Happy Birthday, Pac

Today would have been Tupac Shakur's 38th birthday.

In 2009, the debate over who is the "G.O.A.T." (Greatest Of All Time) continues on a daily basis, just as it did prior to Tupac's death in 1996. But one thing is not up for debate: there has never been (and may never again be) an emcee and enigma such as Pac. There has been no one capable of delivering the level of emotional depth and feel to a song that Tupac was. And, beyond that, he was able to combine that heartfelt fire with wittily constructed (and at times scathingly honest) lyrics.

For as controversial a public figure as Tupac Amaru Shakur was, it is both interesting and sad to imagine the person he would be today, if he was still with us. Would he still be making music despite nearing his forties, as Jay-Z has? Would he be more of a family man, watching his children grow and prosper? I like to think that he would have, in the very least, calmed down quite a bit from the "Thug Life" persona that he lived by—and, ultimately, died by—in his 20s. Even during his tumultuous years, Tupac was deeply introspective and intelligent, a side to him which shone most prominently in songs such as "Dear Mama" and "Changes". Had he lived to see his thirties, I believe Pac would've embraced life, focusing more on his acting career, new business investments, and possibly political activism.

Unfortunately, his legacy will instead be vaults of great music...and a tragic and cautionary tale. R.I.P. Pac.