TODAY! marks the seventh anniversary of the death of rap star Tupac Shakur. Although a lot of folks won't admit it publicly, trust me, some will be looking for him to return from the dead.
Yes, I know it sounds crazy. But if the rumors about him faking his death, which emerged shortly after the November 1996 posthumous release of his Makaveli album ``The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,'' are true, then Tupac should surface today.
After all, here's a man who, while alive, sold 6 million albums but since his death has sold more than 30 million.
To this day, he remains one of the most admired figures among young people around the world.
It's hard for many to believe that he recorded all the material released since 1996 before passing away.
A Tupac album has been released every year since then, and they have included dozens of popular songs that sound as if they were recorded yesterday. The fact that you can turn on the radio and hear him rapping in new songs alongside Nas and 50 Cent has only heightened the speculation.
In recent years there have been books, Web sites, documentaries and an ABC "Nightline'' show exploring the rumors and theories that Tupac faked his death to escape his record contract or hide from government officials or pull the ultimate publicity stunt.
The "7-Day Theory'' links the number 7 to significant events in Tupac's life. For example, he was shot on Sept. 7 and survived for seven days. The time of death was 4:03 (4+0+3=7). He starred in seven movies and recorded the album "Don Killuminati'' in seven days. There have been seven albums by him released since 1996.
All this is accentuated by the fact that Tupac often rapped about dying and returning from the dead, a la Makaveli.
In his song "God Bless the Dead,'' released in 1998, Tupac says, "Rest in peace, Biggie Smalls, referring to his rival, the Notorious B.I.G., who died six months after Tupac. In another song, he makes an off-color reference to Jay-Z, whom he hardly knew but who was getting a lot of criticism from fellow rappers when the album was released.
In any case, on Saturday the Tupac album title "All Eyez on Me'' will take on new meaning.
Did he fake his death? If he didn't, a lot of folks who have been anxiously waiting and studying him will have to find another passion -- or hustle -- depending on how you see all this.
Yes, I know it sounds crazy. But if the rumors about him faking his death, which emerged shortly after the November 1996 posthumous release of his Makaveli album ``The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,'' are true, then Tupac should surface today.
After all, here's a man who, while alive, sold 6 million albums but since his death has sold more than 30 million.
To this day, he remains one of the most admired figures among young people around the world.
It's hard for many to believe that he recorded all the material released since 1996 before passing away.
A Tupac album has been released every year since then, and they have included dozens of popular songs that sound as if they were recorded yesterday. The fact that you can turn on the radio and hear him rapping in new songs alongside Nas and 50 Cent has only heightened the speculation.
In recent years there have been books, Web sites, documentaries and an ABC "Nightline'' show exploring the rumors and theories that Tupac faked his death to escape his record contract or hide from government officials or pull the ultimate publicity stunt.
The "7-Day Theory'' links the number 7 to significant events in Tupac's life. For example, he was shot on Sept. 7 and survived for seven days. The time of death was 4:03 (4+0+3=7). He starred in seven movies and recorded the album "Don Killuminati'' in seven days. There have been seven albums by him released since 1996.
All this is accentuated by the fact that Tupac often rapped about dying and returning from the dead, a la Makaveli.
In his song "God Bless the Dead,'' released in 1998, Tupac says, "Rest in peace, Biggie Smalls, referring to his rival, the Notorious B.I.G., who died six months after Tupac. In another song, he makes an off-color reference to Jay-Z, whom he hardly knew but who was getting a lot of criticism from fellow rappers when the album was released.
In any case, on Saturday the Tupac album title "All Eyez on Me'' will take on new meaning.
Did he fake his death? If he didn't, a lot of folks who have been anxiously waiting and studying him will have to find another passion -- or hustle -- depending on how you see all this.
ourz out a lil 40 ounce::