It was 30 years ago today that beloved rap star Tupac Shakur would succumb to the injuries he suffered a week prior in a drive-by shooting that, only recently, came to some form of justice.
Although we lost him physically in 1996, the legacy of 2Pac has continued to resonate in hip-hop thanks to a classic catalog that will never be forgotten and an influence on many emcees who came after.
From the cadence in his flow and a signature style to lyricism that spoke for the outlaws of the world, 2Pac left a lasting impression on the game that’s been a source of influence over the past three decades and counting.
RELATED: 2Pac Was 90s Fine: 30 Years Later, We Remember His Best Looks
Albums such as Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me demonstrated his ability to combine personal vulnerability with social commentary, helping establish the idea that a rapper could be both a street poet and a powerful cultural voice. We would see similar themes and emotional honesty in later projects like DMX with It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot and Kendrick Lamar with Section.80 to name a few. His braggadocio in the classic visuals for “Hit ‘Em Up” and “California Love” paved a way for new age stars like NBA Youngboy and NLE Choppa to be just as fearlessly aggressive.
Many rappers past and present have borrowed from his combination of raw emotion, storytelling, confidence and social awareness, some even sampling his work as a way to pay homage where it’s due. The many struggles and difficult realities he once rapped about are still happening today, and his lyrical blueprint is thankfully still being utilized through a wide range of successors.
