News of December 3, 2002
Shooting "Thugz Mansion": Nas Puts Tupac Beyond Shakespeare
In early December 2002, Nas shot the video for "Thugz Mansion" in Atlanta. He spoke of a great honor and placed Tupac above Shakespeare.
On Monday, December 2, 2002, Nas was in front of the camera in Atlanta for the video for “Thugz Mansion”. He can be heard on the acoustic guitar version. On Tupac’s new album Better Dayz, it features two verses by Tupac and one by Nas; on Nas’s own album God’s Son, which was scheduled for release on December 17, it is the other way around.
“Beyond Shakespeare”
Although Tupac had once attacked him in songs, Nas remained a fan, in his own words. “I put Tupac beyond Shakespeare,” he told MTV News on the set. Tupac’s legacy was timeless, he said, and taking part was an honor. When he heard the track, he agreed immediately. He said he himself had wanted to make something with just guitar for his album, where you can understand every word. “Thugz Mansion” describes a place without problems: “it’s heaven.”
A Video Without the Lead Actor
David Nelson directed, having previously shot videos for Coolio and Naughty by Nature. Because Tupac was no longer here, special techniques were used to depict him appropriately, Nas said. The video was scheduled to air on MTV on December 13 on “TRL” and on December 17 on “Direct Effect”. More on Tupac’s relationship to poetry and the stage can be found under Poetry, Shakespeare and Theater.