Resident: Why does he mention 2Pac in his song and what is his relationship with Tupac Amaru?

Residente released this Thursday, March 17, “This is Not America”, his first single after almost a year and a half of absence in music. Peruvian fans were not only surprised by the background of the song, but also by the reference that the former member of Calle 3 made to José Gabriel Condorcanqui, better known in the history of Peru as Tupac Amaru II.

“We are on the menu. 2Pac is called 2Pac, after Tupac Amaru of Peru. America isn't just America, Dad. This is from Tierra del Fuego to Canada,” says part of the song, the same one that has become a trend on social networks, after the shot that Bizarrap did together with Bizarrap for harshly criticize J Balvin, with whom he has a story of enmity.

You've probably heard the song before and you're wondering what is the relationship between 2Pac and the indigenous leader who spearheaded the greatest revolution in the Americas of the 18th century. It happens that 2Pac is just the stage name of Tupac Amaru Shakur, considered by many to be one of the most important rappers of all time.

WHY IS TUPAC SHAKUR CALLED THAT?

Many are unaware that the late American artist was born under the name Lesane Parish Crooks on June 16, 1971. However, his mother Afeni Shakur decided to change his name when he was only one year old. This is how he named Tupac Shakur Amaru in honor of the Inca warrior, who later ended up being abbreviated to 2Pac.

At that time, women were part of the “Black Panthers”, a social and cultural movement whose main focus was to combat the racism suffered by the black community in the United States.

She was also renamed because her birth name had been Alice Faye Williams. But why did you rename your son the Peruvian rebel who led an indigenous revolution in colonial times?

“I wanted him to have the name of revolutionary of the world's indigenous peoples. I wanted him to know that it was part of world culture and not just a neighborhood,” he said at the time.

Let us remember that the name Tupac Amaru comes from the Quechua name Tupaq Amaru, which means “shining snake”. This was also how Jose Gabriel Condorcanqui was renamed, who adopted this name in honor of his ancestor Tupac Amaru I.

“THIS IS NOT AMERICA” AND ANOTHER REFERENCE TO TUPAC AMARU

In the official video clip of the song you can see an indigenous man carrying his arms and legs by four policemen during a protest. This is a recreation of the attempted execution of Tupac Amaru II, who was captured after the defeat at the Battle of Checacupe.

It is important to emphasize that Tupac Amaru II failed to be dismembered despite the strength of four horses, to which he was tied hand and foot. In fact, he died with his throat cut on May 18, 1781 and was later quartered. The Spanish Corregidors sent parts of his body to all the peoples who had rebelled as a warning sign.

“As I said in the song, even 2Pac, whom I admire a lot, his name comes from Tupac Amaru from Peru. It's a little weird that in the end we feel like we're not part of it and we shouldn't. As I say in the song, we use the Mayan calendar to count the days. There are many Latinos here [in the United States],” Residente explained about this reference in an interview with Amazon Music broadcast on Twitch.

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