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Tupac Shakur 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Makaveli" redirects here. For the Italian polymath, see Niccolò Machiavelli.

Tupac Shakur

Background information

Also known as 2Pac, Pac, Makaveli, MC New York 

Born

June 1, 1!"1

#a$t %arlem, Manhattan

 New York City,  New York , &'('

Origin Marin City, California, &'('

Died(eptem)er 1*, 1!! +aed 2-.

/a$ 0ea$, Nevada, &'('

Genres %ip hop

Occupations apper, actor, poet, activi$t

Years active 1!31!!

Labels 4eath ow, 5nter$cope

Associated

acts

6utlaw7, 8hu /ife, 4anny 9oy,4iital &nderround, 4r' 4re,Johnny :J:, 5ce

Cu)e,  Nate 4o,8he Notoriou$ 9'5';', (noop 4o

ebsite www'2Pac'com

Tupac Amaru Shakur  (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his staenames 2Pac an! brie"ly as Makaveli, was an #merican rapper  an! actor $%1& Shakur hassol! o'er 7 million recor!s worl!wi!e, makin him one o" the bestsellin music artists o"all time$%*& +T ranke! him at number two on their list o" The Greatest MCs of AllTime an! Rolling Stone name! him the -6th .reatest #rtist o" #ll Time$%3& /is !ouble !iscalbum All Eyez on Me is one o" the best sellin hip hop albums o" all time$

Shakur bean his career as a roa!ie, backup !ancer , an! +0 "or the alternati'e hiphop roup iital 2n!erroun!, e'entually branchin o"" as a solo artist$<=> <-> <> Thethemes o" most o" Shakurs sons re'ol'e! aroun! the 'iolence an! har!ship in inner

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cities, racism an! other social problems$ 4oth o" his parents an! se'eral other o" his "amilywere members o" the 4lack 5anther 5arty, whose i!eals were re"lecte! in his sons$

urin the latter part o" his career, Shakur was a 'ocal participant in the socalle! ast0oast–est 0oast hip hop ri'alry, becomin in'ol'e! in con"licts with other rappers,pro!ucers an! recor!label sta"" members, most notably The 8otorious 4$$.$ an! hislabel 4a! 4oy :ecor!s$%7&

;n September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot multiple times in a !ri'eby shootin at theintersection o" <lamino :oa! an! =o'al >ane in >as eas, 8e'a!a$%-& /e was taken tothe 2ni'ersity +e!ical 0enter o" Southern 8e'a!a, where he !ie! si? !ays later$%9&

!ontents

  %hi!e& 

• 1 arly life

• * 0areer 

• *$1 1991–93@ 4einnins an! rise to "ame

• *$* 199A–9@ #ctin an! rise to prominence

• *$3 1996@ 0ontinue! success an! "inal album

• 3 ;ther 'entures

• 3$1 eath :ow :ecor!s

• 3$* ;utlawB

• 3$3 #ctin career 

• A #rtistry

• 5ersonal li"e

• 6 >eal issues

• 6$1 199* shootin

• 6$* #ttack at Cua! Stu!ios

• 6$3 Se?ual assault

• 6$A 5rison sentence an! bail

• 7 eath

• - #"termath

• 9 >eacy

• 1D #ccola!es an! honors

• 11 iscoraphy

• 1* <ilmoraphy

• 1*$1 ocumentaries

• 13 See also

• 1A :e"erences

• 1 Sources

• 16 ?ternal links

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arly li"e

ast /arlem neihborhoo! o" 8ew Eork 0ity, where Shakur was born

Shakur, accor!in to relati'es real name Lesane Parish Crooks,<1?><11> <12> was born onJune 16, 1971, in the ast /arlem section o" +anhattan in 8ew Eork 0ity$%13& /e wasname! a"ter TFpac #maru,%1A& an 1-thcentury South #merican re'olutionary who was

e?ecute! a"ter lea!in an in!ienous uprisin aainst Spanish rule$%1&/is mother, #"eni Shakur , an! his "ather, 4illy .arlan!, were acti'e members o" the 4lack5anther 5arty in 8ew Eork in the late 196Ds an! early 197Ds$ The in"ant boy was born amonth a"ter his mother was acGuitte! o" more than 1D chares o" H0onspiracy aainstthe 2nite! States o'ernment an! 8ew Eork lan!marksH in the 8ew Eork H5anther *1Hcourt case$%16&

Shakur li'e! "rom an early ae with people who were con'icte! o" serious criminalo""ences an! who were imprisone!$ /is o!"ather, lmer H.eronimoH 5ratt, a hihrankin 4lack 5anther , was con'icte! o" mur!erin a school teacher !urin a 196-robbery, althouh his sentence was later o'erturne!$ /is step"ather, +utulu, spent "our

years at lare on the <4s Ten +ost ante! <uiti'es list beinnin in 19-*$ +utulu waswante! "or ha'in helpe! his sister #ssata Shakur  (also known as Joanne 0hesimar!) toescape "rom a penitentiary in 8ew Jersey$ She ha! been imprisone! "or killin a statetrooper  in 1973$ +utulu was cauht in 19-6 an! imprisone! "or the robbery o" a 4rinksarmore! truck in which two police o""icers an! a uar! were kille!$%17& Shakur ha! a hal"sister, Sekyiwa, two years his Iunior, an! an ol!er stepbrother,+opreme H=omaniH Shakur ,who appeare! in many o" his recor!ins$%1-&

 #t the ae o" twel'e, Shakur enrolle! in /arlems 1*7th Street :epertory nsemble an!was cast as the Tra'is Eouner character in the play A Raisin in the Sun, which wasper"orme! at the #pollo Theater $ n 19-6, the "amily relocate! to 4altimore, +arylan!$%19& #"ter completin his secon! year at 5aul >aurence unbar /ih School, hetrans"erre! to the 4altimore School "or the #rts, where he stu!ie! actin, poetry, IaBB, an!ballet$%*D& /e per"orme! in Shakespeare plays, an! in the role o" the +ouse =in in theballet The Nutcracker $%17& Shakur, accompanie! by one o" his "rien!s, ana H+ouseHSmith, as his beatbo?, won many rap competitions an! was consi!ere! to be the bestrapper in his school$%*1& /e was remembere! as one o" the most popular ki!s in his schoolbecause o" his sense o" humor, superior rappin skills, an! ability to mi? with all crow!s$%**& /e !e'elope! a close "rien!ship with a youn Ja!a 5inkett (later Ja!a 5inkett Smith)that laste! until his !eath$

n the !ocumentary Tupac: Resurrection, Shakur says, HJa!a is my heart$ She will be my"rien! "or my whole li"e$H 5inkett Smith calls him Hone o" my best "rien!s$ /e was like a

brother$ t was beyon! "rien!ship "or us$ The type o" relationship we ha!, you only et thatonce in a li"etime$H # poem written by Shakur title! HJa!aH appears in his book, The RoseThat Grew rom Concrete, which also inclu!es a poem !e!icate! to 5inkett Smith calle!

