28 years ago, the Hip Hop industry lost one of its most influential artists ever. Just a week before his death, on September 7th, 1996, Tupac Shakur was involved in a brutal shooting and was struck four times in multiple parts of his body. The artist was rushed to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas and underwent emergency surgery. Despite the medical team’s hard work and multiple failed attempts, Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, requested the doctors to remove the cultural icon’s life support.

Although it was a mercy decision, people still remember 13th September 1996 as a black day in Hip Hop history. The incident sent shockwaves around the world, and many people are still not over the loss of Tupac Shakur. On Tupac’s 28th death anniversary, two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields reflected on the impact of the rapper’s death and how it continues to affect her.

Claressa Shields reflects on Tupac’s legacy

Tupac was more than just a rapper—his presence and influence extended far beyond music. He broke stereotypes and changed how society viewed hip hop artists. As an influential figure both on and off the microphone, Tupac’s legacy remains strong. Shields shared a clip of one of Tupac’s most famous court hearings.“It’ll never sit right in my spirit that Tupac was killed. This dude legacy will live forever,” Shields wrote. 

The video featured Tupac during a court hearing, where he urged the judge to treat him fairly, and that he didn’t want any special treatment because of who he was. He also expressed remorse for his actions while stating that he wanted one more chance so that he may right the wrongs that have happened at his hands. Statements like this have resonated with many over the years, further cementing Tupac’s reputation as not only a talented artist but also a deep thinker whose ideas could have transformed the industry.

Claressa Shields wasn’t alone in paying tribute to the iconic rapper.

Leonard Ellerbe pays tribute

Veteran promoter Leonard Ellerbe also took a moment to honor Tupac’s legacy. Ellerbe shared a video clip of Tupac discussing his struggles and the obstacles he faced, including his unfulfilled dream of attending college. The video highlighted Tupac’s commitment to education and how he believed that if he had received the right education, his life might have taken a different path.

Shakur was always a spokesperson for the importance of education and had stated multiple times that if he had gotten the right education, things would have been different. Ellerbe only captioned the video with “This” and let the words of the hip-hop legend speak for themselves.

After 28 years, there has finally been some movement in the case surrounding Tupac’s murder. Las Vegas police have indicted Duane “Keefe D” Davis as one of the suspects in the assassination. Although Davis awaits trial, many fans continue to wait for true justice to be served.

What are your thoughts on Claressa Shields’ views? Is Tupac Shakur’s legacy limited to the world of hip hop, or does it extend far beyond? Let us know your opinions in the comments below.