Jeffery Newbury/CORBIS OUTLINE
Late rapper Tupac Shakur’s song “Dear Mama” is set to be preserved by the U.S. Library of Congress this year.
Annually, 25 works are nominated by the public and expert panelists to be preserved for their cultural significance. “Dear Mama,” released in 1995, is a song about mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of poverty and addiction. The song will be the third rap act to join the registry, joining tracks from Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy.
Tupac’s song is part of an eclectic mix — other preservation targets include a Bill Cosby’s comedy album and records by REM, Little Richard and Willie Nelson. A tape of sounds from World War II will also be archived.
Shakur was shot dead in 1996, his killer never found. (via BBC)