Pop superstar Mariah Carey has revisited a brief but "major" encounter with the late rapper Tupac Shakur, revealing a connection that went "more than butterflies." The Grammy-winning singer, who is known for her powerful vocals and chart-topping hits, described being completely captivated by the charismatic rapper when they crossed paths backstage at the American Music Awards years ago.
Carey recounted the moment with a vivid spark, recalling how Tupac simply said, "Hi, Mariah." Her reaction, she said, was a silent scream of excitement that left her finding it hard to focus on her duties as the awards show host. The fleeting exchange, she revealed, stayed with her, a moment frozen in time that she cherished deeply.
The pop diva, who has long expressed her love for Hip Hop, shared that she would have welcomed a collaboration with Tupac, despite any potential skepticism from the public. Her admiration for his artistry is so profound that his influence echoes in her own music. Her 1999 track "How Much" features a sample of his song "Me and My Girlfriend," a clear nod to her respect for his work.
When a host jokingly referred to them as "the power couple of all power couples," Carey laughed and replied simply, "I wish." This lighthearted yet sincere response speaks volumes about the impact Tupac had on her, even in that brief encounter. It reveals a sense of what could have been, a collaboration that would have undoubtedly been legendary.
Carey first detailed this surreal meeting in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. In it, she described the dreamlike quality of his arrival in a white Rolls-Royce, a moment that felt straight out of a movie. Her continued reflection on the encounter years later shows just how significant it was to her personally and creatively.
