Nairaland Forum

After Tupac Shakur’s untimely death ten years ago today, his family fought for the control of his unreleased work and presented it to the world – in the process, selling millions of records, creating a successful clothing line, and producing an Oscar-nominated film. While Afeni Shakur was the engine that powered the franchise and is still going strong to this day, another Shakur, Tupac’s sister is another cog in the machine.

Known as just “Set” to family and friends, ‘Pac’s younger sister Sekyiwa – born two years after Pac to Afeni and Dr. Mutulu Shakur – knew Tupac and his idiosyncrasies long before his ascend to the top, and as his sibling, can offer a sobering perspective. Attending high school in New York, she watched from afar as ‘Pac took used Hip-Hop as a platform to address social ills and give an unapologetic, eye-opening look into the lives of young Black men in America.

Herself still battling issues that arise from being a descendant of a revolutionary Black woman in America, Set Shakur is coming into her own with a motivational book and a clothing line in the works. For the tenth anniversary of her beloved brother’s death, however, she took AllHipHop on a journey through her childhood growing up with ‘Pac to the present, offering up some interesting words along the way.

AllHipHop.com: For starters, please tell us about your clothing line.

Sekyiwa Shakur: Right now it’s called Madamevelli; it’s a high fashion line coming out next fall.

AllHipHop.com: Is this an outgrowth of Makaveli Branded?

Sekyiwa Shakur: Not at all. I’m considering changing the name, because people always compare it. I went to a Magic Show to support Makaveli Branded and to be with my family. I cut up five different outfits and made outfits out of them, and I was in the booth, and while I was in there, a buyer came in and saw what I had on and said, ‘That’s what I want on my racks.’ And that’s what gave me inspiration to do the clothing line. It started with Makaveli Branded, but then I wanted creative control. I am considering changing it.

AllHipHop.com: Why not something like ‘Set Shakur’?

Sekyiwa Shakur: I kind of like my privacy. Because [as seen with] my brother, his real name was his stage name, he couldn’t escape into a private world. I didn’t want my identity out there.

AllHipHop.com: Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?

Sekyiwa Shakur: For about three years, I’ve been working on it.

AllHipHop.com: I read your column over at AOL Black Voices Web site, where you describe how beauty and fashion helps you deal with bipolar disorder and depression. Can you explain?

Sekyiwa Shakur: Okay, I’m so proud of that story. Since it’s AllHipHop, I’m going to give it my all.

Please read more here: http://allhiphop.com/2006/09/13/sekyiwa-shakur-revolutionary-kinship/


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