What’s real doesn’t have to be said or reiterated, it just is what it is. So when J. Cole once eloquently rhymed “Pac was like Jesus” on 2013’s “Let Nas Down,” unless you lived by the raw, conscious-awakening and emotionally-driven couplets from the man named Tupac Shakur, you couldn’t wholly understand the gravity behind the statement. More than a statement, it was truth — a truth that resonates deeply with fans of the man who was a fighter and embodied the spirit of hip-hop and mouthpiece of America’s youth.

Poetry, Power, Pistols: An Oral History Of 2Pac’s ‘Me Against the World’

Like some angel sent down from above, Afeni Shakur’s baby boy hurtled out of the societal ills and hip-hop’s murky, feigned mist to kick the real and uplift spirits. When you hear songs like “When My Homies Call” and “Pour Out A Little Liquor,” records that find him speaking fondly on the unconditional love for his pals, stanzas placed on songs like “Point The Finga,” a message on police brutality, thought-provoking call to action on tracks like “Young N*ggas,” along with timeless jewels like “Keep Your Head Up,” a statement on the true treasures of this world: Women, Pac’s defiant spirit behind these records captivated and nurtured millions.

This is a testament to why his legacy remains unrivaled in modern pop music. Almost 20 years after his untimely death, he has continued to unfurl artistry through books, your favorite musicians, unearthed interviews, stretched-out conspiracy theories, and now on the silver screen — all in all making it harder to speak of him in the past tense.

Hero. Warrior. Eternal fire. Prophet. Still.