Hip-hop has only a handful of true icons, and the ones who earn their respect never fade. This was proven with the 2000’s ‘Up in Smoke Tour’ where Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg honored Tupac Shakur – the man who defined the aesthetics, but more importantly, the values of their era.
Among multiple snippets, one of the songs played was ‘California Love.’ As soon as the opening beats hit, the crowd blew up. Dr. Dre took the mic and rapped his verse with a glint of nostalgia. And then Snoop being Snoop, took over with his signature West Coast smoothness which cemented him and Tupac as a dynamic duo years ago. Despite not being there, one could feel the ghost of Tupac looming and head-bumping, as his vocals blasted and resounded loudly through the room.
Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Live In Boston Tribute To 2Pac (Up In Smoke Tour) (2PacLegacy.Net)
Then, the one and only: ‘Hail Mary.’ From the Makaveli era. Tupac’s darkest turn, and the more electric moment of that night. Snoop turned into Tupac, leaving behind his smooth flow for the guttural strength and chest Tupac’s verse deserved. Snoop made a powerful statement with this symbolic move: Only Tupac can speak his own words, and only Tupac’s voice can truly express them.
To create a moment of unity, Dre and Snoop took a moment to shout out The Notorious B.I.G. Famously, the two were the kings of their respective coasts, and their feud found the coasts at large at feud (in a way that has not been repeated since). Snoop and Dre cemented the idea that this performance overrides old beef. This was about respect and culture.
2Pac – Hit ‘Em Up (Dirty) (Music Video) HD
Hip-hop is built with bridges, and with this tribute, Dre and Snoop bridged East and West Coast, bridged old and young generations, and bridged Tupac’s aesthetics with his message — the arena’s energy only further emphasized their success. To this day, his influence remains undeniable, as it continues to shape generation after generation.
Dr. Dre has been making new waves recently, posing up with the new West-Coast king Kendrick Lamar. Stay up to date with him over his Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.