A video from the 1990s showing the late rap legend Tupac Shakur confronting a street vendor who was selling bootleg copies of his albums has resurfaced online and gone viral. The footage, which was reportedly filmed in New York City, shows Tupac angrily approaching the African man, and demanding that he hand over all the counterfeit CDs he was peddling.
Tupac explained to the man that by selling pirated music, he was stealing from him after he worked hard to create his art. He threatened to smash the vendor’s stand if he did not comply. The man tried to defend himself by saying that he was just trying to make a living, but Tupac was not convinced. He accused the man of disrespecting him and rap culture, and insinuated that he should be supporting him instead of exploiting him.
The video has sparked a lot of reactions from fans, who praised Tupac for standing up for his rights and integrity. Some also noted how the video reflected Tupac’s passion and activism, as well as his controversial and confrontational personality. Others compared the situation to the current state of the music industry, where streaming services and digital platforms have changed the way artists make money and distribute their music, which made it harder to make money off selling bootleg CDs.
The video is one of many rare and unreleased materials that have surfaced online since Tupac’s death in 1996. The rapper, who was also known as Makaveli, left behind a large catalog of songs and videos that have been released posthumously on various media platforms. Tupac’s legacy continues to inspire and influence generations of fans and artists around the world.