Kendrick Lamar’s new album GNX not only shines a spotlight on Los Angeles’ current crop of rising rappers such as AzChike, Hitta J3 and Lefty Gunplay, but contains an overt tribute to one of the city’s most famous adopted sons, Tupac Shakur.
Source: HipHopDX
As an ‘80s baby who grew up in L.A. — specifically Compton — during 2Pac’s prime and even witnessed the rap legend film scenes for his original “California Love” music video with Dr. Dre at the Compton Swap Meet as a kid, his love of ‘Pac is no surprise.
But for Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, it goes deeper than that. In the early hours of September 13, 2010 — exactly 14 years after 2Pac’s death — the then-up-and-coming lyricist had an eerie dream in which Shakur came to him and delivered a message that would have a profound impact on him.
“I was coming from a late studio session, sleeping on mom’s couch. I’m 26 now — it wasn’t that long ago,” he recalled in a 2013 interview with GQ. “I remember being tired, tripping from the studio, lying down, and falling into a deep sleep and seeing a vision of ‘Pac talking to me.
“Weirdest shit ever. I’m not huge on superstition and all that shit. That’s what made it so crazy. It can make you go nuts. Hearing somebody that you looked up to for years saying, ‘Don’t let the music die.’ Hearing it clear as day. Clear as day. Like, he’s right there. Just a silhouette.”
Explaining how the spiritual encounter influenced his approach to music, he added: “It wasn’t just about money, hos, clothes, drinking. I mean, I come from that world, but at the same time, I started to realize that there’s people out there that can’t really connect to that lifestyle. They’re in the struggle.”
Kendrick noted in a separate interview with Home Grown Radio that just a day before the “scary” vision, his mother pointed out to him that his and ‘Pac’s birthdays are just one day apart. “I never knew that shit,” he said. “That was some wild shit.”
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