During Dr. Dre's Super Bowl Pepsi Halftime Show on Sunday (February 13), Tupac Shakur's presence was felt - not by hologram, as rumors suggested, but by Dre and Snoop Dogg's performance of "California Love," and the Aftermath founder's piano rendition of "I Ain't Mad At Cha," during which Eminem took a knee.
While visiting Los Angeles earlier this week, Slim Shady visited Wake Me When I'm Free, a museum experience.
Additionally, Eminem donned a 2Pacalaypse Now t-shirt honoring Pac's 1991 debut album from his extensive collection of classic Hip Hop merch.
Wake Me When I'm Free, is an immersive museum exhibition created in collaboration with Tupac Shakur's estate, it explores the life and legacy of the legendary rapper/activist through contemporary art, sensory technology and never-before-seen artifacts from his personal archives.
According to its official website, "the exhibition explores the deeper meaning of his activism, music, and revolutionary art through a labyrinth of emotions."
Throughout his career, Eminem has expressed his admiration for 2Pac. Detroit native Shade45 hailed the late Death Row legend as "the greatest songwriter of all-time" in a 2020 radio special.
In introducing "If I Die Tonight", a track from 2Pac's 1995 album Me Against the World, he said, "Debate what you want about MC skills and all that, because he had that, too.". This is one of those songs by 2Pac that he was showing you, 'I can write heartfelt shit and I can write lyrical, crazy shit, too.'"
Pac is not just someone you listen to, he is someone you feel. If you listen to him, you gonna feel him.”
In a handwritten letter to 2Pac's mother Afeni Shakur, Eminem told her, "You've no idea how much your son's music has inspired not only the 'Hip Hop' world, but also my whole career.
It was he who gave me the courage to stand up and say, 'F**k the world!'" I am who I am! If you don't like it, screw yourself!'”
The rap legends also collaborated posthumously, with Eminem co-producing 2Pac's 2004 album Loyal to the Game with Luis Resto, as well as several songs on Tupac: Resurrection's soundtrack.