying to help...why u think he didn't go for jail for shooting a cop? Many don't know the background of that story neither. And the first time he got shot, was that his fault??
A lot of his actions were wrong no doubt, i'm just saying the media also did a job and tainted him as a more 'bad person' when they didn't report the full stories. They only reported the negative side. Before he got a record deal, his record was clean. Everything negative was not his fault. Yeah he was still a drinking and smoking man, but my thing is he also had a positive side, but he was also part of a music business. A business where they won't let too many positive songs get out cause they must sell records. Malcolm X was a hustler...but he was still a leader. They said Martin Luther King cheated on his wife (not sure if it's true) but i'm sure he made mistakes in his life. I just wish people looked at the positive sides to these people and not glorify the negatives. Talking to other folks that knew him personally, all they said was Pac was always talking knowledge. He was also giving positive advice. Too bad, it wasn't all on records. I hate seeing young folks glorifying violence in Pac's name cause yes, he rapped about it but he also wasn't for it...he just made mistakes. You think if he just rapped about all positivity, he could still reach the masses? The thing about it is that those same positive songs Pac made, those same ignorant fools and fans of his got the chance to hear it..and it made have a made a difference. I can talk all day about it, but i do need to go :), but I appreciate you replying. Much love.
holding up Ain't Nuthin' But A Gangsta Party like the Magna Carta!! lmao! his post-death "releases" have def. been subpar and some stuff you KNOW he wouldn't have let out the studio. horrendous.
Good re-post. I love Tupac but way too many people glorify him like he was some kind of god or something. He wasn't. He was human and he made some dumb-headed decisions that, in the end, got him killed. I read Michael Eric Dyson's book on Tupac. He read plenty and in some ways, was a deep brother. But in so many other ways, he was boneheaded, embracing "thug" life like it was some kind of religion. It's a shame.
BTW, favorite Tupac song "I Get Around." I know, so wrong.
Bishop an activist? Bishop's works being studied? Study his life? Man, anon. U definitely need to find another hero! Think about this, maybe carma is the reason he is no longer with us...?
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