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If you have been following the 90’s hip hop scene, you must have heard of Tupac Shakur. He has become a rap legend throughout his career, and even today, I, among many others, enjoy listening to his music. Tupac is not only a rap legend but a fashion icon too, and he wore some shirts that inspired younger generations to recreate his style.
Do you want to have a Tupac-inspired shirt in your closet but don’t know which one to pick? Here I will show you our 8 picks for the best Tupac shirts of all time.
Keep reading if you want to know which shirts made the cut and how to imitate Tupac’s unique style.
Bottom line up front:
My top pick is the famous Karl Kani Shirt. I picked this white and orange strapped t-shirt because Tupac wore it in one of his most popular music videos. The T-shirt is a symbol of 90’s streetwear, urban fashion, and a bold move at that time.
My Top Picks Up Front:
My top 8 picks for the best Tupac shirts of all time are down below:
- The Karl Kani Shirt– A symbol of 90’s streetwear, unique and not easy to find.
- Thug Life Shirt- Tupac’s most well-known catchphrase
- Tupac Black and White– A Tupac-inspired T-shirt that goes with any outfit. Perfect for those who don’t want to tie themselves to one era or one track.
- Tupac Trust Nobody– Iconic Tupac catchphrase with his image, excellent fashion statement.
- All Eyes on Me T-shirt- An Excellent choice for the “All Eyes on Me” album lovers.
- Me Against the World– Inspired by one of his hit albums, ideal for the lovers of his most introspective album.
- Crying Prayers Shirt– Inspired by Tupac’s religious beliefs, a good choice for all of you who want to wear “his face”.
- Only God Can Judge Me Tank Top Shirt– Inspired by his track “Only God Can Judge Me”. This is a good choice for fans who love this track but still want his image on their shirt.
Tips/Advice:
When choosing your favorite Tupac T-shirt, make sure that you choose the one you like, reflecting your personality. You can check out multiple websites to compare the prices and find the best offer.
Make sure that you buy a high-quality T-shirt so that you can wear it for a long time.
Pro tip: If you want to buy the Tupac T-shirt as a gift, the best choice is to buy Tupac black and white if you are not sure if they have a favorite song/catchphrase.
How to Dress Like Tupac?
If you want to dive into Tupac’s unique style, check out these tips below:
- Tupac was always seen in black. If you want to dress like Tupac, it would be wise to invest in many black clothes.
- Tupac’s shirts were usually baggy and long-sleeved, and he wasn’t afraid to wear a shirt under another shirt or even a shirt under a sweater or jacket.
- Tupac’s pants were usually baggy “hip hop” style. Yet he wasn’t opposed to wearing tighter-fitting pants on occasion and longer pants such as jeans and trousers.
- Tupac had a very specific look for shoes that changed very little throughout his career as a rapper. He wore old black school Nike sneakers with white laces and white highlight colourings on the shoe, preferably blue ones, but red ones work too.
- One of the more notable accessories that Tupac wore was his black bandana. He wore it around his forehead and sometimes around his neck and left it hanging. This was one of his more sought after looks because it added just enough extra flair (as well as being practical.
Selection Criteria
I have selected these 8 iconic Tupac T-shirt recommendations based on:
- Tupac wore that shirt/ the shirt is inspired by Tupac
- You can find most T-shirts at an ok price
- All T-shirts represent Tupac’s iconic style
Most of the T-shirts are in black and white. This is because Tupac wore black most of the time, but I added a more colorful option as well.
Since Tupac has influenced one whole generation, and he keeps getting fans, there are many Tupac- inspired clothes. You can easily find or recreate them. I have selected these eight ones because they represent his style, thoughts, and music perfectly, and you can choose the one you like.
Fun fact: 2Pac was a big fan of leather.
Whichever you choose, you won’t make a mistake, and you will honor one of the rap G.O.A.T.s.
Product recommendations
The Karl Kani Shirt
The “Karl Kani” Shirt is probably the most famous piece of clothing ( except the bandana) that Tupac wore. He wore this T-shirt for his” Keep Ya Head Up” music video, and it became an instant hit. The orange and white striped T-shirt had the “Kani” signature on the chest, and Tupac wore it as a free ad.
The T-shirt became a symbol of street fashion, and the brand quickly rose to fame. Tupac did it as a “free ad”, but he never thought it would become one of his most iconic looks.
Recently Shoe Palace recreated the T-shirt, and you could find it for 50 dollars. You can still look for it on some websites.
Specifications:
Color: Orange and white
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by Tupac: Worn
Pros:
- Interesting colors
- T-shirt worn by Tupac
- One of the most famous Tupac looks
Cons:
- Perfect for hardcore Tupac fans, but not for everyone
- Doesn’t have Tupac’s lyrics/face on it
Thug Life Shirt
The “Thug Life” shirt hints at Tupac’s tattoo and the catchphrase/philosophy he valued in life. Many thought “thug” referenced only his street life, but Tupac gave the word a deeper meaning. The rapper said the tattoo is an acronym for “The hate you give little infants f*cks everyone”. “Thug Life” is a statement against discrimination and racism and symbolizes the underdog.
