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

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

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    --Topic Sentence--Tupac and Biggie both were born in New York, spending their early years there. Tupac was primarily from the East Harlem section of Manhattan New York City, New York, but he moved multiple times in his youth. Tupac moved to Baltimore,

    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 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

  • Research Paper On Tupac Shakur

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tupac Amaru Shakur born in East Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City. His birth name was Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16 1971. His both parents were members of the Black Panther Party. Tupac Shakur was a vocal participant during the East Coast and West Coast hip hop rivalry. He went to High School in California and Maryland. His career brought him back to New York City. Forget about his education and family background, thinking about how he put himself into his career so successfully. To succeed and accomplishment that made him in legacy…..

    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

  • Tupac is Alive, Not Dead

    2696 Words  | 6 Pages

    Shakur’s post celebrity run-ins with the law were almost as frequents as when he was growing up. In 1992 he was arrested when a stray bullet killed a six-year old child during a scuffle between Shakur and two others. The charges were later dropped. In 1993 Tupac was arrested for allegedly shooting two off duty Butts County Atlanta police officers who were harassing a black motorist, but the charges were again dropped. Ironically one of the officers was shot in the...

    Read More

  • The Mystery of Tupac Shakur

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    Immediately after Tupac Shakur’s murder the night of September 7, 1996, possible suspects were targeted and investigated. Among the earliest accused was Suge Knight, the creator of Death Row Records (Scott 183). Shakur’s contract with Death Row was a profit vacuum for Knight because of Shakur’s immense talent and popularity. And, allegedly, a four-million dollar insurance policy was enacted on Tupac after signing with Death Row Records, giving Death Row the benefit rather than his family (Scott 183). This policy reinforced the idea that Tupac was the driving money force for Death Row; therefore, he was extremely valuable for the success of the company. As Knight once said, "Tupac IS Death Row." (Johnson and McQuillar 173). However, tension came when Tupac supposedly was ready to depart from Death Row Records once the contract expired, which would negatively affect the success of Death Row (Scott 184). The devastation of Shakur’s departure would cause a major change in Death Row's success, and potentially causing another company to be more successful than Knight’s. T...

    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

  • 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

  • Mystery Behind Death of Tupac Shakur

    1846 Words  | 4 Pages

    June 16th, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York. Lesane Parish Crooks was born. Left by his father, Alice Williams, Tupac's mother changed his name from Lesage to Tupac Amaru Shakur. Tupac has moved from Oakland to New York and back again. When he was fifteen he was into writing rap lyrics and gang related subjects. By the time Tupac was eighteen he had been arrested eight times, even serving eight months in prison after being convicted of sexual abuse. Tupac studied the teachings of a war strategist known as Machiavelli in prison.

    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 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

  • 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