Due to a cueing problem, Pac and a group of pre–Thug Life hooligans burst onto the stage screamin' “We Out On Bail!” interrupting A Tribe Called Quest as the group accepted an award. Not surprisingly, the scene was the first Source Awards. This seemingly innocuous song may have been the very match that set off the east coast/west coast conflict that would end in the spectacular murders of their two brightest stars. Written by Rob Marriott 2Pac "Out On Bail" (2004) Listen to Complex's Best 2Pac Songs playlists here: YouTube/ Spotify/ Rdio Here is a walk through the many highlights of one of hip-hop’s most influential artists-one that set the tone for all that would come after it.
As such, he remains the blueprint for 75% of these so-called rappers out here.
Pac lacked the intricate rhymes or flow patterns deemed worthy of praise by rap puritans, but his sometimes prophetic lyricism ran the gamut from player to rider to revolutionary. He didn't live long enough to become a rap mogul, but his outsized presence in America's pop culture landscape cannot be overstated. Very few have been able to manage this sort of high-wire act with such bluster. But somehow he remains the rapper that your mama could love. Intense and passionate, Pac ran with thugs and killers, starred in a cult classic, and shot cops and walked free-only to be shot five times, survive and then go to prison and be reborn. But there's one thing about Pac nobody has been able to duplicate: He bared his soul, to its very core. all borrowed and reconfigured the blueprint Pac authored. And we've seen his rebellion become a commodity that can be mass-produced. We see his hyper-prolific approach to recording becoming the standard on the mixtape circuit, partly thanks to his great fan and acolyte Lil Wayne. begat Fear God begat thunderous ice cream Brr-Brrs. We see his tattoo game reflected in how overboard the ink thing has gotten. Not in some Cuban hideaway, but in hip-hop’s every nook and cranny. Makaveli remains because he is still here. It also made him one of the most prescient and influential artist of his time. Like his Peruvian namesake (we dare you to Google Tupac Amaru-ill), Pac consciously made himself a sacrifice. A formula only a handful of artists ever attain. He tapped into the matrix like Neo, finding a formula that resonates around the globe. His records are a testimony to his complete commitment to building his own legend. Pac struck mythic chords in large part because he was all in.
How many churches would have been erected in his honor? Instead, he has to contend with rumors about the Illuminati and faking a pregnancy. Imagine if Jay had lived through the release of The Blueprint and then got cut down right before dropping The Black Album. Twenty years later, Tupac's image as king rebel poet and unrelenting voice against injustice remains untouched by the ravages of time and commerce. In the years following his death, Pac was ready-made for Internet godhood: His life was fully documented and rife with street intrigue, conspiracy theories, and a massive collection of songs, video, the works-a fully scripted multimedia docudrama. As tragic as his end was, it was great for his brand.