Throwing it back musically as usual on a Thursday! This week I thought a bit about Tupac, after a movie marathon the other night. I was up until 4:00 a.m watching the biopic “All Eyez on Me” recently released in memory of  him. I was impressed with the casting, the actor who portrayed Tupac is not only as drop dead gorgeous as the real man, (sorry no matter what you think of him, this man is a stunner!! 🙂 ), the actor also put over Tupac’s characteristics we know him for well.

One thing that I’ve always felt about Tupac is that no matter how “gangster” some my find him, he was at times a very conscious rapper and a poet.  He was in love with Shakespeare! His lyrical content at times was intelligent. Sometimes this may have been ignored. Or it could have been that sadly he was not “media friendly enough”, as his way of showing his consciousness upset and reminded certain groups of society members, about the struggle they turn a blind eye to… but those from poorer backgrounds facing the struggle could relate, no matter what side of the Atlantic they hail from.

Interestingly,  I have read things that suggest Tupac was a contradiction to himself, conscious on one hand but everything that young black / Hispanic males are stereotyped as, like he lived up to what society expect from young males of this background. Personally, I feel his delivery of consciousness came from a certain place, his environment, and who he was skin deep and may always be seen as due to history. And if you don’t understand  or acknowledge that environment you won’t get his consciousness!  He was associated with the Black Panthers. His mother is a very strong woman and supported the human/civil rights movement in the USA. You can’t get more conscious than that. He was a voice for a certain demographic of people around the world facing oppression, only some understood it while others saw it as aggression. I’ll never forget him, his voice represents the thoughts and feelings my own son, who is just three may feel one day growing up in a harsh world.

Today I’m throwing back two of my favourite hits from this award winning, platinum selling actor, poet and yes rapper… “gangster rapper” if that’s what you want to label him as… whatever… using his own words “middle finger up! Only God can judge him.”

R.I.P Tupac

16th June 1971- 13th September 1996

Died age twenty five!!!

 

 

 

Keep ya’ Head Up: Love this song with its conscious words, I can’t help but two step dance!

 

I ain’t Mad at Ya: Video made just a week before his death… makes you wonder about his death.