2pac Tasf Center today

[CORREA]

wanted you guys to see how the TASF Center is now..

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/xkCquh-rGYs" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/xkCquh-rGYs</a>

[TraceOneInfinite Flat Earther 96']

Yeah, I saw this.  It really shocked me.

I mean Afeni set this up to be part of 2pac's legacy to benefit the future generations.  It was a noble idea on her part, but maybe a little too far-reaching.  Kind of makes me want to hop the gate and visit the spot, to pay homage to Pac if I am ever in Atlanta.  I already did so in Vegas where Pac was murdered.

[V2DHeart]

As surprised as finding out Makaveli Branded clothing never took off?

They treated this as bad as the albums. Having the audacity to charge high prices for things that shouldn't have been so high was just one factor of why this failed.

The good news is that all of those bricks, the statue and other little bits and pieces have all been paid for

[Blasphemy]

wanted you guys to see how the TASF Center is now..

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/xkCquh-rGYs" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/xkCquh-rGYs</a>

Yeah there was multiple issues with that. So let's go down the list.


Tupac's Fading spotlight - Because Amaru stopped (or ran out) releases of more tupac material, he became a relic to the G-Funk Era, and 90s rap, which is now over 20 years removed. Now I'm not saying tupac has completely faded but the next generation of rap fans haven't really dug interest in the music from the previous eras. Outside of the 50s/60s that constantly keep getting reexposed due to movies set during the period, 90s rap hasn't had a major resurgence outside of N.W.A due to the movie. The movie "dope" was probably the first to attempt at continuing the legacy and have films set during the rap era, but it was so washed out and new yorkish/unconcentrating it failed. The only 2pac track getting made play is still "California Love" the bulk of his older hits don't get play unless you're on a old school rap station (which again is rare on todays radio waves).

I mean shit the last major tupac news I heard was the hologram and that was back in 2012. Now he's still popular, but no one really talks about him anymore.

Now as for the center it's self it's main issue was funding. Now Afeni created the organization to help kids and teens find creative outlets, the problem with Afeni she isn't a good business women.

It's been widely held that the best Tupac releases had Death Row involvement, and the releases strictly on Amaru records was considered inferior. She was never able to get the label off the ground without the help of other people, then there was the other issues in terms of tupacs unreleased finish products/legacy. She never was able to get the "One Nation" album released, nor has she been able to get his Screen Play "Live 2 Tell" made into a movie, she got the official documentary released, but hasn't managed to get the biopic made (course Straight Outta Compton changed Hollywood opinion on this matter). Plus Makaveli Clothing failed.


Now the nail in the coffin was two things. She didn't fund raise properly for the organization, she believed the sells of Makaveli Branded clothing, 2pac's album sells, profit from the official documentary (I do not know if she makes money from the countless unofficial docs) would support the organization. Let's break this down.

The problem is rap clothing has never, ever been a huge thing. Cypress Hill had Joker, Death Row sold it's label, Snoop Dogg had his own, the problem is even the most successful Rap clothing brand isn't actually a big deal. Most rappers get T-Shirts made to sell on tour, because there is no real money in it. Especially when you can get products of similar (or better) quality (and designs) in local swapmeets by people in the community (liquor stores). Rap clothing has never been huge, even within the hip-hop community.

Tupac Ressurection - Is a movie, it pretty much makes the bulk of its money during Release, the few year its on TV and then that's it. It got released in 2003, I haven't seen that on TV since 2006/7. So it doesn't get TV money via syndication ads, and sells are out the window now because its era has passed and you can just Download it off torrent sites.

Album sells - This self explanatory, no one buys albums anymore, going Gold once raps first Benchmark has now ironically become it's desired benchmark today.

and she never did fund raising she accepted donations but she never rampantly pushed Foundation nor the school of arts. So it faded and got ignored.

Then the nail in the coffin, she started to increase the price towards the very disenfranchised people the school was Intended for.The rich didn't give a shit, but the bulk of the people it was intended for can't afford that shit, they can go to several different programs that are Federally and State funded that don't cost shit.


It all collapsed because of Piss poor management, it's also why I believe why the 2pac movie is finally getting made with fucking compromises now. Because she needs money, here wealth stemmed from his record sells, and the licensing of his music and now the only track people really give a shit about now "California Love".

[V2DHeart]

She started to increase the price towards the very disenfranchised people the school was Intended for~ This right here is a main reason IMO.

Sure, the music and publications of 2Pac may have helped, and been an initial factor in the setup costs, but once it is up and running, it requires business people who have experience in managing, as well as passionate people (for fundraising activities) to keep something like this going, until such times at least until they can get contracted programs from state level, sponsorships etc. after enough popularity, visitor attendance and so on, which takes away the stress of looking for consistent income.

Many art centre's remain open for decades without any direct artist royalties to assist, so it is bad business. Afeni wanted to create a 'Pacs Kids' album, which would be a full length album of young aspiring artists & producers containing vocals (some unpublished) from 2Pac himself. It sounded like a good concept, and releasing it under the full weight of a subsidiary from Universal Music Group (like an Interscope or someone similar) could have made some noise to showcase the centre. No one knew anything about it unless you watched the Pac Life video, or purchased the Resurrection soundtrack and looked at the insert.  

