Tupac Death Anniversary: Celebrities Remember And Praise Rapper Tupac Shakur

Today is the 20th anniversary of the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Two decades after the fateful day of September 13, 1996, Tupac continues to live on in the memory of many and has claimed a permanent spot in hip-hop’s hall of fame.

Check out all of the celebrities who have praised Tupac and were touched by his spirit.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar almost named his 2015 album, To Pimp a Butterfly, Tu Pimp a Caterpillar, which is an acronym that spells out Tupac.

Last year, on the 19th anniversary of the rapper’s death, Kendrick wrote a touching tribute on Tupac’s official website.

“I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn’t describe how I felt at that moment. So many emotions. Full of excitement. Full of joy and eagerness. 20 yrs later I understand exactly what that feeling was.”

On the album, To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick featured a song “Mortal Man” which was a tribute to the late Tupac Shakur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-bakGq-_zk

Watch below as Kendrick explains his connection to the rapper.

Rapper Eminem is another successful musician who was strongly influenced by Tupac’s music. Eminem sat down for an interview with Paper magazine last year and also noted that he admired the way that Shakur carried himself and handled his success.

“I used to be fascinated with his interviews like, ‘Yo, what he’s saying is so true.'”

“He would also be able to trump people who were interviewing him when they would hit him with hard questions — it was incredible. He was a superstar in every aspect of the word.”

Pop musician Justin Bieber has always been a big fan of Tupac. Just earlier this month, he covered Tupac’s hit “Thugz Mansion” for BBC1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRR8GABd-Ec

Back in 2015, Bieber graced the cover of Billboard and also mentioned his admiration for the rapper.

“I was always that fearless kid who would jump onstage or do whatever. My dad would be like, ‘Rap that Tupac verse,’ and I’d do ‘Thugz Mansion’ — I was probably 8.”

New York rapper J. Cole is another outspoken fan of Tupac’s. In 2014, he gave an interview with Blurred Culture citing Shakur as his favorite rapper.

“My favorite rapper was Pac. He was my favorite rapper before I even started rapping…. Just the cool dude that I looked up to.”

“I was too young to know what he was talking about, but it connected. ‘Cause that’s the thing about art. It’s just truth. It’s straight — whatever you feel.”

“So, even as a seven-year-old kid, eight-year-old kid, I could hear ‘Pac’s early albums and feel the truth.”

On what would have been Tupac’s 44th birthday last year, Meek Mill posted an Instagram video of Tupac speaking.

“This is all about my image. This has nothing to do with me… It’s like MTV and all the papers they building me up, now they destroying me on the same image they perpetuated.”

The Philly rapper captioned the clip “My life.”

Tupac’s influence spans beyond musicians. His music and lyrics touched many people all over the world. During the Rio Olympics this summer, Olympic volleyball player Kerrilee Walsh referenced Tupac on Instagram before winning a bronze medal.

“‘… Till the day I die.’ #RemainTrue Let’s GO @aprilrossbeach

Let’s do what we came here for #PlayfulDomination.”

Disney actress Zendaya compared herself to Tupac in an interview with Complex late last year.

“I think it’s a responsibility, but like Tupac Shakur, I’m a real model.”

“Which means, I’m not pretending to be something that I’m not, because like he said, people are going to be disappointed when they find out who you are, because it’s not going to be what you presented to the world.”

“So just keep it real.”

No matter the industry, celebrities of all ages and races have named Tupac as a great influence.

Jada Pinkett Smith was good friends with Tupac, and in a 2014 interview with Howard Stern, the actress had nothing but admiration for the actor.

“I’ve had never in my life met a person like Pac. He had so much charisma. And he was poor.”

“He left a very strong and powerful mark. People are still inspired by him. So he did his work.”

Tupac’s legacy will be a part of hip-hop history forever, and his music will continue to live on.

Twenty years after his death, the presence and power of Tupac still reign supreme.

[Photo by Damian Dovarganes/AP Images]