Keepin’ It Real in Hip Hop Politics: A Political Perspective of Tupac Shakur

Abstract

Outside of his most incendiary critics, Tupac Shakur is generally perceived as a socially conscious artist whose political credibility is located in his lyrical critiques of racism and his mother’s membership in the Black Panther Party. Popular and academic writers have failed to examine Tupac’s distinct political ideas and identifiable activism. This article serves as a prolegomenon to the necessary dialogue on the politics of Tupac Shakur. Drawing from interviews, public statements, and lyrical analyses, the author expands the discourse on Shakur’s contribution to the African American fight against racism and injustice.