To Be "Frank"...

A friend of mine passed to me a small magazine called Frank. Very small, about the size of a Palm Dictionary. Maybe a little bigger. The magazine is geared toward alternative cultures. Some Hip-hop, some rock, some skateboard kid in between. I was reading an article and it spoke of a white art student who decided to transform himself into Tupac... Well at least as much as he could. The artist painted religious like paintings of Tupac and other rappers. One painting was of Tupac being crucified. Interesting artwork, but I myself being a fan of Tupac, was somewhat offended. However, I'm beginning to realize that the white American culture is still clueless of Black America. Yes I'm a fan of Pac, Big, Liyah, Jam Master Jay, Big Pun, LeftEye and a dozen other rappers/singers, but I would never put any of them on the same level as Jesus or figures in the bible. Pac was a brilliant Black poet, but he had faults, just like any other man. Yeah I miss him, but I was always told that the sin you live in, is the sin you die in. And pretty soon Pac and Big was gonna die anyway. You can't keep playing with life. Both of them walked a thin line between reality and fantasy. I guess the real-life they wanted, finally caught up to both of them. The mind and words are powerful things. I wish people would be realistic and admit that Pac was an artist and so was Big... They weren't saints, they weren't martyrs, they weren't civil rights leaders, they were great artists with mounds of talent. And eventhough we are going to miss them something terrible, they still were men and they still will be judged, just like any other man.....Stop the obsession please. Be a fan, buy they music, help contribute to their remaining family, and be done....Let them rest in peace...