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HThe Tears in 0upi!s yesH$ urin his time in art school, Shakur became a""iliate! withthe 4altimore Eoun 0ommunist >eaue 2S#,<2*><2=> an! bean !atin the !auhter o"the !irector o" the local 0ommunist 5arty 2S#$%*&

n June 19--, Shakur an! his "amily mo'e! to +arin 0ity, 0ali"ornia, a resi!entialcommunity locate! miles (-$D km) north o" San <rancisco,%19& where heatten!e! Tamalpais /ih School in nearby +ill alley$%*6& /e bean atten!in the poetry

classes o" >eila Steinber in 19-9$%*7& That same year, Steinber oraniBe! a concert witha "ormer roup o" Shakurs, HStrictly opeH the concert le! to him bein sine! with #tron.reory$ /e set him up as a roa!ie an! backup !ancer with the hip hop roup iital2n!erroun! in 199D$<=> <-> <>

0areer 1991–93: Beginnings an rise !o "ameShakurs pro"essional entertainment career bean in the early 199Ds, when he !ebute! hisrappin skills in a 'ocal turn in iital 2n!erroun!s HSame SonH "rom the soun!track tothe 1991 "ilm Nothing !ut Trou!le an! also appeare! with the roup in the "ilm o" the samename$ The son was later release! as the lea! son o" the iital 2n!erroun! e?ten!e!

play (5) This is an E" Release, the "ollowup to their !ebut hit album Se# "ackets$ Shakur appeare! in the accompanyin music 'i!eo$ #"ter his rap !ebut, he per"orme! withiital 2n!erroun! aain on the album Sons of the " $ >ater, he release! his "irst soloalbum, $"acalypse Now $ Thouh the album !i! not enerate any HTop TenHhits, $"acalypse Now  is haile! by many critics an! "ans "or its un!erroun! "eel, with manyrappers such as 8as, minem, .ame, an! Talib =weli ha'in pointe! to it as inspiration$%*-& #lthouh the album was oriinally release! on nterscope :ecor!s, rihts o" it are nowowne! by #maru ntertainment$ The albums name is a re"erence to the 1979"ilm Apocalypse Now $

The album enerate! sini"icant contro'ersy$ an Cuayle criticiBe! it a"ter a Te?as youths

!e"ense attorney claime! he was in"luence! by $"acalypse Now  an! its stron themeo" police brutality be"ore shootin a state trooper$ Cuayle sai!, HTheres no reason "or arecor! like this to be release!$ t has no place in our society$H n connection with suchcriticisms Tupac tol! %A Times reporter 0huck 5hilips that he "elt misun!erstoo!$%*9& /esai!, H starte! out sayin was !own "or the youn black male, you know, an! that wasonna be my than,H Tupac sai!$ H Iust wante! to rap about thins that a""ecte! younblack males$ hen sai! that, !i!nt know that was onna tie mysel" !own to Iust takeall the blunts an! hits "or all the youn black males, to be the me!ias kickin post "oryoun black males$ Iust "iure! since li'e! that li"e coul! !o that, coul! rap aboutthat$H <*?><*1> The recor! was important in showcasin *5acs political con'iction an! his"ocus on lyrical prowess$ ;n +Ts Greatest Rappers of All Time %ist , $"acalypse

Now was liste! as one o" *5acs Hcerti"ie! classicH albums, alon with Me Against the&orl' , All Eyez (n Me an! The )on *illuminati: The + )ay Theory $ *5acalypse8ow went on to !e certifie' Gol' !y the R,AA- ,t feature' three singles. / 0ren'a1s Got a0a!y /2 / Trappe' /2 an' / ,f My 3omie Calls/- $"acalypse Now  can be "oun! in the inyl0ount!own an! in the instruction manual "or Gran' Theft Auto: San An'reas2 alon withthe track H ont .i'e a <uck,H which appeare! on the iname ra!io station, Ra'io %osSantos$

/is secon! stu!io album, Strictly 4 My N-,-G-G-A-5-, was release! in <ebruary 1993$ Thealbum !i! better than the pre'ious one !ebutin on number *A on the 4illboar! *DD$ Thealbum contains many tracks emphasiBin Tupacs political an! social 'iews$ This album

ha! more commercial success than its pre!ecessor, an! there were noticeable !i""erencesin pro!uction$ hile Tupacs "irst e""ort ha! an in!ieraporiente! soun!, this album wasconsi!ere! his HbreakoutH album$ t spawne! the hits H=eep Ea /ea! 2pH an! H .et

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 #roun!H an! reache! platinum status$ ;n 'inyl, Si!e # (tracks 1–-) was labele! the H4lackSi!eH an! Si!e 4 (tracks 9–16) the Hark Si!e$H ts known as his tenthbiest sellinalbum with 1,366,DDD units mo'e! as o" *DDA$%3*&

199#–9$: Ac!ing an rise !o prominence/Thug %ife/ re'irects here- or the film2 see Thug %ife 6film7- or the al!um2 see Thug %ife:8olume 9-

n late 1993, Shakur "orme! the roup Thu >i"e with a number o" his "rien!s, inclu!in 4iSyke, +aca!oshis, his stepbrother +opreme Shakur , an! :ate! :$ The roup release!their only album Thug %ife: 8olume 9 on September *6, 199A, which went ol!$ The album"eature! the sinle H5our ;ut a >ittle >iGuor,H pro!uce! by Johnny HJH Jackson, who wenton to pro!uce a lare part o" Shakurs album All Eyez on Me$ The roup usually per"orme!their concerts without Shakur$%33& The album was oriinally release! by Shakurs label ;uta .utta :ecor!s$ ue to criticism about ansta rap at the time, the oriinal 'ersion o"the album was scrappe! an! rerecor!e! with many o" the oriinal sons bein cut$ #mon the notable tracks on the album are H4ury +e a .,H H0ra!le to the .ra'e,H H5our;ut a >ittle >iGuorH (which also appears in the soun!track to the 199A "ilm #bo'e the :im),

H/ow >on ill They +ourn +eKH an! HStr- 4allin$H The album contains ten tracksbecause nterscope :ecor!s "elt many o" the other recor!e! sons were too contro'ersialto release$ #lthouh the oriinal 'ersion o" the album was not complete!, Tupac per"orme!the planne! "irst sinle "rom the album, H;ut on 4ailH at the 199A Source #war!s$%3A& #lthouh the album was oriinally release! on Shakurs label ;ut a .utta, #maruntertainment, the label owne! by the mother o" Tupac Shakur, has since aine! the rihtsto it$ Thug %ife: 8olume 9 was certi"ie! .ol!$ The track H/ow >on ill They +ourn +eKHappeare! later in 199- "rom *5acs Greatest 3its album$%3&

The album was 'ery well recei'e!, with many callin it the manum opus o" his career$ t isconsi!ere! one o" the reatest an! most in"luential hip hop albums o" alltime$ t is his

"ourth biest sellin album with *,A39,DDD units mo'e! to !ate$%36& Me Against the&orl'  won best rap album at the 1996 Soul Train +usic #war!s$%37&%unrelia!le source&

Hear +amaH was release! as the albums "irst sinle in <ebruary 199, alon with thetrack H;l! SchoolH as the 4si!e$%3-& Hear +amaH woul! be the albums most success"ulsinle, toppin the /ot :ap Sinles chart, an! peakin at the ninth spot onthe 0ill!oar' /ot 1DD$%39& The sinle was certi"ie! platinum in July 199,%AD& an! laterplace! at L1 on the yearen! charts$ The secon! sinle, HSo +any TearsH, was release!in June, "our months a"ter the "irst sinle$%A1& The sinle woul! reach the number si? spoton the /ot :ap Sinles chart, an! the AAth on the 0ill!oar'  /ot 1DD$%39& HTemptationsH,release! in #uust, was the thir! an! "inal sinle "rom the album$%A*& The sinle woul! bethe least success"ul o" the three release!, but still !i! "airly well on the charts, reachinnumber 6- on the 0ill!oar'  /ot 1DD, 3 on the /ot :M4N/ip/op Sinles M Tracks, an! 13on the /ot :ap Sinles charts$%39&

