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

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Latest with Loren LoRosa

Episode: Tupac’s Brother, Mopreme Shakur, says Tupac’s family should have his things, NOT DRAKE — Exclusive Interview

Date: August 30, 2025
Host: Loren LaRosa
Guest: Mopreme Shakur

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Main Theme

This episode centers on the controversy surrounding Drake's acquisition and public display of a diamond-encrusted "Death Row" chain, rumored to have belonged to Tupac Shakur. Loren LaRosa discusses the issues of authenticity, cultural significance, and the ethics of purchasing hip-hop memorabilia with Tupac’s brother, Mopreme Shakur, including Mopreme’s candid perspective on what should happen to his late brother’s possessions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Drake’s Display of the “Death Row” Chain (02:15 – 03:39)

• Drake recently posted a “Death Row” chain engraved on the back with “All Eyes On You, 1996” on social media.
• Speculation arose that this was Tupac’s original chain; fans and media ran with the story.
• Background: In 2023, Drake famously purchased a ring once owned by Tupac for over a million dollars. Drake's history of acquiring hip-hop memorabilia added fuel to the speculation.

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2. Suge Knight’s Response: Authenticity of the Chain (03:39 – 05:28)

• Suge Knight (former CEO of Death Row) stated on “Art of Dialogue” that Drake’s chain is not authentic:

  “The only person got death row chains, and I’m the only one handing them out… Drake bought that chain? Drake should go back and keep their draws up their ass… it ain’t Drake fault. I believe Drake really admired Tupac.” — Suge Knight [04:25]

• Knight claims Tupac did not have a chain like this, and no engraving like Drake’s chain existed on the original.

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3. Cultural Tensions: Is Drake Appropriating or Honoring? (05:28 – 07:03)

• Loren raises the debate: Is Drake a true part of hip-hop culture, or is he simply a collector benefiting from proximity?
• Questions arise about Drake’s authenticity and intentions, especially after public comments where he praised UK rap over American rap.

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4. Exclusive: Mopreme Shakur’s Thoughts on the Chain & Memorabilia (07:03 – 09:59)

On Drake’s Collection and the Chain:

• Mopreme voices discomfort with memorabilia being outside the family:

  “These are, you know, mementos of his life… For us… it’s a bit much. Man need to think more about his moves because they make people pose other questions.” — Mopreme Shakur [07:08]

• He questions Drake’s motives, linking them to recent cultural debates and rap beefs:

  “If England has the best rappers, why are you seeking after the king of rap’s… little jewels? …I thought that was a bad move.” — Mopreme Shakur [07:44]

• Mopreme’s core belief:

  “I think the family should have all the Pac’s things. Me personally… but things don’t always work out that way.” — Mopreme Shakur [08:32]

On the Chain’s Authenticity:

• Mopreme confirms Tupac did have a Death Row chain, but is unsure about the specific claim:

  “We were together while he had a Death Row chain on… a lot of cats at Death Row had them chains… unless you have certain identifiers.” — Mopreme Shakur [09:01]

• Mopreme learns through Suge Knight’s comments that the chain Drake has likely isn’t authentic.

  “See, I didn’t even know that… Drake, that’s the point that he has to deal with himself considering the purchase he made from someone for something.” — Mopreme Shakur [09:35]

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5. Personal Update & Community Message (09:59 – 10:36)

• Mopreme sends love to Hurricane Katrina victims, noting commemorative events and a play his sister is performing in (“Swimming Upstream” at Jackson Theater).
• Humanizing the discussion, Mopreme reminds listeners of ongoing struggles and the importance of remembrance.

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6. Loren’s Reflections: Fanbase Reaction and Culture’s Double Standard (10:36 – 11:56)

• Loren questions why memorabilia purchases by Drake, once celebrated, are now criticized, linking this shift to recent rap beefs (notably Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”):

  “If Kendrick had never dropped ‘Not Like Us,’ would we have an issue with [Drake] being a memorabilia collector?... For the fans, I want to know—if ‘Not Like Us’ had never dropped, would people really have an issue?” — Loren LaRosa [11:21]

• She points out the difference in perspective between fans and family:

