xXOGLEGENDXx
Veteran
Let's be honest
People love to say, "Oh if Pac was alive rapper X Y Z would not be here etc..."
But let's take an honest look at what Tupac/Hip Hop would be like if he either survived the shooting or if it never happened.
1. If he somehow survived
Doctors removed his entire lung. He would not be rapping anymore. He would be the poster child of the "See how far rap can go" narrative. He would probably become an activist against violence or something. Rap money would be gone, Suge would be robbing what was left so he would need the activist/interview money. He'd probably write books, but music would be out of the question. There is a chance he would be in a semi vegetative state and probably die a few years later for medical reasons.
2. If he didn't sustain major injury from the shooting or if it never happened
If he made a full recovery to be honest he would not see much success after 'All Eyez On Me'. He would have an insane rise due to another shooting, but that would taper off quickly. Later in the 90s and early 00s the thug image was dying. Rap was becoming more commercial and rappers had to start really portraying images other than a thug. We all know Pac wasn't the type to change for anything/anyone so he wouldn't really fit well. Remember he was changing his stage name to Makaveli. I can't think of any major artist that changed their name mid-career and it worked.
He would have moderate success with movies. Low budget movies would pretty much be it. A lot of big name movies/tv shows would not want to be associated with an ex-con rapper who keeps getting shot at. Not a good insurance pitch. Look at guys like LL, Cube and Ludacris. All rappers, but for the most part had pretty clean careers. Keep in mind he died at 25. He would still be making mistakes and being in and out of legal trouble. Could potentially land back in prison.
Overall by now he would probably be similar, maybe even less, than what Nas is today in terms of relevancy. Stop lying to yourself in thinking his death isn't what fueled his legend. He was great, but it would not be like this.
People love to say, "Oh if Pac was alive rapper X Y Z would not be here etc..."
But let's take an honest look at what Tupac/Hip Hop would be like if he either survived the shooting or if it never happened.
1. If he somehow survived
Doctors removed his entire lung. He would not be rapping anymore. He would be the poster child of the "See how far rap can go" narrative. He would probably become an activist against violence or something. Rap money would be gone, Suge would be robbing what was left so he would need the activist/interview money. He'd probably write books, but music would be out of the question. There is a chance he would be in a semi vegetative state and probably die a few years later for medical reasons.
2. If he didn't sustain major injury from the shooting or if it never happened
If he made a full recovery to be honest he would not see much success after 'All Eyez On Me'. He would have an insane rise due to another shooting, but that would taper off quickly. Later in the 90s and early 00s the thug image was dying. Rap was becoming more commercial and rappers had to start really portraying images other than a thug. We all know Pac wasn't the type to change for anything/anyone so he wouldn't really fit well. Remember he was changing his stage name to Makaveli. I can't think of any major artist that changed their name mid-career and it worked.
He would have moderate success with movies. Low budget movies would pretty much be it. A lot of big name movies/tv shows would not want to be associated with an ex-con rapper who keeps getting shot at. Not a good insurance pitch. Look at guys like LL, Cube and Ludacris. All rappers, but for the most part had pretty clean careers. Keep in mind he died at 25. He would still be making mistakes and being in and out of legal trouble. Could potentially land back in prison.
Overall by now he would probably be similar, maybe even less, than what Nas is today in terms of relevancy. Stop lying to yourself in thinking his death isn't what fueled his legend. He was great, but it would not be like this.
not again
