D_Rap_Scholar
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Being Authentic: “Keeping it Real” “Keeping it Gangsta” was the mantra of Tupac’s career. What made him so believable was the fact that he actually lived what he wrote (sometimes to the point of sensationalism, like actually shooting at cops…sometimes to the point of self-destruction, like becoming embroiled in confrontation and beefs of all sorts). But it wasn’t just his antics that made him a star -- but the fact that he could honestly express the reality of his own life. For listeners, his swagger and his voice communicated so much realness and authenticity. As Michael Eric Dyson writes, “What distinguished Tupac from most of his peers was the quality of heart and honesty of expression he brought to his craft. He possessed an emotional immediacy and psychic intimacy that are hard to fake, that are difficult to drum up or duplicate…” Instead of merely conforming to what was trendy or en vogue, Tupac used every fiber of his being, every muscle in his body, to express the rage, wonder, fear, hope, and despair of life. And you’ll find all sorts of contradictions and emotions in his work, because he was constantly searching for the best representation of his inner self. Sure, Tupac was just as much part of the mainstream as any other popular rapper. But even while situating himself in pop culture (with movies, publications, and his image as a gangsta) he was still recognized for having a truly authentic voice. It was this heartfelt and honest portrayal of life that allowed him to connect with so many people. Whether in music or in deed, Tupac resonated with the black youth, and more than any other rapper, he spoke to their struggles, their desires, their hopes, their ambitions, and their frustrations….thus vindicating the ideal of art being both personal and universal
Being Transformative: As a rap artist, Tupac understood the power of ideas and hip hop’s subversive potential as rebellious self-expression. His erratic and unpredictable behavior was the stuff of legend, but so was his thought-provoking lyricism – and that lyricism was what made him one of most important revolutionaries of his time. Like KRS and Chuck D before him, Tupac was able to use the power of hip hop music to educate as well as entertain, and laced his music with political messages. He talked about running for president and being a spokesperson for urban black America. Some contemporaries, like Sen. Bob Doyle and Vice President Dan Quayle, condemned his music as violent and sexist. But for so many others, Tupac was uplifting. He believed at the bottom of his heart that he had a mission, and that mission was to tell the truth about injustice as powerfully and honestly as his artistic gifts would allow him. In the process, his art became a catalyst for change and his words an indictment of discrimination, ghettoization, and the oppression facing his community. Yet as Jake Brown writes, “[Tupac] spoke a universal language, spoken in multi-tracked tongues that could advocate for every fight and plight . . . in a single song.” Just see how his music has traveled to places like Serbia and the Middle East to empower the culture and struggles of so many others. Macy Gray said it best, “Tupac inspired all musicians not only to look within ourselves but to look to how we could be instrumental in helping other people.”
Being Timeless: The staying power of Tupac’s music and his memory is truly historical. No other rap artist has become so omnipotent nor so recognizable to the rest of the world. Pac is a cultural icon on the same magnitude of Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe. He has become a legend whose music and memory continues to live on through annual festivals, museum exhibits, clothing, web sites and even babies’ names – (“surely you've noticed the scores of kindergarteners named Tupac, right?” writes one commentator) His image and quotes are frequently imprinted upon memorabilia, clothing, products, and media. His songs and recordings are constantly being remixed, remastered, re-packaged, and re-released every year. Shit, they even brought the nigga back from the dead using a hologram….a fucking HOLOGRAM!!!! And even though it’s been years since his passing, Tupac’s artistic work continues to spark interest and debate. As Benjamin Meadow-Ingram writes, “His artistic breadth and violent death have allowed him to become feted as a brilliant poet by respected intellects, demonized as an immoral street punk by politicians and older blacks, and celebrated as a worthy rider by real niggas” No other rapper has been more lamented, admired, commemorated, despised, or analyzed than Tupac. We are alays pulling on him, evoking him, cursing him, and celebrating him his legacy. He is still very much the yardstick by which we assess the impact of rap artists even today.
None of this means that Tupac was hip hop’s best greatest example of an emcee. Frankly, he was not that impressive of a wordsmith nor did he master the craft of flow and dexterity as others have. Yet as Michael Eric Dyson explains:
So what’s your verdict on Tupac’s greatness as a rap artist? Is it well-deserved? Is it overplayed and exaggerated? Does it unfairly overshadow the greatness of other rap artists, who simply haven’t been able to achieve the same type of stardom? Or is this even a conversation worth having at all?
