Birthday Tribute
On this day, June 16, 1971, a little baby boy was born to a Panther activist young girl named Afeni Shakur.
19 years later, the little boy, who growing up was close friends and school mates with the likes of Jada Pinkett-Smith, laid the foundation that cemented his iconic status as a thought-provoking multi-talented poet, lyricist, actor, activist, screenwriter, rapper, entertainer, revolutionary and an Oscar-nominated autobiographer.
From coast-to-coast, across all nations and transcending cultures, his image, message and voice is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable in the world. No other rapper dead or alive has received as much coverage and been studied at more universities. Few musicians dead or alive have been sampled as often or positively influenced so many budding and established musicians.
His fans span highly diverse socio-political, racial and economic strata and it should come as no surprise that the likes of the great Nikki Giovanni-the poet & activist, and Naughty By Nature’s Treach have tattoos honoring him, highly reputed professors like Michael Eric Dyson keep writing books and teaching about him, highly regarded and inspiring musical legends like Quincy Jones publish books & magazines about him, as well as these two long-time fans, carry on his legacy:
Today, as we light candles and ‘Pour Out a Little Liquor’ in observance of your day, I’m sure your wide & diverse circle of friends ranging from the UK’s Tim Roth & Thandie Newton, to your roaddogs Snoop Dogg & Dr.Dre, Jada Pinkett, Suge Knight, Treach, Scarface, The Immortal Outlawz, Method Man & Redman,Madonna, Mickey Rourke, Tony Danza, Jasmine Guy, to…the list is infinite…we say:
Thanks Tupac Amaru Shakur for touching our hearts, urging us to look within ourselves and our societies to make a change. As we do that we heed your words:
"Just think of all the people that you knew in the past
that passed on, they in heaven, found peace at last
Picture a place that they exist, together
There has to be a place better than this, in heaven
So right before I sleep, dear God, what I'm askin
Remember this face, save me a place, in thug's mansion "
**Your true fans don't say R.I.P, we say: T.I.P 2Pac**
posted by akiey at 6/16/2005
20 Comments:
R.I.P
C’est formidable le dédicace que tu fais pour l’anniverssaire de 2Pac. D’habitude on joue sa musique la journée et aussi le soir à la radio. Je fait un petit trajet au Bay Area ce moment je vois bcp de gens qui portent des chemises avec son image dessus aujourd’hui. Si je me trompe pas on plussieures fêtes aux boîtes alors, c’est grande comme journée pour lui ici. J’adore bcp le <<7 Day Theory>> et le film 'Poetic Justice' à côté de Janet Jackson.
T.I.P
my all time fav song of his was "changes!"
as for his acting career-who can ever forget the "wanna smell my punani!" scene in Poetic Justice?!
I love this tribute and especially what you have done with his pics, simply beautiful. May he rest in peace and may God be with his family during those difficult times.
You've done it again akiey!! I can never tire of your very wonderful writing and stuff you do with images. Tupac is a great man and teacher, sad that some people only know the badrap he got but refuse to accept the many wonderful things he did(does) for the community.
My favorite Tupac songs are 'Lord Knows', 'Brenda's got a Baby' and ofcourse 'California Love'.
Best movies: 'Above The Rim' and 'Resurrection'
T.I.P indeed, T.I.P
may he rest in peace...he was a truly gifted spirit...
I enjoyed reading your tribute. Sadly I missed the whole Tupac phase but my housemate was a big fan and I would occassionaly hear bits and pieces...
I recall one line which I think is from a Tupac song
"F*** Y'all N*****S in Swahili" That line always made me laugh and I don't even know what he meant by it.
I love the way you have taken the pictures and kinda made a story with them Akiey, you really are special - and even more with that moving tribute, he would be soo proud.
T.I.P (I echo) :)
@ Msanii_xl, thanks for dropping by & for hollering the R.I.P
@ Marcel, Toujours ravi de te lire ici copain:) Dans ma ville et celles d’acôté on a eu aussi des fêtes en boîte et des dédicaces commémoratoires à la radio. Moi, j’ai pas pu assister en boîte mais avec des amis on a joué les chansons et nos tubes favoris.
Je portais aussi le T-shirt dans lequel j’ai apparu sur le poste, je l’ai fais moi-même et j’en suis tellement fier:)!!
Ces disques? Je les aime tous et j’ai bcp de mal à declarer mon favori…mais peut-être…”Me Against The World”, “7 Day Theory”, “All Eyez On Me”, “Better Dayz”….tu vois, c’est prèsque tout:)
@ Nick, You got that right, “Changes” is a very good song with a msg to society. My fav lines from the song are:
“misplaced hate makes disgrace of races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this
one better place, let's erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right”
AND ALSO...
"it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other”
-“Poetic Justice”, that was actually groundbreaking for him since he got the chance to diversify his acting horizons.
Until today i still think Hit en Up is one of the best examples of saying what's on your mind!
RIP
@ Cilia, thanks for the shout out to the P-a-c [as T.I & Cassidy call him:)]. I too love Better Dayz, play it often & consider it one of his top posthumous releases. My fav lines from the title track are when he was reminiscing on the dayz before he was a super star:
“I got a girl and I love her but she broke too
And so am I, I can't take her to the place she wanna go to
So we argue and play-fight, all day and night
Making passionate love till the day light
Plus we bout to get evicted, can't pay the rent
Guess it's time to see who really is your friend
You tell me you pregnant and I'm amazed
So many blessings while we stressing
Looking for them better dayz”
@ Farmgal, Thanks for your kind words & I must admit it wasn’t that easy to figure out what exactly to write since so much has been said, written & done to honor the Legend. This post was a “one take” shot that I let flow from my heart & it’s the least I could do to help carry the legacy. The pics I worked on in late January.
