the Machiavelli of Hip Hop posthumously reaches another born day

On this date in 1971, Tupac Amaru Shakur was born to Black Panther Afeni Shakur in Harlem Hospital in NYC. Over the years, Tupac has morphed into a larger than life icon of Hip Hop culture and American culture in general.

Tupac first hit the scene with Bay Area based rap conglomerate Digital Underground as a back up dancer and quickly moved up in the ranks, appearing on the crew’s classic “Same Song”. From there, what we now know as “2Pac” was born.

More than just a figure in Hip Hop music, 2Pac became a Hollywood favorite, with his role as Bishop in Juice becoming the persona that many people will forever associate with the unconventional revolutionary. Other flicks such as Above The Rim, Poetic Justice, and Gang Related showed us the talent as well as real life reflections of ‘Pac and his varying degrees of personality.

His life will exist forever through his art, pro-Black philosophies, and those who will always rever ‘Pac as the best that ever did it. There are those who still believe that ‘Pac is still physically alive, however, we all can agree that Tupac Amaru Shakur will live eternally through his music. Happy Born Day to the “Makaveli” of rap!

-Sha Be Allah(@KingPenStatus)