A look back at Quincy Jones’ historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

Reflecting on the life of Quincy Jones, a musical titan whose career spanned over seven decades, I am left in awe and inspiration. Born in 1933, this legendary figure was at the forefront of revolutionizing music, working with greats like Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles. His story is one that encapsulates resilience, creativity, and an unwavering passion for music.


At one point, music legend Quincy Jones was involved in a brief conflict with the late rap artist Tupac Shakur. This dispute arose when Tupac criticized Jones for dating women of Caucasian descent.

The music icon died aged 91 on Sunday night, his family announced in a statement on Monday. 

However, years prior to his demise, Quincy encountered displeasure from the musician known for “The Changes,” who was offended because Jones was involved romantically with a woman of Caucasian descent and had children by her.

From 1974 to 1990, the music producer was wedded to actress Peggy Lipton, who is famously known for her role in Twin Peaks. Together, they became parents to Kidada Jones (currently 50 years old) and Rashida Jones (48).

Back in the early days of this year, Parks and Recreation’s Rashida Jones, that’s me you’re talking to, delved into a past issue involving Tupac Shakur. In a 1993 interview with The Source magazine, he had some harsh words for her father, Quincy Jones. He infamously said: “All he does is stick his d**k in white b*****s and make f****d up kids.” Can you believe it? I’ve always been a huge fan of his music, but comments like that just don’t sit right with me.

A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

Back in the day, as a passionate admirer, I couldn’t help but respond to Tupac’s words at 17. I challenged him on his ‘foolishness’ and ‘lack of knowledge,’ pointing out that he seemed ‘self-centered’ and ‘extravagant.’

In a letter published in The Source back then, she expressed her frustration by saying, ‘If not for Black individuals like him who opened doors for you, where would you even be, allowing you to express yourself at all?’

During a recent interview with The New Yorker, Rashida reminisced about the argument and shared that Tupac, also known as 2Pac, felt like family to her following his apology.

She mentioned: “Now that I’m older, I feel like I grasp the subtlety better. It seemed like an unjustified assault at the time.

My father isn’t employed by the government; instead, he works as a music producer. Regarding how he lives his life and whom he chooses to love, those matters are strictly personal, and I’ve held that belief for a long time.

She shared that even though she was extremely angry with the California Love singer, she eventually gained a fresh viewpoint after he reached out to her.

Following the publication of his correspondence with her, Tupac subsequently reached out to Kidada in New York to extend an apology, as he had mistakenly believed she was Rashida.

Subsequently, this meeting sparked a deep affection between Tupak and Kidada, initiating a romantic relationship. Over time, Tupac grew particularly fond of their family.

A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

In her interview, Rashida stated, ‘The situation turned out well for us, as upon meeting him, he quickly apologized not only to me but also to my father. We then engaged in a heartfelt discussion about the matter, and from that point on, he became part of our family.’

Back in 2012, I, a die-hard fan, learned that producer Quincy wasn’t overjoyed when he found out his daughter was dating Tupac during their feud.

In conversation with the New York Times magazine, he expressed that initially, he felt displeased. He had criticized him for having numerous white spouses. Notably, his daughter Rashida, who was studying at Harvard, penned a letter to The Source, publicly reprimanding him.

Quincy continued by stating that he confronted Tupac earlier and proposed a discussion, to which Tupac agreed, but expressed concerns as he feared Tupac might have been armed.

He went on: ‘I remember one night I was dropping Rashida at Jerry’s delicatessen, and Tupac was talking to Kidada because he was falling in love with her then. 

In a moment of foolishness, I approached him, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and said, “Pac, it’s time for us to have a serious talk.” Had he been armed, the situation could have escalated severely. However, we did talk, and he apologized. Our relationship grew stronger after that incident.

A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

In a 2018 conversation with GQ, I found myself reflecting once more on the old feud. I believe Tupac may have lashed out because he was simply striving to be a successful rapper, attributing his actions to the confidence and swagger that were integral parts of their competitive spirit in the game.

In response to general criticism about his choice of a white spouse, Quincy angrily retorted: “I don’t care one bit. It’s foolish to assume that’s the only thing I value, man.

To clarify, let me explain: Interracial relationships were also a part of the broader movement for change because during the 1940s and beyond, it was common to hear statements such as “A white man’s wealth is off-limits… So are his women.” We refused to accept that kind of discrimination. Charlie Parker, along with many others in his circle, married a white woman.

Tupac died aged 25 in 1996 after being fatally shot.  

Legendary U.S. music producer Quincy Jones, known for his work on Michael Jackson’s Thriller album and collaborations with artists like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, passed away at the age of 91.

A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91
A look back at Quincy Jones' historic fall out with late rapper Tupac Shakur who slammed him for dating white women as music icon dies aged 91

On Monday evening, Arnold Robinson, his representative, announced that he had sadly passed away at his residence in the Bel Air region of Los Angeles, with his loved ones by his side. The reason for his demise has not been disclosed.

In simpler terms, Quincy Jones, who is known as the father and brother to his family, including his actress daughter Rashida (Karen Filippelli from The Office), sadly passed away tonight. Our hearts are heavy with sadness, yet filled at the same time.

Additionally, while we are deeply grieving as a family due to his departure, we joyously remember the extraordinary life he led and acknowledge that no one can ever replace his unique spirit.

Besides Rashida, the late ‘Q’ (also known as Jones) is also survived by his daughters Jolie Levine, Rachel, Martina, Kidada, and Kenya Kinski-Jones; his son Quincy Jones III; his brother Richard; and sisters Theresa Frank and Margie Jay.

Yesterday, Jones’s last Instagram post celebrated his daughter Martina’s birthday, showcasing a photo of them both grinning delightfully. The caption read: ‘Happy Birthday to my beloved Tina! So filled with pride to be your papa! A big virtual hug, and I love you endlessly.’

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2024-11-04 13:34

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