2Pac's been gone for over 20 years.

But his legacy still invokes serious and sometimes violent passion in his fans.

Thomas Statkiewicz was arrested for felony battery in Clearwater, Florida earlier this week after badly beating another man in a fight over Pac.

The unnamed victim was hospitalized with heavy facial injuries and a broken nose. His eyes were swollen shut and he wasn't able to communicate with the police because he was too injured and intoxicated. Stankiewicz, 35, admitted to "defending" himself by hitting the victim more than once after the victim tried to punch him during an argument about 2Pac.

No word on what exactly the argument was about.