Tupacs Brother, Mopreme Shakur, says Tupacs family should have his things NOT DRAKE — exclusive interview

Summary

The Breakfast Club — “Tupac’s Brother, Mopreme Shakur, says Tupac’s family should have his things NOT DRAKE” (August 30, 2025)

Host: Lauren LaRosa (The Latest With Lauren LaRosa)
Guest: Mopreme Shakur (Tupac’s Brother)
Notable Mention: Suge Knight

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Episode Overview

This episode takes on one of hip hop’s hottest controversies: Drake’s acquisition and flaunting of a “Death Row” chain supposedly belonging to Tupac Shakur. Lauren LaRosa sits down for an exclusive, candid interview with Mopreme Shakur, Tupac’s elder brother, asking how the family feels about Drake buying iconic Pac memorabilia, the authenticity of the chain, and why these items should remain with Tupac’s kin. Suge Knight’s own public doubts about the chain’s history also come into play. The conversation extends into the deeper question of who should own—and represent—hip hop’s culture and legacy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Drake and the Tupac Death Row Chain Controversy

• [02:15] Lauren introduces the headline: Rap superstar Drake posted photos of an iced-out “Death Row” chain engraved with “All Eyes On You 1996.” The post caused major stir among hip hop fans and Tupac loyalists.
• [02:50] Context: Drake previously bought Tupac’s ring at an auction in 2023 for over $1 million, further staking his claim as a collector of iconic rap memorabilia.

2. Suge Knight’s Take: Is the Chain Authentic?

• [03:43] Suge Knight: “I'm quite sure it's not true… Only person I got death rotates. And I'm the only one handing them out… Pac came home and got that chain. Not after Christmas, not after New Year's. He already had it in a thousand percent… But the charm on the back, wasn't that. Drake bought that chain? Drake should go back and keep their drawers up their ass. But I don’t go hard about it, because it ain’t Drake fault. And I believe Drake really admired Tupac.”
  • [04:35] Suge stresses the unique way Death Row chains were handled and questions the legitimacy of the one Drake posted.

3. Mopreme Shakur Responds: Family Over Fame

• [07:03] Mopreme Shakur: “Pac is my brother. So, yeah, you know, these are, you know, on Mentos of his life… For us, it's a bit much. Especially… my man [Drake] need to think more about his moves… I thought that was a bad move. It didn’t aisle my brother. And then you would pose the question, if England has the best rappers, why are you doing this? …My personal opinion, the family should have all the Pac’s things, personally... But things don't always work out that way.”
  • Mopreme voices unease at Drake collecting these intimate family heirlooms, especially when their authenticity is in doubt.
  • He also questions Drake's motivations, referencing Drake’s recent comments on UK rap and his beef with Kendrick Lamar.

4. Chain Authenticity & Death Row Culture

• [09:01] Mopreme confirms that, yes, Tupac had a Death Row chain, but many had them within the label—specific identifiers matter for authenticity.
• [09:35] Lauren brings up Suge Knight’s claim that the real Pac chain had no writing on the back and unique diamond setting—unlike Drake’s.
• [09:42] Mopreme Shakur: “See, I didn’t even know that… So Drake, that's the point that he has to deal with himself considering the purchase he made from someone for something.”

5. Ownership and Cultural Legacy

• Mopreme repeatedly states his belief that the family should possess all memorabilia, not outsiders or even fandom-driven collectors. He acknowledges that legal and commercial realities often differ.
• Lauren lays out the emotional aspect: for fans it's memorabilia, but for the family, it’s deeply personal—parts of “a person that they once loved.”

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Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

On the chain’s meaning and authenticity:

• [03:47] Suge Knight:

  "Only person I got death rotates. And I'm the only one handing them out… Pac came home and got that chain."

• [04:48] Suge Knight:

  "Drake should go back and keep their drawers up their ass. But I don’t go hard about it, because it ain’t Drake fault. And I believe Drake really admired Tupac."

On familial feeling and cultural responsibility:

• [07:03] Mopreme Shakur:

  "For us, it's a bit much...my man need to think more about his moves… my personal opinion, the family should have all the Pac’s things personally… but things don’t always work out that way."

On Drake’s motivations and hip hop authenticity:

• [07:32] Mopreme Shakur:

  “I just saw interview with him in London talking about London got the best rappers. London rappers is better than American rappers. So, you know, why are you so seeking after the king of rap’s, you know, jewels… I thought that was a bad move…"

On chain authenticity:

• [09:01] Mopreme Shakur:

  "We were together while he had a Death Row chain on. So as far as which one Drake got or what Drake got, I mean, a lot of cats at Death Row had them chains, you know...unless you have certain identifiers."

