RIP Afeni Shakur: The Game Pays Tribute to Tupac’s Mother

Afeni Shakur, the mother of hip hop legend Tupac Shakur, died at the age of 69 on May 2. With Kanye West’s mother-loving track “Hey Mamma”, Tupac proclaimed his love for his own mother by dedicating ‘Dear Mama’ to her in 1995. The song became a favourite amongst his fans and even won him critical acclaim. The Game pays tribute to Afeni Shakur with new song “Mama”. See more below.

Afeni Shakur Davis died at age 69, the Marin County, California, sheriff’s office said Tuesday. She was a Black Panther as a young adult and an activist and philanthropist in her later years. Deputies responded to a family member’s call reporting “a possible cardiac arrest” at Shakur Davis’ Sausalito home about 9:34 p.m. Monday, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said. Shakur Davis was taken to Marin General Hospital, where she died at 10:28 p.m., the office said. There was nothing suspicious about her death and there’s no evidence of foul play, Lt. Doug Pittman said Tuesday. An autopsy was scheduled for later in the day.  “Sheriff’s Coroners Office will lead investigation to determine exact cause & manner of Afeni Shakur’s death,” the office said in a tweet.

“Mama” is the Game’s second recent tribute song following Prince’s death last month, he released “Rest in Purple” in honor of the late legend. The Game shared the new song, “Mama,” featuring Sonyae. Where he dedicates the track to his mother, as well as 2Pac’s mother Afeni Shakur, who died at age 69 on May 2. He writes on Instagram that he listened to 2Pac’s “Dear Mama” (which “Mama” samples) “after hearing the news about Afeni’s passing & reading about her struggles & triumphs on the Internet,” and he decided to “be the voice for us all & create his own son honoring not only his & the late 2pac’s mother, but all the mothers across the world.” He also wishes all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day week. Heres the tribute song below.

“Miss Shakur has had an extensive background not only in the community but her involvement with so many things,” he said. “She’s been a leader, a person people followed. All that said about who she’s been and where’s she’s at now, this is a tragic loss for this community.” The Shakur family, in a statement, said she “embodied strength, resilience, wisdom and love. She was a pioneer for social change and was committed to building a more peaceful world.”