CANVAS PAINTING
A painting created by TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of Tupac was delivered to the House of BET for display.
During an interview with Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, said her brother and Left Eye were close in a “brother-sister” relationship and the work, titled I Ain’t Got Nothin But Love, is from her private collection.
“When I first saw the painting that Left Eye did of my brother Tupac, I thought it was so brilliant and amazing,” Set noted in a separate statement about the painting gifted to her brother in 1992. “I knew that it represented pure black platonic love and true friendship since they saw each other as a mirror of themselves. So after Tupac’s passing I held on to it for safe-keeping.”
Additionally, Set notes that her family offered the painting back to Left Eye’s family following her sudden and tragic 2002 death, but were told to keep it instead.
“My mother gifted the painting to me, and allowed me to frame it and keep it in my home,” she adds. “The painting became my tribute to my brother and a part of my altar to remember him for many years.”
Set Shakur is offering the painting to be displayed at the House of BET temporarily. “The painting speaks to Left Eye and Tupac’s love of hip-hop, friendship, community and their genuine support of each other's dreams,” she concludes. “I hope this heirloom from the Shakur’s can continue to be an heirloom to the culture and community of hip-hop for many years to come.
“I Ain’t Got Nothin But Love” is both a poem and a song by Tupac, off of his promo single I Get Around. The song was also released on the posthumous album R U Still Down? (Remember Me).