Why Does Tupac still Resonate with the Youth Today?

It’s been almost 20 years since the passing of Tupac and yet, people are still loving him for his music and performances. 20 years is a lifetime in pop culture, yet almost every teen and pre-teen know who Pac is. Why is this? What is it about him that casts such a long media shadow on many of his successors?

Tupac Shakur is arguably the most polarizing figure in the history of rap and hip hop. Opinionated, brash, and often very confrontational, Tupac’s throwback personality felt more like a modern revolutionary, which is easily understandable given that both his parents were members of the Black Panther Party.

Somewhere in between the mixture of machismo and the faux tough-guy personas embraced by rappers, a considerable amount of the knowledge and intelligence that they possess goes unnoticed or undermined. Tupac was a brilliant young man. Consider this, at the time of his death he was twenty five and had a more profound impact on the world than some men ever have. Although he was young and perceived as wild, and aggressive which ultimately led to his untimely death, many like myself learned a number of great things from his music.

Never at a loss for words, the showmanship of Tupac Shakur resonated everywhere, breaking down demographics to strengthen the minds of Americans and foreign folks as far as music can reach. For these efforts, and the quality of art he produced, Tupac Shakur will always be remembered. Sometimes it is the unshakable circumstances and adversity that a man encounters that can make him a stronger individual as he treads through deep waters. Still in his mother’s belly when his mother was jailed, Tupac knew nothing of the struggle and plight of his mother who could be said to represent those who have tripped and fallen in to the confinements of not so cherished authoritative figures. A harsh childhood was alleviated when Tupac enrolled into performing arts school exposing him to alternate influences that were instrumental in allowing him to channel his energy in to more positive things. This silver lining on a stormy early life may have guided his focus away from activities that may have landed him in prison.

Tupac’s early death has not been solved yet there does not exist an open case investigating his murder. The reality of his death has a “take it as it is” stigma. However long the Shakur candle shall burn, due respect will be paid to a man of great principle and his legacy shall live on.

By Michael Nzambu