199%: Con!inue success an "inal al&um All Eyez on Me was the "ourth stu!io album by *5ac, release! on <ebruary 13, 1996by eath :ow :ecor!s an! nterscope :ecor!s$ The album is "reGuently reconiBe! asone o" the crownin achie'ements o" 199Ds rap music$%A3& t has been sai! that H!espitesome un!eniable "iller, it is easily the best pro!uction *5acs e'er ha! on recor!H$%AA& twas certi"ie! O 5latinum a"ter Iust * months in #pril 1996 an! 9O platinum in 199-$ Thealbum "eature! the 0ill!oar'  /ot 1DD number one sinles H/ow o 2 ant tH an!H0ali"ornia >o'eH$ t "eature! sinles in all, the most o" any *5ac album$ +oreo'er, All

Eyez (n Me (which was the only eath :ow release to be !istribute!throuh 5oly.ram by way o" slan! :ecor!s) ma!e history as the "irst !ouble"ulllenthhiphop solo stu!io album release! "or mass consumption$ t was issue! on two compact

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!iscs an! "our >5s$ 0hartwise, All Eyez on Me was the secon! album "rom *5ac to hitnumberone on both the 4illboar! *DD an! the Top :M4N/ip/op #lbums charts$%A& t sol!66,DDD copies in the "irst week o" its release, an! was charte! on the top 1DD with the toponeweek Soun!scan sales since 1991$ The album won the 1997 Soul Train :M4NSoul or:ap #lbum o" the Eear #war!$<=><=">%unrelia!le source& Shakur also won the #war! "or<a'orite :apN/ip/op #rtist at the *Ath #nnual #merican +usic #war!s$%A-&%unrelia!le

source&Maka;eli The )on < *illuminati: The + )ay Theory , commonly shortene! to The + )ayTheory , is the "i"th an! "inal stu!io album by Tupac Shakur, un!er the new stae name+aka'eli, "inishe! be"ore his !eath an! his "irst stu!io album to be posthumously release!$%A9& The album was completely "inishe! in a total o" se'en !ays !urin the month o" #uust 1996$%D& The lyrics were written an! recor!e! in only three !ays an! mi?in tookan a!!itional "our !ays$ These are amon the 'ery last sons he recor!e! be"ore his "atalshootin on September 7, 1996$ n *DD, +T$com ranke! *illuminati: The + )ayTheory  at L9 on their reatest hip hop albums o" all time list%1& an!, in *DD6, reconiBe! itas a classic$%*& The emotion an! aner showcase! on the album has been a!mire! by a

lare part o" the hiphop community, inclu!in other rappers$%3& :onal! H:iskieH 4rent isthe creator o" the +aka'eli on =illuminati co'er paintin$%A& .eore H5apa .H 5ryce,<ormer /ea! o" 5ublicity "or eath :ow, claime! that H+aka'eli which we !i! was a sort o"tonue an! cheek an! it was not really to come out an! a"ter Tupac was mur!ere!, it !i!come out$ 4ut be"ore that it was oin to be a sort o" an un!erroun!$H%& The albumpeake! at number one on the 0ill!oar'  Top :M4N/ip/op #lbumschart an! the 4illboar!*DD$%6& The album enerate! the secon!hihest !ebutweek sales total o" any albumthat year,%7& sellin 66A,DDD copies on the "irst week$ This album was certi"ie! AO5latinum on June 1, 1999$%-&

;ther 'entures'ea!h (o) (ecors2pon his release "rom 0linton 0orrectional <acility in 199, Shakur imme!iately went backto son recor!in$ /e bean a new roup calle! ;utlaw mmortalB$ Shakur beanrecor!in his "irst album with eath :ow an! release! the sinle H0ali"ornia >o'eH soona"ter$

;n <ebruary 13, 1996, Shakur release! his "ourth solo album, All Eyez on Me$ This !oublealbum was the "irst an! secon! o" his threealbum commitment to eath :ow :ecor!s$ tsol! o'er nine million copies$%9& The recor! was a eneral !eparture "rom theintrospecti'e subIect matter o" Me Against the &orl' , bein more oriente! towar! a thuan! ansta mentality$ Shakur continue! his recor!ins !espite increasin problems at theeath :ow label$ r$ re le"t his post as house pro!ucer to "orm his own label, #"termath$

Shakur continue! to pro!uce hun!re!s o" tracks !urin his time at eath :ow, most o"which woul! be release! on his posthumous albums R = Still )own 6Remem!erMe7, Still , Rise, =ntil the En' of Time, 0etter )ayz , %oyal to the Game an! "ac1s %ife$ /ealso bean the process o" recor!in an album with the 4oot 0amp 0lik an! their labeluck own :ecor!s, both 8ew Eork–base!, entitle! (ne Nation$%6D&

;n June A, 1996, he an! ;utlawB release! the !iss track H/it m 2pH, a scathin lyricalassault on 4iie an! others associate! with him$ n the track, Shakur claime! to ha'e ha!se?ual intercourse with <aith 'ans, 4iies wi"e at the time, an! attacke! 4a! 4oysstreet cre!ibility$ Shakur was con'ince! that some members associate! with 4a! 4oy ha!known about the 9A attack on him be"orehan! !ue to their beha'ior that niht an! what

his sources tol! him$ #"ter the attack, Shakur imme!iately accuse! Jimmy /enchman (anassociate o" 4a! 4oy 0; Sean 0ombs) o" orchestratin the attack, accor!in to a *DDinter'iew with /enchman in ibe maaBine$ #"ter the attack, Shakur there"ore aline!

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himsel" with Sue, eath :ows 0;, who was alrea!y bitter towar! 0ombs o'er a 199inci!ent at the 5latinum 0lub in #tlanta, .eoria, which culminate! in the !eath o" Sue=nihts "rien! an! bo!yuar!, Jake :obles =niht was a!amant in 'oicin his suspicionso" 0ombs in'ol'ement$%61& (n a June 1*, *D1* illae oicearticle, 0huck5hilips reporte! that Sean 0ombs associate Jimmy /enchman, remarkably, a!mitte! tosettin up Shakurs ambush !urin one o" nine HCueen <or # ayH pro""er sessions with

the o'ernment in autumn o" *D11, accor!in to prosecutors)$%6*&*u!la)+Main article: (utlawz 

hen Tupac Shakur recor!e! H/it m 2pH a !iss son towar!s his "ormer "rien! an!ri'al, The 8otorious 4$$.$, also known as 4iie Smalls he recruite! three members "romthe "ormer roup ramacy!al whom he ha! worke! with pre'iously, an! was eaer towork with aain$ Toether with the three 8ew Jersey rappers an! other associates, they"orme! the oriinal lineup o" the ;utlawB$ hen *5ac sine! to eath :ow upon hisrelease "rom prison, he recruite! his step brother +opreme Shakur  an! 4i Syke "romThu >i"e$ /ussein <atal, 8apoleon, $$$ +ean, =astro, Eaki =a!a"i, an! Storm (the only

"emale ;utlaw) were also a!!e!, an! toether they "orme! the oriinal lineup o" the;utlaw mmortalB that !ebute! on *5acs multiplatinum smash All Eyez on Me$ They later!roppe! the immortal a"ter the untimely !eaths o" *5ac an! Eaki =a!a"i an! mo'e! on as;utlawB without the members o" Thu >i"e$ Eoun 8oble was later a!!e! an! appeare! on*5acs secon! eath :ow release The )on *illuminati: The + )ay Theory $ t was on*5acs +aka'eli album that ;utlawB "irst came to the reater rap communitys notice,appearin on a "ew sons$ The i!ea behin! the roup was "or each member to ha'e a rapname coinci!in with the names o" 'arious tyrants or enemies o"   #merica, past an!present$ ;utlawB chose in later years to make a backronym out o" the letters o" their roupname (perating =n'er Thug %aws As &arriorz  althouh it !oes not stan! "or the roupsname an! is use! in"reGuently$

