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How Tupac Shakur Ruined a Generation

  • October 15, 2017
  • 3 min read
  • 164 Views
How Tupac Shakur Ruined a Generation

 

Often it has been said that rappers aren’t role models. However, the truth of the matter is that music artists have more influence than people are willing to admit sometimes. Few artists have influenced people more than Tupac Shakur. An artist who has often been put on a pedestal and is seen as legendary, but is this status deserving?

Take into consideration the popularity of the phrase he coined “Thug Life” and while Tupac would articulate that it really meant “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fuck Everybody” the majority of people who gravitated towards his music didn’t understand that. Many people today don’t understand that it is an acronym and have taken the phrase more literally. I would argue that more people have probably gone to prison behind the negative messages that Tupac had in his music than graduated from college or achieved some positive milestone with the positive messages that he had in his music.

Also Tupac reinforced many negative stereotypes that still exist today. How many rappers have made a living out of emulating his image or style? He was a charismatic rapper but if you really think about it he was only 25 years old and was just a kid. Boosie is naming his next album BooPac which is a failing on Boosie. The truth of the matter is that Tupac’s lifestyle was nothing to be envied. He died without leaving a legacy. The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts doesn’t even exist anymore. If anything Tupac Shakur’s life should serve as an example of what not to do as an artist. From his lack of business acumen to his ties to the streets. However, artists are using his life as a template but in reality it was anything but a success. While he may have been in movies and had platinum albums, he is dead and that is a result of making poor life choices and few people look at it that way.

Keep in mind that at his death Tupac was only 25 years old and had a tremendous responsibility that would be difficult for any person to bear but the black community should start honoring real heroes and people who are making contributions to better the lives of African-Americans. I think its sad that Tupac has a movie made about his life but Marcus Garvey doesn’t. If Pac was here he would probably say the same thing.

Ryan Glover is a contributing writer for https://www.audiofuzz.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanDavisGlover, “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your google network.

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc. In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year. In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever. In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization. 2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

2 Comments

  • That’s hilarious considering the fact that I was immensely torn in writing the article and am a lifelong fan of hip hop. If it’s no truth in what I’m saying why does the Tupac Amaru Center for the Arts no longer exist?

  • I completely agree with you brother. I’m a lifelong hip hop fan too and admired Tupac in my youth. But now that I’ve come of age, I can’t help but realize how detrimental hip hop culture has been to millions of black youth. Although Tupac made an attempt to speak positive messages, his young audience only gravitated to the negative imagery he presented in his music and in his personal life.

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