What Tupac meant to us ...

What Tupac meant to us, as written by his fans. All text on this page is exactly as it was written. If you want to share with the world how Tupac influenced you, helped you, how you related to him or what he meant to you, contact us with your letter, poetry or art, and I will post it here for everyone to read.

Today, very ironically, while i was running my daily mile, i started to think about my life. I thought about all the hardships I had gone through. 17 years of my life and i have been through more shit then the majority of adults. I started wondering, how i managed successfully to stay away from the crime, drugs, and violence that surrounds me. I continued to think about my life; how I moved to the United States when I was at the ripe age of 8 months, how i stayed in an one room apartment with 8 of my relatives, how I witnessed first hand the ultimate betrayal of loyalty, how I lived in seclusion from my immediate family, which consisted of me and my mom. I would see her approximately 30 minutes a day due to her work schedule; i lived on my own from the 2nd grade on. I believe i had an extremely mature attitude compared to that of my fellow peers, i was into different things and felt i related better to older people. One afternoon, I had managed to borrow a cassette from my neighbor. That's when i heard my first song by Tupac, Only God Can Judge me. That song forever changed my life in which ways that one would never imagine. Tupac, has been my anti-drug, anti-gang, my anti-violence; and more importantly, a type of father figure in a home which consisted of my lonely self. I became an fanatic soon after that. I read all the books i heard Tupac read, i vibed to every song that he ever created. He was my best friend in a time of desperate need. He showed me Words of Wisdom in a Trapped society, and for this, I am truly grateful. - Eric

2pac has been a father figure to me cause I've never had a father in my life and i could really relate to him. he gave me the courage to write some lyrics or poetry and i want to perform it in front of my school. i've listened to most of his songs and i love r u still down and me against the world the most. i know how it is to be poor and have nothing to eat and would have to steal to eat. my dad left me when i was just 2yrs old. my mom had a nerves break down 11yrs after that and my dad was never around. we had to struggle all through our lives me my bro and my mom. i also know how it is to have a friend back stab you and leave like you never existed. i listened to his music and the more i wanted to live and to be grateful to myself and to my family to. the only thing i can't really relate to 2pac is i never was raised in the ghetto. i think thats how you spell it. but my mom is a alcoholic and it drives me crazy like when 2pacs mom was on crack. i want to leave but i don't know what to do? but enough about my problems but thats how 2pac has been an great mentor and a distant father figure. and its a shame that he died but his music still lives on through generation after generation.

Jesse King
NO INSANITY PLEA FOR ME! I RATHER HAVE BEEF TILL I BURN! -Tupac Shakur

TRUE. Written by Michael Clark

It started from a seed from Afeni Shakur Brought to a World never thought of before You were close to your Moms but your Daddy was gone Scrapping back against the wall finding clothes to put on Now leaving your home was the time that changed you around Never gave it no thought making G's or paper round Thugs gave you love popping rocks was your only chance Turn your back get a job you'll have to blast All the time you were searching for your dad Looking for love Mutulu gave you that, you know writing rap gave you some identity perceptions of life living in insanity now the time has come to join with underground given your chance you broke the world of sound your future was there always wanted to be seen 71 - 96 Tupac Rest In Peace

I have 2 other verses but I wanted to share some of the song that has inspired me to write like Tupac and identify what is wrong in the World and how much we miss this man.

Much Love, RIP
MIKE CLARK

Firstly, R.I.P. Tupac Amaru Shakur 1971-1996.
I jus' wanna say how much Tupac and his music influences my life and also I just wanna say to all his fans... "Keep it real". If he was alive 2day then I think he would surely influence more people around the world and thats why we must keep his legacy going.

Rom (tha truest british fan)

Tupac was one of the most influential rappers of the 90's no other rapper will have the influence on the world like Tupac did. His music was and still is amazing his life as a whole was one of a great man. Tupac will always bbe remembered not just for his great music but for his life.

R.I.P Tupac Shakur
John (England)

Tupac has influenced my life in many ways. He's taught me to always stand up for what I feel, to not follow others, and to be kind to your mom even if she's on drugs. I've had to go through that, and Dear Mama helped me. He meant so much to so many, I still think about him every day.

2Pac: "To live & die in L.A."
Lesane Crooks, Tupac Shakur, Makaveli...whatever u wanna call him, he always showed his true self and thats why he was seen as the realest nigga around.

2 my idol...Make sure heaven is boppin' when we get up there.
Big Man.

