Eminem’s Endearing, Handwritten Letter to Tupac’s Mother Resurfaces
Eminem thanks late iconic rapper Tupac Shakur for inspiring him during tough times in a sincere, handwritten letter to Shakur’s mother, Afeni.
The one page letter accompanied by a portrait Eminem drew of the rapper were posted on Reddit by a fan. Both appear in the 2008 book, Tupac Remembered, are on display at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.
In remarkably neat penmanship, Eminem tells Afenia about the impact Tupac had on his life. “You have no idea how much your son and his music has inspired me, not only the “Hip Hop” world, but, speaking for myself, has inspired my whole career,” he writes.
Tupac’s influences transcended Eminem’s music. “When I was feeling at my worst; (before fame, before Dre) I knew I could put that ‘Tupac’ tape in, and suddenly, things weren’t so bad,” he continues. “He gave me the courage to stand up and say ‘F**k the world!’ ‘This is who I am!’”
Eminem also apologizes for not doing a better job on the sketch. “Sorry if it looks a little sloppy, I could’ve done a little better if I had the right pencils,” he continues, adding that he began drawing at 10. “Instead, I had to draw it in pen.”
He thanks Afeni for her support. “You are a true Queen, and I mean that in every sense of the word,” he adds. “I will never forget the opportunities you have given me. You will always be in my heart, my thoughts, and my prayers.”
Eminem has referenced Tupac’s influence in several of his songs.
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts is located in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
