“To me, Pac was always a consistent man,” says veteran VIBE journalist Kevin Powell. “He was always someone who kept it 100 all the time, always spoke his mind.”
Powell, an activist and alum of the first season of The Real World, struck up a friendship with Tupac Shakur in the early ’90s. He would go on to pen several VIBE stories on the “Dear Mama” rapper, including the 1994 cover Is Tupac Crazy? that depicted the rap legend in a straight jacket. Later, Powell would be the first writer to talk to Pac from Rikers Island prison after he was shot five times. Hard to believe that was almost 20 years ago.
This year VIBE celebrates its 20 year milestone by looking back at 10 timeless stories from issues past. We kick off our 10 from 20 series with a three-part sit-down with Powell, who takes us back to the days of 2Pac. Check out a preview of what’s to come above.