News of September 22, 1996
"Day of Atonement": Rappers and Nation of Islam Gather in Harlem
Nine days after Tupac's death, the Nation of Islam called rappers to Harlem to make peace. The invitation list also included The Notorious B.I.G.
On Sunday, September 22, 1996, rappers and members of the Nation of Islam gathered in Harlem for a “Day of Atonement”, a day of reflection against violence in gangsta rap. The invitation had been issued by Conrad Muhammad, the New York representative of the Nation of Islam. Among those announced were The Notorious B.I.G. and Sean “Puffy” Combs, A Tribe Called Quest, and Chuck D.
“Not a Gangsta Rapper, a Child of God”
Muhammad rejected the accusation that they were honoring a gangsta rapper. They were honoring a Black man who had been murdered, the Los Angeles Times quoted him as saying. Already during the announcement he had explained that Tupac could not be brought back, but tens of thousands admired him; the meeting was intended to prevent them from imitating his worst sides of all.
How the day unfolded, who attended, and what was said is recounted in the magazine feature Memorial Service in Harlem: The “Hip-Hop Day of Atonement”.
The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace)Sean "Puffy" Combs and Bad Boy Records