The Complicated New Era of Young Thug

"In January of 1995, Kevin Powell, an original Real World cast member turned hip-hop scribe, went to Rikers Island for a Vibe cover story. There, Tupac Shakur had been locked up for a few months on a sexual abuse conviction and was feeling like he was at a breaking point. Nervously chain-smoking Newports and dismayed by loneliness, broken brotherhoods, and a narrative that he could no longer control, Pac gave one of the rawest interviews in rap history."

"At times in Powell's interview, Pac talks about himself like a God, like when he recalls meeting Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and former top NBA draft pick Derrick Coleman at the club and how their praise made him come to a realization: "They were people's heroes and they saying I was their hero. I felt above and beyond, like I was glowing." It's hard to know what exactly is the truth, but he's such an entertaining storyteller that you want to believe everything that comes out of his mouth."

In January 1995 Kevin Powell visited Rikers Island to interview Tupac Shakur, who had been jailed for months on a sexual abuse conviction and felt at a breaking point. Pac nervously chain-smoked Newports and described loneliness, broken brotherhoods, and a loss of control over his public narrative. He recounted the Quad Recording Studios shooting in vivid detail and discussed interactions with the woman who accused him. Pac released the fatalistic, paranoid album Me Against the World during this period. He spoke reverently of gangsters and street codes, cited betrayal by former brothers as a core wound, and described moments of celebrity that made him feel elevated and conflicted.

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