Tupac Shakur, one of the greatest rappers known in human history. Why? Not just because he won numerous awards and got nominated in the Grammy Awards seven times! Not because he recorded thousands of tracks, some of which still gets released 17 years after his death. But, he is so well known because he had the heart to speak his mind and be himself no matter what situation he was in. His personality, his confidence, his special attributes are mainly why the world still remembers this great poet. He broke stereotypes, he spoke the voice of the people, and even when he was at the peak of his career, he never forgot where he came from.
5 Things I Learned From Tupac Amaru Shakur
1. Be You!
No matter what Tupac was going through, he never stopped being himself. Sometimes that got him in trouble, and arrested! But, he still didn’t put on a fake mask and act like he was someone else. The man demanded respect, and he sure got it from millions of fans, listeners and on-lookers.
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2. Keep On Smiling
“There’s gon’ be some stuff you gon’ see
that’s gon’ make it hard to smile in the future.
But through whatever you see,
through all the rain and the pain,
you gotta keep your sense of humor.
You gotta be able to smile through all this bullshit.
Remember that.”- Tupac
Keep on smiling, through thick or thin. No matter where he was, in jail, at a concert, at an award ceremony, he never stopped smiling. This is a really important attribute of mankind. This not only improves perceptions when you meet new people, but it’s something people will never forget about you. A good smile can go a looong, long way.
3. Don’t piss off everyone around you!
One thing Tupac was really good at was pissing off people! He made more enemies than friends, and did not know who to trust once he became a global superstar. This did not lead to good things, he got shot numerous times, he got in numerous fights, and finally passed away from a drive by shooting. The situation was tragic, but it points to a very important life lesson. Keep Your Friends Close, but your Enemies Closer! Period.
4. Work Hard & Give The Extra Mile
The man’s a hard worker. When he recorded albums, he did’t just record the 15+ songs required for the albums, he recorded more than double the number of songs for each of his albums. He then selected the best ones and placed them in the album. This is not only a sign of a hard worker, but someone who wants to be exceptional. Instead of doing just 100% of the work, he did 130%! And this has helped his career while he was alive, and even after he passed away. Some people say that record labels profited more from the songs that were released after his death, than during his life. ‘Changes’ was a song that is a great example of that.
5. Leave a Legacy
When he was alive, he was respected. When he tragically passed away, his absence was felt deeply by people of the world. I strive to leave a legacy in every situation. In life, it’s important to make your absence felt. Be the person that is deeply missed when you can’t make it to a hangout session with your friends. Make such a strong impact when you meet people that they truly never forget who you are, even when you’re gone.
The man is a legend. He deserved a lot more from his music career than he got. He was nominated 7 times for the Grammy Awards, and won none of them. That is heartbreaking to think about. However, we cannot do much about it any more. All we can do is learn from this great poet, and see the lessons between his lines. We have to open our eyes and clear our mind, and forever remember the message that Tupac Shakur told the world.
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