Kendrick Lamar’s affinity for Tupac Shakur is well documented. His admiration was perhaps best displayed on his most recent album, To Pimp A Butterfly, when he figuratively interviewed the late rapper during the track “Mortal Man” (the interview was pulled from a 1994 video back-and-forth).
Today (September 13), marks the 19th anniversary of Pac’s death and to commemorate it, the Compton native penned an open letter to his idol, which was featured on 2pac.com. The website has confirmed that it was indeed Kendrick Lamar who wrote the piece.
The title for To Pimp A Butterfly also drew its inspiration from Tupac. The album, which was originally supposed to be called, Tu Pimp a Caterpillar, would’ve had an abbreviation of Tu.P.A.C. This revelation coming from Lamar in an interview with MTV after the project was released.
Read Kendrick Lamar’s full letter to Tupac below:
“I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn’t describe how I felt at that moment. So many different emotions. Full of excitement. Full of joy and eagerness. 20 yrs later I understand exactly what that feeling was. INSPIRED. The people that you touched on that small intersection changed lives forever. I told myself I wanted to be a voice for man one day. Whoever knew I was speaking out loud for u to listen. Thank you.”
For more Kendrick Lamar coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
This nigga Kendrick stay in the past and sucking on 2Pac’s dead dick. Drizzaveli Da 6 God don’t do that shit. He stays up to date and keeps it moving. #DrakeIsLoveDrakeIsLife
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Don’t ever disrespect 2Pac.
What has 2pac done to deserve respect? Nothing. He’s a laughingstock by real poets.
@Dan your a hater.
Get a life. You don’t get attention in reality, and probably for good reason too. You’re not funny, sound like a kindergartner, and are annoying. Don’t expect for me to respond to you after this. Just wanted to bring this to your attention. Grow up.
You mean #DrakeIsShitDrakeSucksDick
2pac is the fucking best ❤️
Dan stick to listening to elvis
@Dan What has Pac did to deserve respect? He became one of the best rappers of all time, he spoke on social issues in the black community, and he influenced every single rapper that came after him. And he will never be a laughingstock as “real poets” respect him. @OVOKid Why am I not surprised that this comment is from a Drake stan. What Kendrick is doing is called paying homage to the legends before him, something your boy Aubrey should know about.
I’m sure Drake would stay up to date, after that failed “homage” to Wu-Tang he did.
For you PAC may your work keep on changing the world, you might no longer be here buh your shade still with us..!!
Riff Raff inspires so many like Pac did!
Peach Panther dropping soon!!
Inspired is right. 2Pac was the reason I actually started to listen/like Hiphop. KDot is the reason I still listen/love it. Rest In Power to all souls gone too soon
Cali Love 2 My True Thugz Picture Me Now. – Makaveli
Oh that was heartfelt, i luv Kendrick Lamar he reminds me of a real nicca “TUPAC”
What a cornball ass niggah
If you liked what KL had to say, would you have said, that was dope? I doubt it. You would rather waste your energy on negativity.
SAD GENERATION! I feel for you kids today. No balls, but plenty of keys on your keyboard.
Can’t wait for Tupac’s biopic, watched Resurrection last night and I felt inspired. Too bad he was taken away from us too soon 🙁
………..hold up. How is Pac supposed to read this shyt? Kendrick knows he’s dead, right?
Awesome music, no doubt. But no one will ever “speak for Man”, if we keep thinking speaking is singing.
More like a thank you note
sry kendrick. will always respect u as a dope artist but this is corny as hell..
Corny? Nah kid. The word is RESPECT! Google it …
You obviously dont understand how it feels 2 be inspired.tupac in my opinion is the greatest rapper that has been in the game so far.hes like the micheal jordan of rap and for u 2 say that kendrick is being corny just makes u another mistake 2 in this world
This guy is such a total stan, it’s sickening. Tupac is overrated. Tupac’s got way too many shitty songs. For every So Many Tears and Dear Mama there is some wack ass song about shooting and riding on niggas, that subliminal homo thug Omar from The Wire gay type shit. He probably made Madonna f him with a strap-on.
Come out the closet kid. You will be less angry. Those that care, don’t matter. And those that matter, don’t care. FUCK BOY!
Nigga, your a special kind of ignorant. Now go back to your lil Wayne, meek mill, Ricky Ross, Drake fanboy fuck fake CAKE ASS MUSIC
bro be telling ppl the same shit bro
what has @fxckboydanny done in his life to comment on Pac??
I got lov for kendrick but this right here is corny as hell… Straight up, an i aint even hatin theres a difference between payin homage and bein corny. This shit CORNBALL kendrick mus lay off the lucy
My nigga u dont understand the mans feelings and how inspired he is by tupac.thats why he wrote the letter,he wanted to express how he felt and how inspired he was by him. not 2 get attention from the media or some shit
Open Letter to a dead Man who Will never ever read it… Man i Like kdot music but this shit is Just for attention and to be in the media
Ay K.Dot bruh. This some homo shit for real now. This some obsession shit.
At least he didn’t go and get a tattoo of his idol like Drizzy Vanilli.