Week 2 Post: Keep Ya Head Up

by: Eduardo Kobria in Rio De Janerio, Brazil

I never grew up with the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe. So I chose a person who became a prominent icon of activism within the African American community.

An important icon within my family, community, and culture was the hip hop rapper named Tupac Shakur also know as 2pac, Pac, and Makaveli. He became an important image within the African American community because of his critiques of the social and economic status of not only African Americans but of U.S. society as a whole. I grew up listening to Tupac songs while I was a child.

Tupac was born in East Harlem, New York but eventually moved to Marin City, California. It was in Marin City where his hip hop career took flight. The lyrics of his numerous hits such Dear Mama and Keep Ya Head Up, made Tupac impact the hearts and minds of his listeners. Tupac and his influence has been reinterpreted by a number of new rappers such as Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. Many rappers of today continue to reflect on Tupac and his impact of words to inspiring them within their own rap careers. Sadly, Tupac’s career took a turn for the worst when he was killed at the age of 25 due to gang violence. Even today rumors still claim that Tupac may still be alive.

Not only do rappers today still commemorate Tupac but art muralists have put his image within their murals such as one done by Eduardo Kobria in Rio De Janerio, Brazil. Tupac impacted not only the hip hop game and art world but his image, lyrics, and political stances still influence our world today.