-Am sure his family would appreciate your prayers & wishes & in his words tell you: “We all appreciate”
@ Diane, my music & entertainment ‘evil twin’:) Am grateful that someone as gifted as you would express such appreciation for my late nite photo work. Thanks a bunch. You’re right about some people not seeing the good, +vely influential side of Tupac. Am glad more are opening their eyes & ears. Love your fav pics of his songs.
I like his entire catalog but just a few favs are: ‘My block’, ‘Still I Rise’ & ‘Hail Mary’
@ Kipepeo, 2Pac & his family would say a big thanks for your kind words. Yep, truly gifted spirit & isn’t it amazing that he still outsells many artistes today while he can’t tour or even do a video…his following growing larger every year, etc? He’s one phenomenal artiste.
@ MJY, Don’t feel too bad to have missed out on the walking, breathing Tupac. He still lives on in all of us & the wide selection of music, movies, poetry (2 more poetry CDs coming up soon), etc should make anyone interested know him well enough. I suggest you watch “Tupac Resurrection” the 2004 biographical movie that earned him an Oscar nomination. He narrated all of it.
-Am so lol!! That line is from ‘Troublesome 96’ & yeah, he was spewing venom on his enemies & I guess he was saying he would curse at them in all languages, Swahili included,lol!J
@ Guessaurus, Wow!!, considering how well you write on your blog, your comment is a “finger snapping” good pat on the back. Asante sana :) The pics, I tried to get a couple close ups that show him in diff relaxed, reflective & happy poses, the person that he truly is. If he’s reading this then I hope he’s smiling all the way to heaven.
Thanks for the T.I.P & remember Pac says: “Visualize what U can’t C”
Kudoz akiey,
Pac remains an evergreen superstar and great teacher-my fav lines from keep ya head up-i was given this world,i didnt make it.keep his spirit alive.
i agree with thinker (M). hit em up is in my opinion the BEST DISS-TRACK EVER.
kina the game and i don't know who could learn a lot from him.
Akiey- *blushing at comment*
I couldnt find your email (or is it that I am so lazy to look?, hey ho) so thought this might be a better way to say - Thanx for the link on your side bar - my madness I see is there for the world to see (oh, and in my blog too)
Thanks again dude :)
he really raised the bar on street poetry especially whith how he was able to fuse extremes on songs like dear mama one minutes he talks about how his mother was a crack addict then in the next line he turns it over and unleashes great praise on all what she did for him , and still I rise - whic has one of my favorite verses of all time -
Somebody break me I'm dreamin, I started as a seed the semen
Swimmin upstream, planted in the womb while screamin
on the top, was my pops, my momma screamin stop
From a single drop, this is what they got
Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser
Only plan he had for momma was to .......
A lot can be said about the man but the fact remains that he was the greatest rapper of our time no matter how hard the others try to gloat they can never match the genius of the 2pac .
A Pac fan 4 life. We will mourn u till we join u
@ M (Thinker), Sorry blogger acted up & my reply to you didn’t show on my previous group-reply. I’m with you on the ‘Hit ‘em Up’ phenomenon, that was pure retaliatory genius. He held nothing back & didn’t care who was going to get pissed, they’d been asking for it for years & it was about time they got a taste of their own expired medicine. I also like the verse where one of the Outlawz go out blasting like the world is about to end :)!
@ Izzo(igalani), now you know you are my one very loyal roaddogg! Can’t forget how much you too love Pac so much we all stayed up all night with my cousins, close buddies & my sisters day before their (sisters’) wedding listening to the many collabos Afeni’s son did, Tha Dogg Pound & Easy-E, Dre, etc? Feel you on the “Keep Ya Head Up Quote” bro. You do the same & see you soon in the ATL.
Ps: Drop by again, was nice surprise seeing you here.
@ Adrian, you & Thinker got that so right! ‘Hit ‘em Up’ is the yardstick for a real G’d up diss track & it definitely stands alone. Even Jigga’s “Takeover” & my man Nas’ “Ether” come nowhere close to this track. Kina Game & Fiddy’s beef is just a waste of air time me thinks.
@ Guess, blush on girrrl : ), in French street lingo we say ‘si on est doué, on est doué’* i.e: ‘If you’re gifted, then you’re truly gifted’ and your expressive, descriptive writing brings this out on you :) Feared displaying my email bcoz of spammers but a super nice blogger told me where to get yours. Check your inbox:)
@ Anon, thanks for the visit & you’re welcome back. You bet, 2Pac had/has skill that few can match. His lyrics touch on wide range of issues & even as he gave a peek into his mom’s past substance use, he never stutters when he showered praise on her…& to think this was at a time when everyone was trying to come out tough, thugged out & a ruffneck,lol! True his form he flipped the game on everybody.
He is the G.O.A.T & only Rakim can stand next to him, or is it vice-versa. I hope you also feel the vibe in his friend Scarface. They influenced each other wonderfully.
@ Udi, I enjoyed your “Letter To Tha President”, very nice remix of 2Pac’s message. You should email that to the Speaker of the House so he could read it out to the shameless MPs too. Looking at the mess dubya has gotten into I hear Pac’s words in the Still I Rise songs where he’s pained by the messy state of the world as reminds us all that: “I predicted this sh*t in 2Pacalypse…”
Tupac was something. My initial opinions about the man and his work was based on media lies until I decided to sit down and listen to what he was saying. From that day, my relationship with rap music and hip hop as a cultural form has changed. Great tribute.
I understand that Nikki Giovani is still trying to get a Tupac stamp.
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