Why There Will Never Be Another 2Pac

A few may come close, but there will never be another one quite like him

A lot has changed in hip hop over 40 years. What commenced on the neighborhood corners of one of New York City’s fiercest boroughs has since grown into a worldwide multibillion dollar industry. But of all the artists who have risen and fallen, few have had such a profound impact that they are remembered forever. Tupac, however, was one of these few.

Tupac’s impact on hip hop was so great that rarely does a new hip hop artist emerge without eventually being measured against him. But while some rappers leverage comparisons to sell records, most steer clear, realizing such comparisons only lead to fan disappointment.

This is because Tupac, in many ways, is like the Michael Jordan of hip hop. A few may come close, but there will never be another one quite like him. Yet in an industry that also thrives on bravado and showmanship, the real reason why there will never be another Tupac is often overlooked.

Tupac isn’t adored by fans across the world because he spent his brief career bragging about how much money he made, or how many cars he owned (as mainstream hip hop artists tend to do). On the contrary, Tupac is remembered because he spent much of his career remembering those who made hip hop successful to begin with—regular people.