Cheryl "Salt" James Shares Tupac Shakur Poem He Wrote Her While In Prison

BY Erika Marie 18.9K Views
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The unreleased poem showed a hurting, yet hopeful, Tupac.

We've seen many Tupac Shakur relics auctioned off to the highest bidder, but his friend Cheryl "Salt" James is holding a 25-year-old poem close to her heart. The Salt-n-Pepa rapper was once close friends with Tupac, and she's shared stories of her time with the late rapper with Rock The Bells. Salt revealed that while Tupac was incarcerated, she corresponded with him regularly. One of Pac's letters was a poem titled "4 What It'z Worth" and shows a despondent, yet hopeful young man.

“He felt like the whole world was turning against him and he was unjustly in prison," Salt said. She remained one of the few people who Tupac trusted and communicated with while behind bars. Salt added that she made it her mission to help him. "I told him that he could turn away from negativity and turn away from sin. He could have this new relationship directly with God.” Tupac was only 25-yers-old when he was shot and killed in Las Vegas one year after he penned this poem.

"[Eye] am not much 4 pretty wordz and such
Cuz these days my pain is deep
But there is alwayz pleasure 2 be found
In timez of struggle and grief
If a tree can grow through New York concrete
The a thugg can change his heart
If I can survive 5 deadly shotz
We can discover light within the dark
I'm sure u have has timez of misery
All of us experience hurt
But only the strong in spirit survive this wicked world
4 all it'z worth

The rapper ended his poem with a complimentary close that reads, "Until the End of Time, One Love."

[via]


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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