Comedian Ali Siddiq recently shared his unfiltered thoughts on 2Pac and hip-hop culture during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast.

Ali Siddiq stirred the pot in a recent sit-down on Club Shay Shay, revealing that he never viewed the late rap legend 2Pac as a “thug” — a term often associated with the iconic artist. His comments quickly lit up social media, sparking a wave of debate across platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

Ali Siddiq Says 2Pac’s Image Didn’t Match the Streets

During the conversation, Siddiq reflected on 2Pac’s early days as a dancer with Digital Underground, a far cry from the hardened image that would later define his career.

“Yeah, I see who now Tupac — I didn’t know that was him. He’s a dancer, you know… with Digital Underground,” Siddiq said. “But it wasn’t that thug persona. And how would it be a thug persona to somebody who’s already thugging in the streets? Like, I’m already a wild man. So I didn’t see him like everybody else saw him.”

He went on to add:

“Even when I was locked up, I used to be like, man, that kid wasn’t no thug like that.”

Social Media Reacts to Siddiq’s Comments on 2Pac

As expected, Ali Siddiq’s comments struck a nerve. Fans and critics alike chimed in online:

“Niggas talk a lot of shit, but that’s after I’m gone
‘Cause they fear me in the physical form”

— The Incredible (@djfinese) May 8, 2025

I know people from death row that was there since the beginning who knew him in the early 90s I’ve personally talked to DJ Quik about him my homies also has conversations with snoop. Pac was exactly who he said he was in rap and interviews yall tryna change the narrative

— The Incredible (@djfinese) May 8, 2025

Lmao studio thug yall and these narratives he was the son of black panthers his folks was shooting cops etc and was followed by the FBI which pac inherited those traits from that there was never a facade and yall act like inner city kids can’t be in performing arts lmao

— The Incredible (@djfinese) May 8, 2025

The clip quickly went viral, igniting conversations about how artists like 2Pac are remembered — and how public personas often differ from real-life experiences.

Ali Siddiq Also Shares Hilarious Story About Lil’ Kim

2Pac wasn’t the only hip-hop legend Siddiq spoke about during the interview. He also shared a wild and humorous story about a failed attempt to shoot his shot with Lil’ Kim at a club — and it didn’t go well.

According to Siddiq, he heard Lil’ Kim liked “regular dudes,” so he decided to try his luck. Unfortunately, fueled by Hennessy and poor judgment, his opening line referencing the late Biggie Smalls didn’t land well.

“I was on that Hen. Full of it. Had a Hennessy IV. I’m with Bad Boy — Diddy ain’t there. This ain’t no Diddy party,” Siddiq recalled.
“I get right in Kim’s face, and I said, ‘Biggie dead. What are we doing?’ That’s all I had. It was the Hennessy; it wasn’t me. I apologize, Lil Kim. I was wild on that Hennessy.”

Conclusion

Ali Siddiq’s candid recollections offer a raw, sometimes humorous, and controversial lens into hip-hop’s past. Whether or not fans agree with his take on 2Pac, the conversation has reignited long-standing debates about authenticity, legacy, and the image artists portray.