;n "ormin the ;utlawB, Shakur a'e each o" them a name o" a !ictatorNmilitary lea!er oran enemy o" #merica$

• Eaki =a!a"i, a"ter >ibyan lea!er +uammar .a!!a"i• /ussein <atal, a"ter raGi lea!er Sa!!am /ussein• +ussolini ("ormerly 4i Syke), a"ter talian !ictator 4enito +ussolini

• =omani (Shakurs hal" brother +opreme Shakur ), a"ter ranian slamic:e'olution lea!er #yatollah :uhollah =homeini

• =astro, a"ter 0uban lea!er <i!el 0astro• $$$ +ean, a"ter 2an!an !ictator !i #min

• 8apoleon, a"ter military strateist an! lea!er 8apoleon 4onaparte<or himsel", Shakur create! the alias H+aka'eliH "rom :enaissance talian philosopher an!strateist 8iccolP +achia'elli, whose writins inspire! Shakur in prison, but who alsopreache! that a lea!er coul! eliminate his enemies by all means necessary$ /e mentione!+aka'eli :ecor!s a "ew times be"ore his !eath$ This was suppose! to be a music label "orup an! comin artists that Shakur ha! an interest in !e'elopin or potentially sinin, an!his own "uture proIects woul! ha'e also been publishe! throuh it as well$%63&

Ac!ing career n a!!ition to rappin an! hip hop music, Shakur acte! in "ilms$ /e ma!e his "irst "ilmappearance in the motion picture Nothing 0ut Trou!le, as part o" a cameo by the iital

2n!erroun!$ /is "irst starrin role was in the "ilm >uice$ n this "ilm, he playe! thecharacter :olan! 4ishop, a 'iolent member o" the reckin 0rew, "or which he was haile!by Rolling Stones 5eter Tra'ers as Hthe "ilms most manetic "iure$H%6A& /e then went on

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to star with Janet Jackson in "oetic >ustice an! with uane +artin in A!o;e the Rim$ #"terhis !eath, three o" Shakurs complete! "ilms, 0ullet , Gri'lock1'  an! Gang Relate' , wererelease!$<-><>

/e ha! also been slate! to star in the /uhes brothers "ilm Menace ,, Society  but wasreplace! by >arenB Tate a"ter assaultin #llen /uhes as a result o" a Guarrel$irector John Sinleton mentione! that he wrote the script "or 0a!y 0oy  with Shakur in

min! "or the lea!in role$%67& t was e'entually "ilme! with Tyrese .ibson in his place an!release! in *DD1, "i'e years a"ter Shakurs !eath$ The "ilm "eatures a mural o" Shakur inthe protaonists be!room as well as "eaturin the son H/ail +aryH in the "ilms score$%6-&

 #rtistryShakurs music an! philosophy is roote! in many #merican, #"rican#merican, an! worl!entities, inclu!in the 4lack 5anther 5arty, 4lack nationalism, ealitarianism, an! liberty$

ShakurQs lo'e o" theater an! Shakespeare also in"luence! his work$ # stu!ent o" the4altimore School "or the #rts where he stu!ie! theater, Shakur un!erstoo! theShakespearian psycholoy o" interan wars an! intercultural con"lict$ urin a 199

inter'iew, Tupac tol! the 5ulitBer priBewinnin %os Angeles Times reporter 0huck 5hilips@%69&

@ A 5 love (hake$peare' %e wrote $ome of the rawe$t $torie$, man' 5 mean look at omeo and

Juliet' 8hatB$ $ome $eriou$ hetto $hit' You ot thi$ uy omeo from the 9lood$ who fall$ for

Juliet, a female from the Crip$, and every)ody in )oth an$ are aain$t them' (o they have to

$neak out and they end up dead for nothin' eal traic $tuff'

nd look how (hake$peare )u$t$ it up with Mac)eth' %e create$ a tale a)out thi$ kinB$ wife

who convince$ a happy man to cha$e after her and kill her hu$)and $o he can take over the

country' fter he commit$ the murder, the dude $tart$ havin delu$ion$ Du$t like in a (carface

$on' 5 mean the kinB$ wife Du$t $crew$ thi$ uyB$ whole life up for nothinAE'<!>

E

0huck 5hilips ma!e his recor!e! 199 an! 1993%7D& inter'iews with Tupac a'ailable atchuckphilipspost$com on September 13, *D1*, the 16th anni'ersary o" Tupacs !eath$%71& n a uropean inter'iew<"2><"*> 5hilips sai! that what impresse! him the most aboutTupac was that he was a poet$ 5hilips sai! H like sacre! te?ts, myths, pro'erbs an!scriptures$ $$$ hen Tupac came alon, thouht he was Guite the poet$$$ t wasnQt Iust howcle'erly they rhyme!$ t wasnQt Iust the rhythm or the ca!ence$ like! their attitu!e$ t wasprotest music in a way nobo!y ha! e'er thouht about be"ore$ $$$These artists were bra'e,wise an! smart – wicke!ly smart$ The thin about Tupac was he ha! so many si!es$ /ewas una"rai! to write about his 'ulnerabilities$H<"2><"*>

Tupacs !ebut album, $"acalypse Now , re'eale! the socially conscious si!e o" Shakur$ ;nthis album, Shakur attacke! social inIustice, po'erty an! police brutality on sonsH4ren!as .ot a 4abyH, HTrappe!H an! H5art Time +uthaH$ /is style on this album washihly in"luence! by the social consciousness an! #"rocentrism per'a!in hip hop in thelate 19-Ds an! early 199Ds$ ;n this initial release, Shakur helpe! e?ten! the success o"such rap roups as 4ooie own 5ro!uctions, 5ublic nemy, R0lan, an!.ran!master<lash, as he became one o" the "irst maIor socially conscious rappers "rom the est0oast$%7A&

;n his secon! recor!, Shakur continue! to rap about the social ills "acin #"rican #mericans, with sons like HThe StreetB : eathrowH an! H>ast or!BH$ /e also showe!

his compassionate si!e with the anthem H=eep Ea /ea! 2pH, while simultaneously puttinhis leen!ary aressi'eness on !isplay with the title track "rom the album Strictly 4 MyN-,-G-G-A-5- /e a!!e! a salute to his "ormer roup iital 2n!erroun! by inclu!in them

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on the play"ul track H .et #roun!H$ Throuhout his career, an increasinly aressi'eattitu!e can be seen per'a!in Shakurs subseGuent albums$%7&

The contra!ictory themes o" social ineGuality an! inIustice, unbri!le! aression,compassion, play"ulness, an! hope all continue! to shape Shakurs work, as witnesse!with the release o" his incen!iary 199 album Me Against the &orl' $ n 1996, Shakurrelease! All Eyez on Me$ +any o" these tracks are consi!ere! by many critics to be

classics, inclu!in H#mbitionB #B a :i!ahH, H #int +a! at 0haH, H0ali"ornia >o'eH, H>i"e.oes ;nH an! H5icture +e :ollinH$ All Eyez on Me was a chane o" style "rom his earlierworks$ hile still containin socially conscious sons an! themes, Shakurs album washea'ily in"luence! by party tracks an! ten!e! to ha'e a more H"eel oo!H 'ibe than his "irstalbums$ Shakur !escribe! it as a celebration o" li"e, an! the recor! was critically an!commercially success"ul$%76&

/e ha! enIoye! an! ha! been in"luence! by the work o" contemporary nlish an! rishpop musicians as a teenaer such as =ate 4ush, 0ulture 0lub, Sina! ;0onnor  an! 2*$%77&

