interview III

Tom Snyder leaned back in his chair, smiling as he prepared his next question. "So, Tupac, I've got to say, you seem incredibly young to be making music with this much impact. If you don't mind me asking, what's your age?"

I leaned forward, speaking confidently into the mic. "Eighteen. Born in 1971."

The reaction was immediate. The audience gasped, and murmurs rippled through the room. Some exchanged glances, as if they couldn't believe someone so young had already achieved this much. A man in the second row whispered to the person next to him, "Eighteen? I thought he was at least in his twenties!"

Tom raised his eyebrows in surprise, chuckling as he addressed the audience. "Eighteen years old, ladies and gentlemen! And already making waves across the country. That's incredible, Tupac."

"Appreciate that," I said with a nod.

Tom leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "And you were born in California, right?"

I shook my head. "Nope, I was born in New York City, Staten Island. I lived there for the first thirteen years of my life. Then we moved to Compton in L.A. It's been about five years since I've been on the West Coast."

The audience let out another collective murmur, processing this piece of my story.

Tom grinned. "So, you've got roots on both coasts."

"Exactly," I said, leaning back. "I've been shaped by both places. New York City gave me my foundation. The hustle, the grind—it's in my blood because of where I grew up. But Compton, man, that's where I found my voice. So, you could say I've got a mix of that East Coast grit and West Coast swag."

The audience erupted into cheers and applause, clearly impressed by my journey.

Tom glanced at his notes, clearly intrigued. "Let's take it back a little. When did you actually start rapping?"

I smiled, remembering the moment like it was yesterday. "I started when I was just a four-year-old kid. My dad was the one who introduced me to rap. He used to play all these records and freestyle around the house. I'd sit there, watching him, and eventually, I started joining in. By the time I was six, I was already writing little rhymes."

The audience chuckled softly, amused by the image of a young me rapping as a kid.

Tom nodded, impressed. "So, it's safe to say rap has been a part of your life for as long as you can remember."

"Definitely," I said. "It's not just music to me—it's a way of life. It's how I express myself, how I process the world around me."

Tom tilted his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I've also heard that you have a passion for acting. Is that true?"

"Yeah, that's true," I said with a smile. "Honestly, my dream wasn't just to be a rapper. I've always wanted to act, too. I love storytelling, whether it's through music or on the big screen."

Tom's face lit up. "So, are you planning to pursue acting in the near future?"

I shrugged, a hint of regret in my voice. "Right now, I'm so busy with music that I haven't had time to focus on movie projects. But one day, I'm gonna make that dream happen. Trust me."

The audience applauded, clearly excited at the prospect of seeing me on the big screen someday.

Tom leaned forward, his tone curious. "Let's talk about the release of 'Dancing with the Devil.' How did you manage to drop this song without being signed to any major label?"

I grinned, ready to share the story. "So, here's the thing—if you don't already know, I've started my own label. It's called Death Row Records. This song is actually the first release from my label."

The audience erupted into applause, clearly impressed by my entrepreneurial spirit.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "Death Row Records. That's a bold name. How did you manage to record the song without major backing?"

"Man, shoutout to my homeboy Ice-T," I said, smiling. "He believed in what I was doing and booked a studio for me for months—for free. That's how I got the time I needed to perfect the track. I released it as an independent artist, without any big-label support."

Tom looked genuinely impressed. "That's incredible, Tupac. To build something like this from the ground up at such a young age—it's no small feat."

"Appreciate that," I said. "But I'm just getting started."

Tom smiled, sensing it was time to wrap up the interview. "Alright, Tupac, as we near the end of this conversation, I want to give you the floor. Is there anything you'd like to say to the audience watching at home?"

I leaned forward, my tone serious. "Yeah, I've got something to say."

The audience grew silent, leaning in as I spoke.

"To every nigga watching this interview, let me promise you this—I'm gonna make this thing called hip-hop the biggest music in the world. Bigger than rock and roll, bigger than anything you've ever seen. And you're witnessing history right now. I'm 18 years old, and I'm just getting started. By the time I'm done, every person on this planet will have heard my music. When I die, they're gonna remember me as one of the greatest to ever do it—the king of hip-hop."

The audience broke into thunderous applause, some people standing to show their support.

"And to all the people out there who think you can't make it in this game without selling drugs or doing dirt, let me tell you something—I made 3 million dollars in one week. No drugs, no crime, just music. So don't let anyone tell you that you can't make it legit. Be a rapper, not a drug dealer."

The audience erupted again, cheering and clapping as I finished speaking.

Tom leaned back in his chair, clearly impressed. "Tupac, I have to say, you've got an incredible vision and an undeniable passion. I think everyone here can agree that you're on your way to something truly special."

The crowd roared in agreement, their cheers echoing through the studio.

To be continued...