Tupac Shakur: Still Classified As a Martyr 15 Years After Death?
Tupac Shakur died 15 years ago today, yet he remains one of the most influential hip hop artists and all around musicians of all time.
The music star was known for stirring up controversy; between his trips in and out of jail, the rapper also seemed to enjoy stirring the pot when it came to the subject of faith.
Repentance was a constant theme through Tupac’s catalog of music.
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In 1995’s So Many Tears, Tupac raps, “Will I survive til the morning, to see the sun, Please Lord forgive me for my sins, cause here I come.”
This song was included on Shakur’s “Me Against the World” album, which originally was supposed to be released with an animation of the rapper being crucified.
The cover art was later used for his posthumous Makaveli: “The Don Killuminati, The 7 Day Theory,” album and included a caption stating “in no way is this portrait an expression of disrespect for Jesus Christ,” which was personally penned by the rapper who went by the alias Makaveli before his death.
The controversial 1996 album went on to sell over 4 million records and included a song titled “Blasphemy” where the rapper expressed his ill feelings towards organized religion.
He also mentions Jesus Christ in the record. “They say Jesus is a kind man, well he should understand times in this crime land,” raps Shakur.
Shakur never seemed to cling to any specific religion although most of his references seem to be to the Christian God and Jesus Christ.
Blasphemy seems to attack the megachurch-driven 1990’s evangelical Christianity.
In “The Realest Killaz,” a posthumous collaboration with rapper 50 Cent, Tupac once again references the Son of Man.
“I’ve been lost since my adolescence calling for Jesus. Ballin as a youngster wondering if he see’s us,” he raps.
Shakur never adhered to any specific religion or faith. But the influence of Jesus Christ in his career is undeniable.
There is rumor that former world heavyweight champion boxer, Evander Holyfield, witnessed to Shakur the night before his death asking him to receive Christ as savior.
The meeting has never been officially confirmed by Holyfield.
Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas in 1996. He was shot while riding in the passenger’s seat of a BMW while on his way to a boxing fight after party.
The rapper died in the hospital on September 13, 6 days after the shooting.
He has been called the greatest rapper of all time in many circles.
And although the rapper seemed to criticize organized Christianity and Islam, three recurring themes in his music are Jesus, God and repentance.
