Tupac’s Utopia Tupac Amaru Shakur, born June 16, 1971 – September 13, 199), known by his stage names of 2pac, Pac, and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He was born a month later after his mother, Assante Shakur, was acquitted on 150 charges, including “Conspiracy against the United States of America. His mother was an active member of the Black Panther Party an African-American revolutionary leftist organization active in the United States from 1966 until 1982. They were the provocative rhetoric, militant posture, and cultural and political flourishes permanently altered the contours of American Identity. Moreover, Tupac Shakur would be inspired by the Blank Panther movement and would make his identity and views flourish through his music. Tupac Shakur loved writing music about all his struggles though life. He came up living in poor neighborhoods riddled with street violence. He wanted to let people know about where he was from and the places that he had been. He wanted to tell the story of “The Ghetto” to those that have not had the pleasure of a visit. However while Tupac was recording rap songs, he added the changes that he would like to live and detailed through his music a utopia for everyone in the world could live. He brought this Utopia to life through is music. One of the songs that stand out that was written by Tupac Shakur about his Utopia was Shakur’s “Ghetto Gospel.” The song’s lyrics states, those who wish to follow me (my ghetto gospel,) I welcome with my hands, and the red sun sinks at last into the hills of gold, peace to this young warrior without the sound of guns. He wanted in a Utopic without guns. Tupac wanted peace in his Utopia in which everyone got along and just have a great time. He wanted every man or woman to have the opportunity to live out their dreams and goals, when he mentions the hills of gold. Furthermore, Shakur welcome everyone through his music to follow him into his Utopia and he welcomes you to visit this wonderful place that he had created. Secondly, Tupac Shakur tried during his life to bring this Utopia to existence. Some critics would consider his Utopia, a communist state or country. Communism is associated with communism, which is a revolutionary socialist movement to create a classless, moneyless, and stateless social order structured upon common ownership of the means of production, as well as a social, political, and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of this social order. However others would consider his Utopia, a much needed answer to some of the problems in the ghetto. He made speeches in his old neighborhoods and all across the country trying to bring awareness about the wants and needs of the people in the ghetto. Lastly, A ghetto is a place in a city or state with a large amount of poverty and crime. Through his music, poems, acting, and speeches, Tupac brought the ghetto into everyone who was willing to visit living room. He is considered the most influential rapper of all time in hip hop and politics. He was probably the first living recognized political philosopher to record his theories while background music played. Furthermore, his music lives on to give other generations a chance to know the people, places, and struggles that he encountered, while being a resident of the ghetto. Merle T. Rutledge Jr POS-431-01 Due Date 4/25/2012 Teacher: Dr. Pretlow Subject: Tupac’s Utopia