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Black America Web
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Tupac Shakur's Influence In Rap, Movies & Hip Hop Culture
Source: Bob Berg / Getty More than 25 years after his death, Tupac Shakur's fingerprints are still all over today's music. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and even Drake have openly cited Pac as a major influence, not just musically, but philosophically. Pac's raw, introspective storytelling set a standard for vulnerability, honesty, and social awareness in rap. Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN. feel like spiritual successors to Pac's Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me , tackling racial injustice, inner conflict, and legacy. J. Cole's emotionally driven lyrics and conscious approach to fame echo Pac's vision of an artist as a voice for the voiceless. Even Drake's blend of emotional introspection and mainstream appeal reflects elements of Pac's multifaceted style. Tupac was one of the first rappers to fully break into Hollywood while maintaining street credibility. Pac's iconic roles in Juice , Poetic Justice , and Above the Rim showed his range as an actor and helped pave the way for artists like Ice Cube ( Friday ), 50 Cent ( Power ), and Donald Glover ( Atlanta ). Today, many rappers pursue acting as a natural extension of their brand, a lane Tupac helped clear. His belief in expressing truth through multiple mediums made him a cultural figure beyond just music—a blueprint for the modern multi-hyphenate entertainer. Source: Mychal Watts / Getty Tupac's impact reaches far beyond the studio and the screen. He became a symbol of resilience, complexity, and rebellion. His 'Thug Life' mantra wasn't about glorifying crime—it was about survival in a system rigged against the poor and oppressed. His fearless approach to speaking truth to power still inspires artists and fans alike. As noted in a New York Times retrospective, Tupac embodied the contradictions of the American dream—hope, anger, ambition, and tragedy. Even on Reddit, fans across generations passionately debate his legacy, proving how deeply he continues to resonate. Whether through lyrics, activism, fashion, or art, Tupac's influence on hip hop is permanent. He helped shape what it means to be an artist with something real to say. How much do you think hip hop would be different without Pac's influence? SEE ALSO Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
New York Times
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Super Bowl Halftime Show Live Updates: Kendrick Lamar Getting Ready to Perform
Kendrick Lamar, one of hip-hop's most venerated artists for the past decade, is getting ready to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, the first to be headlined by a solo rapper. Lamar, 37, has been on a remarkable career hot streak of late, reaching new heights even for the only pop musician to ever win the Pulitzer Prize for music, which he was awarded in 2018. This year he was widely seen as winning a culture-shaking rap beef with Drake, in which the pair volleyed bitter diss tracks for weeks. Born in Compton, Calif., Lamar has long been celebrated for his intricate albums of introspective, genre-stretching gangster rap, like 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' (2012), 'To Pimp a Butterfly' (2015) and 'Damn.' (2017). Lamar, who released his latest album, 'GNX,' in November, scored three No. 1 hits last year, including 'Not Like Us,' the infectious, decisive song in the rap battle. On the track Lamar controversially brands Drake and his associates 'certified pedophiles.' Drake has since sued Universal Music Group, the record label behemoth behind both rival rappers, saying that the allegations in the song were false and that the label's aggressive promotion of it defamed him and led to harassment. Will Lamar perform 'Not Like Us' at the Super Bowl, testing the censors at the N.F.L. and Fox with loaded accusations against a fellow superstar? Or will he stick to safer past hits like 'Humble,' 'Alright,' 'i' and the duets 'All the Stars' and 'Luther' with SZA, the popular R&B singer who is expected to appear at halftime ahead of a joint tour with Lamar this year? Lamar appeared alongside fellow West Coast rap legends Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, an early mentor, at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2022, performing parts of his songs 'M.A.A.D. City' and 'Alright.' The performance became the first Super Bowl halftime show to win an Emmy Award for outstanding variety special (live). He has collaborated in the past with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Travis Scott, Maroon 5 and Imagine Dragons. Does he have other surprise guests in store?
