2pac Legendary Hip Hop Icon, celebrates 42 years of life
Tupac Amaru Shakur, known more popularly as 2pac and the other member of Digital Underground, in his short span became a pivotal figure in hip hop. He was a rapper, an actor, and an emcee. Pac has sold lots of records and it is around the 75 million figure. Most of his music centers around feeling the pain of his fellow people, speaking about what he saw as injustices in society. He is described as passionate, empathetic and sympathetic, and deep in his lyrics and with a lot of substance. Besides being known as a dancer, he was also a roadie. His family are known members of the Black Panther Party (Do not confuse with the NBPP) and his views are of such.
Tupac was a vocal and legitimate member of west coast hip hop, and was known for being one of the figureheads of the east and west rivalry in hip hop back in the days. He was known for making diss records, particularly of Biggie and Bad Boy Records. During the peak of the drama, Tupac was gunned down in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996 in a drive by shooting. Tupac survived for a few more days at the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
Despite being a leader of westcoast hip hop, Pac was actually from and born in New York city, in the east Harlem section of Manhattan. His mother, Afeni Shakur, apparently birthed him a month after being acquitted of conspiracy charges for her membership in the Black Panthers. He was entrenched within the Black Panthers as a child, and his godfather was Elmer Pratt, has a stepfather Mtulu, and according to some sources, is the brother of Assata Shakur. Pac got involved in the arts early on as part of the 127th Street Repertory Ensemble in Harlem, playing the part of Travis Younger in “A Raisin In The Sun” before relocating to Baltimore, Maryland.
When Pac made it to Maryland, he continued his interest in the arts, and attended the Baltimore School For The Arts. Pac performed in a few ballets and Shakespeare plays. He also participated in many rap competitions with his friend Mouse and was considered the best rapper at his school. Pac was very popular there and was known as funny, talented, and able to socialize and mingle with many people of all walks of life. He also developed a friendship with Jada Pinkett. From there, Pac moved to Marin City, California and eventually began his career in entertainment.
Pac in 1990 to 1992, began with Digital Underground and rapped on his first song for commercial release titled “Same Song”. He ended up in the music video for the song, and also featured on the EP released This Is An EP Release. He performed again on the next album Sons Of The P.
From there, he released his first album 2pacalypse Now which is highly regarded as a hip hop classic and an inspiration to many top emcees in hip hop, however, never made any top tens. Though the album was released on Interscope, the rights were retained by Amaru.
The album sparked some controversy as it was claimed the strong themes of social injustice of police brutality caused a shooting of a state trooper (as per usual fashion of blaming musicians for crimes due to influence). It cemented 2pac’s political conviction and his touch with the community of social issues.
The album went on to become certified Gold by RIAA. The album is also featured on GTA San Andreas.
In October of 1991, Pac sued the city of Oakland, when he was beaten up by cops for jaywalking. Pac won and settled for $43,000.
In August of 1992, he performed at an outdoor concert in Marin City. It turned out well in the beginning with love but it soon turned sour. He drew a gun, which he dropped by accident and someone picked up the gun in the ensuing mob, and fired it, killing a 6 year old boy. Pac and his half brother Maurice were arrested but were released due to lack evidence. Pac paid a settlement to the parents of the slain 6 year old boy. The incident haunted Pac and Pac dedicated several songs to the minor. Police used ballistics and it showed that Pac and his entourage were not responsible, however, Pac paid a settlement anyways.
In 1993, Pac released his second album, STRICTLY 4 MY NIGGAZ. It was released in Feb and debuted at 24 of the BillBoard 200. The album further entrenched Pac’s social and political views and showed a change in production and musicality. It spawned many hits like Keep Ya Head Up, and went platinum. It has sold around 1.5 million records by the time it was 2004.
In October 1993, Pac got involved in an altercation with two police Offices, Mark and Scott Whitwell. The cops claimed Pac almost hit them and they began arguing with Pac and his crew. The cops shot at Pac and Pac shot the cops in the buttocks and one of the cops in the leg. The stories were massively twisted in the media and all parties were charged. Prosecutors later decided to drop all charges.
The month after, Pac was accused of sexual assault and rape. The woman did admit to consensual sex with Pac, but she claimed upon a second visit, it got out of hand and alleged rape and sexual assault. Pac only got convicted of touching the lady’s butt when it was not wanted and got some prison time. Pac claimed on Arsenio that he was innocent, however, he states he admits wrongdoing for surrounding himself with the wrong people that night and perhaps it was negligent.
Also in 1993, THUG LIFE was formed with his friends and family members, which is a rap group. They released their only album in September of 1994 and the album went gold. It was stated that there are two versions of the album, and many of the tracks are not released. I hope to listen to the unreleased tracks one day to see what it sounds like. Interscope felt many of the songs were too controversial.
