A still of the Tupac hologram from Coachella
ike a lot of people who saw the video floating around the Internet of Tupac’s hologram performing at Coachella, I was eager to click on it. I was a fan of his before he was killed and own a few of his CDs. He had a great body flow and made some awesome music. But Tupac also made music that epitomizes the worst of hip-hop, the gun-toting, gang-banging, woman-hating kind. I held my breath when I clicked play on the video, hoping that I’d hear some progressive Tupac. Instead I got “Hail Mary,” a song glorifying the very violence that killed him. My heart sunk. This is not how I want to remember Tupac.
I applaud Dr. Dre and Snoop for their creative use of the hologram technology and for the contributions they’ve made to hip-hop. And I’m not saying they should have whitewashed or bowdlerized Tupac. I’m simply saying I’d rather remember him as a complex artist who also performed music like “Dear Mama” and “Brenda’s Got a Baby.”
I know that gangsta rap sells records, concerts, and CDs around the world. And I know producing concerts is a business. But for me, that fact makes the revival of Tupac in this manner only worse. Essentially, his violent lyrics and violent end are being pimped after his death.
Yes, some rappers actually grew up around and participated in the violence they rap about. Yes, Clint Eastwood, Westerns and war movies are far more violent and deserve reproach. And I can think of a thousand other justifications for the resurrection of this particular Tupac. But I have to draw a line somewhere and that line is at resurrecting the image of a murdered man and forcing him to strut around the stage performing a song about his thirst for revenge.
Tupac didn’t get revenge against the people he said set him up on rape charges or against the person who shot him five times in 1994. And his elusive pursuit of that revenge probably cost him his life. In 1996, he was shot four times, held onto his life for six days, then died.
Please, let him rest in peace.
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See, things is – TUPAC’S words in this specific song – if looked at, don’t cover just 1 subject. He really seems to be saying “this life i, ghetto kid/soldier” , is the life in front of me. It is what i see. And if i’m pushed, so be it.” He is alllll over the place w/imagery and QUICK msgs, per LINE, and verse. HIS verses here seem to actually be a warning to others to not follow this path. I think Snoop and Dre get what Pac was saying w.the song.
And Gangsta Party – i’m pretty sure that was released not long after Pac had gotten out of jail (or court), and Snoop had been acquitted. The fashion they delivered being free and partying was graphic, but perfect for the streets. That song wasn’t for people 18 and under, nor people who don’t relate to that side of life. He targeted a certain group and flowed with it.
His music HERE, in these 2 specific songs, sactually show just how versatile he was. He could ride a theme in a line, or verse, or SONG. He was cramming alot of info into Hail Mary, likely because he wanted the people listening to that part of Pac, to know it ain’t all fun and games, living this life he had.
Tupac represented IT ALL.
He wasn’t just a positive force,he showed the ugly side of humanity also.
That’s what made him great.
If you were a Pac Fan you’d understand that.
Who cares how YOU want to remember him? Should we forget about his misogynistic, violent and all around unintelligent lyrics just because he was murdered?
You ma’am are a hater. His mother liked it.
http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/16/tupac-mother-afeni-shakur-coachella-hologram/