5ersonal li"eShakur was a 'oracious rea!er$ /e was inspire! by a wi!e 'ariety o" writers,inclu!in illiam Shakespeare, 8iccolP +achia'elli, onal! .oines, Sun TBu, =urtonneut, +ikhail 4akunin, +aya #nelou, #lice alker , an! =halil .ibran$%citationnee'e' &

Shakur ne'er pro"esse! "ollowin a particular reliion, but his lyrics in sinles such asH;nly .o! 0an Ju!e +eH an! poems such as The Rose That Grew fromConcrete suest he belie'e! in .o!$ This means many analysts currently !escribe himas a!eist$<"><"!><?> /e belie'e! in =arma, but reIecte! a literal a"terli"e an! oraniBe!reliion$%-1& Tupac has ha! se'eral "amily members who were members o" the 4lack5anthers +utulu Shakur , the step"ather o" Shakur, #ssata Shakur , his stepaunt, 4illy

.arlan! the bioloical "ather o" Tupac an! #"eni Shakur  his mother$ Shakur publicly spokeout aainst interracial marriae in an inter'iew with Source maaBine in 199A$%-*&

>eal issuesn ;ctober 1991, Tupac "ile! a 1D million ci'il suit aainst the ;aklan! 5oliceepartment, allein they brutally beat him "or Iaywalkin$ Shakur recei'e! appro?imatelyA3,DDD in settlement money, much o" which went to pay his lawyer$ %-3&

;n #pril , 1993, Shakur was chare! with one count o" "elonious assault$ /e wasaccuse! o" attemptin to hit rapper 0hauncey ynn "rom the roup +$#$$ with a baseballbat at a concert at +ichian State 2ni'ersity$ The inci!ent reporte!ly bean when Shakur

became anry an! threw a microphone$ Shakur plea!e! uilty on September 1A, 199A toa mis!emeanor in e?chane "or the !roppin o" "elony assault chares$ /e was sentence!to 3D !ays in Iail, *D o" which were suspen!e!, an! or!ere! to per"orm 3 hours o"community ser'ice$<=><->

n ;ctober 1993, in #tlanta, two brothers an! o""!uty police o""icers, +ark an! Scotthitwell, were with their wi'es celebratin +rs$ hitwells passin o" the state bare?amination$ The o""icers were !runk an! in possession o" stolen uns$ #s they crosse!the street, a car with Shakur insi!e passe! by them or Halmost struck them$H The hitwellsarue! with the !ri'er, Shakur an! the other passeners, which was Ioine! by a secon!passin car$ Shakur shot one o""icer in the buttocks an! the other in the le, back orab!omen, accor!in to 'aryin news reports$ +ark hitwell was chare! with "irin at

Shakurs car an! later lyin to the police !urin the in'estiation$ Shakur was chare! withthe shootin$ 5rosecutors !roppe! all chares aainst the parties$<><">

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n early 199A, he was "oun! uilty o" assault on Menace ,, Society  co!irector #llen/uhes an! ser'e! 1 !ays in Iail$<><!>

1992 shoo!ing;n #uust **, 199*, in +arin 0ity, Shakur per"orme! at an out!oor "esti'al, an! staye! "oran hour a"terwar!s sinin autoraphs an! pictures$ # con"rontation occurre! an! Shakur!rew a leally reistere! 0olt +ustan, an! allee!ly !roppe! it$ #s it was picke! up by amember o" his entourae, a bullet !ischare!$ #bout 1DD yar!s away, Cai! alkerTeal, a6yearol!, was pe!alin his bicycle at a school playroun! nearby when a bullet struckhim in the "orehea! an! kille! him$ #lthouh the "atal slu was matche! by police to a $3-caliber pistol reistere! to Shakur, an! his stepbrother +aurice /ar!in was initiallyarreste! on suspicion o" "irin the weapon, no chares were "ile!$ +arin 0ountyprosecutors ha'e sai! they were stymie! by a lack o" witnesses$ 0hares were !roppe!when Shakur aree! to pay a 3DD,DDD DD,DDD settlement to the parents<!?><!1> Thepolice Hrescue!H them an! took the two into custo!y, who were soon release! withoutchare "or lack o" e'i!ence$

n 199, a wron"ul !eath suit was brouht aainst Shakur by Cai!s

mother$ 4allistics tests pro'e! the bullet that kille! the boy was not "rom Shakurs or anymembers o" his entouraes un $%citation nee'e' & Shakurs attorney state! that the"esti'al was a Hnasty situation,H an! his client was sa!!ene! by the !eath o" the younboy$ Shakurs recor! company settle! the lawsuit "or an un!isclose! amount, reporte!lybetween 3DD,DDD an! DD,DDD$<!2><!*> <amily an! close "rien!s o" Shakur o"ten state!that the inci!ent haunte! Shakur "or much o" his li"e$ /e !e!icate! se'eral sons to these'enyearol! Cai! inclu!in, HThe .oo! ie EounH an! H8othin to ie "orH$

A!!ack a! ,ua S!uios

Shakur was rushe! to 4elle'ue /ospital a"ter a shootin in 199A

;n the niht o" 8o'ember 3D, 199A, the !ay be"ore the 'er!ict in his se?ual abuse trialwas to be announce!, Shakur was robbe! an! shot "i'e times by three men in the lobby o"

Cua! :ecor!in Stu!ios in +anhattan$%9A& Tupac tol! Iournalist 0huck 5hilips a year a"terthe attack, that he belie'e! the robbery to be a setup "or the attack$ hy, he aske! woul!they take Iewelry an! lea'e his :ole? watchK$%9&

Shakur woul! accuse Sean 0ombs,%96& an associate o" 0ombs name! Jimmy/enchman %9A& an! 4iie amon others o" settin up the attack in a 199 inter'iew withibe maaBine$ 8i!e chane! the names o" the accuse! assailants upon publication$%97& Shakurs son H#ainst #ll ;!!sH has been interprete! as implicatin Jimmy/enchman an! his associates at 4a! 4oy recor!s "or orchestratin the attack$ >atere'i!ence !i! not implicate 4iie in the stu!io assault$ hen 4iies entourae went!ownstairs to check on the inci!ent, Shakur was bein taken out on a stretcher, still

conscious an! i'in the "iner  to those aroun!$<!><!!>

 #ccor!in to some reports, the !octors who treate! Shakur at 4elle'ue /ospital sai! heha! "i'e bullet woun!s two in the hea!, two in the roin an! one throuh the arm an!

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thih$ The hospital !ocuments, howe'er, ha'e ne'er been release!$ n the!ocumentary 0iggie ? Tupac , Shakurs "ather is inter'iewe! an! sai! that his son ma!e apoint to show him that no !amae was in"licte! upon his penis an!Nor testicles$ Shakurs"ather also mentions that when he saw his sons roin, he knew that he was his son$ /echecke! out o" the hospital aainst !octors or!ers, three hours a"ter surery$ n the !aythat "ollowe!, Shakur entere! the courthouse in a wheelchair an! was "oun! uilty o" three

counts o" molestation an! not uilty o" si? others, inclu!in so!omy$ ;n <ebruary 6, 199,he was sentence! to onean!ahal" to "ouran!ahal" years in prison on the se?ualassault chares$%1DD&

;n +arch 17, *DD-, 0huck 5hilips reporte! in the %os Angeles Times that Jimmy/enchman or!ere! a trio o" thus to rouh up Shakur$<2><1?1> The article, base! onmultiple sources, was retracte! by the %A Timesbecause it partially relie! on <4!ocuments which turne! out to be "ore!$%1D*& 5hilips has claime! he was 'in!icate! in*D11 when e?ter saac a!mitte! to attackin Tupac on or!ers "rom /enchman$<1?*><1?=>

