In this episode, we discuss the life and legacy of poet, actor, and rapper Tupac Shakur. Quoting from his official website: “Tupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of all time. More than a quarter of a century after his tragic death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, he continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated and prolific figures in modern history. Shakur’s message has continued to resonate throughout the world as his loyal and adoring fan base continues to treasure the timeless messages that he incorporated into his poetry and his music.”
“With over 75 million records sold worldwide, both 1996’s All Eyez on Me and his Greatest Hits collection have been certified diamond, surpassing the ten-million mark and placing them among the top-selling albums of all time. In April 2017, Tupac was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, making him the first solo hip-hop artist to be recognized for inclusion in his first eligible year. Tupac also found success and critical acclaim as an actor, starring in films like Juice, Poetic Justice, Above The Rim, Gridlock’d, and Gang Related.”
For this episode, we are joined by religion scholar Alejandro Nava, author of Street Scriptures: Between God and Hip-Hop. Nava’s work focuses on religion and culture, and in this episode we look at the role spirituality played in Tupac’s life and writing. This episode is presented in conjunction with our current special exhibit American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture. On display now at the American Writers Museum.
Alex is interviewed by Nate King, Content & Exhibits Manager at the American Writers Museum. This conversation originally took place April, 2026 and was recorded over Zoom.