2Pac was many things over his short lifetime, including a catalyst for change in the Black community – so says anti-violence activist Erica Ford.
The veteran reformer worked with ‘Pac before his passing to create the “T.H.U.G. Life” rules to reduce violence and promote community respect. In a new round-table conversation with AllHipHop last week, the community leader spoke passionately about her time with the late legend and his stepfather Mutulu Shakur, and how important their work was.
“Working with his entire family was like something … it’s life-changing in a sense that you could look at him on a movie screen and you see him in person, and it’s the same person,” she noted. “He [was] a true representation of his true representation. When he showed up for anybody, he showed up his best and he showed up real.”
She added: “He’s got a mind that is beyond the world. They [The Black Panther Party] educated him and trained him in a manner that you know would bring some fundamental change for black youth in America.”
Watch the full panel below, which also includes Beanie Sigel:
In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue, Naughty By Nature MC Treach pinpointed the moment that 2Pac stopped making positive music, noting that the change occurred because was “fed up.”
Recalling the treatment his friend received while filming the movie Above the Rim, he said: “The majority of the people out there was loving ‘Pac but you got your taunters and your haters and your trolls. A lot of the ones that were taunting him were females ’cause it was a sexual assault case.
“And he was like, ‘Man, I would never think my own people would come for me when I rep the thugs, I speak for the women. I always had their back. Man, I’m never doing no fucking …’”
The 53-year-old said the experience made the Death Row Records legend distance himself from uplifting and socially conscious songs like “Keep Ya Head Up” and “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” Instead, he shifted his focus to a “thug” persona with records such as “California Love” and his infamous Notorious B.I.G diss “Hit ‘Em Up.”
“That was the new ‘Pac,” he added. “Muthafuckas had got him fed the fuck up.”
Ppl look at Pac like he changed the world or was a God. When in reality, his music was just music. How many people killed someone else while bumping Pac? Maybe his early music was uplifting, but his most popular music, which he’s most widely known for, is very violent and hate filled.
Do you have any facts to back up your claims on his music being used to kill ppl? Your own biased perception could be said about rap music in general as a whole. Fact is you’re nitpicking a certain era of his for your weak narrative when your favorite rapper is probably guilty of saying “violent and hate filled” things. In reality you should stfu because nobody said he was a god, stop nitpicking, and say something original next time, pussy. Suckers still mad Pac dissed their favorite rapper 😆🤣
@real_truth dang, you took someone else’s opinion of a rapper VERY personally. What. Stan lol. And yeah, it’s not “nitpicking” when they focus on Pacs death row Era, which is what launched him into stardom. It’d be like saying “dude, you focus on Biggies Bad Boy Era, how biased!”.
@ Fool, My bad. I ain’t mean to offend you or your husband. You sound like you really love him. He’s lucky to have you 👍 Next time, I’ll be sure not to belittle your husband with facts and questions, f a g g o t.
B.i.g. Would sit on his ass and eat kfc 2pac was about people what kind of change about black ppl he could been a politician everyone would love him r.i.p.
Maybe if Tupac hadn’t been murdered, people like you would be able to type a proper sentece… so sad. =*(
He sure did. Countless lives lost to the prison system and murder because of his ignorance. When he was doing positive music and working with DU he was amazing. Suge got Pac, himself and countless others murdered and thrown in prison. he soread that BS to Pac. now we still have this BS being tought yo the youth.
Countless lives? Your exaggerations to prove a point are laughable, bitches like you always embellish to get people on board with their side. Hip hop has been violent before and way after he died and not all because of him. Next time sit your ignorant ass down somewhere and stop acting like you give a shit about the current state of the world. If you gave a shit about people you wouldn’t be on a hip hop site that promotes the stuff you are judging others for, hypocrite 🤡.
Here’s “real truth” being insanely butthurt that everyone doesn’t bow to Pac like he does lol
Here is “Fool” getting his vagina agitated because I said something to his husband earlier and doesn’t want me to say anything “mean” to him. Foh “fax” or fact is you’re just another pussy. Stay off the internet bitch 🖕🤣