<1?-><ollowin saacQs public con"ession, 5hilips corroborate! saac as one o" his keyunname! sources$%1D6& n a June 1*, *D1* article "or The 8illage 8oice, 5hilips wrote that

Jimmy /enchman a!mitte! to settin up Tupacs ambush !urin one o" nine HCueen <or #ayH pro""er sessions with the o'ernment in autumn *D11, accor!in to prosecutors,<2>

<1?"> a statement that supporte! 5hilips theory$%1D7& /enchman was con'icte! in ;ctober*D13 to li"e plus "i'e years o" imprisonment base! on multiple crimes which the Iu!enote! ha! remarkable brea!th, intensity an! scope$ /enchman is bein trie! "orcontractin the mur!er o" >o!i +ack, an associate o" D 0ent$ 4ut because the ambush atCua! Stu!ios was classi"ie! as a robbery by police, /enchman will ne'er stan! trial "or itas the statute o" limitations "or robbery has lapse!$<2><!=>

Se-ual assaul!n 8o'ember 1993, Shakur an! others were chare! with se?ually assaultin a woman ina hotel room$ Shakur !enie! the chares$ #ccor!in to Shakur, he ha! prior relations !ays

earlier with the woman that were consensual (the woman a!mitte! she per"orme! oral se?on Shakur)$ The complainant claime! se?ual assault a"ter her secon! 'isit to Shakurshotel room she allee! that Shakur an! his entourae rape! her$<1?><1?!> n the ensuintrial, Shakur was "oun! innocent o" se'en counts o" so!omy an! other chares, howe'erhe was "oun! uilty o" se?ual abuse "or the Hunwante! touchin o" the buttocksH$ nsentencin Shakur to 1U–AU years in prison, the Iu!e !escribe! the crime as Han act o"brutal 'iolence aainst a helpless woman$H<11?><111> hile appearin on the Arsenio 3allShow , Shakur state! he was innocent o" all chares an! he was hurt that Ha women woul!accuse me o" takin somethin "rom herH when he was raise! by an! was surroun!e! by"emales$%11*& Shakur, !i! howe'er, a!mit that he shoul! ha'e been more responsible with

the people he surroun!e! himsel" with$ #"ter ser'in part o" his sentence, Shakur wasrelease! on bail pen!in his appeal$ ;n #pril , 1996, a Iu!e sentence! him to ser'e 1*D!ays in Iail "or 'iolatin terms o" his release on bail$%113&

n ;ctober 199, Shakurs case was on appeal but !ue to all o" his leal "ees he coul! notraise the 1$A million bail$ #"ter ser'in ele'en months o" his onean!ahal" year to "ouran!ahal" year sentence,%11A& Shakur was release! "rom the 0linton 0orrectional <acility!ue in lare part to the help an! in"luence o" Sue =niht, the 0; o" eath :ow:ecor!s, who poste! a 1$A million bail pen!in appeal o" the con'iction in e?chane "orShakur to release three albums un!er the eath :ow label$%11&

Prison sen!ence an &ail

Shakur ha! beun ser'in his prison sentence at 0linton 0orrectional <acility on <ebruary1A, 199$ Shortly a"terwar!, he release! his multiplatinum album Me Against the &orl' $Shakur became the "irst artist to ha'e an album at number one on the 4illboar! *DD while

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ser'in a prison sentence$ Me Against the &orl'  ma!e its !ebut on the 4illboar! *DD an!staye! at the top o" the charts "or "our weeks$ The album sol! *AD,DDD copies in its "irstweek, settin a recor! "or hihest "irst week sales "or a solo male rap artist at the time$%116& hile ser'in his sentence, he marrie! his lontime irl"rien!, =eisha +orris, on #pril A, 199 the couple !i'orce! in 1996$ Shakur state! he marrie! her H"or the wronreasonsH$%117&

hile imprisone!, Shakur rea! many books by 8iccolP +achia'elli, Sun TBus The Art of&ar  an! other works o" political philosophy an! stratey$%11-& The works inspire! hispseu!onym H+aka'eliH un!er which he release! the album The )on *illuminati: The +)ay Theory $ The album presents a stark contrast to pre'ious works$ Throuhout thealbum, Shakur continues to "ocus on the themes o" pain an! aression, makin thisalbum one o" the emotionally !arker works o" his career$ Shakur wrote an! recor!e! all thelyrics in only three !ays an! the pro!uction took another "our !ays, combinin "or a total o"se'en !ays to complete the album (hence the name)$

eathMain article: Mur'er of Tupac Shakur 

;n the niht o" September 7, 1996, Shakur atten!e! the +ike Tyson –4ruce Sel!on bo?inmatch at the +.+ .ran! in >as eas, 8e'a!a$ #"ter lea'in the match, one o" =nihtsassociates spotte! ;rlan!o H4aby >aneH #n!erson, an allee! 0rips an member"rom 0ompton, 0ali"ornia, in the +.+ .ran! lobby$ arlier that year, #n!erson an! aroup o" 0rips ha! robbe! a member o" eath :ows entourae in a <oot >ocker  store$=nihts associate tol! Shakur, who attacke! #n!erson$ Shakurs entourae, as well as=niht an! his "ollowers, assiste! in assaultin #n!erson$ The "iht was capture! on thehotels 'i!eo sur'eillance$ #"ter the brawl, Shakur went with =niht to o to eath :owowne! 0lub 66* (now known as restaurantNclub Se'en)$ /e ro!e in =nihts 1996black 4+ 7Di> se!an as part o" a larer con'oy, inclu!in many in Shakurs entourae$

%119& #t aroun! 11@DD–11@D pm, they were halte! on >as eas 4oule'ar! by +etro bicyclepolice "or playin the car stereo too lou!ly an! not ha'in license plates$ The plates were"oun! in the trunk o" =nihts car the party was release! without bein "ine! a "ew minuteslater$%1*D& #t about 11@1D pm, while they were stoppe! at a re! liht at <lamino :oa!near the intersection o" =o'al >ane in "ront o" the +a?im /otel, a 'ehicle occupie! by twowomen pulle! up on their le"t si!e$ Shakur, who was stan!in up throuh the sunroo",e?chane! wor!s with the two women, an! in'ite! them to o to 0lub 66*$%1*D& #tappro?imately 11@1 pm, a white, "our!oor, latemo!el 0a!illac with an unknown numbero" occupants pulle! up to the se!ans riht si!e, rolle! !own a win!ow, an! rapi!ly "ire!unshots at Shakur$ /e was hit in the chest, pel'is, an! his riht han! an! thih$<!>

<12?> ;ne o" the roun!s went into Shakurs riht lun$%1*1& =niht was hit in the hea!by "ramentation, thouh it is thouht%!y whom& that a bullet raBe! him$%1**& Thebo!yuar!, <rank #le?an!er, state! that when he was about to ri!e alon with the rapperin =nihts car, Shakur aske! him to !ri'e the car o" Shakurs "iance =i!a!aJones instea!, in case they nee!e! a!!itional 'ehicles "rom 0lub 66* back to the hotel$The bo!yuar! reporte! in his !ocumentary, 0efore , &ake, that shortly a"ter the assault,one o" the con'oys cars !ro'e o"" a"ter the assailant but he ne'er hear! "rom theoccupants$%1*3&

 #"ter arri'in on the scene, police an! parame!ics took =niht an! a woun!e! Shakur tothe 2ni'ersity +e!ical 0enter o" Southern 8e'a!a$ #ccor!in to an inter'iew with the

music 'i!eo !irector .obi, while at the hospital, he recei'e! news "rom a eath :owmarketin employee that the shooters ha! calle! the recor! label an! threatene! Shakur$%1*A& .obi tol! the >as eas police, but sai! they claime! to be un!ersta""e!$%1*A& 8o