In November 30, 1994, Pac was robbed and shot 5 times in the lobby of Quad Recording Studios. He later accused Diddy and Biggie of setting him up. Pac also felt Stretch Walker may have also been the ones to set him up. Biggie told his side and says he had nothing to do with the shooting. He found out Pac was there and wanted to invite him into his session. When he asked Lil Cease to see if Pac free to come into their session, they found out he had been shot, he was taken out in a stretcher, and was mad as hell, flipping the bird at everyone.
Pac was at the hospital, shot twice in the head, twice in the groin area, and once through the arm and thigh. Pac later showed no damage to the testicles and penis. When surgery was finished Pac left the hospital against doctor’s orders. He went to court and was convicted of sexual molestation. He got a 1 and some change to 4 and some change in prison for punishment.
A year later, Stretch Walker was killed in a assassination, when a car pulled up to his minivan and blasted him. This occurred in Queens Village and Stretch after shot, subsequently crashed his vehicle into a tree and parked car, and died.
Chuck Philips later wrote in 2008 of the ambush on Pac, that he was set up by Jimmy Henchman in the LA Times. Prosecutors brought forth key evidence in the attack as a couple of the members of the Pac ambush corroborated the story.
On Valentine’s Day of 1995, Pac began his prison sentence at Clinton Correctional. Shortly afterward, he released Me Against The World, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album sold 240,000 in it’s first week. He also married long time girlfriend, Keisha Morris, but it did not last long and they got divorced as it did not work out. While imprisoned, Pac read many books, including a personal favorite, Sun Tzu’s Art Of War. He wrote a screenplay, Live To Tell, which tells the story of an adolescent who becomes a drug baron. The album went on to become one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time and sold about 2.5 million. It also won at the Soul Train Awards.
The first single released was “Dear Mama” with the B side being “Old School”. The single went platinum. A video was shot and a certified hip hop classic. The next singles were “So Many Tears” and “Temptations”. All did fairly well, but not as good as “Dear Mama”.
Eventually Pac got an appeal on his case, but could not raise bail. It is confusing but I am considering that he must have been milked by his record deal. He did eventually get out after 11 months as Suge Knight posted his 1.4 million dollar bail in exchange for 3 albums from the rapper for Death Row Records.
1996 comes and in February 13th of that year, All Eyez On Me was released. It is critically acclaimed as having the best production of all his albums. It is hailed as one of the greats of hip hop’s golden era, which many consider the 1990’s. “California Love’ is quite possibly the most loved song in many places and of many people. By April of that year, it was 5 x platinum and 9 x platinum by 1998.
The album is cited as the first double LP of hip hop. It hit number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 566,000 in it’s first week.
The album was an award winner at the Soul Train awards and also at the American Music Awards.
Pac then released “7 Day Theory” before he died. The album was finished in 7 days in August of 1996. It was not supposed to be released but it was released following his death. The album did ridiculous selling 664,000 in its first week. By June 1999 it was 4 x platinum.
On September 7th of 1996, Pac went to the Tyson Seldon boxing match at MGM Grand in Vegas. Baby Lane, a Crips member was spotted by Suge. Earlier that year, Suge had been robbed with his associates at a Foot Locker by Baby Lane. In response, Shakur attacked Baby Lane. Shakur and Suge’s crew joined in and gave Baby Lane a beatdown. It was captured in the lobby by hotel cameras. They decided to go to Club 662, which was owned by Death Row.
At around 11 to 11:05 pm of that night, they were halted on Las Vegas Boulevard by a bike cop for playing their music too loud and not having plates, as they rode in their car. The cop let them go and they went on their way. At 11:10pm they were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane right by Maxim Hotel. Two women in a car pulled up on their left side, to which Pac got up out the roof and invited the women to Club 662 with them. As they were talking, a late model Cadillac pulled up on the right side and unleashed on Pac with a hail of bullets, hitting the chest, pelvis, hand and thigh. Suge was hit either by fragmentation or a graze. Allegedly, one of their entourage in another vehicle went after the assailants but nothing was ever heard from them.
Suge and Pac were taken to University Medical Center for attention. Allegedly they were threatened earlier at their studio but police were unable to go after the lead at the time. Pac was placed on life support and given drugs as he repeatedly tried to get up out of bed. The doctors were unable to stop the bleeding internally while in critical care and they could not stop the hemorrhaging. He was later pronounced dead on September 13, 1996. His body was cremated the next day and his ashes were mixed with marijuana and smoked by rap group Outlaws. 2 months later, the 7 Day Theory album was released.
The murder remains a mystery and a theory has been proposed by Chuck Philips, that Pac was set up by either Baby Lane, Biggie, Anderson, or a combination of all or two. It was believed to either be retaliation for the beatdown or other motives due to rivalry with the east coast. Very tough to say as having done research on his life, Pac may have made more than one enemy, as quoting Pac “I roughed up way back” coming back for revenge. I do not know all the details so I can only suggest motive.
Pac leaves behind a legacy in hip hop and is remembered in many arts made dedicated in his honor from graffiti, paintings, drawings, poetry, music, and even a foundation and clothing line made in his honor.
Although he is gone, his influence remains so his soul still gives life.
Here is good motivational song for all of you, from Pac himself…