Regarding 2Pac's music in general, without Tom Whalley's support, we didn't see much in the way of promotion for anything 2Pac related when he stepped down. Sure, it states that he 'officially' stepped down in 2010, but had stepped down many years before, and was forced out of his position IMO. He was a major factor in 2Pac's airtime and TV deals, because otherwise, he'd have his videos on, on some terrible deal being showing at 3am with no ad time for his releases (slight exaggeration, but you get the drift) He was CEO of Warner Bros. Records and Executive of A&R at Interscope during the UTEOT release / Greatest Hits / Changes periods and he was a 'huge' 2Pac fan - In fact, when Tom Whalley stepped down to form his own label with a less hectic & demanding schedule, it was he who stated that there should be a 2Pac song somewhere on the Djanjo movie, before Claudio Cueni (who was in fact a former engineer of 2Pac's from Tom Whalley's days) came in to do the song. This is why it is featured on the soundtrack under his label. For almost 10 years, he was one of the only prominent main players interested in doing anything in full scope with 2Pac. It could be argued that 2Pac's popularity at that time made it easier, or that Tom Whalley's important position at that time played a more significant role

It's a name we never hear about, but he had a HUGE input into helping Afeni with Amaru too. Is this why R U Still Down was such a success? He was always made available for advice, contacts and also setting up discussions with key people in the industry, IE; opening doors. He was absent for any input into the SIR album due to the huge workload of both Dr Dre's 2001 album & Slim Shady's LP (I guess we can see the lack of marketing and PR this album had - as no one else would take the initiative like Tom Whalley, to do in and ensure this was a success) but he was the guy who signed 2Pac back in 1991, but since his departure from a heavy workload at a major, we've not seen much in way of marketing and PR

[⠀]

Great post, Tom really did help out as the Shakurs don't have a clue at how the music game works and need the guidance of someone in a senior role. Now without him they've got a three ring circus with toothless old lions that noone pays any attention to yet it seems their arrogance won't allow them to admit this and ask for help even though they cock up everything they turn their hand to.

[Blasphemy]

She started to increase the price towards the very disenfranchised people the school was Intended for~ This right here is a main reason IMO.

Sure, the music and publications of 2Pac may have helped, and been an initial factor in the setup costs, but once it is up and running, it requires business people who have experience in managing, as well as passionate people (for fundraising activities) to keep something like this going, until such times at least until they can get contracted programs from state level, sponsorships etc. after enough popularity, visitor attendance and so on, which takes away the stress of looking for consistent income.

Many art centre's remain open for decades without any direct artist royalties to assist, so it is bad business. Afeni wanted to create a 'Pacs Kids' album, which would be a full length album of young aspiring artists & producers containing vocals (some unpublished) from 2Pac himself. It sounded like a good concept, and releasing it under the full weight of a subsidiary from Universal Music Group (like an Interscope or someone similar) could have made some noise to showcase the centre. No one knew anything about it unless you watched the Pac Life video, or purchased the Resurrection soundtrack and looked at the insert.  

Regarding 2Pac's music in general, without Tom Whalley's support, we didn't see much in the way of promotion for anything 2Pac related when he stepped down. Sure, it states that he 'officially' stepped down in 2010, but had stepped down many years before, and was forced out of his position IMO. He was a major factor in 2Pac's airtime and TV deals, because otherwise, he'd have his videos on, on some terrible deal being showing at 3am with no ad time for his releases (slight exaggeration, but you get the drift) He was CEO of Warner Bros. Records and Executive of A&R at Interscope during the UTEOT release / Greatest Hits / Changes periods and he was a 'huge' 2Pac fan - In fact, when Tom Whalley stepped down to form his own label with a less hectic & demanding schedule, it was he who stated that there should be a 2Pac song somewhere on the Djanjo movie, before Claudio Cueni (who was in fact a former engineer of 2Pac's from Tom Whalley's days) came in to do the song. This is why it is featured on the soundtrack under his label. For almost 10 years, he was one of the only prominent main players interested in doing anything in full scope with 2Pac. It could be argued that 2Pac's popularity at that time made it easier, or that Tom Whalley's important position at that time played a more significant role

It's a name we never hear about, but he had a HUGE input into helping Afeni with Amaru too. Is this why R U Still Down was such a success? He was always made available for advice, contacts and also setting up discussions with key people in the industry, IE; opening doors. He was absent for any input into the SIR album due to the huge workload of both Dr Dre's 2001 album & Slim Shady's LP (I guess we can see the lack of marketing and PR this album had - as no one else would take the initiative like Tom Whalley, to do in and ensure this was a success) but he was the guy who signed 2Pac back in 1991, but since his departure from a heavy workload at a major, we've not seen much in way of marketing and PR

Man I was like "I've heard that name before" and then at the end when you talked about him signining him It hit me lol. Yeah that dude was like Tupacs champion and shit, that's a shame they did him like that, because 2pac literally owes the start of his career to him. Crazy, Cypress Hill always spoke real on rap industry politics, and how fickle and fucked up they were.

[abusive]

I thought the whole thing was stupid. Pac may have been an artist, reared up in the performing artist and what not but that's not what he's known for. Snoop was reared up in the church, do you think a place of worship named after him would work?

 I think it's tacky how they left the place. At least remove the got damn statue or keep it nice around the statue so people can visit it.

[TraceOneInfinite Flat Earther 96']

This actually happens with a lot of projects to supposedly help the poor and disenfranchised.  They start out with these high ambitions to change the world, and it sounds good in theory, but is it actually profitable and sustainable?

...Sure Pac was generating money for the estate for nearly 7 years after he passed, but now they just aren't generating as much money, and could not pay for the continued upkeep necassary for the facility.