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attackers came$%1*A& #t the hospital, Shakur was hea'ily se!ate!, was place! on li"esupport machines, an! was ultimately put un!er a barbituratein!uce! coma a"terrepeate!ly tryin to et out o" the be!$%9& hile in the critical care unit, on the a"ternoon o"<ri!ay, September 13, 1996, Shakur !ie! o" internal blee!in !octors attempte! to re'i'ehim but coul! not stop the hemorrhain$%9& /is mother, #"eni, ma!e the !ecision to tell the!octors to stop$%1*1& /e was pronounce! !ea! at A@D3 pm (5T)$%9& The o""icial cause o"

!eath was note! as respiratory "ailure an! car!iopulmonary arrest in connection withmultiple unshot woun!s$%9& Shakurs bo!y was cremate! the ne?t !ay an! some o" hisashes were later mi?e! with mariIuana an! smoke! by members o" the ;utlawB$%1*& /is"i"th album, The )on *illuminati: The + )ay Theory  was release! two months later$

 #"termathn *DD*, the %A Times publishe! a twopart story by 5ulitBer 5riBewinnin in'estiati'ereporter 0huck 5hilips, title! Hho =ille! Tupac ShakurK,H <12><12"> base! on a yearlonin'estiation that reconstructe! the crime an! the e'ents lea!in up to it$ 'i!enceathere! by the paper in!icate! that@ Hthe shootin was carrie! out by a 0ompton ancalle! the Southsi!e 0rips to a'ene the beatin o" one o" its members by Shakur a "ew

hours earlier$ ;rlan!o #n!erson, the 0rip whom Shakur  ha! attacke!, "ire! the "atal shots$>as eas police !iscounte! #n!erson as a suspect an! inter'iewe! him only once,brie"ly$ /e was later kille! in an unrelate! an shootin$H 5hilipss article also reporte! thein'ol'ement o" ast 0oast rapper 4iie, Tupacs ri'al at the time, an! se'eral 8ew Eorkcriminals$

4e"ore they !ie!, The 8otorious 4$$.$ an! #n!erson !enie! their role in the mur!er$ nsupport o" their claims, 4iies "amily pro!uce! computeriBe! in'oices suestin that4iie was workin in a 8ew Eork recor!in stu!io the niht o" the !ri'eby shootin$ /ismanaer ayne 4arrow an! "ellow rapper James H>il 0easeH >loy! ma!e publicannouncements !enyin 4iies role in the crime an! claime! "urther that they were bothwith him in the recor!in stu!io !urin the niht o" the e'ent$%1*-& The New @orkTimescalle! the e'i!ence Hinconclusi'eH, notin@

The paes purport to be three computer printouts "rom a!!ys /ouse,in!icatin that allace was in the stu!io recor!in a son calle! Nasty 0oy  onthe a"ternoon Shakur was shot$ They in!icate that allace wrote half thesession2 was ,n an' outsat aroun'  an! lai' 'own a ref2 shorthan! "or are"erence 'ocal, the eGui'alent o" a "irst take$ 4ut nothin in!icates when the!ocuments were create!$ #n! >ouis #l"re!, the recor!in enineer liste! on thesheets, sai! in an inter'iew that he remembere! recor!in the son withallace in a lateniht session, not !urin the !ay$ /e coul! not recall the !ateo" the session but sai! it was likely not the niht Shakur was shot$ &e woul'

ha;e hear' a!out it2 +r$ #l"re! sai!$H%1*9&

n a!!ition, 5hilips article was base! on police a""i!a'its an! court !ocuments as well asinter'iews with in'estiators, witnesses to the crime an! members o" the Southsi!e 0ripswho ha! ne'er be"ore !iscusse! the killin outsi!e the an$ The #ssistant +anain!itor o" the %A Times +ark u'oisin wrote@ H5hilips story has withstoo! all challenes toits accuracy, $$$%an!& remains the !e"initi'e account o" the Shakur slayin$H%13D&

>eacy

@

(ince hi$ death, 8upac ha$ )ecome an international martyr , a $ym)ol on the level of 9o)

Marley or Che ;uevara, who$e life ha$ in$pired 8upaci$ta$ on the $treet$ of 9ra7il, memorial

mural$ in the 9ron and (pain, and )andannaGwearin youth an$ in (outh frica'

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 H Vinyl Ain't Final: Hip Hop and the lo!aliation o# $lack %op&lar &lt&re<1*1>

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 #t a +obb eep concert "ollowin the !eath o" Shakur an! the release o" The )on*illuminati: The + )ay Theory , 0ormea recalle! in an inter'iew that the "ans were allshoutin H+aka'eli,H%13*& an! emphasiBe! the in"luence o" The )on *illuminati: The + )ayTheory  an! o" Shakur himsel" e'en in 8ew Eork at the heiht o" the me!ia!ubbe!intercoastal ri'alry$%133& Tupac Shakur was also one o" the "ew rappers that were pai! atribute !urin the 2p in Smoke Tour  that "eature! many west coast hiphop artists$

Shakur is hel! in hih esteem by other +0s – in the book 3ow to Rap, 4ishop>amont notes that Shakur Vmastere! e'ery element, e'ery aspectW o"rappin%13A& an! <re!ro Starr  o"  ;ny? says Shakur, Hwas a master o" the"low$H%13& H'ery rapper who rew up in the 8ineties owes somethin to Tupac,H wrote D0ent$ H/e !i!nt soun! like anyone who came be"ore him$H%3&  #bout$com "or their partname! Shakur the most in"luential rapper e'er$%136&

Statue o" Tupac by 5aolo 0hiasera (!e) at +#:Ta in /er"or!, .ermany$

To preser'e Shakurs leacy, his mother "oun!e! the Shakur <amily <oun!ation (laterrename! the Tupac #maru Shakur <oun!ation or T#S<) in 1997$ The T#S<s state!mission is to Hpro'i!e trainin an! support "or stu!ents who aspire to enhance theircreati'e talents$H The T#S< sponsors essay contests, charity e'ents, a per"ormin arts !aycamp "or teenaers an! un!erra!uate scholarships$ The <oun!ation o""icially opene!the Tupac #maru Shakur 0enter "or the #rts (T#S0#) in Stone +ountain, .eoria, onJune 11, *DD$ ;n 8o'ember 1A, *DD3, a !ocumentary about Shakur entitle! Tupac:

Resurrection was release! un!er the super'ision o" his mother an! narrate! entirely in his'oice$ t was nominate! "or 4est ocumentary in the *DD #ca!emy #war!s$ 5rocee!s willo to a charity set up by Shakurs mother #"eni$ ;n #pril 17, *DD3, /ar'ar! 2ni'ersity cosponsore! an aca!emic symposium entitle! H#ll yeB on +e@ Tupac Shakur an! theSearch "or the +o!ern <olk /ero$H The speakers !iscusse! a wi!e rane o" topics !ealinwith Shakurs impact on e'erythin "rom entertainment to socioloy$%137&

+any o" the speakers !iscusse! Shakurs status an! public persona, inclu!in State2ni'ersity o" 8ew Eork at 4u""alo nlish pro"essor +ark #nthony 8eal who a'e the talkHThu 8ia ntellectual@ Tupac as 0elebrity .ramscianH in which he arue! that Shakurwas an e?ample o" the Horanic intellectualH e?pressin the concerns o" a larer roup$%13-& 5ro"essor 8eal has also in!icate! in his writins that the !eath o" Shakur has le"t a

Hlea!ership 'oi! amonst hiphop artists$H%139& 8eal "urther !escribes him as a Hwalkincontra!ictionH, a status that allowe! him to Hmake bein an intellectual accessible toor!inary people$H%1AD&

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5ro"essor o" 0ommunications +urray <orman, o" 8ortheastern 2ni'ersity, spoke o"the mythical status about Shakurs li"e an! !eath$ /e a!!resse! the symbolism an!mytholoy surroun!in Shakurs !eath in his talk entitle! HTupac Shakur@ ;$.$ (;stensibly.one)H$ #mon his "in!ins were that Shakurs "ans ha'e Hsuccee!e! in resurrectinTupac as an ethereal li"e "orce$H%1A1& n H<rom Thu >i"e to >een!@ :ealiBation o" a 4lack<olk /eroH, 5ro"essor o" +usic at 8ortheastern 2ni'ersity, mmett 5rice, compare!

