Dr. Mutulu Shakur on who killed Tupac

[Hampton]

Since yesterday was 7 years since the murder of Tupac, and he didn't come back like so many people had hoped for, here's an interview of his stepdad on who murdered him at night:

http://www.allhiphop.com/CelebImages/feat_mutulushakur.gif

To his supporters, activist Dr. Mutulu Shakur is a political prisoner forced into an Atlanta-based penitentiary for crimes he didn’t commit. Since his capture and arrest on February 12, 1986, he's been vehemently fighting for his freedom - nearly 20 years. In 1987, he was sentenced to 60 years in jail for an alleged conspiracy against the government. At the time, the federal government charged that Dr. Shakur aided in eight incidents where a “clandestine paramilitary unit” attempted to relieve U.S. Banks of their funds. He firmly maintains his innocence in all the crimes he was accused of.

Through his trials, Dr. Shakur maintains an immeasurably intense love for his son Tupac. While not his biological pops, ‘Pac always maintained, in song (see "Papa'z Song"), that the elder Shakur was the one he viewed as his father figure. Now, on the eve of the 7th Anniversary of Tupac Shakur’s murder, the father and doctor talks to AllHipHop.com.

AllHipHop: What’s up, Dr. Shakur? It's good to hear from you.

Mutulu Shakur: Hello, Brother, It's good to hear from you also.

AllHipHop: There are many questions about 2Pac that were unanswered regarding his life and death. Many of his fans wanna know the deal. We're hoping you can fill in the blanks to the best of your ability.

Mutulu Shakur: I'll try.

AllHipHop: Were going to start off by asking you who is Mutulu Shakur?

Mutulu Shakur: I am a New African Freedom Fighter, Political Prisoner, Healer, Father, Brother, and Son.

AllHipHop: Can you tell us what Pac meant to you?

Mutulu Shakur: He was my son, my friend, my comrade & my inspiration.

AllHipHop: If Pac was alive today at 32, what do you think he would be like?

Mutulu Shakur: He would be a voice for truth and courage. AllHipHop: What do you think you meant to Tupac, and what do you think he learned from you?

Mutulu Shakur: He would've had to answer that. I think he gained most from my counseling and as well as other positivist I gave him.

AllHipHop: Who were role models in Pac's life that he looked up to?

Mutulu Shakur: I think if you listen to his lyrics and read his poems, than you will have some idea of who he respected as role models in his life. He kept them all in his heart.

AllHipHop: Why do you think Black leaders like C.Dolores Tucker & the Reverend Calvin Butts verbally attacked Pac?

Mutulu Shakur: Because they function as the voice of the Right Wing that never really had the interest of our people. I guess their objective was for personal motives.

AllHipHop: Can you tell us how it affected both Pac and yourself when your family was on the run from the F.B.I.?

Mutulu Shakur: From the very beginning of Tupac's life, our family has been a target of the Cointelpro. Members of our family were hunted, prosecuted, and murdered just because we struggled for our peoples’ human rights. It's something he had to adjust to.

AllHipHop: On your website (www.daretostruggle.com) you posted that you hold the Cointelpro responsible for Pac's death. Can you break down who the Cointelpro is & their motives for possibly harming Pac?

Mutulu Shakur: On our Dare To Struggle CD we break down the Cointelpro and it's relationship to Hip-Hop culture. Your readers should get the C.D. The Cointelpro is low intensity warfare headed by a division of the FBI waged against Political objectors. It's intended goal was and is to prevent the rise of a Black Messiah.

AllHipHop: I guess that could definitely be a possible motive because Pac really had a gift of touching the masses, he was kind of hip-hop's messiah.

Mutulu Shakur: That's why our people, especially young Black people believe in the spirit of Tupac. The Cointelpro's intent was and still is to keep Tupac's message disrupted.

AllHipHop: At this very moment both 2Pac and Biggies deaths are unsolved and remain a mystery. Why do you think the Feds and authorities never truly sought justice for these brothers?

Mutulu Shakur: If all your readers would examine most assassinations of leaders, you will find that their murders are still unsolved. In many cases they know who the alleged assassin is rather they capture him or not. They still chose to leave such murders unresolved. In the case of Biggie and Tupac, to solve their murders would be exposing their own tactics of divide & conquer within the Hip-Hop culture and on Black people in general. Their goal is to keep the present and next generation blinded and divided. Our youth need to be uniting.

AllHipHop: I agree. Many cats embrace "THUG-LIFE" as if it's universal ghetto Law. Since you’re one of few generals that Pac took orders from, could you give us your definition of "THUG-LIFE" and also tell us what you think it meant to Tupac?

Mutulu Shakur: The word "THUG-LIFE" came from the word Thuggie. The British colonized India and it was a group with in India who resisted the British and they were known as the "Thuggies". They had a similiar tactic like the Mau Mau's in Kenya. The British used the word Thugs to refer to any group of Outlaws defying oppression. Since Tupac was confronted by exploitation and oppression he accepted the principle and evolved his meaning of it amongst the same lines. We built the code THUG-LIFE to respond to street life here in America.

