I have mad love for 2Pac. I refer to it as “mad” because it’s a love that you know you shouldn’t have for someone (or something) but you can’t help it. You just do.
I didn’t realize today was the 14th anniversary of his death until I read this article at theloop21. Interestingly though, last week I caught a part of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about Mike Tyson and 2pac called One Night in Vegas, which highlighted the similarities of their lives and the events which led up to that fateful night when 2Pac was shot and subsequently died after attending the Tyson vs. Sheldon bout on September 7, 1996.
I never found 2Pac’s music enlightening or even all that positive… but that doesn’t mean it’s unenlightening or negative. It’s not that simple to me… it’s a little more complex than that. His music touched a part of me which I always had to keep in check. It moved deep within me and stoked my black rage, but not in the way Public Enemy’s music did. With 2Pac it enflamed my “I don’t give a fuck about you and much less about myself” attitude. Within all of us is “the light” and “the dark” side of our personalities and 2Pac spoke to my “dark side”… and made it appealing.
I’ve seen a number of documentaries and programmes about 2Pac and in some ways his life reminded me of the fascinating but troubled life of Marvin Gaye, as depicted in his biography “Divided Soul“. Both had polarizing forces struggling with them and they would at times choose to indulge in the best and worst of themselves. I can relate to this for at times that has been my life. However, due to age, maturity and Jesus, I have been able to transcend (or is “suppress” a better term)… for the most part… the more destructive side of my personality.
Every so often, when someone pushes my buttons, I smile and shake my head and think to myself: “if they only knew”. There was a time when I lived my life by these lyrics of 2Pac: “I ain’t a killa but don’t push me, revenge is like the sweetest joy next to gettin pussy…” But with that said, Jesus isn’t finished with me yet.
In remembrance of a real souljah:
afrospear.wordpress.com 
When Tupac died, it took me 2 years to get over it. I was mad–at him! I don’t really understand why, though. I haven’t tried to analyze that yet.
I guess I felt that he martyred himself with his ”Ride or Die” attitude and with putting himself in that predicament, that he seemed so aware of. He expected to be killed, yet he didnt protect himself, in my opinion.
Thank you for this! We did not realize it was “Pac’s” anniversary until we saw a blip on google.
“I ain’t a killa but don’t push me, revenge is like the sweetest joy next to gettin pussy…”
Our ancestors and parents must guide the young during those years of hormones, emotions and trial and error otherwise as Tupac and Marvin did they will indulge in the worst in themselves and may not be able to come out of it.
“I never found 2Pac’s music enlightening or even all that positive…”
Along with his acronyms for THUGLIFE AND NIGGAZ. Pac did have some very positive songs but mostly in his younger years like when he released 2pacalypse
2pac words of wisdom off of the 2pacalypse Now
2pac – Tupac Violent (It is not what you think)
Hail Mary, Tupac’s The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, 1996
Keep Ya Head Up, Tupac’s Strictly 4 My N—–, 1993
So Many Tears, Tupac’s Me Against the World, 1995
Only God Can Judge Me, Tupac’s All Eyez On Me, 1996
Violent from 2PACAlypse Now. My first husband WOULD NOT STOP playing this album!
He liked every cut from this album.
I remember that Tupac was savagely beat down in Oakland CA.
I checked and it was back in 1991, when he was jaywalking across the street, the cops stopped him and he asked them why they were stopping him for such a petty crime.
They then commenced to beating him down–choking him, smashing his head in the pavement.
He filed a lawsuit against the Oakland Police for $10 million but settled for $42,000.
Back in those days Tupac was popping up on some Oakland rappers videos, like E-40, and Digital Underground. In addition, he did the movie “Juice” with Omar Epps, and “Poetic Justice” with Janet Jackson! He was busy in the early 90s!
It makes you ask the question What is jay-walking? Like you can only walk in certain areas…… what is that about?
I’m deeply disturbed that this “man” is so celebrated in the US…as if he was Jesus.
He poisoned our children, adolescents, and even the adult Black population with nonsensical violence, misognyny and step ‘n fetchit-ism masquerading as music…and all for the mighty dollar.
Tupac pre-Digital Underground? I can understand that person being celebrated, especially after his talk on the redistribution of wealth.
But Tupac as we all know him today?? (The Album-recording Tupac?) He is nothing but a damn coon and I’m tired of us celebrating him and his minstrelsy.