(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Today, we honor a man whose journey exemplifies resilience, leadership, and unwavering faith—The Rated R from Tupac Shakur’s first rap group, Thug Life. As he celebrates his 52nd birthday, we reflect not only on his personal achievements but the indelible mark he has made on communities around the world through Game 4 P.E.A.C.E (G4P), an organization he founded from a jail cell in San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. His vision transcended the bars that confined him, giving birth to a revolutionary institution rooted in peace, empathy, accountability, and growth.

As The Rated R celebrates his 52nd birthday, his impact through G4P continues to reverberate across communities. What sets his journey apart is not only the transformative nature of his work but the sheer resolve with which he forged ahead from the harsh realities of incarceration to become a leader, visionary, and voice for peace and unity.

His ability to foster change while incarcerated shows the strength of the human spirit when coupled with a desire to better oneself and the world. Game 4 P.E.A.C.E is not just an organization—it is an institution of resilience, building bridges where divisions exist and encouraging people to work toward a future where perseverance, empathy, accountability, compassion, evolving, excellence, education, and accountability guide actions.

They say give people their flowers while they’re still here to smell them, and today, we’re doing just that for a man whose journey has been marked by strength, transformation, and divine purpose—the one and only The Rated R. As someone deeply rooted in the legacy of Tupac Shakur’s Thug Life, The Rated R carries the same fire, the same passion, and the same relentless pursuit of justice, healing, and peace for our people around the world.

When I met The Rated R back in December of 2022, it was as if God had laid the path for us to cross. Me, a woman who had been betrayed and broken, and him, a man serving time at San Quentin, but still walking with the strength of a king. God bridged those miles and made our business connection one of purpose—deeply spiritual, deeply transformative. The Rated R is not just a man. He is a protector, a leader, and a warrior who, like the giants of scripture, fights for something far greater than himself. He reminds me of my Daddy, my Uncle Richard, My Uncle John and my Uncle Bayard Rustin, Adam Clayton Powell, Cecil B. Moore, Matula Shakur, Tupac Shakur, my theatre hero, Barrymore Award winner, Bruce Robinson, my teacher and mentor, the late William “Poogie” Hart who founded the legendary Delfonics, and many others, a “man’s man,”. Like them, he is a no-nonsense warrior who leads with humility, compassion, and unwavering faith. These are the qualities that make The Rated R a man to be celebrated today, on his birthday, as we honor the fire that still burns within him.

His story is one of resilience, like that of King David or King Solomon. Like David, he has faced giants in his life—trials that would’ve taken down lesser men—but he fights on. He is also a man of wisdom, much like Solomon, building every project on the solid foundations of faith, truth, and justice. The Rated R has never been one to shy away from responsibility or from confronting the harsh truths about himself or the world. He faces these challenges head-on, and in doing so, he inspires everyone around him to do the same.

But what sets The Rated R apart is his heart. Beneath the warrior’s armor, there is a man of deep emotion, someone who understands that true strength comes from within, from healing, and from lifting others up. His time behind bars didn’t break him—it made him. He used his time to confront his pain, grow as a leader, and transformed into a protector not just for me, but for our entire Game 4 P.E.A.C.E family. His healing journey, rooted in emotional and spiritual growth, is a testament to the power of God’s plan.

Just as Tupac fought for the liberation of our people, The Rated R stands as a continuation of that mission. He was there in those same studios recording alongside Tupac, as he and the legend himself spoke truth to power, and now The Rated R carries that torch forward, reminding us that our fight is not over. Game 4 P.E.A.C.E is a divine assignment. Together, we, the G4P family, are part of God’s Chosen Generation, a warrior class fighting not just for survival, but for the liberation of our people.

The Rated R has become a spiritual leader, a man who sees beyond the physical realm to the deeper battles we must fight—for justice, for peace, for our communities. His journey reflects the path of biblical warriors like Gideon, Abraham, and Moses. He carries with him the same faith that moves mountains, the same leadership that leads people to freedom, and the heart of a warrior who knows that victory is written in the stars.

And now, as members of Game 4 P.E.A.C.E Philly, he stands beside me, guiding our mission to uplift, educate, and restore. We’re continuing the legacy of Tupac Shakur, using forums, art, music, and storytelling as our weapons in this fight for justice all around America and the globe. We’re warriors in God’s army, not just protecting our communities, but reshaping the world in His vision.

Today, we give The Rated R his flowers. Not because his journey has been easy, but because his strength, his wisdom, and his fortitude have lit the way for so many of us. He is a man my daddy would’ve respected—the man I look up to as a partner in this divine mission from God. He found healing in the unlikeliest of places and turned his trials into triumph. That’s the legacy of a true warrior. That’s the legacy of The Rated R!

So, happy birthday to The Rated R—the protector, the leader, the warrior. Today we celebrate not just the man you are, but the man God has chosen you to be. The journey is far from over, but you’ve already left a mark on this world that can’t be erased. We honor you; we uplift you, and we stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, in this fight for truth, justice, and peace.

Because like Tupac said, “the realest people don’t have a lot of friends.” But you’ve got a family here with G4P and we ride with you. Always.

As we commemorate this special day, we not only celebrate The Rated R’s past accomplishments but also look forward to the continued positive changes Game 4 P.E.A.C.E will inspire. Here’s to a man whose life exemplifies the triumph of the human spirit—happy birthday, Rated R! May this year bring even more growth, success, and peace to all those who follow in your footsteps.

Game 4 Perseverance, Empathy, Accountability, Compassion, Evolve – Excellence – Education

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