It is no secret that Tupac Shakur was ahead of his time. From his lyrics to his messages in his songs, Tupac prophesied many occurrences that would not take place until after his death.
A letter that Shakur wrote while serving his sentence in prison to his love interest and pop superstar, Madonna, reveals how he felt dating a white woman could tarnish his image, while at the same time, enhance hers.
We recently shared Vince Staples' feelings on the phrase "do it for the culture." As he was explaining why he felt "the culture" is a false construct, he spoke on how white entertainers, in particular, use the appropriation of black culture to become popular and to then remain relevant.
In a heartfelt letter obtained by TMZ, Tupac Shakur explained why he ended his brief relationship with Madonna in the '90s, and his reasons are not that different from those that formed the crux of Staples' argument.
“For you to be seen with a black man wouldn’t in any way jeopardize your career; if anything it would make you seem that much more open and exciting," the rapper wrote to Madonna. “But for me at least in my previous perception I felt due to my ‘image’ I would be letting down half of the people who made me what I thought I was.”
Could it be that even though we steadily discuss how black culture is used by white people to make them appear more "edgy," that this is not at all a new issue?
In a radio interview with Howard Stern in 2015, Madonna talked about her 1994 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, revealing her relationship with the later rapper: “I was mad at [David Letterman] when I said the f-word a lot. I was in a weird mood that day. I was dating Tupac Shakur at the time and the thing is he got me all riled up on life in general. So when I went on the show I was feeling very gangsta.”
Gangsta, huh?
Shakur spoke on this in his letter:
"[In] an interview where you said 'I'm off to rehabilitate all the rappers and basketball players' or something to that effect, those words cut me deep seeing how I had never known you to be with any rappers besides myself."
Stern's fan page seemed to confirm the idea that white entertainers associating with artists like Tupac helps to raise their profile when its moderators tweeted the following:
@Madonna dated @2pac that makes her 10X better!! pic.twitter.com/0OdkdhZXkx— Stern Fans (@HowardSternBest) March 11, 2015
Despite the frustration obvious in the letter, Shakur apologized to Madonna for ending their relationship so abruptly, extended a hand in friendship to her and requested that she visit him in jail.
The letter will be up for auction at Gotta Have Rock and Roll July 19-28 for the starting bid of $100,000.
