Tupac Shakur would have become a politician says bandmate

07 September 2023 , 19:09

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Tupac Shakur's bandmate said that he would have been a politician

Tupac Shakur would have ventured into politics had he survived his Las Vegas assassination 27 years ago. That is the insight from close friend E.D.I Mean, who revealed that the iconic rapper saw his future in making a difference.

Hip-hop star E.D.I, 49, reckons Tupac would have marveled at Barack Obama becoming the first US President in 2008. However, the rap icon would be concerned about how problematic societal issues that were important to the youth in the 1990s, remain relevant today.

The rapper, whose real name is Malcolm Greenidge, made his comments as fans around the world remember Tupac, who was fatally shot by rival gang members while riding close to the Las Vegas strip on September 7 1996.

Tupac Shakur was killed 27 years ago (Getty Images)

E.D.I, who rarely speaks today about Tupac to media, revealed: “He spoke about his desire to eventually go into politics, or in that field in some regard. He had all of the ingredients for any good politician: charisma, intelligence, a good orator. Pac had all these qualities.”

E.D.I insists the state of the US, diversity, racism and equality “for 25-year-old Tupac that was on his mind". Asked what Tupac would have brought to the political world, E.D.I reacted: “I think his impact would have been equal to the impact his music had on the world and continues to have on the world.

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“It doesn’t take a genius to see that. His music impacted the world from the time he got into the industry . As a community leader Tupac’s impact would have been significant.”

E.D.I , who was privy to the personal thoughts and outlook of mentor Tupac, feels he would’ve been saddened by the “lack of progress” in society. He feels the lyrical content and subject matter on albums like his last album All Eyes On Me and his own former group's The Outlawz recordings place the spotlight on problems.

Tupac revealed to his friends a desire to pursue politics (Getty Images)

“I’m surprised in a sad kind of way, because not much has changed. I often think about what Pac would think about Obama and the fact that we did have a black president. And when I think about that, I’m like, ‘Wow,’ he’d probably love that, but not much has changed outside of that. In fact, it almost seems like we’re regressing in a lot of different ways.

“The list from top to bottom: race relations, morally, musically, like we can go on and on. This is definitely not a thing where we can talk about a lot of progress in. Some progress is happening, but we’ve taken a few steps backwards as well.

“And I’m talking about society as a whole. We’ve become a lot more fearful, a lot more sensitive, and very, very distant from each other. It’s alarming to see where we’re headed, but I’m an optimist by nature, so I’ve always looked at the glass as being full. So I’m hopeful for us.”

Tupac endured a turbulent life and many run ins with the law. The Harlem-born star was on bail from prison awaiting appeal for two convictions of first-degree sexual abuse in New York courts in fall 1995. However, E.D.I believes that he was moving into the new chapter of his life.

EDI is the former bandmate of Tupac from Outlawz (EDI Mean)

The murder weapon from the incident is still missing (AP)

“Towards the end of the so called East Coast West Coast war Tupac had turned a corner. He was about unity. “In his essence he was about unity. He loved hip hop and the opportunities that it provided young black males and black people in general. That is definitely the direction he was going into.”

Tupac’s fast ascend into rap royalty only furthered his ambitions, building a movie star career, while also plotting to build a music label empire.

Tupac was “ahead of his time”, according to E.D.I, with the entrepreneurial spirit of Jay Z and creativity of Kanye West He said: “The sky was the limit for that kind of an individual,’ with his intelligence, and his merit all wrapped in one.”

E.D.I dismisses conspiracy theories that Tupac somehow survived being blasted with a volley of bullets from a semi-automatic weapon.

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He said: “I believe him leaving in such an early, in such a dramatic fashion while he was at the height of his career is always going to leave his fans and his audience wanting more. When you want more, you’re going to find a way to get it and his fans will always want more Tupac.”

However he insists Tupac did pass after the shooting and anyone doubting that “I’d be somewhat worried about and want them to get some therapy or something.” He understands why his friend “‘Pac” means so much to millions.

Tupac was a member of Outlawz (Getty Images)

EDI said: “Tupac wanted to definitely make sure that if he left this planet early, he would live beyond his physical representation. And for his fans, he did that. He tapped into that part of their brains, which would always be triggered and somewhat intrigued by him and why he did what he did in putting little clues in the music and things of that nature.”

E.D.I grew close to Tupac as part of the rap group The Outlawz, founded by the rapper in late 1995 after his release from prison.

He was part of the entourage out in Las Vegas on September 7 1996, traveling in a car behind his friend was murdered. E.D.I and bodyguards helplessly watched Compton gang member Orlando Anderson shoot several rounds into the BMW, driven by Suge Knight, effectively killing Shakur E.D.I does not like discussing the events of that night in detail these days.

The New Yorker brought Outlawz with him to Knight’s Death Row Records label in 1995. The star, originally called Lesane Parish Crooks, shaped the individual talents of stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, and Big Syke. Hussein Fatal, Napoleon, E.D.I. Mean, Kastro, Yaki Kadafi, and Storm into the Outlaw Immortalz.

Their work debuted on 2Pac's multi-platinum hit album All Eyez on Me. After Tupac’s passing and death of Kadafi, they dropped “Immortalz”.

A documentary about the Outlawz is set to be produced

However, over the two decades departures and death have dominated their lives. Fatal and Napoleon left the group, before in 2015 Hussein Fatal died in a car crash, before a year later Mussolini passed at his home. The remaining members have reformed to mark the 25th anniversary of their studio work with Tupac. They will release a new album One Nation - which was the title of the last long player Tupac was working on before his death.

“The message is about unity between older and younger hip hop, because as hip hop has gotten older a split is starting to happen between the old and younger generations. We want to nix that. We need to stay unified as a culture and people."

E.D.I confirmed that a documentary about the Outlawz's story is in the works as well as plans for a feature film. He added: “I will assure you that there is enough dramas and highs and lows in the Outlawz story even without Tupac to fill a two hour movie. Actually Tupac would be the B story because our lives individually again have just as dramatic and epic as Mr Shakur himself. “

E.D.I. Mean recently released projects OG3: LA BELLA VITA and The Hope Dealer, Pt. 3; and has a new app @recordianmusic on Twitter and Instagram.

James Desborough