Before Celebrating Tupac's 40th Birthday in Atlanta Tonight, Erykah Badu Talks Inspiration

Today would have been iconic rap artist Tupac Shakur's 40th birthday. He was just 25 years old when he was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September of 1996. To celebrate the rapper -- a fixture of the early '90s and one of the most talented emcees to ever...

By Pete Freedman

June 16, 2011

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Today would have been iconic rap artist Tupac Shakur's 40th birthday. He was just 25 years old when he was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September of 1996.

To celebrate the rapper -- a fixture of the early '90s and one of the most talented emcees to ever live -- a group of artists will gather tonight in Atlanta to pay homage to his contributions to the genre.

The concert's been in the plans for months now, but recent news makes its occurrence all the more interesting. Yesterday, AllHipHop.com posted an exclusive interview with convicted and incarcerated felon Dexter Isaac, in which Isaac admitted to having a role in the 1994 robbery and shooting of Shakur.

There's been no official word on how this news will change tonight's event. Our guess is that it'll just make it all the more emotional a gathering. Among those paying tribute at tonight's benefit show: Dallas' Own Erykah Badu, who posted a video about her performance inspirations online yesterday. Check it out after the jump. The sentiments offered -- that when she performs, for "that moment when we become one thing, the whole thing worth it" -- are ones with which we imagine Shakur, in his more lucid moments, would've agreed.

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