This letter isn't as much about how Pac changed my life as it is about how he changed the face of music itself. Just look at the world of rap now: Puff Daddy is the biggest fake, but after Pac died, he became the biggest star. Hip-Hop died with Tupac, for real. In my life Pac is a big inspiration. I look at his life and see what he went through and realize that nothing, not any kind of dillema, can stop me from acheiving my goals, just like he did. I hope you do set up this section, because I'd love to read what other people have to say on this.

Peace, Devious1 Tha MC

I got into Tupac right after he died. Which is tragic because I never got a chance to appreciate his music when he was alive. However he is basically the only rapper I listen to and even though my friends say I should listen to other people I just don't like much other rap. HE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Well, anyway I am a white kid from a rather wealthy town so people say I cant feel tupac. Well, who ever says that has no clue what they are talking about! I was in some trouble a little while back and my parents were really pissed at me for it. I didn't want to be here anymore but I remember what tupac said in songs like keep your head up and dear mama and I got through it. Now that I look back at it I remember reading an interview and Tupac said ill probably die saving a white kid. I think that exactly what he did. Thanks Makaveli!!!

Peace sincerely j-dog

When I first started listening to Rap music, I didn't really like 2pac. It wasn't anything in particular, I just didn't like his sound. However when Hit Em Up came out, i was intrigued and started wondering if there was more to him than I once thought. I started getting his music and really got into him. I am proud to say that I now have about 250 2Pac tracks (both released and unreleased) and that he is probably my favorite rapper of all time. While his lyrics are great, his beats are great, and the outlawz are great, there is one thing that seperates him from all other artists. He shows his sensetive, caring, and troubled side. Most rappers act all hard 99% of the time and have a "I'm rich and you're a punk ass" attitude. This is one of the main reasons I don't like bad boy. Biggie was great also, but he was so one sided! He was either "fucking bitches" or killing someone. 2Pac wrote about that stuff too, but he had a much wider range of topics he based his songs on. Most people don't know the REAL side of him not because they don't like him or know about him, but because his best tracks that demonstrate this are unreleased. Here are some perfect examples (whoever has heard these songs will know what I mean..if you can't get your hands on them, then at least find the lyrics on the internet somewhere because they really show his emotional side): 1. Play Your Cards Right (my personal favorite of all 250 tracks I have), 2: Novokane (performed by the outlawz, written by 2Pac, great song but depressing ) 3: Smile (was released on some soundtrack) and 4: Pain (was also released I think). Songs such as "Hold Ya Head" and "Smile" usually make me feel better when I am feeling low and 2Pac in general has been an inspiration to me. If he is strong enough to get up from out the gutters of the streets, why can't I be strong enough to get out the gutter of my own mind? When I die I hope I could meet 2Pac and tell him how much he influenced my life and how much I respect him.

Tupac was the 1 of the biggest influences in my life.......he told me through his lyrics. He made it known that if you stand up 4 what is real and u really dont give a f*ck about the punk, fake a*s bit*hes just tryin to hate on a brotha cause he succeedin, than thats what makes you a true t-h-u-g. F*ck all them bustas who rip on one cause he got skillz that would crush yo sh*t like it was a fake a*s rhyme on piece of trashed up paper. You gots to look beyond the sh*t that was exposed by the media and all the rest of those fagits and really listen to what hes talkin bout in his rhymes---LIFE---next time you see tupac on a magazine cover, or on a poster, rememba that that thug was tru-------AND DATS REAL! I was taught by the greatest. Tupac Amaru Shakur 1971-1996 R.I.P

First off, I would like to say that Tupac Amaru Shakur was and still is a remarkable man. I started of listening to his music, then decided to read up on the man. I learned many great facts bout him, and now have a whole new level of respect for him. I respect him as a person, no longer as a rapper. I respect him for what he has done for his people, himself, his family and community. The "T" on the "THUG LIFE" written on below his chest, should be terminated, spelling "HUG LIFE". I am glad to say that he is one of the most inspirational figures in my life, and that his short life has touched my soul and as well as many across the world. He made me realize the world, how it works, who really runs this Krayzie place, and what really goes on. I admire his poetry, and I am so into his book, "The Rose That Grew From Concrete". If U haven't picked it up, get it. Tupac has also inspired me to write poetry, and write what I feel. Here is a poem I have written dedicated to the late, great Tupac Amaru Shakur, may his soul rest in peace.

