With the anniversary death of The Notorious B.I.G (Christopher Wallace), on this upcoming Friday, hip-hop and rap artists are remembering a legend. Though his time as an artist was brief, it left a huge impact on rap, and hip-hop.  With his death, it sparks the topic of his musical rival, at the time, Tupac Shakur. At the peak of Tupac and B.I.G’s careers, both young men dominated the gangster-rap and hip-hop scene. Tupac representing the West Coast of the United States, and Biggie the East Coast. Even decades after their deaths, they continue to haunt everyone’s minds. But, for certain, their music helped shape hip-hop and rap in the 1990s, and they are still considered some of the best artists of their time.

Though, where Notorious B.I.G influenced the music scene, Tupac is mostly remembered for his angry lyrics, and unashamedly gangster-like appearance. When he was alive, Shakur frequently wore the signature bandanna, a look that people continue to replicate. His many hit singles, like ‘I Ain’t Mad At Cha’, or ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ are to this day Shakur’s staple songs.

Though his song, ‘Changes’, is what people in the black community most identify with. As the son of Black Panther activists, Tupac was well aware to the realities of being black in America.

In ‘Changes’, he raps about facing unfair treatment from the police, as a black man, as well as the struggle with drugs and gang violence. The passion behind ‘Changes’ is palpable in the uncensored lyrics, and the chorus “That’s just the way it is, things will never be the same”, gives the song a hopeless feeling. ‘Changes’ embodies the feelings of African Americans during this time; the pessimistic outlook on life, and the struggle with the police.

Years after his death, people now know Tupac Shakur to be one of the best male rappers in history. The popularity of his songs reach out to people of all backgrounds and races to hopefully shed light on the life of an African American. As a fan of Tupac, Jordyn Dunn has to say, “His music is really powerful, and I think that’s why it resonates so much with people.” On Friday, we will remember not one, but two legends to hip-hop.