Tupac Shakur: A Legend In The Rap World

392 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Tupac shakur influence on society

In many genres of music, the lyrics to songs paint vivid pictures of the writer’s views and experiences. From these sources, political and social issues are brought up in the music to reach a wide-range of audiences. A genre which expresses these issues in a grotesque fashion is rap. By some rap is viewed and reject for being “vulgar, profane, misogynist, racist, anti-Semitic, and juvenile” (Lusane) Rap could be seen as music with no meaning other than to promote violence. A Legend in the hip-hop and rap world, Tupac Shakur, however, used his rap and hip-hop music express subjects about violence and poverty in ghettos, police brutality, gang life, and others atrocities that affect him and lower-class Black Americans. (Tupac Shakur Biography) …show more content…

Born in New York City in 1971 and killed in September 1996 (Tupac Shakur Biography). Though he was the quintessential gangster during his adult life, he lived his early years with relative success and as a phenomenon. Tupac did well academically in the Baltimore School of the Arts, moved to the west coast, acted in several movies, and as a rapper, his debut albums 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z reached commercial success (Tupac Shakur Biography). As he grew, his gangster persona became a reality. Convictions of sexual assault and assault led to the imprisonment of Tupac from several days to months at a time.
The jail time led to releases of one of Tupac’s more sincere songs “Dear Mama,” which showed Tupac’s softer side. A year later, Tupac was killed in Las Vegas after attending a boxing match. He was shot by unknown gunmen and died at the hospital. Several songs and albums have been released after his death. One of those songs released was “Changes,” where Tupac reflects on problems in the Black American community. Changes is a testimony of Tupac’s life, of what he experienced and seen as he grew up, and reflections to solve the problems that affected his life. He speaks directly to all Americans He uses allusions, onomatopoeia, repetition, and direct pronouns such as we, you, and I to convey and involve the

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Huntitled 1 By Tupac

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme of lines 1-5 in, ¨Untitled 1¨ by Tupac Shakur is that African Americans have been oppressed, over many generations. He describes the world, ¨as a ghetto, that they cannot leave,¨ referring to ghettos such as

    Read More

  • Mystery Behind Death of Tupac Shakur

    1846 Words  | 4 Pages

    "After some time Tupac released his own album "2Pacalypse Now", which was a success. His career skyrocketed; he became tight with main pawns in the rapping industry. Tupac signed to Deathrow Labels and released songs and albums with them."

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Tupac Shakur

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tupac met Keisha Morris when she was in her 20s. After she was married to Tupac, he committed a crime which he was incarcerated for a period of 10 months at New York City Clinton Correctional Facility. In this article “Love is not enough” Keisha stated that they both were in love until after things got complicated (Jailed Time). Tupac Shakur mentioned about the safety of her”(XXL, 2011). Tupac Shakur is a hip-hop artist, a very influential person in the 20th century in New York City.

    Read More

  • Tupac is Alive, Not Dead

    2696 Words  | 6 Pages

    Tupac’s first big break came when he joined the group Digital Underground as a dancer and roadie. During that time, Tupac spent a lot of the time composing his own poetry and lyrics to launch his own career. In 1991 he signed with Interscope records and a year later he released his first album 2Pacalypse Now, which immediately landed him

    Read More

  • Tupac Shakur's Death

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    On September 7,1996, Tupac Shakur had just left a wrestling match and was at a traffic light when he was shot by a African American male in a white Cadillac. Tupac was allegedly rushed to the hospital and treated for severe gunshot wounds. 2Pac died six days later on September 16,1996, after his mom, Afeni, took him off of life support. This is the news story that everyone hears how 2Pac “died”.

    Read More

  • Racial Stereotypes Associated With Rap and Hip Hop Music

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Tupac Shakur And The Notorious B. I. G.

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tupac was at a Mike Tyson fight against Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 7, 1996. After it was over, Tupac was in the car with Suge Knight when a white, four-door, Cadillac pulled up and two gunmen got out. They shot thirteen times; three of the shots hit Tupac and one hit Knight. Tupac died of internal bleeding six days later in critical care at the University Medical Centre. Six months later on March 9, 1997, Biggie was sitting in a Chevy Suburban outside after the Soul Train Music Awards when he was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California. He died about an hour

    Read More

  • Kanye West: Life of the Progressive Hip-Hop Star

    945 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June, 8 1977. His mom and him soon relocated to Chicago, Illinois after his parents divorced. Kanye spent all of his youth life in Chicago. He spent his time during the school year with his mother, who was an English professor, and spent summers with his dad, who was an award-winning photographer then turned church counselor. “I was taught to think on my own growing up, that’s what a lot of black kids don’t get” (Newsmakers 2). During his time in high school he became friends with producer No I.D., who was working with the rapper Common prior to him becoming famous. This is where Kanye got his beginnings in the producing industry. Kanye wen...

