Will Smith Recalls Feeling A "Raging Jealousy" Over Tupac & Wife Jada's Friendship

BY Erika Marie 2.6K Views
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Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith
In his memoir, Smith recalled being "insecure" while also feeling "victory" because he was able to win Jada's heart.

The relationship between Tupac Shakur and Jada Pinkett Smith has been well-documented, even more so following the rapper's tragic murder. Jada and Tupac knew each other from their youth and were close friends who seemed to teeter on the lines of romance. His poetry and letters to her have been made public and the actress has often spoken about their connection.

Another element to their relationship arrived when Will Smith began dating Jada and apparently, neither Will nor Tupac were fans of one another. In his memoir, Will, the actor recalled seething with jealousy.


Smith admitted to feeling a "twisted sense of victory" while dating his wife as if he was able to accomplish something that Tupac was not. He also stated he was "insecure" about their friendship. "The way Jada loved 'Pac rendered me incapable of being friends with him. I was too immature."

"In the beginning of our relationship, my mind was tortured by their connection. He was 'PAC! I was me," he writes. "He triggered the perception of myself as a coward. I hated that I wasn't what he was in the world, and I suffered a raging jealousy. I wanted Jada to look at me like that."

Check out a few nostalgic moments from Jada and Tupac's friendship below.




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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.