Editing Tupac Shakur (section)

=== Musical style ===
Shakur's music and philosophical outlook were deeply influenced by a wide range of American, [[African-American culture|African American]], and global influences, including the [[Black Panther Party]], [[black nationalism]], [[egalitarianism]], and the concept of [[liberty]]. Moreover, Shakur's artistic sensibilities were enriched by his passion for theater and admiration for the works of [[William Shakespeare]]. Notably, he honed his theatrical skills as a student at the [[Baltimore School for the Arts]], where he delved into the psychological complexities inherent in inter-gang warfare and inter-cultural conflicts, reflecting themes explored in Shakespearean dramas.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Okwerekwu |first=Ike |date=May 5, 2019|title=Tupac: The Greatest Inspirational Hip Hop Artist |url=https://medium.com/music-for-inspiration/tupac-the-greatest-inspirational-hip-hop-artist-7118f02747ed |access-date=March 9, 2022|website=Music For Inspiration }}</ref>

''[[2Pacalypse Now]]'' (1991), showcased his socially conscious perspective. Through powerful tracks like "[[Brenda's Got a Baby]]", "[[Trapped (Tupac Shakur song)|Trapped]]", and "Part Time Mutha", Shakur addressed social injustice, poverty, and police brutality. In doing so, he contributed to the ongoing success of rap groups such as [[Boogie Down Productions]], [[Public Enemy]], [[X Clan|X-Clan]], and [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]], while establishing himself as one of the pioneering socially conscious rappers from the West Coast.<ref name=":2" />

Continuing his focus on the social challenges faced by African American people, Shakur's second album featured songs like "The Streetz R Deathrow" and "Last Wordz". Simultaneously, he showcased his compassionate side with the empowering anthem "[[Keep Ya Head Up]]", and his legendary intensity with the title track from the album ''[[Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...]]'' Additionally, he paid homage to his former group [[Digital Underground]] by including them on the playful track "[[I Get Around (Tupac Shakur song)|I Get Around]]". Throughout his career, Shakur's subsequent albums reflected a growing assertiveness in his approach.<ref name=":3" />

Shakur's body of work encompassed contrasting themes, including [[social inequality]], [[injustice]], compassion, playfulness, and [[hope]]. These elements continued to shape his artistry, exemplified by his explosive 1995 album ''[[Me Against the World]]''.<ref name=":5" /> The release of ''All Eyez on Me'' in 1996 further solidified his reputation, with tracks like "[[Ambitionz az a Ridah]]", "[[I Ain't Mad at Cha]]", "[[California Love]]", "Life Goes On", and "Picture Me Rollin{{' "}} being hailed as classics by critics. Shakur described ''All Eyez on Me'' as a celebration of life, and the album achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success.<ref name=":4" /> According to [[Eminem]], Tupac is the greatest songwriter of all time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.xxlmag.com/eminem-tupac-shakur-greatest-songwriter/ | title=Eminem Calls Tupac Shakur the Greatest Songwriter of All Time | date=May 6, 2020 }}</ref> [[Nas]] said in 2002: "I put Tupac beyond [[Shakespeare]]."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/u0cbfd/on-tupac-video-set-nas-says-rapper-better-than-shakespeare | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510020824/https://www.mtv.com/news/u0cbfd/on-tupac-video-set-nas-says-rapper-better-than-shakespeare | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 10, 2024 | title=On Tupac Video Set, Nas Says Rapper Better Than Shakespeare | website=[[MTV]] }}</ref>