2Pac
Biography
Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Early Life
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born Lesane Parish Crooks on June 16, 1971, in Manhattan, New York City. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was an active member of the Black Panther Party. A year after his birth, she renamed him Tupac Amaru Shakur, after a South American revolutionary. Shakur's family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1984. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he studied acting, poetry, jazz, and ballet. He developed a close friendship with Jada Pinkett (later Jada Pinkett Smith) during this time.
Career
Music Career
Shakur began his career as a roadie, backup dancer, and MC for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground. He appeared on their 1991 single "Same Song." His debut solo album, "2Pacalypse Now," was released in 1991. The album addressed social issues such as racism and poverty. His subsequent albums, "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..." (1993) and "Me Against the World" (1995), were also critically and commercially successful. "Me Against the World" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 while he was incarcerated.
In 1995, after being released from prison, Shakur signed with Death Row Records. This led to the release of his double album "All Eyez on Me" in 1996, which is one of the best-selling albums in the United States. The album featured some of his most iconic songs, including "California Love" and "How Do U Want It". His final album released during his lifetime was "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" (1996), under the name Makaveli.
Acting Career
Shakur also had a successful acting career. He starred in several films, including "Juice" (1992), "Poetic Justice" (1993), "Above the Rim" (1994), "Gridlock'd" (1997), and "Gang Related" (1997).
Death and Legacy
On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He died six days later on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25. His murder remains officially unsolved, though in 2023, Duane "Keffe D" Davis was arrested and charged with his murder.
Tupac Shakur's legacy continues to influence artists and audiences worldwide. His music, known for its raw emotion and social commentary, remains relevant decades after his death. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, his first year of eligibility. Several posthumous albums have been released, and his life and work have been the subject of numerous documentaries and a biopic.