2Pac: Lost Prison Interview (1995)

I recently stumbled across a three part interview with rapper Tupac while he served jail time back in 1995. The thing that I love about Tupac is his passion and conviction for the music he makes and the message he wants to spread. He thought of himself as an ambassador, a representative of the black community who was on a mission to educate the world on what it meant to be to grow up as a young black kid in the ghetto in the United States. In this interview, he candidly shares his thoughts and views on a wide range of topics as well as delving into the meaning of the lyrics to some of his songs.

As much negative press as he received, I firmly believe Tupac had a positive message to share with the world. At one point in the interview, he described himself as a doctor, diagnosing what he called “thug life.” He explains that while he did not create thug life, he was providing information on the subject to clarify and help people understand, similar to how a doctor might diagnose a disease. The doctor would share information in how to best treat the illness, though they did not create the illness themselves.

While this interview is somewhat off-topic from business development and branding, I feel it offers value into the world of an artist, a creator. Tupac could be thought of as having an entrepreneurial drive or spirit. He definitely did not quit and never gave up. He also expressed interests in learning and growing as a human being and as moving forward in life from “thug life” or high school to the college level of life. I found the interview fascinating, exciting, and a real glimpse into who Tupac was and how he lived his life. Below is the three part interview. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Rest in peace, Tupac. Thanks for sharing your gift and message with the world.