“Thug Life” is still a popular term in modern hip-hop, and many artists can relate to it. You can find this T-shirt easily online or go to your local print shop and just print the words “Thug Life” on a black shirt.
The power of this shirt is that everyone will know who you are referring to, and it can make a great gift.
Specifications:
Color: Black and white
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by Tupac: Inspired by his big chest tattoo.
Pros:
- Deep meaning
- The T-shirt goes with everything
Cons:
- Basic colors
- Not worn by Tupac
Tupac Black and White
The Tupac Black and White T-shirt is inspired by Tupac’s image and style. It is a white T-shirt with Tupac’s face and his name written above it. It is a classic shirt, best for Tupac fans who don’t have a favorite album/track.
The black and white T-shirt is simple but represents Tupac’s iconic style, and nobody will second guess if you are a fan or not.
Specifications:
Color: Black and white
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by Tupac: Inspired by Tupac
Pros:
- Has Tupac’s face
- This T-shirt goes with any outfit
- Everyone will know you are his fan
Cons:
- Basic for some people
Tupac Trust Nobody
Tupac’s “Trust Nobody” shirt is also at the top of the list because it is simple but still has everything a genuine Tupac fan needs. An aesthetic and simple design with Tupac’s face and a famous catchphrase “Trust Nobody”.
This is an ideal option for anyone who loves Tupac and is not just a fan of his music. If you want a cool T-shirt that will emphasize your love for this legendary rapper, this is it.
Specifications:
Color: Black & White
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by Tupac: Inspired by Tupac
Pros:
- This T-shirt goes with any outfit
- Unique and captures Tupac’s spirit
Cons:
- Basic for some fans
All Eyes on Me T-shirt
“All Eyes on Me” T-shirt references Tupac’s fourth and last album. The black and white T-shirt features an image of Tupac and the album’s name. The T-shirt is simple but still a good representation of Tupac’s music.
Fun fact: The most famous track off the album “California Love” was supposed to be Dr. Dre’s solo record, but he decided to share it with Tupac.
Specifications:
Color: Black and White
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by: Tupac’s last album
Pros:
- Has an album reference
- Resembles Tupac’s style
Cons:
- Too simple
- Not worn by Tupac
Me Against the World
The black and green T-shirt draws inspiration from one of Tupac’s most famous albums, “Me Against the World”. This is a perfect gift for fans who know this album by heart or like the songs “Heavy in the Game” and “So Many Tears”. The black and green T-shirt has Tupac’s image on the front and the artist’s name and album in bold green letters.
Specifications:
Color: black and green
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by: Tupac’s album “Me Against the World.”
Pros:
- Has a bit more color
- Has an album reference
-
Has Tupac’s image
Cons:
- Only for fans who know this album
Crying Prayers Shirt
The “Crying Prayers” Shirt is a more colorful option, with Tupac’s image of praying on the front. Tupac’s name is written in red, bold letters, and you can buy the shirt on the official page.
This is an excellent choice if you don’t want a black and white option or an album/song reference. The bright image is modern, cool, and will fit everyone’s style.
Specifications:
Color: Black, red, blue
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by Tupac: Inspired by Tupac
Pros:
- Colorful
- Has Pac’s image
Cons:
- Not worn by Tupac
Only God Can Judge Me Tank Top Shirt
The “Only God Can Judge Me” tank top is a good choice for anyone who is a fan of the famous track. The black tank top features Tupac’s image next to the track’s name. The song’s name is also a catchphrase that in the 90s could be found on many T-shirts and as tattoos.
Tupac wore tank- tops, so if you prefer them over classic T-shirts, this is an ideal choice.
Specifications:
Color: Black and white
Available: Yes
Worn/Inspired by Tupac: Inspired by Tupac’s song
Pros:
- Has Pack’s image
- Has a famous song’s name/quote
- Has deeper meaning
- Represents Pac’s beliefs and style
Cons:
- Basic for some people
FAQs
Answer: Tupac’s clothing style represented his neighborhood and West Coast style. He was known for his baseball caps, glasses, bucket hats, and bandanas, as well as a mix of athletic wear with baggy pants and sneakers.
Answer: Tupac always liked to wear accessories on his head, including knit hats and beanies. Still, he most commonly wore bandannas of different colors. The bandannas were usually red, white, blue, black, or green. He also had a specific way of wrapping them around his head.
Answer: Tupac famously wore a red bandana on one side of his head and a blue bandana on the other. Tupac often wore a bandana under his fitted hats, allowing just enough of the fabric to peek out at the bottom of the hat’s bill. He also wore several bandanas around his neck, mainly for fashion purposes.
Conclusion
It isn’t easy to pick the best Tupac shirt of all time because he is such an influential street fashion icon, apart from his rap career. Even if you are not his biggest fan, a Tupac T-shirt is always a good choice because they look cool with any outfit.
If you want something particular, or you have a favorite track/ album, you should choose between “Only God Can Judge Me”, “All Eyes on Me”, and “Me Against the World”.
If you want a famous Tupac catchphrase on your chest, go for “Trust Nobody”. If you prefer something more “basic” like an image, then check out “Crying Prayers”, “Black and White,” or “Karl Khani”.
I picked my 8 best Tupac T-shirts, and you won’t make a mistake if you choose one of these eight amazing shirts.