MY HERO I WILL NEVER KNOW (2 Tupac Amaru Shakur) U influenced the world with your soul of pride a prominence. As U departed, U let heads hangin, still, continued your dominance. How could they have not Loved something so illustrious? Such an influential figure 2 those who R weak. Even after your demise, we continue 2 listen 2 U speak. I cannot say I loved U, but I respected and followed your beliefs. The unsung hero, with the unheard voice. It was sick 2 C U grace death, Then C them smile and rejoice. 2 A man I will never know, whose soul will continue 2 glow, I thank U, Knowing that your inspiration will never cease to flow. After my death, send me 2 a place grow, 2 Respect and embrace, My Hero I will never know.

@>~~~}~~~~~~~~~ Luv is Love Ja$oN Lore

I didn't become a true 2Pac fan until he came out with All Eyez on Me. I liked him as soon as I heard Brenda's Got a Baby because I saw a positive black man rapping about our (black women's) problems. So you know I got into it, but I didn't believe that he would blow up and still keep rapping out it. Ya feel me?? When I heard All Eyez on Me I knew that 2Pac was here to stay and that he was keepin' it real. I admired that about him. In every album you could hear, see, and feel his life and pain. You knew that he was the nigga round the corner, your homeboy. So when things are hard and I feel like giving up on everything I'll dip. I keep his CD's in my car and I'll just ride and listen to his words. I know that the petty shit that I've gone through and going through don't compare to the life he lived. Yet he made it, he came up. About 3 years ago I found out that my grandmother had cancer. The doctor gave her no more than 6 months to live. My grandmother was my mother, she raised me. She made me who I am today. Well when we first found out I was straight in denial. She looked healthy so I felt like she was. I didn't believe the doctor. My grandmother has always lived with me, my mother, father, and brother. So we weren't about to put her in some home so she could die. At first she was fine and could do things for herself, that didn't last too long though. Soon she couldn't get out of the bed easily and then it got worse. If you have ever seen someone who has cancer you know how sick they look. It's hard watching someone that took care of you dying a little bit every day. At times I'd pray that the lord would take me instead of her. So many people needed and counted on her. Things got to the point where she couldn't do anything by herself. I would come home from school and feed her and take care of her until my mother got home. About 9 months passed and she continually got worse. My grandmother would scream out in pain all night long. We gave her medicine for the pain, but she would then talk kind of out of her head as a side affect from it. She passed away about a year after she was diagnosed. I wanted so badley to go with her. To me there was no life without my grandmother in it. It was the hardest thing I have been through. Anyway the whole point of me telling you this story is because during this time my best friend was 2Pac. When I was really depressed I would drive out somewhere and sit and listen to his CD (preferrably Dear Momma). It made me feel like going back home and doing everything that I could for my grandmother while she was still here. So I could repay her for everything she did for me. He gave me the corage to live, to "keep my head up". Here's a BLACK MAN telling a sister that she can make it. If a skinny nigga from the getto can encourage me to make it, why shouldn't I. He gave me hope that through it all you keep going. You're not allowed to quit. I thank him for that.

2pac is the sh*t for real, real mutherf*ckers to real muthaf*ckin things. I started listening to 2pac back when me against the world came out, then when all eyez on me and hit'em up came out i was like got damn. 2pac has done so much sh*t for me right down to "wanda y they call u bytch" to "aint got to lie to kick it". 2pac is the sh*t man, he brought out the THUG IN ME and at the same to do good in school "Its a cold world, stay in school, break rules and maija, money makin tactics, muthaf*ckas got automatics. THUG LIFE stay true, keep ur head up and handle it. - SURREY HINDU

To me Tupac was and always will be the biggest influence in my life. From his music to his movies to his poetry. He had music for every emotion I could feel. I loved every single song all for different reasons. Tears sometimes still roll down when I think of him.I even ask god why was he taken away from us. I wish I could have a time machine to go back and change what happened on that tragic day in Vegas. I will forever remeber you. I'm an inspiring actor and I'm gonna go by Tupac's mentality, staying real and true.Tupac you are my inspiraton I miss ya dearly. RIP. Love Pumma

Ya lived your life to the fullest/a young thug dodgin bullets/under pressure you had hope/desprate times turn to sellin dope/labled as an outlaw thugged out/ stretch caught slug commin out the drug house/ thug livin to the end/bad boys ain't men/nothin left but the love/to a thug who shed blood.
R.I.P. 2Pac, Chino P.

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