Vote
Being Authentic: “Keeping it Real” “Keeping it Gangsta” was the mantra of Tupac’s career. What made him so believable was the fact that he actually lived what he wrote (sometimes to the point of sensationalism, like actually shooting at cops…sometimes to the point of self-destruction, like becoming embroiled in confrontation and beefs of all sorts). But it wasn’t just his antics that made him a star -- but the fact that he could honestly express the reality of his own life. For listeners, his swagger and his voice communicated so much realness and authenticity. As Michael Eric Dyson writes, “What distinguished Tupac from most of his peers was the quality of heart and honesty of expression he brought to his craft. He possessed an emotional immediacy and psychic intimacy that are hard to fake, that are difficult to drum up or duplicate…” Instead of merely conforming to what was trendy or en vogue, Tupac used every fiber of his being, every muscle in his body, to express the rage, wonder, fear, hope, and despair of life. And you’ll find all sorts of contradictions and emotions in his work, because he was constantly searching for the best representation of his inner self. Sure, Tupac was just as much part of the mainstream as any other popular rapper. But even while situating himself in pop culture (with movies, publications, and his image as a gangsta) he was still recognized for having a truly authentic voice. It was this heartfelt and honest portrayal of life that allowed him to connect with so many people. Whether in music or in deed, Tupac resonated with the black youth, and more than any other rapper, he spoke to their struggles, their desires, their hopes, their ambitions, and their frustrations….thus vindicating the ideal of art being both personal and universal
Being Transformative: As a rap artist, Tupac understood the power of ideas and hip hop’s subversive potential as rebellious self-expression. His erratic and unpredictable behavior was the stuff of legend, but so was his thought-provoking lyricism – and that lyricism was what made him one of most important revolutionaries of his time. Like KRS and Chuck D before him, Tupac was able to use the power of hip hop music to educate as well as entertain, and laced his music with political messages. He talked about running for president and being a spokesperson for urban black America. Some contemporaries, like Sen. Bob Doyle and Vice President Dan Quayle, condemned his music as violent and sexist. But for so many others, Tupac was uplifting. He believed at the bottom of his heart that he had a mission, and that mission was to tell the truth about injustice as powerfully and honestly as his artistic gifts would allow him. In the process, his art became a catalyst for change and his words an indictment of discrimination, ghettoization, and the oppression facing his community. Yet as Jake Brown writes, “[Tupac] spoke a universal language, spoken in multi-tracked tongues that could advocate for every fight and plight . . . in a single song.” Just see how his music has traveled to places like Serbia and the Middle East to empower the culture and struggles of so many others. Macy Gray said it best, “Tupac inspired all musicians not only to look within ourselves but to look to how we could be instrumental in helping other people.”
Being Timeless: The staying power of Tupac’s music and his memory is truly historical. No other rap artist has become so omnipotent nor so recognizable to the rest of the world. Pac is a cultural icon on the same magnitude of Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe. He has become a legend whose music and memory continues to live on through annual festivals, museum exhibits, clothing, web sites and even babies’ names – (“surely you've noticed the scores of kindergarteners named Tupac, right?” writes one commentator) His image and quotes are frequently imprinted upon memorabilia, clothing, products, and media. His songs and recordings are constantly being remixed, remastered, re-packaged, and re-released every year. Shit, they even brought the nigga back from the dead using a hologram….a fucking HOLOGRAM!!!! And even though it’s been years since his passing, Tupac’s artistic work continues to spark interest and debate. As Benjamin Meadow-Ingram writes, “His artistic breadth and violent death have allowed him to become feted as a brilliant poet by respected intellects, demonized as an immoral street punk by politicians and older blacks, and celebrated as a worthy rider by real niggas” No other rapper has been more lamented, admired, commemorated, despised, or analyzed than Tupac. We are alays pulling on him, evoking him, cursing him, and celebrating him his legacy. He is still very much the yardstick by which we assess the impact of rap artists even today.
None of this means that Tupac was hip hop’s best greatest example of an emcee. Frankly, he was not that impressive of a wordsmith nor did he master the craft of flow and dexterity as others have. Yet as Michael Eric Dyson explains:
So what’s your verdict on Tupac’s greatness as a rap artist? Is it well-deserved? Is it overplayed and exaggerated? Does it unfairly overshadow the greatness of other rap artists, who simply haven’t been able to achieve the same type of stardom? Or is this even a conversation worth having at all?
Vote
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