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Behind the Chalk Line it was just another crime, but for us in the heart & soul of Hip-Hop a GIANT was gone. As we celebrate what would have been Tupac Amaru Shakur’s 39th birthday, I reflect on his body of work. I pondered over where Tupac was trying to take Hip-Hop, the art form as a whole, and the fans that loved and supported the music. His death was more than Hip-Hop’s beef, but the beginning of a trend that will lull us to sleep and take away so many of our youth right before our eyes. The Good Die Young is why Tupac worked so hard to make The Code a reality in street. Tupac once stated, ‘I’m not saying I’m going to change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.’ Through his death, I vowed to never give up on making The Code a reality in our streets Giving our Youth something to Hope & Dream for.

In Brooklyn, New York a new Hip-Hop beat was taking over the streets, Tupac had taken the world by storm. He was intelligent, dedicated, and powerful; he too wanted to connect the love for Hip- Hop and the movement together. Our respected triple OG’s, Viola Plummer & Pac’s Step-Pops Mutulu Shakur brought us together. It was time for The Code to the Thug LIFE to come out of the minds of prisoners to the heart and soul of young people on the streets.  From South Central Los Angeles to Atlanta, Georgia and New York City the Code of the streets was making peace real.

We built a youth movement of Hip-Hop heads who were bold, audacious, committed, and conscious of the need to believe in something other than themselves, The Code became an unwritten law in street. Black Power and Hip-Hop were becoming powerful entities.

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WHAT IS THE CODE OF THUG LIFE?

A code of ethics; a code created By Tupac & Mutulu Shakur and others in 1992. The code was created for street cats/thugs to use with consideration when on the streets. Encouraging these codes will help the those that did not participate or support this LIFE stay safe within their community.

SOME OF THE CODES CREATED FOR STREET LIFE:

1. All new Jacks to the game must know: a) He’s going to get rich. b) He’s going to jail. c) He’s going to die.

2. Crew Leaders: You are responsible for legal/financial payment commitments to crew members. Your word must be your bond.

3. Concerts and parties are neutral territories. No shooting!

4. Crew leader and posse should select a diplomat, and should work ways to settle disputes. In unity, there is strength!

5.  Slinging to children is against the Code.

6. Having children slinging is against the Code.

7. No slinging in schools.

8. Snitching not tolerated.

9. Civilians are not a target and should be spared. 

10. Harm to children will not be forgiven.

11.  Senseless brutality and rape must stop. 

12. Our old folks must not be abused. 

13. No shooting at parties.

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Tupac was committed to save the streets and so was I we came together in 1994 in Queens, NY before our big Code kick off concert at Roy Wilkins Park, Erica Ford (Founder, The Code Foundation & LIFE Camp Inc) brought the OG’s and Tupac together to discuss how to bring the Code to the streets to stop the killings and put a law down that hustlers would follow.  Erica Ford’s states: “We had to bring order to the hoods so that people could live in peace again. I pulled together Stretch, Tupac, Supreme of Preme Team, Tropper from Farmers Crew, Chaz of Blackhand, and couple others. We put together a blueprint for order. The sad thing was that the cycle of destruction continued, and most of these men were either incarc