"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Handwritten Essay by Tupac Shakur, 1992

This handwritten, poetic essay in blue ink on white, lined notebook paper was composed by Tupac Amaru Shakur in 1992. The unrecorded essay offers a nuanced, reflective commentary on the spirit of revolution.

Drawing parallels between historical and contemporary figures and events, Shakur repurposes the titular title of American revolutionary Patrick Henry’s (1736-1799) speech given in 1775. In his essay, Shakur contrasts the 1992 case of Rodney King, in which four White Los Angeles police officers were cleared of assault charges resulting from their beating of King, a Black man, to Marie Antoinette, the unpopular 18th century French queen and central figure in the French Revolution.  Additionally, Shakur points to similarities between the people who rioted after the King verdict was read and the American colonists who poured tea into Boston Harbor in rebellion against the British in 1773.  

Throughout this work, Shakur’s tone remains constructive rather than destructive.  Embracing his countrymen, Tupac includes himself in the plea: “Amerikkka, we have to take responsibility for our mistakes.”

Shakur’s records are some of the best-selling of all time. His album, 2Pacalypse Now, went gold and his second full-length release, Strictly 4 My N.*.G.G.A.Z. (1993), achieved platinum status and reached No. 4 on the R&B charts. In 1995, his third LP also went platinum, setting the stage for the rapper’s debut release on Death Row Records with All Eyez on Me. Featuring duets with Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and George Clinton, this double record of original material—the first in hip-hop history—debuted at No. 1 in February 1996 and eventually sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

Eloquent and often arresting, Shakur’s explicit lyrics depicting the realities of gangster life, child molestation, addiction, poverty, sexual assault, and street violence became some of the most controversial of the decade. His work often drew outrage from morality groups and right-wing politicians, which, in turn, increased record sales. Shakur’s acting career, which included roles in urban dramas as Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993) and Gridlock'd (1997) released after his death, also challenged societal conventions. 

Tupac/2Pac (Tupac Amaru Shakur, b.1971 - 1996), Born in New York, and son to parents and relatives who were members of the Black Panther Party, Tupac’s political ideals on racial injustice highly influenced Tupac’s music and social consciousness. As a Harlem and Baltimore native, Tupac began his music career as a member of the Oakland hip-hop group Digital Underground before his solo career in 1991 with the release of his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now. Tupac emerged in the 1990s as a central figure in West Coast hip-hop scene, introducing social issues on Black life in American where gangsta rap was dominant in West Coast hip-hop. Tupac's consistent themes in his lyrics addressed contemporary social issues in inner cities, including violence, hardship, and racism. During his career Tupac has sold over 75,000,000 records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His talent as a rapper, actor and social consciousness has influenced many and garnered him the respect as one of the best rappers in history.