All manner of tributes have been paid over the years to the late New York rapper, Tupac. However, this latest homage has a somewhat surprising flavor, taking the form of a restaurant. And it's actually a project that the American star had envisioned during his lifetime.
From posthumous albums to on-stage tributes, for 26 years, musical homages have been perpetuating the legacy of the late New York rapper, Tupac. But the latest project, serving up yet another way to keep the memory of the American artist alive, has nothing to do with this particular art form. During his lifetime, the poet and political activist had outlined a restaurant project that he envisaged as a hangout where customers could order gumbo -- a Creole-inspired meat or fish stew popular in Louisiana -- plus meatloaf, chicken wings or even "the best sandwiches on the planet." The idea even had a name: the Powamekka Café. And now, the concept is finally a reality.
The eatery opened its doors a few days ago in Los Angeles, according to The Eater. The only drawback for fans is that this project is not destined to be permanent, as the restaurant -- which will be open for lunch and dinner until June 30 -- is only scheduled for a two-week limited run.
However, fans of the New York rapper had a previous opportunity to sample the late star's project. In 2018, the Brooklyn rapper Nas had brought the Powamekka Café to life in place of one of the restaurants in his Sweet Chick chain, at the outlet located in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
Better known by his stage name of 2Pac, the artist was enshrined in the pantheon of legendary American stars after his assassination in Las Vegas in 1996. Today, his character continues to generate as much admiration as it does fantasies, the rapper even being the subject of certain conspiracy theories claiming he is still alive. During February's Super Bowl halftime show, featuring performances from American rap stars such as Eminem and Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre paid another homage to the late 2Pac. And who could forget the three-dimensional projection that brought the rapper back to life on-stage at California's famous Coachella festival in 2012.
But Tupac isn't the only rap star being celebrated through an eatery. Last year, the daughter of another US rap legend, The Notorious B.I.G, opened a pizza shop in Hollywood named after one of her father's hit songs released in 1994, called "Juicy." And Juicy Pizza was set up in partnership with the daughter of another hip-hop star, Jam Master Jay, the founder of Run-DMC.
