Sunday 13th of September made it 19 years since Tupac Shakur died in a Las Vegas hospital after he was shot four times according to reports.
To mark this, Kendrick Lamar, 28, penned a powerful tribute to the late rapper, recounting the first time he saw the visionary rapper, one of his heroes and greatest inspirations, in Compton, California.
Kendrick wrote about an intersection when he had first seen Tupac, the Compton Swap Meet, where Tupac and Dr. Dre filmed the music video for California Love.
Lamar recalled in an interview with Rolling Stone when he sat atop his father's shoulders, watching the duo drive by in a white Bentley.
"These motorcycle cops trying to conduct traffic, but one almost scraped the car, and Pac stood up on the passenger seat, like, 'Yo, what the fuck!' Yelling at the police, just like on his motherfucking songs," Lamar said. "He gave us what we wanted."
Lamar filmed the music video for King Kunta at the same location; he also stitched together a faux conversation with Shakur on "Mortal Man,". He even came to naming his album Tu Pimp A Butterfly.
Here's Lamar's full tribute, which has been posted on Tupac's website:
I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn't describe how I felt at that moment. So many different 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.
