I'm Not Supposed 2 Want U: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A handwritten poem by Tupac Shakur to a woman identified as "Simi" while incarcerated at Clinton Correctional Facility in New York. The poem is written in blue ink on a single sheet of lined white looseleaf notebook paper. The title is written on the top line below the upper margin: [I'm Not Supposed 2 Want U.]. The line under the title is blank, followed by the poem, which comprises 15 lines. It begins [I'm not suppossed (sic) 2 want u, I really shouldn't try / Though my history is misery I refuse 2 pass u By]. Beneath the poem at right, written on a slant, is the signature: [FROM / 2PAC / Exclusively 4 Simi / Because it'z True!]. At left, handwritten in red ink is the date [Aug 26, 1995]. There are no marks or inscriptions on the verso.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: August 26, 1995
• Written by: Tupac Amaru Shakur, American, 1971 - 1996
• Type: poems
• Medium: ink on paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 10 1/2 × 8 in. (26.7 × 20.3 cm)
• Place made: Dannemora, Clinton County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Poetry
• Topic: Prisons
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2020.27.6
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Estate of Tupac Shakur Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.