Jada Pinkett Smith shared a never-before-seen poem from her former friend Tupac Shakur in a video that was shared on her Instagram account on Tuesday.
The 49-year-old actress posted the video in an early commemoration of what would have been the late rapper’s 50th birthday while also expanding on her relationship with the performer.
Fans have always speculated whether the beauty and the late rapper ever dated, as she has spoken at length about their chemistry together several times in the past.
Intimate letter: Jada Pinkett Smith shared a never-before-seen letter from her late friend Tupac Shakur to celebrate what would have been his 50th birthday in a video that was shared to her Instagram account on Tuesday
Pinkett Smith began her video by acknowledging the special occasion and remarked that she chose to celebrate the day by going through her old mementos of the California Love songwriter.
She expressed, ‘As many of you know, today would have been Pac’s birthday. He would have been 50 this year. And of course, you know, I went down memory lane.’
The A Different World actress then noted that, although the performer had ‘written me many letters and many poems,’ the one that she chose to share, entitled Lost Soulz, had never been shown to the public.
The Red Table Talk host also pointed out that, although the rapper had previously released a song under the same name, the letter featured his original version that she said was written during his time at Rikers Island.
Looking back: At the beginning of the clip, the Magic Mike XXL actress expressed that she ‘went down memory lane’ in remembrance of her late friend; she is seen in 2020
Something new: She proceeded to read a handwritten poem that Shakur had previously written her, which had never been shown to the public
Pinkett Smith went on to begin reading the poem for her nearly 11 million followers, during which the All About You songwriter declared that ‘I have witnessed all that was pure in me/be changed by the evil men can do.’
He expanded on the theme of personal change in his poem and expressed that, despite previously living with ‘innocence…surviving years with criminal peers/has turned my warm heart to cold.’
Shakur concluded his poem by expressing his desire to change his life ‘let me live to see what was gold in me/before it is all too late.’
She also wrote a brief message in her post’s caption that partially read: ‘As we prepare to celebrate his legacy…let’s remember him for that which we loved most…his way with words.’
Sincere dedication: In her post’s caption, Pinkett Smith encouraged her fans to ‘remember him for that which we loved most…his way with words’
The pair first met at the Baltimore School for the Arts during their teenage years, and although they did not see eye to eye at first, they eventually grew very close.
During a 2015 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Pinkett Smith noted that she kissed the rapper at one point during their time in high school, although both of them decided not to do it again.
She recalled: ‘There was a time when I was like, “Just kiss me! Let’s just see how this goes,” and…it had to be the most disgusting kiss for us both.’
The Magic Mike XXL actress was grateful that they realized that they were not meant for each other, as she surmised that they ‘might have killed each other because we were both so passionate and we love deeply.’
Past connection: The actress and the rapper met during their teenage years and eventually grew very close while attending high school together; they are pictured in 1996
Missed connection: Pinkett Smith recalled that the two had kissed during a 2015 episode of The Howard Stern Show, although she pointed out that it was ‘the most disgusting kiss for us both’; she is pictured in 2020
However, the pair had a falling out near the end of the rapper’s life, as he reportedly resented her change in personality following her success in the entertainment industry, while she felt as if his lifestyle was becoming increasingly dangerous.
Shakur was eventually murdered in Las Vegas, Nevada in September of 1996 under circumstances that are still unclear, and the two had not spoken for an extended period of time before his passing.
Pinkett Smith went on to start a relationship with and eventually marry Will Smith, with whom she shares her son Jaden and daughter Willow, aged 22 and 20, respectively.
The friends’ relationship was partially covered in the 2017 biopic All Eyez On Me, with Demetrius Shipp, Jr and Kat Graham playing the two.
Following the film’s release, the actress spoke out against the portrayal of both herself and the late rapper, citing the misrepresentation and dramatization of their past as the chief reasons behind her discontent.
Moving on: The actress went on to marry Will Smith and welcomed a son named Jaden and a daughter named Willow; she is seen with her husband at the 2019 premiere of Gemini Man
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
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