2pac
The Godfather of Rap
Creator of the Myth of the West Bank
A hip-hop guru who died young
Spiritual leader in the field of rap
A legend in the rap industry
A life of mixed reviews
"A coward can die a thousand times, a warrior once"
"Don't stop dreaming in life, no one can take your dreams"
"I don't complain to God about the sins He has inflicted on the poor, what right do you people have to judge me?"
The above words, in most people's opinion, should come from different people, who may be missionaries, who may be soldiers, or who may be angry poets. However, the truth is that these words come from the mouth of one person, 2pac, a man known as the godfather of American rap.
As the most influential hip-hop artist of all time in the United States, 2pac's records have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide, ranking second on MTV's "Greatest Rapper of All Time" list. Some say he is a "triad with ideals"; some say he is the creator of West Bank mythology; others say he is a true orator who can truly represent the people at the bottom. While 2pac's life is highly controversial, it's legendary enough.
Descendants of the Black Panther Party
A black kid who is passionate about politics
On June 16, 1971, a black child was born in Manhattan's famous violent neighborhood, Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood. His mother named him Tupac Amaru Shakur, the name of an indigenous South American who rebelled against Spanish rule in the 18th century. Maybe it was fate, and later this child's life was also constantly struggling with fate and injustice, he was 2pac.
2pac's parents are members of the Black Panther Party in New York, a black-American political party founded in 1965 that advocates for power by force. Therefore, their family has been closely monitored by the New York police for a long time, and the police have become a common thing, which makes 2pac seriously insecure from an early age, and has a strong sense of crisis about everything.
In 1984, 2Pac came to Baltimore to study. Influenced by his parents' political views, 2Pac was particularly interested in social issues such as racial equality and class system, and he studied books on Eastern religions, read encyclopedias, explained his views to his classmates, and won the respect of everyone with his actions. Here, 2Pac's rap talent is also brought to full play, and he wrote and sang his first rap song of his life, "MC NEW YORK", a song about gun control, which was written for a friend who was shot and killed.
Fledgling
Rapper who dares to speak up for black people
2pac's acting career began in the early 1990s. In 1990, he joined the band Digital Underground, where he danced as an accompanist and later became their rapper. In the orchestra, 2Pac created his debut album 2Pacabiese Now, although this album did not win any awards, but it was better than dare to think and dare to write and dare to sing! He focused on black problems in music, tried to improve the harsh environment of black slums, and raised $70,000 for black poor people through charity singing tours to improve their living conditions.
In February 1993, 2pac's second album, My N.I.G.G.A.Z., landed on the Billboard 200 charts. The album highlighted 2pac's political and social views, while the album's singles "Keep Ya Head Up" and "I Get Around" achieved platinum labeling.
In December of the same year, 2pac was accused of sexual abuse, but he firmly denied it and did not take it seriously. Partying, tinkering with albums, and forming a hip-hop group with friends, Thug Life. The group's first album Thug Life's single "Dear Mama" reached the top ten of Billboard Hot 100 singles. I thought that I would go to the next step, but fate made a huge joke with him.
Unjustly imprisoned
Rise to the top of the rankings while serving your sentence
On February 7, 1995, the court convicted 2Pac of sexual assault and sentenced him to 4 years in prison. The day before the verdict, 2pac was shot in Manhattan, but fortunately did not hurt the point and recovered a life. Afterwards 2pac suspected that this was a ghost of Notorious B.I.G. and bragging Daddy and others. The long-term feud between rappers on both sides of the east and west has begun, and we will talk about this secret history next time.
While serving his sentence, 2pac married his girlfriend Caesar Morris in prison, and the album Me Against the World also went on sale, reaching number one in March of the same year, and even wrote a script called "LIVE 2 TELL". He was the first artist to receive this honor in prison, and the only artist to be able to create in prison.
After serving eleven months in prison, 2pac was bailed out on loan by Marion Suge Knight, head of Death Row Records. In exchange, 2pac had to release three albums under the name Ofe Row Records. At this point, 2Pac officially joined SeaTh Row Records and became the creative director of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. What he didn't know, however, was that Suge, who helped him free, ended up bringing him death.
Brief brilliance
Farewell to the legend
In 1996, 2pac released his fourth solo album, All Eyez on Me was. It was the first two-CD album in hip-hop history, and it topped the Billboard Hot 200 chart and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop album charts, considered by many to be the best album of all time.
It could be a trial in prison, or there is no opponent after getting out of prison. 2pac is getting tired of living as a rap star. He plans to move away from the rap scene and instead craft a record of higher quality and depth every 5 years. He hopes to give back to the community and plans to set up a public welfare organization to guide black children away from drugs. But it all ended before it even started.
September 7, 1996. 2pac and Suge went to Las Vegas to watch the game of idol Tyson. On his way back, he was shot for the second time in his life. This time, Lady Luck did not take care of 2pac again, and he stopped breathing after being shot for 6 days. There is still no accurate answer to the shooting. Some say it was East Coast Rap's revenge, some say It was Suge who hired the murderer.
The performance of "Resurrection"
A historic reunion brought about by technology
Coachella Festival 2012. The organizers used holographic 3D imaging technology to bring 2Pac and Snoop Dogg to the same stage. By studying 2pac's pre-life performance data, they let the real people perform these habitual gestures and movements, and then combined "motion capture" with the computer-made 2pac body, and finally came to life. 2pac became the first singer in history to "resurrect" and perform live. After this performance, his past albums topped the iTunes bestseller list.
On April 7, 2017, 2Pac became the first rapper in history to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his personal capacity, and his former friend Snoop Dogg received the trophy. In his speech, Dog ye expressed his respect for 2Pac and called him "the greatest rapper ever" in history.
If a person is alive, we talk about him, and it is because he has excellent works and achievements. If a person dies, and we talk about him, it is a spirit, a heritage. 2Pac's music represents the lowest people in The United States, who exposes society, exposes injustice, and encourages every child like himself to find the way he wants in the chaotic world, which is the real master.
Something you don't know about 2Pac
1. Once named himself "MC New York"
2. He is the idol of mu ye, the god of rap today
3. He was arrested 8 times before the age of 20
4. The "50 Niggaz/AK47" tattoo on the chest, representing the unity of 50 black people, will be stronger than any weapon.