    Read More

  • The Portrayal Analysis Of Tupac Shakur's Change

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    America is a nation that has been grappling with issues of racial inequalities. Civil rights movement like those led by the late Dr. Martin Luther Junior led protests against discrimination and social injustices. Tupac became part of this social movement advancing for advancement of the African American race. The song Changes is an expression of the exasperation that greeted coloured folks after fighting for so long for equal rights, yet their conditions remained the same. That explains the title of the song and repetition of the words “I see no changes” (2pac Changes, Genius). However, like any protest song, Tupac offers the solution in unity and love. He

    Read More

  • The Mystery Surrounding Tupac Shakur’s Death

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    The difficulty and impossibility of someone faking their death and being successful in doing so is off the charts, but there is someone who possibly did it in 1996 that is still alive today. Tupac (2Pac) Shakur was widely known for his rap and hip hop music, but he was also an actor. Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996 (“2 Pac (Tupac) Planet”). It seemed like Tupac had beef with just about everyone and that he was easily offended. Part of that had to do with his rough upbringing. He had beef and controversy with many people; most commonly with rapper Biggie Smalls A.K.A. The Notorious B.I.G.. There was speculation and rumors that Biggie may have had a role in Tupac’s death. No one will ever know because both rappers are now deceased. There is unending controversy regarding the death of Tupac Shakur and the controversy that he is still alive is a constant ongoing debate.

    Read More

  • Tupac Changes Essay

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tupac’s song Changes is speaking for most black mean leaving in the suburbs. He takes mainly about his situation that relates to many others blacks in the community. Changes written by Tupac in song form is his way of speaking up. He talks a lot about how he notices no change in humanity.

    Read More

  • Tupac Shakur: The Life Of Supac's Life, And His Life

    1970 Words  | 4 Pages

    Tupac Shakur was an actor and a rapper. He was born in Harlem, New York on June 16, 1971, as Lesane Parish Crooks. Both his mother and father were members of the Black Panthers, which later in his career influenced his political views in his songs .At the age of 13, he  began his acting career in the production, “Raisin in the Sun” at the Apollo Theater. Tupac’s mother was single mother of two and struggled with money, forcing them to move around a lot and often stay in shelters.Tupac went to Baltimore School of Arts before dropping out and moving to Marin County in California at the age of 17.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Tupac, And 2morrow By Amaru Shakur

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tupac Amaru Shakur was an African-American rapper, poet, and record producer during the 1990’s. In his adolescent years, he attended the Baltimore School for the Arts where he took acting and dance classes, like ballet. He was taught radical politics by his mother, which helped him develop ideas about topics he would later use in his many works. At an early age, Tupac had seen the injustices of the real world. His mother was a former Black Panther activist who turned to substance abuse during Tupac’s childhood. Aside from that, he and his mother also moved many times while they lived together in New York City. While Tupac was in Baltimore, he discovered rap; not long after, he and his mother moved to the West Coast where he joined the rap group

    Read More

  • Tupac Shakur

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in the East Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City, New York. He was named after Túpac Amaru II, an Incan revolutionary who led an indigenous uprising against Spain and received capital punishment. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was an active member of the Black Panther Party in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Shakur was born just one month after her acquittal on more than 100 charges of "conspiracy against the United States government and New York landmarks" in the New York Panther 21 court case. Although officially unconfirmed by the Shakur family, several sources list his birth name as either "Parish Lesane Crooks" or "Lesane Parish Crooks". Afeni feared her enemies would attack her son, and disguised their relation using a different last name, only to change it three months or a year later, following her marriage to Mutulu Shakur.

    Read More

  • Rap Music's Influence Upon Teenagers

    1389 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dixon, Travis L., TaKeshia Brooks. “Rap Music and Rap Audiences: Controversial Themes, Psychological Effects and Political Resistance.” Perspectives. 7 April 2009. .

    Read More

More about Tupac Shakur: A Legend In The Rap World

Open Document