[The Tens] 10 Things That Wouldn’t Have Happened If Tupac Was Still Here
When we lost Tupac Shakur back in 1996, the landscape of music changed. Everything from the rise of Tupac clones to a domino effect of events that led to the death of the Notorious B.I.G. and a completely different hip hop culture that came from it. But what if Pac was still here? It’s purely hypothetical but we can imagine that several things likely would not have happened if Tupac Shakur was still with us as a 40-year-old man today.
1) Rick Ross
Do you really think that Rick Ross would have been able to get away with his fibs if Pac was here? Hell naw. That lie would have had him buried and booted from hip-hop in no time flat.
2) Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Getting Married
It’s hard to believe that Tupac would have given his well wishes to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett getting married. Honestly, we think that The Fresh Prince ended up inheriting Tupac’s life inadvertently after Pac passed away. The movies, the wife, the life. Hmmmmm…..
3) Tupac Clones
If Pac was still here, these lame Tupac clones wouldn’t have a reason to exist. Record labels wouldn’t be chasing that Tupac look either. All those Lil Zane and Ja Rule types would likely have had a totally different look. And best believe all these rappers wouldn’t be using the Pac cadence in their rhymes. Imagine that, individuality!
4) 50 Cent Wouldn’t Have Had The Same Impact
50 Cent‘s rise in hip hop had a lot to do with dissing other rappers (specifically the Pac clone we mentioned earlier, Ja Rule). 50 Cent’s tirades that found him dissing any and everybody wouldn’t have happened on Pac’s watch. It’s hard to conjure up a world where these two could have coexisted.
5) California Would Have Never Fallen Off
Remember that dark period that the West Coast went through? Then The Game came and people talked about the resurrection of Cali hip-hop? That would have never happened if Pac was here. Hell, Game might have caught a bad one for sounding too East Coast. That G-Unit affiliation likely wouldn’t have happened either.
6) Diddy Would Have Had A Hard Time Making It As An Artist
All that dancing in the video wouldn’t have went down if Pac was around. Maybe Puff would have been forced to stay behind the scenes. Honestly, we wouldn’t have been mad at that at all.
7) Hip Hop Wouldn’t Be So Dumb
People tend to forget how socially conscious Tupac’s music was. Imagine how bad the government would have gotten it after 9/11? Pac would have continued to be outspoken and force all others to step their game up. All this dummy rap going on right now would be balanced out with some “conscious” rap. A Tupac and Immortal Technique song would have had to happen. A 40-year-old wiser Tupac would have been a scary sight for politicians.
8) There Wouldn’t Be As Many Rapping Actors
If you really think about it, a lot of these rappers ended up doing movies because of Tupac. All those roles that Tupac-a-likes Ja Rule, DMX and the others landed would have likely gone to Pac (or not have happened at all) if he was still here. Tupac was supposed to be in “Menace II Society” (before his death) and “Baby Boy” (after his death) and without him the careers of Larenz Tate and Tyrese got a boost. We honestly believe that Pac could have been what Will Smith is to movies today.
9)The “Best Rapper Alive” List Wouldn’t Exist
Let’s keep it real, the only reason this fictitious list exists today is because Pac and Big aren’t here. If they were, the “alive” part would be totally unnecessary.
10) Biggie Would Be Still Here Too
We still believe that these two would have settled their differences and been able to coexist. If Pac was here, we would have never lost Biggie the way we did and hip-hop, as we know it, would be a totally different place.
Interesting….. i would’ve liked to see #7 and #10 the most
On point as always…up until #8. “Pac could have been what Will Smith is to movies today.” All due respect, Tupac would have NEVER been Will Smith. As talented as he was, Will Smith is a great, two-Academy Award nominated ACTOR. Not saying Pac couldn’t have improved, but could not see him doing any of Smith’s roles.
Nice article but a few inaccuracies. Will Smith was already a big movie star before Pac died. Independence Day came out July 4th weekend of 96. Also Menace II Society came out in 1993 well before Pac’s death.
GREAT AS ALWAYS BUT I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH ANTHONY. PAC WAS A NATURAL AT ACTING. ACTUALLY THAT WAS A PART OF HIS CRAFT HE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR ACTING. WILL WAS THE ONE THAT HAD TO ACTUALLY LEARN TO ACT.
Sorry. I call bullshit. I loved him as much as anybody. It’s time to let go, people. All of these things would’ve happened. Why? Because Tupac would’ve had his time, and just like anybody else, that time would’ve ended eventually. Because the music biz has been the same since it started, and that means they’d always be looking for a way to capitalize on past success, or create the next big thing. Because ‘Pac might not have adapted to the internet age. Because he would’ve been around to inspire the kid who would one day replace him.
Even Jordan retired. The game ain’t the same without him, but it would’ve changed either way.
If you believe this, you must’ve been pretty young when 2Pac passed away. This is like saying if Micheal Jackson would’ve dropped a album every year. Bobby Brown, BabyFace, Usher, Justin Timberlake and the other male soloist acts would’ve blown up…which like this list is complete Bullshit. Hip Hop changes and just because he was still hot at the time of his passing doesn’t mean he would’ve have fallen off at some point. Rappers were acting way before we saw him in JUICE and I doubt as close as they were, he would have to give a blessing to Will Smith. The only one I agree with is the last (Maybe they would’ve settled their differences) but we will never know.
Wrong, asshole. Look at lil wayne, who i’m sure you probably idolize. He’s been on tracks since he was 14 goin on 2 decades and he keeps getting bigger although he sucks dick like you. So saying Pac would’ve fallen off is basically a lie i gotta call you out on.