Tupac Shakur
Written by the Scribner
December 26, 2021
Tupac Shakur, Musician. Photo by Albert Watson.
The lyricist poet, the ghetto sunshine full of potential but not realized. What’s up, girl? Azuka, oh baby girl. Thanks for putting this down for me.
There was nothing unusual about my life and death. I came and lived hard, like driving with my foot fully depressed on the pedal. That is my life and it was hard and difficult, and sometimes joyful.
I know the whole thing was a setup. I mean how do you run from death, from homies who wish you death and waiting to pop you in the corner, that is how my life was, hectic and dramatic. And sometimes, I was at a point where I wanted to go, to escape, to leave the game, but the game wasn’t done with me because I wanted to know. You can’t cash out before and so I was gassed in that car and that was the end of the physical Tupac.
When they killed me, they didn’t plan on the after. I have become bigger in death and I can reach more people in ways that I can’t physically. Life was interesting, so many things going on, gotta check your loyalty. It is everything in the game, but they don’t realize or forget that one day they too will pass and answer all their atrocities, all their monstrosity.
My death was bigger than a drive-by shooting in a Las Vegas mall. It is so much more for the young cats, they should stop frontin’, stop showing up for things they cannot do or handle. And stop saying yes to murder and killing because nothing is ever lost, for this generation seems lost, glued to their phone, their tablet, and their Nokia, while life is passing.
They don’t engage but watch almost in a catatonic state. Most people are asleep in a state of life and death floating between that space and not pursuing their dreams. They ain’t shining, ain’t dubbing, ain’t speaking to truth, but they are consumers of reality, of luxury that is prison.
They walk around and don’t know who they are. They don’t get teeth so they can’t take a bite, they have been living a curated life, t.v watching, virtual programming, and having little engagement with the outdoors.
I love my people and I want them to wake up from the imprisonment of a life of luxury. We are concerned about banging our heads for a new day. Just wake up and live your life, wake up and find your voice, wake up and live for yourself with no apologies and always keep it real for sure.
Keeping it real is all that matters. It is seeing the full scope of yourself including those ugly parts that make us cry. It means showing up for others when they can’t do it themselves. It means picking up your child, taking care of your kids, and being a proud and prideful parent.
I love my mama. She gave me everything I got. Sometimes I got it right and others, not so.
My court cases and rape charges are all my lessons. My tribulation of a man in making, in finding purpose, and matching purpose with action. I struggled with that, but I am in a place as a ghetto angel to help shine the light for those in line, to show them there is another way and that love is all we got.
For real. Pac Man.