AllHipHop: According to Pac in an interview his acronym for THUG-LIFE was: The Hate U Gave - Little Infants F's Everybody. It's no secret that the Media betrayed Pac in a negative image. Pac was known to give back to the community. Can you touch on this?

Mutulu Shakur: Truth be told, Tupac was very generous. He gave to people from the heart not for recognition or kudos. He gave because he could empathize with their conditions. He's been there too and could relate to their suffering.

AllHipHop: So many artist adopted Pac's "Rider Theme" as if it were their own. You personally told me to study the Native American Warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. I also peeped more on the Panthers. I then realized where 2Pac got it from. I found that the term "Rider" came from the Indian Chiefs as well as the Black Panthers. I am correct?

Mutulu Shakur: Yes. You should also go back and study the history of the Seminoles.

AllHipHop: How do you feel about the gangsta side of Pac? Can you give us your take about his run-in with the 2 Atlanta cops? Was Pac gangsta by nature or gangsta because society made him that way?

Mutulu Shakur: Look, I taught my children to protect themselves at all times. It's not a matter of him being gangster. It's a matter of him defending himself and fighting back. This goes for any Black male who's been beat, or arrested while Riding Black. It's just a matter of what would be your individual response if faced with the same situation. Police murder our youth just for driving in there cars.

AllHipHop: Could you explain Pac's obsession with death? He embraced it & became one with it. Why?

Mutulu Shakur: He was blessed to see a full vision of his life at an early age. With the best of his ability he fought to deal with the inevitable. He fought & eventually came to terms with it and made the best of his mission here. You might call it obsession, but it was his destiny and he did it better than most. Part of his blessing was that he was given a gift to see the future & with every ounce of his will and talent he warmed his peers. So the good die young.

AllHipHop: Considering Pac studied the original Machiavelli who faked his own death has many of his fans believing he's coming back. On Pac's "Better Dayz" album he blatantly said: "Expect me nigga like you expect Jesus to comeback? Expect me nigga, I'm comin!" Many folks take this literally. What's your take?

Mutulu Shakur: Most young people probably understand Jesus better today than what they did when he was alive. Now the prophecies of Tupac is understood. The destruction on his character by the Media didn't work. Now he's resurrected even in death because of the legacy he left behind.

AllHipHop: Dr. Shakur, it's been real! Thank you for taking the time. Thank you for doing this interview and in the words of your son: "Keep Ya Head Up!"

[Note by the writer: Dr. Shakur needs all the help & support he can get. If ya'll feelin’ Dr. Shakur then you can get at the brother by his website of www.daretostruggle.com. The site has an address also so fly the brother a kite. Let's show a brother some love who fought for our rights! Ya can't love Pac the pupil and not love Mutulu the teacher!]

[Rastafari]

Mutulu Shakur sounds like a very well-educated and well-spoken man. I would like to hear what he has to say on other issues, not that 2pac isn't important, but this man sounds like he knows what he's saying.

[synthesis]

That's an interesting etymological interpretation of the word 'thug'. I can certainly respect the concept of thug-life better after receiving that knowledge.

...not.


thug

Thug, n. [Hind. thag a deceiver, robber.] One of an association of robbers and murderers in India who practiced murder by stealthy approaches, and from religious motives. They have been nearly exterminated by the British government.

It is the nature of racial politicians to distort the truth.

Thugs were never freedom fighters, they followed the same ideas as the 'hashashins' of the old Middle East.

The same with people like Tupac today.

[Rastafari]

I was wondering about his use of the word "thuggies."

they were followers of Kali who decimated the population of english colonists by choking them (with red scarves I think)

[Hampton]

Some of his writings can be found here, (http://www.mutulushakur.com/archives.html) I don't know if he does as many as Mumia, it's that or they're not readily available which is pretty stupid. As I learn more about political prisoners in this country I get more amazed at the level of intelligence that exists within these people who have been deemed breeders of hate and anger and domestic terrorists, whatever label you want to put on them that will demonize them to the general public who still has faith in the so-called justice system.

[/RANT]

Or you can write him here, which I think I might do in a few days:

Dr Mutulu Shakur
601 McDonoughBlvd. SE
Atlanta, Ga. 30315
# 83205-012

[Umoja]

Compared to the Maumaus (and what little knowledge I have on the subject), they do seem comprable. They may well have been freedom fighters who became "carried away".

[synthesis]

The Mau-maus could indeed be more credible than the Thugs. I have no idea.

The idea of defending Thugs of either culture, though, is reprehensible. Their glorification is simply unacceptable.

[Rastafari]

Didn't the Mau-Maus strongly advocate female circumcision?

