Hip hop star Tupac Shakur dies on September 13, 1996 of gunshot wounds suffered in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting. More than a decade after his death on this day in 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur remains one of the most recognizable faces and voices in hip-hop. My experience at this time was bleak. At the time I was so young I didn’t realize how big of loss he was. I just remember how shocked people were. I remember people saying “oh 2pac got shot you know that next album about to be fire” They would chuckle. At the time 2pac was always getting shot coming back making songs laughing about it mocking the people who attempted to take his life. This time it was different it was like someone just turned the music off, closed all the curtains, and shut off all the cameras 2pac was gone. Hip Hop hasn’t had an artist as prolific, as iconic, as controversial yet enigmatically smart, consciously aware while simultaneously sustaining street credibility. I remember talking to a major artist at a record label behind the scenes. He told me something so important to me that has stuck with me over 10 years. It also coincides with the untimely demise of our late great brother 2pac Amaru Shakur. When I asked him “This must be amazing you have so many beautiful woman around, luxury vehicles, tailored suits, luxury brand clothing, most expansive hotels, the room service like how does it all feel?” He replied “Fame ain’t Sh%7 money is everything!”
It was at that time I started to realize that fame wasn’t all it was made up to be. Hearkening back to 2pac the last record he realeased was a song called “Fame” it immediately gave me chills and made me think about what that artist at the major record label explained to me.
in the song 2pac raps:
One thing we all adore
Something worth dying for
Nothing but pain
Stuck in this game
Searching for fortune and fame
Interesting enough I have heard this song a myriad or time but it is now this period in my life I truly understand the underlying message in this song if you understand comment below.
