In Remembrance

2Pac: "Trapped"
From: 2Pacalypse Now, [Jive, 1991]

Thug Life: "Pour Out A Little Liquor"
From: Thug Life Vol. 1, [Interscope, 1994]

2Pac: "Old School"
From: Me Against The World, [Interscope, 1995]

On September 13, 1996 the rap industry lost a superstar, a mother lost a son and millions of people lost a living legend. Ten years have past and no arrests have been made for Tupac Shakur's murder. More albums under Tupac's legacy have been released than in his lifetime. A bouquet of conspiracy theories have replaced flowers and documentries substitute his rap shows.

Although the loss of Tupac has birthed fanatics that cannot let go, Tupac's memory remains a healthy inspiration for millions. In the `90s, Tupac's music broke racial boundries that on some level bridged people despite a brick wall of demographic seperation. I grew up on a street that was center of cultures and occasionally our cultural differences would collide, but after beefs were squashed we eventually mixed in peace. Not one house party would be without a Tupac album and thankfully music is blind to color, religion and income.

Tupac's music continues to be scrutinized for promoting violence and ugly characteristics, but in a Westernized world that ignores third world atrocities and homeland poverty, it is not a suprise Tupac's life was controversial. His see-saw actions made him a saint and criminal with no clear balance. The situations that filled his life are a lot for any man to bear and his decisions were a reflection of his age.

I often wonder how dead rappers would be living if they were alive. I see a lot of dead rappers disspointed in rap's futile advancements. There is nothing new about Tupac that I can write, he is dead, but in remembrance I can feel why his music will never die.