(Photo By Amazon)
Tupac Shakur entered the Hip-Hop world in 1991 with his debut album 2Pacalypse Now. He would go on to become one of the most beloved controversial emcees to ever pick up a microphone. This mostly due to his signing with Death Row Records and falling prey to all the drama that came with being a part of the notorious label. He was taken from the game way too soon when he was murdered in 1996 in Las Vegas. He was only 25 years of age. To this date, his murder remains unsolved and is probably one of the most speculated about celebrity deaths ever. But his name lives on. He was not only a dope rapper, but a good actor, philanthropist, and more. He is studied in several universities and has foundations as well as statues in his honor.
Amid the myriad of tracks that were released after Tupac’s death, came another gem for fans to remember him by. It was a book of poetry called The Rose That Grew From Concrete. The book was released in 1999. It is a collection of poems written by Shakur that spans from the years 1989 – 1991. Tupac’s mother and manager also made contributions to the book. Additionally, the book includes photos and copies of the handwritten version of each poem. In 2000 and 2005, albums were released based on the book that featured a variety of rappers reciting the poems in their own way. So they were similar to that of a spoken word album. The albums didn’t fair too well though, as fans felt no one could do the poems justice but Tupac. Below is one of the many poems found in the book that Pac dedicated to himself. The video is Ludacris‘s take on the poem for the album version.
“In The Depths of Solitude”
(Poem By Tupac Shakur)
I exist in the depths of solitude
pondering my true goal
Trying 2 find peace of mind
and still preserve my soul
CONSTANTLY yearning 2 be accepted
and from all receive respect
Never compromising but sometimes risky
and that is my only regret
A young heart with an old soul
how can there be peace
How can I be in the depths of solitude
when there R 2 inside of me
This Duo within me causes
the perfect opportunity
2 learn and live twice as fast
as those who accept simplicity
**My Two Cents: If you couldn’t tell Pac is my favorite rapper of all time. Anyways, I chose to share this poem because I feel like it captured who Pac was perfectly. He was a complicated individual with a lot of issues but that’s what made him special. And Ludacris did a beautiful job breaking down his thoughts on this piece. If readers are interested in the book, visit here. For The Rose That Grew From Concrete Volumes 1+2 , click the numbers. Rest in peace Pac, you are forever missed! -MinM
