Kendrick Lamar Pays Tribute to Tupac Shakur on Anniversary of his Death

Kendrick Lamar has written a heartfelt tribute to rapper Tupac Shakur on the anniversary of his death. In his short note, posted on Shakur's website, the rapper from Compton talked about how much he was inspired by Tupac.

The letter read:

"I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn't describe how I felt at that moment. So many emotions. Full of excitement. Full of joy and eagerness. 20 yrs later I understand exactly what that feeling was.

INSPIRED.

The people that you touched on that small intersection changed lives forever. I told myself I wanted to be a voice for man one day. Whoever knew I was speaking out loud for u to listen.

Thank you.

K.L."

Shakur had a huge influence on Lamar's music. Complex Music reported that Lamar originally wanted to name his latest album "Tu Pimp a Caterpillar" so that it would spell out "TUPAC." His album is titled "To Pimp a Butterfly."

In the album's closer, "Mortal Man," there is also a fictional conversation between Shakur and Lamar.

Back in 2011, Lamar revealed that Shakur came to him once in his dreams.

"I was sleeping one night and [Tupac] said, 'Keep doing what you doing, don't let my music die...' The sh** scared the sh** out of me!" Lamar said. "I'm doing it for the people around me, my city of course and a bigger power, and that's to continue the message that he tried to carry."

The post was uploaded this past Sunday, which was the 19th anniversary. In 1996, Shakur died in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. His murderer was never identified.