Not only was it one of my favorite 2Pac songs-that synthesized vocal of “Only god can judge me noBut there were other reasons, too. But I was sure that “Only God Can Judge Me” was the right tat for me. If I had the funds to do so, I probably would have.

Thinking about it, I’m surprised that the words “Me Against The World” never got stamped on my left bicep. Additionally, I just embraced the Me Against The World mindset so much that I felt like everyone was against me (I promise you, they weren’t). I wrote about how troubled and alone I was, and I’m 99 percent sure I ripped off the entirety of his song “Until The End of Time” and most of his The Rose That Grew From Concrete collection in my scribblings.

So I started writing, too, mostly horrendous poetry that I’m thrilled to say is difficult to find in any form these days. But it was his writing that connected with me, that honesty and genuine feel you get from hearing his voice. I admired his love for the arts, and how he studied acting at the Baltimore School for the Arts. When I wrote the essay, I wanted to go to school for creative writing, and there was no one more suited to influence me in that regard than 2Pac. Not a parent, teacher, or coach a dead artist whom I’d never met, only idolized. And it’s not like it ever got terribly creepy or anything, but here’s a slightly embarrassing revelation: I wrote about how dude was “the most influential person” in my life for my college applications. Did I think I did at the time? Of course.

2pac only god can judge me tattoo