What if Tupac Were Still Alive

Twenty-Five Years ago, on September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur died from multiple gunshot wounds. Tupac was shot while riding in a car on the Las Vegas Strip following a Mike Tyson Fight. Many will write about his 25 years on Earth. However, as Tupac would have turned 50 in 2021, it might be interesting to speculate on where his career would have taken him had he still been alive. 

Continuing to Redefine Rap

In 2007, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened its doors to rap artists. Since then, only eight rap acts have made it into the hall. In 2011, Tupac became a member of that exclusive group. Because he died in 1996, Tupac never got to explore the changes that rap would undergo over the next 25 years. 

Tupac was innovative with both his style and his lyrics. Due to a growing relationship with legendary music producer Quincy Jones, Tupac was being exposed to a variety of music styles. If he were still alive, the world might have been privileged to hear Tupac rap over samples of rock, blues, or different varieties of jazz. He might have helped to further bring musical styles together.

Award-Winning Actor

LL Cool J, Ice Cube, and Snoop Dogg have all continued making music after more than 20 years in the business. These three, among others, have also had successful acting careers. It seems obvious that Tupac would still be recording, but he was also receiving critical acclaim for his brief acting career. Tupac’s desire to be great might have taken him beyond the other rappers on the screen.

Ice-T holds the record for longest tenure for an African-American actor on a single, non-variety show. He has spent 22 seasons on Law and Order SVU, and Tupac might have followed suit by landing a television show of his own. However, there is a historical double that Tupac might have pursued.

It is possible that Tupac might have continued working in films and would ultimately have landed the role that won him an Academy Award. If he also created a song for the movie, he could have been the first person to win Oscars for Best Actor and Best Original Song. Tupac had the talent, so this is also possible. 

Published Author

Tupac’s mother made sure that her son was very well-read. As the story goes, she insisted that he read the New York Times from cover to cover, beginning at the age of 10. At some point in his life, Tupac might have decided that he had a story to tell, and becoming a published author would not have been out of the question. 

Lots of times, when a celebrity writes a book, it is usually a biographical piece. In Tupac’s case, he might have decided to author a book of poetry, or create a fictional tale, maybe based on his life, but showing another side of his intellect and vision. Because of his massive following, reaching the top of bestseller lists would have been a given, but more intriguing than book sales would be what Tupac had to say. 

Social Activist

Many believe that Tupac’s death was related to discord between East Coast and West Coast rappers. Had he survived the shooting, Tupac would have almost certainly become an agent for change within the rap community. However, as time passed, Tupac would have stepped to the forefront of other social issues as well.

Tupac’s mother was a member of the Black Panthers, a group whose mission was racial equality. Because the fight for social justice was in his blood, Tupac would have found himself involved in movements like Black Lives Matter. His voice might be central in bringing about global change.

Tupac Shakur had the potential to be recognized for every area of his life. He had already been inducted into the Hip-Hop and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame; but based on his career and life trajectories, there was more coming his way. Tupac quite possibly could have won Academy Awards, been honored at the Kennedy Center, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his activism. Throw in a Pulitzer Prize or a Nobel Prize for Literature, and that might sum up the life and career of Tupac Shakur to this point in history. Unfortunately, the world can only speculate on what might have been.