Unpublished handwritten poem on an off-white 8 x 10.5 sheet of notebook paper, signed at the bottom in red ballpoint, “Tupac A. Shakur,” who adds a dedication and date to the upper right, “(exclusively 4 Simi by 2Pac) 8/17/95.”
The poem is entitled “What I Believe,” and was written and Illustrated by Tupac Shakur / 2Pac while he was incarcerated in New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility.
In full:
Is it wrong of me to
Approach you this way
And unload my passionate wishes
Are you surprised? Flattered? Afraid? Offended?
Or maybe a little suspicious
I believe in wishes, sensuous kisses
And attraction at first sight
I believe in hugs, falling in love
And making love on rainy nights
I have no fear of rejection upon reflection
Some things aren’t meant to be
What I couldn’t imagine is us not having the opportunity to see
Many men will bring you promises
Some of them will lie
A few of them will make you laugh
Most of them will make you cry
From your first love to your final love
There’s a true love in between
The love that becomes a part of you
Injected into your bloodstream
I am not a psychic or a prophet
And I don’t have a crystal ball
But I believe I am this love for you
The greatest of them all
In fine condition, with three horizontal mailing folds.
Significance and Rarity
This poem, penned on August 17, 1995, is a poignant and intimate glimpse into Tupac Shakur’s inner world during a turbulent period in his life. At the time of writing, Shakur was 24 years old and was serving a prison sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility in New York. This poem was composed less than two months before his release on October 12, 1995, marking a reflective and hopeful period in his life as he anticipated freedom.
The date of this poem is especially significant when considering Shakur’s untimely death on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25. This places the creation of “What [Eye] Believe” almost exactly one year before his tragic demise. This temporal proximity adds a layer of poignancy to the poem, as it captures Shakur’s thoughts and feelings during his final year of life.
Tupac Shakur is widely recognized as one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in hip-hop history. His lyrics often dealt with themes of social justice, struggle, love, and personal reflection. This unpublished poem reveals a side of Shakur that is seldom seen, highlighting his romantic and introspective nature.
Handwritten items by Tupac are exceedingly rare, particularly those created during his incarceration. The strong provenance of this piece, coupled with its heartfelt content, makes it an exceptional artifact of Shakur’s legacy. The poem’s condition, with three horizontal mailing folds, suggests it was handled and cherished, adding to its historical value.
Given the scarcity of authentic Tupac handwriting exemplars and the unique circumstances under which this poem was written, this piece stands as a remarkable testament to the enduring impact of Tupac Shakur’s words and artistic vision. Our third-party authenticators, while unable to render a definitive opinion due to the rarity of similar items, fully support the authenticity and significance of this extraordinary poem based on our extensive experience with Tupac memorabilia. I