I don't know about their legitimacy; Jomo Kenyatta wouldn't have distanced himself if they were much of freedom fighters I think

[Umoja]

The mau maus killed more Kenyans then Brits to my knowledge.

[synthesis]

I did a little research, and to make a long story short, the Mau Maus were not, shall we say, good people.

_____________

Mau Mau
Mau Mau exploited Kikuyu ritual traditions and bound their members – many of them unwillingly - to their cause with blood oath rituals. Those who refused were tortured and killed. Mau Mau oaths stated that a member should never inform on other member or sell land or otherwise assist the Europeans. They swore to drive out all white settlers and kill them when they were told to. Initiation ritual included sacrifice of a sheep, cutting off its heart and drinking its blood mixed with the blood of participants. Further degrees of membership required additional oaths and additional rituals. Afterwards they made three tiny scratches on the left wrist and called it “Ndemure Ithatu”.

Mau Mau begun with attacks against other Africans who refused to join them, even under intimidation, or who they suspected of being informers.

At the same time they formed armed guerilla force they called Land Freedom Army. They were armed with spears, “simi”s (native longswords), “kiboko”s (rhino hide whips) and “panga”s (version of machete made of soft iron). Panga was their favorite weapon. They also made their own guns and also stole or captured 460 guns. Many of the homemade guns exploded when fired.

Mau Mau hid in bamboo forests of the Aberdare and Mount Kenya. They had lookouts and hideouts for clothes, weapons and even an armoury. Still they were apparently short of equipment. They used pit traps to defend their hideouts in Mount Kenya forests.

Mau Mau soldiers originally dressed in khaki shorts and tunics with no badges to speak of. They let their beards grow to look fiercer. They wanted to portray themselves as ferocious warriors. Mau mau organized themselves with a cell structure but many armed bands also used British military ranks and organizations. They also had their own judges that could hand out fines and other penalties. Associating with non-Mau Mau was punishable by fine or worse.

Average Mau Mau band was about 100 strong. Different bands and their leaders had their differences. Leaders demanded total obedience from their members. Three of the most dominant leaders were Stanley Methengi; Waruhiu Itote (known as General China), leader of Mount Kenya Mau Mau; and Dedan Kimathi, leader of Mau Mau of Aberdari forest. Dedan Kimathi was a self-declared “Knight Commander of the African Hemisphere and Lord of the Southern Hemisphere”.

Reputedly the loyalty rituals at their worst begun to include ritual cannibalism, bestiality and necrophilia with goats and sexual orgies. Ritual places were decorated with intestines and goat's eyes. Oaths now included promise to kill, dismember and burn. In what extent these rituals happened is unclear.

Mau Mau attacked in darkness – often in dinnertime. They attacked mainly isolated farms but occasionally also households in suburbs of Nairobi.

Mau Mau used brutal tactics. They killed and mutilated people – including Kikuyu policemen - with their pangas. They mutilated livestock and burned down buildings. Victims were sometimes found devoured, disemboweled, dismembered, decapitated, strangled, buried alive or cut in half. They often cut off the hands and the head of the body so the victim could not be identified.

[Rastafari]

Reputedly the loyalty rituals at their worst begun to include ritual cannibalism, bestiality and necrophilia with goats and sexual orgies. Ritual places were decorated with intestines and goat's eyes. Oaths now included promise to kill, dismember and burn. In what extent these rituals happened is unclear.

Mau Mau attacked in darkness – often in dinnertime. They attacked mainly isolated farms but occasionally also households in suburbs of Nairobi.

Mau Mau used brutal tactics. They killed and mutilated people – including Kikuyu policemen - with their pangas. They mutilated livestock and burned down buildings. Victims were sometimes found devoured, disemboweled, dismembered, decapitated, strangled, buried alive or cut in half. They often cut off the hands and the head of the body so the victim could not be identified.


I didn't know that they went to these extents, but I knew they were the wrong crowd.

Jomo Kenyatta, though, was an African Hero. Probably more so than HIM and Mugabe (who probably isn't anything more than an idiot). Maybe not quite on the level of Shaka, but close.

[synthesis]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2003, 01:50 AM
Compared to the Maumaus (and what little knowledge I have on the subject), they do seem comprable. They may well have been freedom fighters who became "carried away".
I just now realized that I took this statement to be the exact opposite of what you meant. LOL, sorry, Umoja ;)

[Armand Iskra]

Tupac is good, but the ones who emulate him seemed resulted into two:
the ones who act for protecting people and those who simply act like bandits who are showing much bravado into it. The former perhaps is what like the Black Panthers and partisans do, of protecting the inhabitants in their communities while the latter is the most usual scene what the gangsta culture is all about, of being contented as a lumpenproletarian.

Perhaps 2pac is now discussing with Che and Mao as of now.

[RedAnarchist]

I'm going to PM you, AI, asking you not to necro threads.