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Additional Context & Closing Thoughts

6. Commemoration and Family Update

• [09:58] Mopreme Shakur takes a moment to highlight Katrina anniversary events in New Orleans, mentioning his sister’s play, “Swimming Upstream,” at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.
• Shows his connection to both hip hop and broader Black cultural history.

7. Lauren’s Summation & Challenge to Listeners [10:36–11:56]

• Lauren wonders if internet critique of Drake is really about authenticity or simply “groupthink” inflamed by his beef with Kendrick Lamar.
• Asks listeners: Would folks care as much about Drake buying Pac memorabilia if not for “Not Like Us”?

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Topic: [02:15]
• Suge Knight Clip: [03:38–05:28]
• Mopreme Shakur Interview Start: [05:59]
• Mopreme on Ownership & Authenticity: [07:03–09:51]
• Family Update/Katrina Event: [09:58]
• Host Wrap-Up & Listener Challenge: [10:36–11:56]

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Final Takeaway

This episode sharply confronts hip hop’s ongoing tension between legacy, family, and fandom. Mopreme Shakur urges the community to respect the wishes and feelings of Tupac’s loved ones over collectors and celebrities. Authenticity—in both objects and cultural allegiance—remains the hot-button question. And as Lauren sums up, the debate about Drake reveals even larger issues about who gets to tell hip hop’s story, preserve its artifacts, and claim its crown.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey y', all, it's Lauren LaRosa. And this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news and all of the conversations that shake the room. Baby. Now we got a conversation today that I think is going shake up some things. So excited to get right to it. I was graced with the opportunity to speak to Mopreme Shakur, who is the brother of Tupac Shakur. There's Been several headlines recently following Drake posting a chain online. So the chain that he posted, he posted a swipe through. It showed the front of the chain. It showed the back of the chain. The front of the chain read, death Row dazzled in diamonds. In the back of the chain read, all eyes on you, 1996. It was engraved on the back of the chain. Now, a lot of people were freaking out about this because we know that Drake is. Is a Tupac fan. We also know that Drake is a type of fan of hip hop. And the artist that he looks up to, loves, likes all the things, and will go and buy memorabilia. He's done it before. He's gotten people tatted. We know the stories. Back in 2023, he actually purchased, spent, you know, over a million dollars to buy a ring that was formerly owned by Pac from an auction. Now, Suge Knight, who would have been the one issuing the Death Row chain, spoke to Art of Dialogue, and he's alleging that this chain that Drake has is not a real ch. Was never Tupacs. It was never even given to anybody by Death Row. Let's take a listen.

[Suge Knight]

Shake, I gotta ask you, since you was the one passing out the Death.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Row chains back then, how you feel.

[Suge Knight]

About Drake buying Park Death roll chain? Well, I'm quite sure it's not true, but the only person acts, you know, when I came up with the idea to make the Death Row chains, one had never been done before. Two, it was like wearing a. You know, it was like having your flag, your rag. You can't tuck it. It means something. So only person I got death rotates. And I'm the only one handing them out. The dog pound didn't even have Death row chains. I made them, dog. Paul. Paul again. When Pac came home, I went to go visit Pac, and when I got Pac out, he came home. And who was going somewhere at the time, he said, oh, I kill all your niggas. They all got those Death row chains. I'm like, I'm gonna make you one. He was like, you my big bro. Let me wear yours. That's more important. I don't wanna. First of all, I want the one. I want to wear the one you got. So my Death Row chains at times was full of diamonds on the. On the chain. Full of diamonds on the bezel. Park came home and got that chain. Not after Christmas, not after New Year's. He already had it in a thousand percent. I heard a few people say that it was something wrote on there. One should run on that chain or the charm, definitely not the chain. But the charm on the back. Wasn't that Drake bought that chain? Drake should go back and keep their drawers up their ass. But I don't go hard about it, because it ain't Drake fault. And I believe Drake really admired Tupac.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And like Tupac now, Marpreme Shakur has some, you know, thoughts. You know, there's been conversation a bit about Drake and, you know, how we feel about him culturally. Like, is he a part of the culture? Is he an admirer of the culture who's been able to turn on and off this light of, you know, hey, I'm here. I'm rapper. I'm Drake. I'm, you know, I'm all things the Six. Or do we feel like when the light turns off, he's just a person that's soaking in what he's seeing and repeating it? Let's take a listen. More premium. Shakur has some thoughts. Let's take a listen to what he had to say.

[Mopreme Shakur]

Hello.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, how you doing?

[Mopreme Shakur]

I'm blessed. Trying to be less stressed.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Exactly. And we all. And we all. That's good to hear. So nice to meet you, first of all, and thanks for hopping on the phone with me. I appreciate it.