Shakurs public imae to that o" the trickster"iures o" #"rican#merican "olklore whicha'e rise to the urban Hba!manH persona o" the postsla'ery perio!$ /e ultimately!escribe! Shakur as a Hproli"ic artistH who was H!ri'en by a terrible sense o" urencyH in aGuest to Huni"y min!, bo!y, an! spiritH$%1A*&

n 3oller ,f @ou 3ear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur , +ichael ric yson in!icate! thatShakur Hspoke with brilliance an! insiht as someone who bears witness to the pain o"those who woul! ne'er ha'e his plat"orm$ /e tol! the truth, e'en as he strule! with the"raments o" his i!entity$H%1A3& #t one /ar'ar! 0on"erence the theme was Shakurs impacton entertainment, race relations, politics an! the HheroNmartyrH$%1AA& n late 1997,the 2ni'ersity o" 0ali"ornia, 4erkeley o""ere! a stu!entle! course entitle! H/istory 9-@

5oetry an! /istory o" Tupac Shakur$H%1A&n late *DD3, the +aka'eli 4ran!e! 0lothin linewas launche! by #"eni$ n *DD, eath :owrelease! Tupac: %i;e at the 3ouse of 0lues$ The was the "inal recor!e! per"ormance o" Shakurs career, which took place on July A,1996, an! "eatures a plethora o" eath :ow artists$ n #uust *DD6, Tupac Shakur%egacy  was release!$ The interacti'e bioraphy was written by Jamal Joseph$ t "eaturesunseen "amily photoraphs, intimate stories, an! o'er *D remo'able repro!uctions o" hishan!written son lyrics, contracts, scripts, poetry, an! other personal papers$ Shakurssi?th posthumous stu!io album, "ac1s %ife, was r elease! on 8o'ember *1, *DD6$ tcommemorates the 1Dth anni'ersary o" Shakurs !eath$ /e is still consi!ere! one o" the

most popular artists in the music in!ustry as o" *DD6$%1A6&

 #ccor!in to or!es, in *DD- Shakurs estate ma!e 1 million$%1A7& n *DD*, theyreconiBe! him as a Top arnin ea! celebrity comin in on number ten on their list$ %1A-&

;n #pril 1, *D1*, a HholoramH o" Shakur (technically a * 'i!eo proIection)%1A9& per"orme! his sons H/ail +aryH an! H* o" #merikaB +ost ante!H with Snoop oat the 0oachella +usic <esti'al$%1D& The e""ect was create! usin an optical illusioncalle! 5eppers host$%11& The 'i!eo "ootae was create! by 'isual e""ectscompany iital omain$%1A9& The &all Street >ournal  reporte! r$ re an! Snoop owere in talks o" a possible tour in'ol'in the two rappers an! the holoram 'ersion o"Shakur,%1*& which was later turne! !own by r$ re$%13&

+oran 0reek 5ro!uctions an! mmettN<urla <ilms announce! that they will bein in *D1A"ilmin a biopic o" the rapper calle! Tupac $%1A&

 #ccola!es an! honorsShakurs hit son Hear +amaH is one o" * sons that were a!!e! to the 8ational:ecor!in :eistry in *D1D$ The >ibrary o" 0onress has calle! Hear +amaH Ha mo'inan! eloGuent homae to both the mur!ere! rappers own mother an! all mothersstrulin to maintain a "amily in the "ace o" a!!iction, po'erty an! societal in!i""erence$HThe honor came se'en !ays a"ter what woul! ha'e been Shakurs 39th birth!ay$ Shakur isthe thir! rapper to enter the library, outsi!e o" the copyriht o""ice, behin! .ran!master

<lash an! 5ublic nemy$%1&n a *DD Rolling Stone maaBine 'ote, Shakur was name! 8o$-6 o" the H1DD mmortal #rtists ;" #ll TimeH behin! l'is 5resley, +ichael Jackson, an! John >ennon$ +T ranke!

Graffiti of Tupac

#a$t %arlem, New York

City5panema, io de Janeiro, 9ra7il

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him at 8o$ * on their list o" The Greatest MCs of All Time$%16& Shakur was in!ucte! intothe /ip/op /all o" <ame in *DD*$%17&

n *DD3, +Ts H** .reatest +0sH count!own liste! Shakur as the H8umber 1 +0H, as'ote! by the 'iewers$%1-& n *DDA, at the /1 /ip /op /onors Shakur was honore! alonwith J /ollywoo!, =ool J /erc, =:S;ne, 5ublic nemy, :un$+$0$, :ock Stea!y0rew, an! Suarhill .an$%19&  # 8i!e maaBine poll in *DDA rate! Shakur Hthe reatest

rapper o" all timeH as 'ote! by "ans$%16D& #t the <irst #nnual Turks M 0aicos nternational<ilm <esti'al hel! on Tues!ay, ;ctober 17, *DD6, Shakur was honore! "or his un!eniable'oice an! talent an! as a per"ormer who crosse! racial, ethnic, cultural an! me!ium lineshis mother accepte! the awar! on his behal"$%161& n *DD-, The 8ational #ssociation ;":ecor!in +erchan!isers in conIunction with the :ock an! :oll /all o" <ame reconiBe!him as a 'ery in"luential artist an! has a!!e! him in their e"initi'e *DD list$%16*& ;ne!nes!ay, June *3, *D1D, Shakur was in!ucte! to the >ibrary o" 0onressQs 8ational:ecor!in :eistry$%163& The seat o" the 0atholic 0hurch release! a list o" 1* sons ontothe social networkin eb sites streamin music ser'ice$ #mon the artists inclu!e!are +oBart, +use an! ame Shirley 4assey the list also inclu!es Shakurs son

H0hanesH, which was release! two years a"ter his shootin !eath on a reatest hitsalbum in 199-$%16A& /is !ouble album, All Eyez on Me, is one o" the hihestsellin rapalbums o" all time, with o'er million copies o" the album sol! in the 2nite! States aloneby #pril 1996 it was e'entually certi"ie! 9? platinum in June 199- by the :##$%16&

iscoraphyMain article: Tupac Shakur 'iscography See also: (utlawz 'iscography 

Studio albums

• 1!!1I (%acalypse No)

• 1!!*I *trictly + My N.I...A..

• 1!!-I  Me A-ainst the orld 

• 1!!I  All /ye on Me

• 1!!I 0he 1on 2ill&minati: 0he 3 1ay 0heory

!ollaboration albums

• 1!!=I 0h&- 4i#e: Vol&me 5 +with 0h&- 4i#e.

"osthumous solo albums

• 1!!I 0he 1on 2ill&minati: 0he 3 1ay 0heory

•

1!!"I 6 7 *till 1o)n8 96emem!er Me• 2??1I 7ntil the /nd o# 0ime

• 2??2I $etter 1ay 

• 2??=I 4oyal to the ame

• 2??I %ac's 4i#e

"osthumous collaboration albums

• 1!!!I *till I 6ise +with ;&tla) .