TUPAC

23 YEAR DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Only fan fiction could thoroughly explore the life and legacy of Tupac if he were alive. Imagine the scope of impact he’d currently have on Hip Hop if he were able to see his 47th birthday. This past September marks the 23rd year of Pac’s passing. It’s hard to believe that this accomplished artist only spent 25 years on this earth. However, the diversity of his catalog as a rapper immortalizes him.

Tupac’s story lends to a sadder narrative that a lot of black men are currently facing. Moreover, Tupac’s generation was the first to experience the fallout of a much larger ill. Many were victims of gun violence, tough prison sentences handed down by The War on Drugs. All of these things at the time were a direct impact of the infamous Crack Era.

We never really talk about its impact thoroughly. We only mention it when one reminisces about the opulence that many young ghetto inhabitants of its time experienced from its trade. Shows like Snowfall have recently done a great job of delving into the many layers of the drug trade back then and delve into the way it affected everyday people. One of our earliest voices to paint a picture of Crack Eras fallout was Tupac himself. Tupac was the voice of a generation who was learning how to battle and navigate America’s urban landscape during a time of emanate uncertainty.