[Mopreme Shakur]

Absolutely. You as well.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Originally, I reached out just because people were fanning out over the fact that Drake had posted the Death row chain with the all eyes on you, 1996 on the back. So it been picked up that, you know, it was Tupac's chain, and people were really, really excited and all the things and just wanted your reaction. And then since I've reached out, Shook Knight has come out and said Tupac never had that chain, and that's not his chain at all. So, I mean, I don't know, you know, what. What you comment on, what you don't, but, you know, you're the kind of one of the closest things we have, you know, to him. So I just wanted to hear your thoughts on just the purchasing of the chain. If. If it is his, anything you may know about it. A lot of people feel like they want stuff like that, memorabilia like that to be left alone and not be purchased. So just any thoughts you had, we were wondering if you want to share with the show.

[Mopreme Shakur]

Absolutely. I mean, yeah, Pac is my brother. So, yeah, you know, these are, you know, on Mentos of his life, you know, I mean, maybe he's. Maybe do want to be a collector or something now all around, but for us, it's like, it's a bit much. It's a bit Much. Especially, yeah, man, my man need to think more about his, his moves. Because they poll would make people pose other questions. Because I just saw interview with him in London talking about London got the best rappers. London rappers is better than American rappers. So, you know, why are you so seeking after the king of raps? You know, jewels, literal jewels. You know, gets in this thing with, with Kendrick. I mean, Kendrick got a Pulitzer. So I, you know, I thought that was a bad move. It didn't aisle my brother. And then you would pose the question, if England has the best rappers, why are you doing this? So I don't know. I don't know. I'm just an observer. My name Bennett. I ain't in it, but, you know, you know, I think the family should have all the pops things personally, you know, but, you know, it don't. Things don't always work out that way. But my personal opinion, that's what I feel.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You know, I got you. Did you know Tupac to have a Death Row chain? Because now there's that whole conversation if like the chain was even his at all.

[Mopreme Shakur]

Yeah, I mean, yes, I, I, we were together while he had a death row chain on. So as far as which one Drake got or what Drake got, I mean, a lot of cast at Death row had them chains, you know, unless, you know, unless you have certain identifiers.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. Cause Suge Knight was saying that basically the one that Tupac had was Suge Knight, and there wasn't anything written on the back of it. And it was very. The diamonds were encrusted a certain way and things like that, which is not the same one that was posted.

[Mopreme Shakur]

See, I didn't even know that. See, you know what I'm saying? So Drake, that's the point that he has to deal with himself considering the purchase he made from someone for something.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Gotcha. Well, that was all I, those were all the questions I had. Unless you have anything else you want to share.

[Mopreme Shakur]

We're in New Orleans and there's a lot of commemorative events going on around the anniversary of Katrina. I want to send some love out to all the, the victims of Katrina and the survivors. And yeah, my sister's out here in a play about Katrina for the anniversary.

[Suge Knight]

So.

[Mopreme Shakur]

Happy happy about that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What's the name of the play and can the public go buy tickets?

[Mopreme Shakur]

It's called Swimming Upstream. I'm not sure what the ticket situation is, but it's at the Mahaly Jackson Theater.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Got you. Okay. I don't know, man. Y' all gotta let me know. Y' all thoughts. Let me know how y' all are feeling, what y' all are thinking in response to some of the things that Mopreme brought up. I think what Mopreme is saying is a lot of what, you know, the fallout I was seeing around this, people feeling like. At this point, one of my only issues with people being upset at Drake for wanting to buy memorabilia and get the tattoos and all of that is if Kendrick had never dropped, not like us, we wouldn't have an issue with it. People thought it was so cool when he went and brought the Pharrel chain before he said he was going to melt it down. People thought it was so cool when he went and brought the Tupac ring and he had the, you know, the LeBron tattoo. I don't understand why now, all of a sudden, this stuff isn't cool just because someone told y' all that it can't be cool. And I get it. I know that we group thing, but I think now because of all of that, people are afraid to say how they feel now. Mopreme is different. You know, that's. That's. That's the closest thing we have. An extension of tupac living in 2025. Family is going to feel a bit different because these are pieces of a person that they once loved, that was once here that they don't even have the. So they're looking like, why would you be the one to have it to cherish? But for the fans, I want to know, if not like us had never dropped, would people really have an issue with Drake being a memorabilia collector? And be honest about it. I want to hear from y'. All. Take it to the streets in the tweets.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm Lauren LaRosa. Everywhere L O R E N L O R O S A everywhere. I want to hear from you guys. I want to know what you think at the end of the day. There's always a lot to talk about. And y' all know y' all could be anywhere with anybody talking about it, but y' all are choosing to be right here with me. Hope you guys enjoyed the exclusive interview today. Make sure you head on back for my next episode. You know, we all the things, all the things, all the things here. We get into all the things here. The Latest with Lauren LaRosa, your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room. See you guys in my next episode. My lowriders.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast.