Why the fuck are we bickering about bandannas? I thought we were supposed to be talking about Tupac’s greatness as an artist? LOL You can argue all you want about who’s responsible for the “thugged out” look of today’s rappers, but I think that misses the point. We’re not just talking about an artist’s image (or the originality thereof). If Tupac’s gonna be judged on anything, it’s gonna be solely on the greatness of his work.
The question is this: what makes a rap artist great? (@a_list this might answer the second part of your question) If we’re gonna liken hip hop to art, then I think we have to understand how history looks upon the greatness of artists. And believe me, it’s not just because they were considered popular (many artists have been popular at one point or another, but that doesn't mean they will be remembered 50 years from now) or that even they were acclaimed (in fact, so many artistic achievements have been lost and forgotten). I think great artists are remembered because they were able to redefine and transform their world, just by the sheer power of their work!
(1) Great art first and foremost has to be authentic, because art bares witness to life’s moments. It may be funny, it could be romantic, symbolic, or even shocking, but if it is honest, it will always be a personal statement -- revealing something true and meaningful about the artist and his world. Just think about it….when a song or album is unique and authentic, but still manages to connect with an audience, that connection becomes so much deeper than art that is only produced for mass consumption, and created for the lowest common denominator.
(2) Another hallmark of great art is that it moves people to see the world in a different way. It teaches us to observe our surroundings and see things that we have never seen before or have never looked closely enough to see. Just look at great names like Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci, or Picasso; you can see how they were able to rise to greatness, because they all created works that inspired people to think differently, envision new ideals, or pursue some new agenda. That's why a great work of art will always provoke strongly felt reactions. For instance, a painting might be so beautiful that it inspires painters to imitate it. A play or book might be so radical and so revolutionary, that it might provoke people to renounce the writer as a threat to society or hail him/her as a prophet. But no matter the response, great artists will always rise to the forefront of their times and inspire change.
(3) And lastly, art that is truly great will withstand the test of time. Indeed, great art always has something timeless to it, that spans across time to impact and influence people in the present. For instance, paintings like the Mona Lisa or music like Beetoven’s 5th Symphony have the power to reach beyond their historical context to communicate to audiences in the present. That’s why we continue to be moved by artists from different times than our own. A truly great artist will continue to stand out long after they have passed from this world.
My question for ya’ll is this: If you were to take these standards seriously, do you think Tupac would top them? And just don't say it, explain it!
