Tupac Shakur's Dad Speaks Out

The father of slain rapper, Tupac Shakur, has spoken to the Editor-in-Chief of XXL magazine about the legacy of his son. Tupac was shot in 1996 in a drive by shooting incident. The news of his death shocked and rocked the world of hip-hop, with many citing east coast versus west coast rivalry as the cause of him being shot. Tupac's death still remains shrouded in mystery, as the perpetrators have not yet been brought to justice.

See below an excerpt, released to the media, of what Tupac's Dad had to say to Vanessa Satten, the Editor-in-Chief of XXL magazine. The full issue of the magazine with the interview will hit newsstands on August 16th.

Tupac cared for people. That was his main thing. He really cared for people. I think that's why he would get so upset when people tried to question his commitment, his love for Black women or Black men. The East Coast/West Coast, you know, that's a fabrication. I don't have to begin to tell you that. So when that was questioned, it bothered him. Because he would give his heart or soul. He was a giving person. He would give anything to people. He would go in a store. [If there was a] Black man who couldn't afford a $1,500 pair of boots, he would buy em for him. Think that Black man would ever forget Tupac? That's just the way he is. But I don't think that he did it for that. He did it because he had it, and he didn't. That's the way he is.