Praise has been given in different forms to all of the greatest artists and entertainers dead or alive. Some receive a key to the city, but if you have a strong impact on the community, like Tupac or Biggie, you receive your own day. June 16th has officially been deemed Tupac Shakur Day in Oakland, California.
Leroy McCarthy, a Hip Hop advocate who helped declare Biggie’s Birthday [May 21] Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace Day in Brooklyn, has worked behind the scenes in declaring Tupac’s birthday Tupac Shakur Day in Oakland.
Although Tupac was born in Harlem, New York, he has roots in Oakland and the city is where he initially got his start in music with the crew Digital Underground. The proclamation from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s office reads, “Although Tupac was born in Harlem, New York City in 1971… he cherished his time in Oakland as his home, stating that he got his ‘game’ from Oakland.” He continued, “Tupac once said: ‘…I give all my love to Oakland, if I’ma claim somewhere, I’ma claim Oakland.’”
Tupac was much like his mother Afeni Shakur, who recently passed away from a heart attack in while in Northern California. They both were advocates for love and the Black race. Tupac wrote many songs in dedication to the Black community and Black love such as “Keep Ya Head Up”, “Unconditional Love,” “Brenda’s Got A Baby” and one penned to his mother, “Dear Mama.”
