News of October 30, 2014
Three Poems by 17-Year-Old Tupac
Handwritten verses on love and heartbreak: In 2014, Leila Steinberg made public three poems Tupac had written at age 17.
Three short, handwritten poems written at age 17: On October 30, 2014, early verses by Tupac reached the public. Leila Steinberg, his first manager, had made them available to the magazine Noisey through the denim brand Citizens of Humanity. Vibe and Complex reported on the same day.
Love and Heartbreak Across Three Years
The texts were written over a period of three years and, according to Vibe, reveal a side that rarely takes center stage. Complex listed the titles “Things That Make My Heart Break,” “Cupid’s Smile II,” and “A Love Unspoken.” They deal with love, heartbreak, and the emotions of an adolescent that would later also carry Tupac’s music. Noisey asked writer Jeff Weiss for an accompanying essay.
Same Titles, Open Versions
Tupac’s published poetry can be found on the Poems page. The page also lists poems with the same titles, such as Cupid’s Smile II and A Love Unspoken. Whether they are the same versions remains open.