Why Tupac Is Bigger Than Your Top 5

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Without a doubt, Tupac Shakur is the most infamous and celebrated MC in the history of hip hop culture. But let's take it a step further - is Tupac bigger than hip hop culture? Is Tupac Shakur bigger than your top 5 dead or alive? Let's break it down…

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[tomgeezy]

What we don't realize Tupac and Brucelee did everything in 5 years. amazing

[ocheadeka]

I am from Africa, and i can tell you that Tupac is well known in villages, i don't think there will ever be another rapper to have the much fame and love from people all over the world. My two cents. God bless.

[davidcorbett]

Pac was to Hip Hop what Marlon Brando was to the big screen, what Bruce Lee was to Martial Arts or what Muhammad Ali was to Boxing. It goes beyond bars. He transcended.

[felony]

I’m a gypsy kid From Hungary all our life we listened to 2pac it gave us such a big feeling that my uncle got so inspired he tattoed 2pac on his heart he doesn’t even understand English. So imagine what kind of feeling, inspiration and mindset it gives to people. He’s a icon!💪🏽

[BANIANI_MBAYA]

Tupac is known everywhere in Africa. That speaks a lot

[Mecca]

Pac died before I was even born and I’m obsessed and fascinated about him and his career, goes to show his immortality and influence

[ceddynash]

Even though Pac is so much bigger than his music, the dude's body of work, consistent quality, passion, charisma, diversity, originality, longevity, impact and realness of his music alone is still untouchable to me

[pedrox]

No one touches Tupac, he will always be the greatest of all time. I'm from Africa and pac together with Bob Marley are our inspiration.

[rippappyhankblockthemeezaj]

When people say 2pac is overrated i just think to myself did you just completely ignore every lyric 2pac ever said the most deepest realest shit was said by 2pac

[Deucefiggity]

ok brotha, you made a believer out of me. make us proud at that desk, long live hip-hop dx

[gustavojaviermunoz]

Pac's still the GOAT. He'll never be forgotten. All eyez on him. Waves from Jerez, Zac., Mexico.

[daverichmond]

For some reason people dont wanna give 2pac credit for being a great lyricist. He's the G.o.a.t hands down.

[michealwillis]

The insert of Pac laughing after the mention of his shooting the cop in the ass and beating the case was hilarious! LOL

[drtyslzy]

The moment you said "you might say 'fuck no'" was the moment I accepted you.

[MrHarjotghuman]

Believe me he is a worldwide hip hop god
Like I am from India 🇮🇳 and i grow up in a small village and I am a die heart ❤️ fan of Tupac Amaru Shakur, , , imagine the era ambience and reach of that legend, , , like if given a chance I can give my breath to Tupac to live for all of you guys 😍❤️😥

[MyEmoDiaries]

He is the GOAT. Hip-Hop is not just about lyrics, it's about connecting to the audience. Pac had that.

[AceGaimz]

Tupac isn't bigger than my top 5 because he IS my top 5. Every single one of those slots in top 5 is just Tupac.

[BabsW]

Tupac is the GOAT because he was 100% real and you knew exactly what he meant and was feeling with every line and verse. He dominated Conscious rap and Gangsta rap within the space of 5 years! He made 2 of the greatest diss tracks of all-time- "Hit Em Up" and "Against All Odds".

[GoldBeaver]

Hold on! Pac had the nr 1 album while in Jail: Me Against the World

[totalbliss]

This is what makes Tupac the GOAT:

Tupac was a poet. One of the few rappers who can take us emotionally, spiritually and mentally where he wants us to be with his lyrics like a true artist. Very few rappers can tap into that emotional side like he can and still embody all the characteristics, nuances and contradictions of a complex human being. He can teach you a concise history lesson on black power suppression in one song like "Tears of a Clown."

No other artist was in touch with the human spirit like he was. That's why he appealed to so many genres and touched so many people.

No other rapper was so in touch with life like he was. He lived everyday like it truly was his last day. The man lived life to the fullest.

Technically, in rap, very few had a flow like him. He can ride the beat like no other and have you transfixed. That's why his guest spots can change anyone's track to a classic. Also, one of the few artist that actually gave you a TRUE freestyle instead of something previously thought out. That is actually unheard of in rap if you know how to spot it. Only some gifted mainly underground rappers can do that and majority of your great ones simply can't no matter what you like to believe.

That brings us into his honesty which is where many of his problems with other rappers started. He was honest (real) to a fault and that is what made him truly compelling as an artist but it also made him very susceptible to sheisty and opportunistic individuals. You knew that when you opened up an album of his, unlike majority of albums from other rappers, you were going to get a dose of truth. That is intrinsic of him throughout his career and that is the single quality that makes him also a great actor. All great actors unlike what many people think are honest people with the humanity of what they reveal through characters. It's the deceitful ones that are often the bad or less compelling actors. With the proper training and dedication to that craft, he had the scope to become truly one of the greats in that field as well.

Also, Tupac grew as an artist and you can see that in all his albums. I would say he came into his own as a full artist on his third album but every subsequent album from his first showed you what greatness he had that you never thought he could do before. Who thought he could've made an such a compelling track like "Me and my Girlfriend", "Hail Mary" or the angry pathos of "Hit Em Up" or a straight headbanger like the original version of a "Military Minds" (which could've turned into a seemingly mundane track if not for him) judging by his previous work? There was no telling how much greater he could've became. The man had almost a limitless talent pool inside him where other artists peaked early and try desperately to get back that original spark that made them great.