Angie Thomas Quotes

You know, Tupac is very near and dear to my heart. He started my career as an actor.

As I got older, I really got into Tupac's poetry, his books and just learning about his life and what he was into.

So when I'm listening to music, I'm listening to a lot of hip-hop to be inspired and to hear new things.

I think I'm influenced a lot by Drake in specific ways in my writing.

You know, 'Paid in Full' is a classic album, man. It kind of got me to where I am now, so I can never get tired of 'Paid in Full.'

I had nothing but respect for Pac.

My biggest influence is Tupac. He was a poet, and listening to Tupac is what inspired me to start rapping.

There's just so many great artists out there, but I think growing up, J. Cole has been the guy that I've always been listening to, even in college. Going from that struggle to stardom, that rise to stardom, 'Dolla and a Dream,' all that stuff - I've listened to all his classics, all the old J. Cole stuff.

There was this rapper from New Orleans, Mystikal, who when I hear his music, I hear myself. Whenever I wanna get hyped, I put on Mystikal.

Tupac, Biggie, Jay. Your usual suspects. These were the people that was played in my household.

There's a great documentary on Tupac called 'Resurrection' about the last few years of Tupac's life and how he transformed. And, ironically, how this East Coast rapper became this West Coast icon, back when all that Death Row/Sean Combs stuff was going on.

I was raised listening to, like, Jay and Big and Pac, Cassidy, Ludacris, even some of Drake's stuff.

Tupac is huge; he's an inspiration. Arguably, he's probably the biggest, most analyzed and loved artist of all time.

Tupac is my favorite artist, and he had mad style.

Tupac was real and honest about every question I asked.

Everybody has the Tupac that they admire. Certain people love the hip-hop person, the rapper. Strictly just the rapper. A lot of people, the newfound Tupac fans... they're into Death Row-era Tupac. But that was only nine months!

With 2Pac you can't go wrong.

There are a lot of dope people in the DMV: WillThaRapper, Big Flock, GoldLink, Logic, IDK, Rico Nasty, Goonew and Q Da Fool. Seeing them get national attention motivated me to do my thing.

For me, I put Mac Dre right up there with Biggie and 'Pac as legends who have since passed on.

When Tupac came out, my writing changed for sure. I learned from it. It was a cultural thing.

You've got a lot of Tupac clones, but I don't think I'm one of them. I just think I give people a little piece of the feeling he gave them.

Tupac is definitely a legend.

Nas was a huge influence. That's probably my favorite rapper of all time.

The West ain't been the same without 'Pac.

I know how important '36 Chambers' is, and it inspired me to record 'Lifted.'