Tupac Lives: Rappers Who Channel the Lost Legend

Azealia Banks, Kendrick Lamar, Killer Mike and more.

Azealia Banks = Pac’s Unflinching Honesty - At this point in Azealia Banks’ mercurial career, the fearless (and some say reckless) Harlem rhyme vixen’s greatest hits album would be dominated more by her seemingly endless list of verbal and social media smackdowns than actual songs. “All of y’all b***hes are whack and make boring music and rip all ur styles off the downtown NYC girls,” she dismissed of Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj following their much talked about MTV Video Music Awards beef-triangle. At times cringe-worthy, other times refreshing, Banks keeps it real to unfiltered Tupac-ish heights.(Photo: Cassandra Hannagan/Getty Images)
Kendrick Lamar = Pac’s Heartfelt Poetry - Kendrick has often cited Tupac as his most indispensible artistic influence, so much so that he featured the celebrated rap icon on his acclaimed work To Pimp A Butterfly during the dreamy conversation track “Mortal Man.” Just like the man who composed the loving testimony “Dear Mama,” Compton’s exceptional bundle of emotions can induce listeners to tears, anger, and sheer gleefulness in just a matter of minutes. Don’t take our word for it. Check it out here. (Photo: Chiaki Nozu/Getty Images)
Killer Mike = Pac’s Socially Conscious Fire - Indeed, there’s a reason Killer Mike, one half of the soaring duo Run the Jewels, is hip hop’s go-to commentator when things in the Black community fall apart. Whether it’s the game-changing murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri or the Baltimore riots sparked by the alleged police-connected death of Freddie Gray, you can always count on Mike to drop straight-no-chaser insight on the important topics of the day much like Pac did.(Photo: C Brandon/Redferns)
Lil Durk = Pac’s Unmitigated Hood Swagger - It would be too easy to describe Chicago’s Lil Durk as merely the same ilk as Chief Keef. Let’s just say that while he’s no choirboy on the mic, the Drill music master certainly presents a more refined, cocky-for-a-reason image that balances out often times volatile, gun-play-fueled lyricism.(Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for 100,000 Opportunities Initiative)Rich Homie Quan = Pac’s Party-Igniting Magic - There are rappers who are blessed with the ability to turn up the set on their own hood-encased terms; rappers who utilize their otherwise gutter sensibilities to create something downright catchy. For all of Tupac’s thinking-man’s self-reflective statements and brutal, G’d up beatdowns, he was also a man that could get the party started. Put “How Do You Want It” on today and people will still recite its Hennessy-drenched lyrics like lit-up fools. So far in his relatively young career, Rich Homie Quan has shown the same taken-for-granted skill for marrying infectious poppy radio hooks with street credibility. Yes, you may need a translator to actually understand what Quan is spitting on his latest anthem “Flex,” but when it’s blasting out the speakers at the club, you can’t help but mumble along. (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

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Kendrick Lamar = Pac’s Heartfelt Poetry - Kendrick has often cited Tupac as his most indispensible artistic influence, so much so that he featured the celebrated rap icon on his acclaimed work To Pimp A Butterfly during the dreamy conversation track “Mortal Man.” Just like the man who composed the loving testimony “Dear Mama,” Compton’s exceptional bundle of emotions can induce listeners to tears, anger, and sheer gleefulness in just a matter of minutes. Don’t take our word for it. Check it out here. (Photo: Chiaki Nozu/Getty Images)

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