Tupac Shakur

Today in Hip-Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Third LP ‘Me Against The World’ 27 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop History, the late Tupac Shakur released his third studio LP, Me Against the World. This album came at one of the most pivotal times in ‘Pac’s life and career. Recorded shortly after his near-fatal assassination attempt in New York and released while he was in prison, this album marked a change in 2Pac as an artist and a man.

This album was nothing like the music that gave him his “thug life” gangster image and street credentials. The subject matter and tone of this project were a lot more serious and introspective than anything he had previously released. Much less high energy than the tracks from his previous album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…, this album showed genuine reflection on his life and career path as an artist along with shining light on some of his personal struggles with paranoia and self-loathing.

The realism of this album brought a ridiculous amount of commercial success. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album has been certified double platinum selling over 3.5 million copies in the United States alone. Along with being #1 in the US, the album also ranked #23 in Germany and #20 in Sweden. In the year after its release, the album received the Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Album. The project was Tupac’s most positively reviewed album and has been called the magnum opus of his career.

The singles from the project “Dear Mama,” “So Many Tears” and “Temptations” all made appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Dear Mama” peaked at #9, “So Many Tears” hit #44 and “Temptations” claimed the#68 spot.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Third LP ‘Me Against The World’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Biggie Gets Booed At Soul Train Music Awards In L.A. 25 Years Ago

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On this date in 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. was booed on stage before presenting the award for Best R&B Soul Single Female at the 1997 Soul Train Music Awards.

The audience in Los Angeles wasn’t too friendly towards Biggie, especially since his then rival Tupac Shakur was just shot and killed in Las Vegas six months earlier. Big gave a cynical “What’s up Cali?” as the boos and jeers grew louder and more intense.

Biggie was killed a little more than a day later in a drive-by shooting after leaving the Vibe Magazine Soul Train Awards after party. Biggie’s sudden murder proved that Tupac’s murder the year prior was more than a random shooting and that the East Coast vs. West Coast beef was more than just a rap beef between two former friends.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Biggie Gets Booed At Soul Train Music Awards In L.A. 25 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip-Hop History: Tupac Shakur Dropped ‘Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z…’ LP 29 Years Ago

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On this date in 1993, Tupac Shakur released his second full-length studio album, Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z… on Jive Records and T.N.T. Recordings. With the ‘N-word always having a negative connotation, ‘Pac flipped it to an acronym, meaning  Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished, with the “Z” in the title making it plural.

This album continued on the same wavelength as his debut, with his sociopolitical viewpoint as the basis of the album’s overall subject matter. The most recognizable singles from the album are “I Get Around,” “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” and the inspirational “Keep Ya Head Up,” which helped to propel the album to platinum status.

The post Today In Hip-Hop History: Tupac Shakur Dropped ‘Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z…’ LP 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Rap Report Card From the 1990s Grades Jay-Z, DMX and More

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How’d your favorite rapper score on the rap report card? Continue reading…

Tupac Shakur Hard Drive Containing Unearthed Photos & Music Goes To Auction Could Reveal New Clues To His Unsolved Murder

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A hard drive containing previously unheard Tupac Shakur songs and “intimate” photos of the rapper will be auctioned off, revealing new insights on the late rapper’s life and associations leading up to his death. Photos Reveal Mike Tyson, Andre Harrell, Jodeci With 2Pac Prior To Death A hard drive containing previously unheard Tupac Shakur songs […]

The Estate Of Tupac Shakur Announces A Tupac Museum Experience

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Within the last month alone, immersive experiences dedicated to Prince and David Bowie have been announced. Now, a creative collaboration between The Estate of Tupac Shakur, The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and others has announced a contemporary art museum style experience dedicated to the life and work of Tupac.

Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free, is a multi-sensory experience that showcases the late rapper’s music, poetry, and artifacts in a 20,000 square foot space that is set to tour around the world. The museum will have surround sound spaces that use technology to present rarities, photos, writings, etc. that represent the creative compositions that marked Tupac’s life. A press release said that “WMWIF will delve into the greater meaning of his activism, music, and revolutionary art.” Even Tupac’s influential activist mother, Afeni Shakur is said to be incorporated throughout.

Set to open on January 21st, 2022, the global touring exhibit begins at The Canvas at L.A. Live in Downtown L.A. and will move through select U.S. and international cities over the course of the next few years. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Chief Curator & Vice President of Curatorial Affairs, Nwaka Onwusa led the curatorial efforts, along with Creative Director Jeremy Hodges of Project Art Collective. Hodges added his thoughts on the endeavor in a statement:

“It is a privilege to be a part of such a monumental project”, Hodges said. “Tupac Shakur was my Malcolm; he was my Martin, and to build an experience that honors such a prolific man, cannot be summed up in words. We wanted to create a memorable experience that will inspire you to be better than when you walked in, all while leaving you with the knowledge that he was a true revolutionary spirit.”

A “front of line” pre-sale goes on sale 11/09 at 10 am PT on wakemewhenimfree.com and general tickets go on sale 11/12 at 10 am PT.