Eminem’s admiration for Tupac Shakur has always been evident, but his recent emotional letter to the late rapper reveals just how deeply Tupac influenced not only his music but his very life. In a touching tribute that reads like a diary entry, Eminem opens up about how Tupac’s raw lyrics, unwavering authenticity, and relentless spirit shaped the way he approaches his art. For Em, Tupac wasn’t just a musical idol; he was the blueprint for survival, an example of how to channel pain, anger, and joy into something that transcends time.

The first encounter with Tupac came for Eminem when he was just 18 or 19. He remembers hearing Pac’s verse on Digital Underground’s I Get Around, instantly feeling a magnetic pull to this voice that stood out among the crowd. “Who is this?” Eminem recalls thinking. That question was the beginning of a lifelong connection to Tupac’s music. Eminem quickly went on to dive into Pac’s debut album 2Pacalypse Now and became captivated by the storytelling, especially the haunting track “Brenda’s Got a Baby.”

However, it was Tupac’s Me Against the World that solidified his place in Eminem’s mind as a once-in-a-lifetime artist. “By the time he got to Me Against the World, it was him at his pinnacle. He knows what he wants, and he’s figured out how he wants to be.” Pac wasn’t just rapping; he was defining himself and pushing boundaries in ways that left listeners feeling every word. For Eminem, it wasn’t just about the beats or the bars—it was about the feeling. Tupac had the rare ability to make people not just hear his music but feel it deep inside. He could go from rapping about anger and defiance on one track to pouring out pain and vulnerability on another. Every song carried weight, every lyric a punch, and that was something Eminem took to heart.

One of the most significant aspects of Tupac’s influence on Eminem was his versatility. “He was so versatile,” Eminem writes. “If you weren’t in the mood for what he was doing on one song, he had something else for you over here.” Tupac’s music spoke to every corner of the human experience—fed-up, angry, passionate, loving, and reflective. And the best part about it? It was all real. Tupac was not just an artist; he was a human being, one who allowed the world to see the full spectrum of his emotions. His honesty, especially in his interviews, fascinated Eminem. “I used to be fascinated with his interviews, like, ‘Yo, what he’s saying is so true,’” Eminem writes. Tupac didn’t just speak; he taught.

But perhaps the most powerful part of this tribute is Eminem’s recounting of his time working on Tupac’s posthumous album Loyal to the Game. When Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother, allowed Eminem to produce the album, it felt like a dream realized for the young rapper. “You wouldn’t be able to tell the 18/19-year-old Marshall that he would ever be able to get his hands on some Tupac vocals,” Eminem recalls, clearly overwhelmed by the significance of the moment. “It was like touching a ghost,” he adds. Being able to work with Tupac’s legacy in such a personal way was an honor that transcended music for Eminem—it was a full-circle moment that marked the ultimate form of respect.

In his letter, Eminem describes how working with Tupac’s music was nothing short of magical. The songs Pac left behind—whether it was the raw aggression of “If I Die 2Nite” or the emotional depth of “Dear Mama”—were timeless. “When you make songs like Tupac did, songs that feel like something, that feeling never goes away,” he writes. Even years later, songs like “If I Die 2Nite” still ignite a fire in Eminem, while “Dear Mama” brings him to tears. Tupac’s genius wasn’t just in his lyrics; it was in his ability to connect with people on an emotional level that few artists ever achieve.

Eminem admits that Tupac’s mastery of connecting words and beats was part of what made him legendary. “I would have a hard time believing that they didn’t know what they were doing when they were putting certain words on certain chords of the beat,” Eminem writes. For Em, Tupac was a true genius—one who understood how to craft songs that would never fade into irrelevance.

Eminem’s letter isn’t just a tribute; it’s a love letter to the man who helped him understand the deeper meaning of music. Tupac wasn’t just a mentor or an influence—he was a guide, a voice for the voiceless, and someone who made Eminem realize that music could be more than just words. It could be an outlet, a tool for survival, and a reflection of the soul. And as Eminem concludes his heartfelt tribute, one thing is clear: Tupac’s legacy lives on, not only in his own music but in the countless artists—like Eminem—who continue to be inspired by him.

Tupac didn’t just shape the world of hip-hop—he shaped lives, and Eminem’s letter is the proof.