West Coast rap legend Tupac Shakur died on September 13 of 1996 after being shot almost a week earlier. That makes today the 19th anniversary of his death, and the milestone has been acknowledged by Kendrick Lamar, who penned a tribute letter for the influential rapper.
The heartfelt message, which details Lamar's longtime admiration of 2Pac, was posted the late MC's website today. It is as follows:
I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn't describe how I felt at that moment. So many emotions. Full of excitement. Full of joy and eagerness. 20 yrs later I understand exactly what that feeling was.
INSPIRED.
The people that you touched on that small intersection changed lives forever. I told myself I wanted to be a voice for man one day. Whoever knew I was speaking out loud for u to listen.
Thank you.
K.L.
September 13, 2015
Lamar's love of 2Pac is well-documented. His 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly closes with an imagined conversation between the two rappers, which was pieced together using archival interview clips. (Hear that track, "Mortal Man," below.) Kendrick even considered called the album To Pimp a Caterpillar as a tribute to 2Pac (as it could have been shortened to be To P.A.C.).
The heartfelt message, which details Lamar's longtime admiration of 2Pac, was posted the late MC's website today. It is as follows:
I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn't describe how I felt at that moment. So many emotions. Full of excitement. Full of joy and eagerness. 20 yrs later I understand exactly what that feeling was.
INSPIRED.
The people that you touched on that small intersection changed lives forever. I told myself I wanted to be a voice for man one day. Whoever knew I was speaking out loud for u to listen.
Thank you.
K.L.
September 13, 2015
Lamar's love of 2Pac is well-documented. His 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly closes with an imagined conversation between the two rappers, which was pieced together using archival interview clips. (Hear that track, "Mortal Man," below.) Kendrick even considered called the album To Pimp a Caterpillar as a tribute to 2Pac (as it could have been shortened to be To P.A.C.).
