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16.06.2015 Feature Article

Tupac Amaru Shakur: The talent, controversy and legacy

Tupac Amaru Shakur:  The talent, controversy and legacy
16.06.2015 LISTEN

Musically and lyrically, the iconic status of Tupac Amaru Shakur also known by his stage names ‘2Pac’ or ‘Makaveli’ goes without saying. Officially, one of the best selling music artistes of all time, the style of rap that he popularised remains influential and phenomenal to this day. Even though some of the fundamentals of the genre were cemented before him, his contribution is in a league of its own. Against the backdrop of what would have been his 44th birthday and current state of rap, this article offers a timely revisit of the talent, controversy and legacy of Tupac.

Whilst rap music has not lost its vibrancy, appeal and viability, aspects of it are not idyllic. Some view this as a conspiracy to destroy the movement all together. Things have certainly changed from the days when Tupac’s enviable talent set new heights for others to follow. Even if at times he misappropriated his ‘thug life’ philosophy by engaging the kind of hype that is letting down today’s rap scene, his revolutionary sentiments were absolutely intact. The deplorable conditions that continue to plague America’s poorer neighbourhoods give this a further legitimacy.

In Tupac rap found a sharp, intelligent and talented lyricist for political persuasions that were always there. Not surprising, his detestation of the rights violations and injustices meted out by the authorities reinforced this core. Like many of Tupac’s predecessors, the flow and potency of their craft added to the criticality of the impact. Whist commentators are quick to emphasise the fact of his grounding in the philosophy of the Black Panther movement, they perhaps overlook the intuitive narratives and intonations that are borne out of a history of struggle.

Rap music fundamentally is a black art form with its own culture, language, symbols and so forth. The ‘hard core’ nature of the beats is part of the fascination hence why it is so lyrically profound. Rather than revere this as the spirit of rap music, some of the current generation of rappers with their infusions of the ‘n-word’, violent diatribes and rivalry are reversing the movement’s hard-fought gains. Worst, it is at a disservice to the genuine ‘oral tradition’ and social justice lyrics that were instrumental in the success of Tupac and others before him like Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy and KRS-1 before him.

In truth, what is popularly known as ‘gangsta-rap’ is a sophisticated conundrum of coded language, emotions and symbolism that do not necessarily imply the obvious. As such, it will be a mistake to make too much of utterances ascribed to Tupac simply on face value. On this basis, one could easily exalt ‘thug life’ as a political statement made imperative by an America that remains clueless about the black experience. This said, the use of terms like ‘niggaz’, ‘bitches’ and so on if anything has hampered this interpretation and distorted some of the founding principles of rap music.

Despite the aversion of the ‘gangsta’ mentality, Tupac’s ascendance and crossover charted a natural progression. The notion of white audiences gyrating and gravitating to his ‘rhymes’ and art-form as being all things exciting and an infectious new wave of protest music is undeniable. Helped by a succession of infectious releases such as Dear Mama, Changes, Life Goes On and so forth, Tupac was destined for a special place in musical history. Just like Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and so on, his ability to create waves on the political stage cannot be overlooked.

Tupac is undoubtedly a hard act to follow, which is not just testified by the record sales, accolades or honours showered on him. Unlike many of his counterparts, his lyrics in particular were uncompromising about day-to-day realities for ordinary people not just in America. Arguably, one of the school of rappers that were determined to ‘kept-it-real’ at a time when the disfranchised in society needed a ‘voice’. Although Tupac like any other human being is not above comeback, to write him off as a ‘walking contradiction’ was a grave mistake.

Those highly-publicised images and visuals placing the rapper in the thick of controversy may have casted aspersions on his character. But America generally has not always taken kindly to black music’s popularity as seen with the ‘anti-disco’ backlash and racist undertones to this sickening episode. Blessed with talent on this scale, theories of sinister forces amassing against Tupac before news of his death need to be properly investigated. In relation to his legacy, the world should not only celebrate a brilliant, lyricist, and artiste but also the beautiful ‘human being’ and rights champion that reached out to so many.

Richmond Quarshie

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