Tupac Shakur – Had he lived, Tupac Shakur would have turned 40 on Thursday (June 16). The sometimes enigmatic, always fire rapper would have been a seasoned veteran looking back nostalgically to the exploits that made him the model of hip-hop machismo and passion. But in an interview with MTV News in 1992, the late rapper eloquently expressed why he would not be part of “model”, a title that was destined to be labeled.
“I say I do not want to be a role model in the song because if I let someone put the label of role model for me, that limits me,” Tupac said, referring to his song “Ghetto Gospel”.
“Because look at those words,” paper “and” model “. Both are false words, to play a role and model, this is false is real I am real, I drink, I go, I game I -… things that at 21 years ago And even worse, because he had a childhood, I’m reliving my childhood. I live life to the fullest, I make mistakes, but some things that some college kids would not, because I live in my heart. I have fun. Not to be a role model, I just want to be real. “
If Tupac was nothing, it was real. Openly admitted its shortcomings in interviews and his rhymes, and was known for being very loyal, almost to a fault. The “California Love” rapper never wanted her success to avoid relationships with friends in the “outer city”. (“It is the outer city, because we are always on the left,” he said.)
Never forgetting where he came from was a theme heard throughout ‘Pac music and was an inherent feature of the people he regarded as heroes. “” Role Model “is the word that they do. In the outer city, do not have, “said Tupac. “We’ve had [Mike] Tyson, Tyson was the perfect outside of the city as a hero because he was always on the edge, you’ve always wanted to make it a different type of person. But I could never be, always be on the edge and hated him for that. He was never punished because he legitimized. hung in the clubs. It was the only person who knew there were millions of people who went with the rappers. The only black I know I made it to millionaire status treated with dignity and rappers. “
‘Pac went on: “Everyone who has money entertaining look at rappers like ignorant people with microphones, the celebration of our athletes, the use of Kangols and big gold chains. Mike Tyson was the only person I remember a millionaire a true brother. And she was my hero and I want to be. And I want more people like that. “
Tragically and ironically, Tupac was shot several times on September 7, 1996, after attending the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Although one of the most recognizable stars of hip-hop to succumb to his wounds a week later, his legend has only grown since his untimely death almost 15 years ago.
