ESPN 30 for 30 Series To Chronicle Death of Tupac Shakur Through Eyes of Mike Tyson
The greatest rapper of all time to me has always been a no brainer.
It is Tupac Shakur.
The main reason is when you talk about legendary figures it always go beyond their profession.
When you talk about Babe Ruth or Muhammad Ali what they did in their profession is only the foundation of their legacy.
The music of Tupac Shakur still rings true today, but the legacy is what still moves people.
I was talking to my homie Big G and I was saying you really know you have crossed over to something special when pieces of your DNA are spread deep in the genre you came from.
There is a little (or a lot depending on who we are talking about) Tupac in almost every rapper in the game today.
That is an eternal legacy.
I get on ESPN for a lot of things, but one thing they have done well are their 30 for 30 documentaries.
So while I raised a slight eyebrow when I heard they were doing a Tupac one, after reading the details I was put a bit at ease:
On the evening of Sept. 7, 1996, Mike Tyson, the WBC heavyweight champion, attempted to take Bruce Seldon’s WBA title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. At this point in his career, Tyson’s fights had become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, where the ever present hype of the professional boxing scene would come face to face with the worlds of big business, Hollywood, and hip hop. Sitting ringside was controversial rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur and Tyson were friends, a feeling of kinship linked them as each rose to stardom from poverty only to be thrown in prison. Following Tyson’s victory, Shakur and “Iron Mike” were to celebrate at an after party, but the rap star never arrived. Shakur was brutally gunned down later that night, and the scene in Las Vegas quickly turned from would-be celebratory revelry to ill fated and inopportune tragedy. Director Reggie Bythewood, with the full cooperation of Mike Tyson, will tell not only the story of that infamous night but of the remarkable friendship between Tyson and Tupac.
This debuts September 7th and for fans of both Shakur and Tyson it is a must view.
Even almost 14 years later I vividly remember everything and it still gives me chills to this day, so I know it will be surreal to watch.
My favorite Tupac Song of all time:
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by blksportsonline, lizzs lockeroom, eb the celeb, theFreshXpress.com, gswscribe and others. gswscribe said: Can't wait @BlkSportsOnline The 30 for 30 on Pac and Tyson debuts Sept 7th on the 14th year anniversary of his shooting http://bit.ly/aZ4Hyp [...]
rob thats going to b a great doc, i was 10 at the time and i remember evrything also, and not to argue wit u shed so my tears was good, but dear mama was the best sorry
How you put tupac ahead of Rakim is beyond me. Every rapper's style is based on the things Rakim was doing in 86'. That's just a fact, from metaphors to multi-syllabic rhymes. Face it if that nigga hadn't been shot he'd be a footnote. Dying did wonders for his career. He wasn't the best of his time let alone all time.
Vic, just because something is older, doesn’t make it better. Tupac took rap to a new level and brought the music to people who would never have otherwise heard it.
I can’t recommend you enough to your efforts and expertise for what you’ve got posted here. There must be no one to be able to get to the point faster than you.
The old saying goes, from the professional’s thoughts there aren’t many options, but for someone with the starter’s brain, everything is open.