Lengthy ALS signed “Me against the world, 2 Pac,” three pages, lightly-lined, 8 x 10.5, July 4, 1995. Written from New York’s Clayton Correctional facility, a letter to China Thomas, in full (spelling and grammar retained): “I much prefer 2 call u Jackie being what I am writing is real I want 2 adress u by your real name. I appreciate the picture. Lord knowz I love a woman with a pretty pair of breast and girl u been blessed with a pair of beauties! That’s as real as real gets. As usual your letter was game tight and very well received. I love the way u get down it’s refreshing from all the bullshit I get on a regular basis. I haven’t been ignoring u it’s just been real hectic up here with these cowards, bustaz and bitchez with dicks. Plus I still have 2 run my empire from here and it aint easy. I just sold 2 million copiez and I’m plotting on 3 million. I’m also finishing a book deal with either Nikki Giovani or Maya Angelou gotta get paid. Game is to be sold not told so instead of all these free interviews I’m going 2 spit this shit 4 a 6 figure deal u know! Besides that it’s just mad drama I’m trying 2 buy a mansion and a 850 before the IRS snatch my loot from me so it aint easy believe me.
I must admit the picture did get a smile out of me but the greedy side of me wants more so spread some of that 2 me if you find the time. All a nigga got in jail is fantasies, memories and pictures. I got plenty of the first 2 I need more of the last. All these bustaz up here love these magazines but I’d rather have visuals of a woman I already fucked or one that I’ll fuck in the future so do that 4 me sweetheart. Take some flicks that can get a rise out of this lonely physical form. Also I’ve been bombarded with letters from folks in the business (Adina Howard, M. C. Lyte, Tony Danza, etc) so I’ve been networking with them for future business matters, so forgive me if I haven’t gotten 2 u fast enough. Keep sending me those bathing suit flicks though and I’ll definitely keep writing. 2 me the game you possess plus the physical perfections make u someone I definitely want to keep contact with. When u coming 2 check 4 me?
I’ve been heated lately over some punk ass enemies of mine doing some character assassination attempts in Vibe mag. So my mind been on justice and retaliation more than women & friendships but I got my focus back and we should be back on track now. Niggaz don’t understand my exodus from the thug life so they speak like bitchez with they headz cut off, and that burns me 2 the fullest. What niggaz don’t C is thug life didn’t give birth 2 me I gave birth 2 thug life. We are all born niggaz either strong niggaz bitch niggaz or fake niggaz we all chose our development goals some niggaz never graduate from level one and they stay stuck niggaz but only the leaders and the most sharp advance past the thug life stage to become Boss Playaz I would not be achieving my fullest potential if I didn’t advance 2 this Boss Playa lifestyle that beckons me 2 master it. All the rest of them bustaz are satisfied with being kings of the block me I want the world it belongs 2 me and I intend to claim it. So with that I’ll leave you until our next correspondence. Keep ya head up game rulez my only fear of death is coming back reincarnated!” Shakur adds a brief postscript, “Keep that game coming It keeps me tight.” Includes the original mailing envelope, addressed in Shakur’s own hand. In very good condition, with the envelope in good condition. The original recipient of this letter wrote Tupac to thank him for his song, ‘Keep Your Head Up,’ which helped her through a rough time in her life.
Following his sexual assault conviction, Shakur was incarcerated in Dannemora for nine months before being released on October 12, 1995. Despite his detainment, he continued to stay busy—he married his longtime girlfriend Keisha Morris on April 4th, and his album Me Against the World became a bestseller, making him the first artist to have a number one album on the Billboard 200 while in prison. Shakur’s reference to “enemies” and “character assassination attempts” in Vibe magazine are related to the ongoing East Coast–West Coast rivalry between Shakur and The Notorious B. I. G., and labels Death Row and Bad Boy Records. In fact, Biggie and Puffy were featured on the cover of the September 1995 issue of Vibe entitled, ‘East Vs. West.’ After Shakur was shot and robbed at the Quad Recording Studio in late November 1994, his accusations towards Sean Combs and Biggie were fiercely rebutted, with the blamed rappers often denouncing Shakur through the press. Handwritten material from Tupac is very scarce and highly sought-after, with this starkly revealing example being just the second we have ever offered. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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