"It's a tremendous honor because I put Tupac beyond Shakespeare. Unfortunately his early demise didn't allow him to still be here and do more incredible things. The things he left are timeless. Just to be a part of that is an honor for me."
-NAS

Often when someone is no longer with us, the person tends to become larger than their actual life was and larger than their actual works were. However, sometimes these truth hold evident and a "undiscovered phenomenon" appears.


Shakespeare and Tupac both artists in their own right. So different yet both such amazing artists. Both with the ability to move you, inspire, insight and lift you all at once. One of the things that I find most interesting


If you have never heard Tupac or have never read his lyrics but you are looking to be inspired and you are looking to be lifted, you will find it in his writings. I do believe Tupac to be one of the most prolific poets of our time. His word usage was nothing short of astounding. The play on words that he showed us could be used and the way he used the words to make us feel and draw us into his life is awe inspiring.

I'm a writer. I'm a poet. Truthfully, poetry is almost my second language. I have been inspired by Tupac. I have been inspred by Shakespeare.

Tupac is incredibly incredible. You will never understand how truly talented & passionate this man was about his art & skill if U C what society has tried 2 make of him.
Tupac is fabulous...& not ghetto
Tupac will NEVER B put in2 the back of the mind.

Drika said:

First of all, I think Nas' quote is illustrative of the current "fad" in the rap industry to bend over backwards to over-glorify 2Pac's music after his death... as illustrated by the fact that none of his albums approached Illmatic IMHO. Tupac was a very good artist, but I believe people view him more in terms of what they wish he would have been than what he was (i.e., an occassionally brilliant but generally inconsistent rapper, and a very good actor).

As far as his wordplay, I agree he was a talented poet... but was he more talented than Mos Def, Aceyalone, Common, Guru, Q-Tip, Del, Kool Keith

Tupac was very talented. But deep down he was nothing but a thug and a hoodlum.

People are always talking about how inspirational his lyrics were, but what did he ever do to try to help the people he rhymed about so much?

BanishedBrian said:

I guess its all in the way you define talent and artistry. Obviously they each mean something different to us all. The beauty of artistry is that what one likes, the other does not have to. I view him only in terms of what he did accomplish.

I think it was amazing what he did to contribute to the rap industry and published poem works as well...

doeineffect said:

You're right, he was very talented and he was a thug and a hoodlum. He never gave us rose colored glasses to look at him...he kept it real. Every thing he spoke was the truth...his truth. I think also that people are inspired by the way he rose up from his beginnings.

I dont know what he ever did to help the people he rhymed about... Vibe says one thing, Source says another and the Television never acknowledges anyting, so no.. I dont know.

But even after all was said and done, at the end of the day...we still have his inspirational lyrics.

(L) (L)
Tupac is the shit.
May have been a thug, but he was real.
I miss him.

Tupac was an interesting charactor but not much else. I have read his lyrics and believe me, they suck.

Thugs end up with slugs.

Comparing Tupac with Shakespeare is ... uhm ... not really worth responding 2 actually.

yes, they were both artists in their own right, AND their own leage, Shakespeare beeing one of the greatest of all time, all place, Tupac (mayb) beeing one of the greatest of 10 yrs of rap music in the USA (not 2 mention he got shot bcause he used his talent 2 hate on other people).