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FlexFit / 2Pac Mural
Photo by Trashhand
I’m excited to share a wall mural I created for FlexFit Headwear at the MAGIC S.L.A.T.E. trade show in Las Vegas back in August. FlexFit is a headwear company located in Los Angeles that—like all the companies at the MAGIC show—appeals to the urban or ‘streetwear’ fashion community.
FlexFit challenged me to come up with an idea for a mural that I’d draw, real-time, during the first day of the show. While it was important that the mural was relative to the culture of both FlexFit and MAGIC, I also wanted to create an experience for the passersby that wasn’t too literal to the brand.
With those thoughts in mind, I hand-lettered Tupac Shakur lyrics on 500 square-feet of wall space. An avid West Coaster at the time of his death, he’s the top selling hip-hop artist of all time. Furthermore, he became equally infamous for his run-ins with the law, his outspokenness, his bandana, his ‘Thug Life’ tattoo, as well as his ability for writing compassionate songs on topics such as woman’s rights and poverty. In 1996 he was gun-downed in Las Vegas at the age of 25. All this has made him a mythological figure within that community (and a fave of mine).
Beginning at the top left corner, I went round and round for close to 9 hours, hand-lettering one of his most popular and heartfelt songs, Keep Ya Head Up. Without much time to prepare, I experimented on my studio walls during the days prior. I had to calculate the size of the words (5”), how many songs would work, as well as the style and arrangement of the letters. Ultimately, it became another act of obsessiveness that I always seem to enjoy. Thankfully, I met a million rad people during the time.
Huge thanks goes out to Andy Song, Andy Chang, and Daniel Rhie at FlexFit for all their amazing help! Much love to Corbin Cones at HY.GEN.IC, Sarina Saletta, and Matt Shackleford. Also, a big thanks to Tasha Bleu for co-existing with me and shooting dope pictures all day. Finally, props to my lovely friends at Sharpie markers for hooking me up with paint markers!
Make sure to check out the time-lapse (tim-lapse) below! High-five to Eric Kridle.
Photo by Daniel Rhie
Photo by Daniel Rhie
Photo by Daniel Rhie
Photo by Daniel Rhie
Photo by Daniel Rhie
Photo by Tasha Bleu
Photo by Daniel Rhie
Photos by Timothy Goodman
Photos by Timothy Goodman
Photo by Timothy Goodman
Photo by Timothy Goodman
There are 14 responses to "FlexFit / 2Pac Mural"
Moe Haidar says:
Hey just wanted to say this is great artwork. Especially adding tupac to it brings it to life. His words and still meaningful and still relate to todays current issues.
This has been shared on www.2Pac-Forum.com
Great work. A quick request, could I get a picture of the female who you drew the THUGLIFE tattoo on. Like a picture of her with the THUGLIFE tattoo drawing on her.
Timothy Goodman says:
Hey Moe, can you email me? Thanks!
dušan says:
U rock !!!2pac for ever !!!
JOHN W DALE says:
TUPAC IS THE GREATEST RAPPER THAT EVER LIVED! HIS LYRICS ARE NEVER GONNA DIE, BECAUSE HE SPIT ABOUT THE REAL LIFE PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUED US FROM THE BEGINNING OF OUR HISTORY AS DESCENDENTS OF THE SLAVE, HERE IN AMERICA! TUPAC REPRESENT THE REAL LIVE STRUGGLE THAT HIS PARENTS AND MINE WENT THROUGH, HE AND I WENT THROUGH, AND EVERY OTHER PRODUCT OF THE GHETTO HAS ENDURED AND EITHER SURVIVED OR SUCCUMBED TO IT! THIS TRAP THAT BEEN LAID OUT HERE TO KEEP US UNEDUCATED, MIS GUIDED, AND MIS DIRECTED! HE PROVIDE BRITHERS WHO NEVER THOUGHT THERE WAS A WAY OUT, A WAY TO COPE AND DEAL WITH THE PRESSURES OF BEING BORN A VICTIM OF SOCIETY! HIS LYRICS DON’T RUN FROM THE FORCES THAT BE, BUT GIVE YOU THE COURAGE TO FIGHT BACK, AND NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH! HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR THE GOODNESS OF ALL OF US GHETTO KIDS, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO AND BELIEVE IN! HIS LYRICS ARE STILL BEING BROKEN DOWN AND ANYLIZED BY SOME OF THE GREATER MINDS IN SOCIETY, ALL WALKS OF LIFE! AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER BROTHER LIKE HIM! ONE LOVE TO HIS MOTHER AND ALL INVOLVED OR WHO SHARE THE SAME LOVE FOR THE LEGENDARY SPOKESMAN OF THE HOOD! AND PROFESSOR OF LIFE! MAY GOD BLESS ALL THAT HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY HIM MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY! AND MAY YPU CONTINUE TO BELIEVE, AND FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT! J BAY B!
Abdi-shakure says:
Nice work man.. Amazing work man.. I’m jealous, I wanna make my room like that.. ;P
CS says:
The lyrics are wrong in the picture with the neon sigh on the top line where it says, “And don’t know one else care”; “know” should be “no”.
Tunji says:
I will never 4get u nigger wenever i listening to ur song i keep on asking why do u have to die suddenly, because you always making sense in all your song, i knw you are in thug mansion right now smiling down at us!
Waasay says:
Thanks a ton for taking a step to prove that no matter how many people are there on the mainstream still there is just one hustler one baller who rules the streets & hearts! Pac your legacy would never end. Thanks for giving me a life Pac.
Sammy da Bull says:
This is NUTS!!!! Wow…... LOVE IT!!!!!!!! (I love that chick with the star tattoo too 
)
Ja'Nice says:
in the 5th picture its supposed to be will the real men ”get up” not stand up
Joe Hornsby says:
Great work….timeless lyrics….quick request can I get a pix of the girl with the thug life tattoo…...
Reezy says:
dope ish..R.I.P to mr shakur
Lazy B. says:
Amazing work homie.
Keep up the good stuff.