  “Family is going to feel a bit different because these are pieces of a person that they once loved… they’re looking like, why would you be the one to have it to cherish?” — Loren LaRosa [11:39]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mopreme Shakur:

  “I think the family should have all the Pac’s things. Me personally… but things don’t always work out that way.” [08:32]

• Suge Knight:

  “The only person got death row chains, and I’m the only one handing them out… Drake bought that chain? Drake should go back and keep their draws up their ass… it ain’t Drake fault. I believe Drake really admired Tupac.” [04:25]

• Loren LaRosa:

  “If Kendrick had never dropped ‘Not Like Us,’ would we have an issue with [Drake] being a memorabilia collector?... For the fans, I want to know—if ‘Not Like Us’ had never dropped, would people really have an issue?” [11:21]

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Segment Timestamps

• [02:15] — Loren sets up the controversy around Drake’s social media post.
• [03:39] — Suge Knight’s response on chain’s authenticity.
• [05:28] — Discussion on Drake and his place in hip-hop culture.
• [07:03] — Mopreme Shakur’s exclusive interview begins.
  • [07:08] — Mopreme expresses discomfort on memorabilia in outsiders’ hands.
  • [07:44] — Questions Drake’s intentions and recent comments.
  • [08:32] — Mopreme insists family should have Tupac’s possessions.
  • [09:01] — Addresses Death Row chain’s authenticity.
• [09:59] — Mopreme’s message to Hurricane Katrina survivors and promoting his sister’s play.
• [10:36] — Loren’s reflection on the shifting cultural narrative and fan opinions.

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Episode Tone

Candid, reflective, and sometimes heated—the conversation is honest and leans into the complexities of hip-hop legacy, family, authenticity, and fandom. Mopreme’s tone is protective and introspective; Loren is both critical and empathetic, urging genuine conversation within hip-hop culture.

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For Listeners:

• This episode gives a rare, unfiltered view from Tupac’s brother about the right to hip-hop legacy and who should control cultural artifacts.
• It unpacks fan reactions to celebrity collectors and why perceptions are changing.
• Essential listening for anyone interested in the evolving ethics of hip-hop memorabilia, family legacy, and authenticity in pop culture.

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Transcript

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[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the home girl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody Exclusive.

[Mopreme Shakur]

Know she don't lie about that, right?

[Glynne Washington]

Lauren came in hot.

[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 to shake up some things. So excited to get right to it. I was great Grace with the opportunity to speak to Mopreme Shakur, who is the brother of Tupac Shakur. There has 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 red. 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 a Tupac fan. We also know that Drake is a type of fan of hip hop and the artists 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 to at it. 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 chain. It was never Tupac. It was never even given to anybo by Death Row. Let's take a listen. So, Shake, I gotta ask you, since.

[Suge Knight]

You was the one passing out the.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Death row chains back then, how you.

[Suge Knight]

Feel about Drake buying park Death row 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 rotanes, and I'm the only one handing them out. The dog pound didn't even have death row chains. I made them dog paw paws again. When Pac came home, I went to go visit Pac, and when I got Pac out, he came home, and we 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'll make you one. He's like, shit, you my big bro. Let me wear yours. That's more important. I don't want them first. And I want the one. I want to wear the one you got. So my Death Row changed. The time was full of diamonds on the. On the chain. Full of diamonds on the bezel. I 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. Well, it 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 draws 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 seen and repeating it? Let's take a listen. My 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, park 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 with, make people pose other questions. Because I just saw interview with him in London talking about London got the best rappers. London rappers are better than American rappers. So, you know, why are you so seeking after the king of raps? You know, jewels, little jewels. You know, it's in this thing with, with Kendrick. I mean, Kendrick got a pull into it. So I, you know, I thought that was a bad move. It didn't AIs 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 pop sticks. Me personally, you know, but, you know, things don't always work out that way. But my personal opinion, that's what I.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Feel, 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 of 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 Knights, 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, 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 victims of Katrina and the survivors. And yeah, my sister's out here in a play about Katrina for the anniversary, so happy about that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What's the name of the play? And can the public go buy tickets called Swimming Upstream?

[Mopreme Shakur]

I'm not sure what the ticket situation is, but set them head of you. 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 Pharrell 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 tech, 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. Mo Prem 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 chair, 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. You for the treats.

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