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A collection of Tupac’s favourite songs and albums

Mon 14 July 2025 13:00, UK

When Tupac was once asked if he saw himself as a role model, he said no; “I see myself as real,” he quipped. “Nobody put me here. They just buy my records. They wouldn’t buy my records if my records wasn’t good. I’m being who I am in the record.”

There were a lot of moments throughout Tupac’s life that became defined by moments like these, moments when he’d stop to really think about what it meant to be someone who had the impact he did, and whether it came from some sort of divine spirituality or something far more easily describable. To him, it was obvious; he never saw anything in it other than the fact that his music resonated with people, but it’s hard not to look the other way, too.

For example, the first time he discovered Prince, he found a kindred soul that he wanted to be as close to as possible. His cousin, Jamila Barnes, once recalled how he would get the family together for renditions of ‘1999’ when he was younger, adopting the singer’s stage charisma with theatrical introductions before going into the number. It’s seen as weak to point in compilations of favourite albums, but Tupac also once claimed The Hits/The B-Sides as his favourite, which speaks to someone who loves it all so much he just can’t choose.

This was revealed on a piece of paper he used once to scribble down his favourite songs and albums to listen to “when u r alone”. It’s a mixed bag, one that boasts far more than just the ‘Purple One’ himself, but a compilation Tupac backed as the ultimate experience for when you need that overdue pick-me-up. Reportedly written for his then-girlfriend, he wrote, “For the ideal results, put all of these songs on one tape and enjoy. THINK OF ME!”

On the list, he picked out five specific albums and the songs on each that he loved the most. For The Hits/The B-Sides, he picked seven cherished favourites: ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, ‘Adore’, ‘Thieves in the Temple’, ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend’, ‘Sexy MF’, ‘She’s Always in My Hair’, and ‘How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore’. From another favourite, Jamiroquai’s The Return of the Space Cowboy, he chose the title track, ‘Half the Man’ and ‘Manifest Destiny’.

He also called attention to his more collected, wistful moments, with tracks like ‘Reality’, ‘Food for Thought’ and ‘Don’t Ever Touch Me (Again)’ on Dionne Farris’ Wild Seed – Wild Flower, and ‘Possession’, ‘Elsewhere’ and ‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’ on Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. All of these give a delightfully diverse listening experience that no doubt shines a light on the type of music Tupac constantly found inspiration in throughout his life.

But looking at each of the songs below, and everything he said about the pop virtuoso during his life and career, it’s clear who the real winner of his heart was. Even from an early age, Prince represented something broader than artistic excellence to Tupac (he even once name-dropped him in a love letter as a teen) and someone who could pour emotions and themes into songs like a live-wire, like he knew the precise buttons to press to make it last a lifetime.