Alexander Mazen is a student at Montclair State University in New Jersey who is working toward a degree in history. An avid writer, Alexander Mazen focuses on poetic forms and takes inspiration from the style and creativity of the late West Coast rapper Tupac Shakur.
With music seen as intertwined with violence and a “Thug Life” ethos, Shakur transcended these roots with lyrics that in retrospect stand out as socially conscious and aware of challenges in his community.
Shakur's early song, "Trapped," resonated with how those who live in impoverished neighborhoods feel oppressed. In ”Keep Your Head Up,” Shakur offered a message of hope, despite the tragic limitations of life in a society where violence is endemic. In ”Dear Mama” he expanded this message to include mothers who struggle to instill values in their sons, despite a reality where life is constantly devalued.
Finally, in ”Ghetto Gospel” Tupac Shakur paints the picture of a shared reality that transcends ethnicity and divisiveness. This includes the foundational lyric “It ain't about black or white, ‘cause we human/I hope we see the light before it's ruined.”
