2Pac
Tupac Amaru Shakur, known by the stage name 2Pac Shakur, was one of the highly-rated American rappers, actor, and songwriters in the 1990s. He won the hearts of many music lovers with his works which sought to address issues in the society. The rapper started his musical career in 1989 and was then known as MC New York. His association with Leila Steinberg, a poet and businesswoman, helped in the development of his career.
It was through this union that the rapper had the opportunity to join the hip hop group known as the ‘Digital Underground’. He shot to stardom after he was featured in the group’s 1991 single entitled “Same Song”, and was known by the name 2Pac. He later released series of hit singles with the popular ones titled “Trapped” and “Brenda’s Got a Baby“.
That same year, he released his first studio album which was under the name “2Pacalypse Now”. The album created lots of controversies with the then vice-President of the country, Dan Quayle, describing it as a social misfit. In his explanation, Tupac said the album was to highlight some things that young African-American males go through in the society. He later dropped other albums like “Me Against the World” and “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory”.
After becoming one of the leading arts in the country, 2Pac formed a hip hop group known as ‘Thug Life’ in 1993. Aside from him, the group had members like Mopreme, Big Syke, and Stretch. A year later, the group dropped their first studio album called “Thug Life: Volume 1”.
Aside from music, Shakur was also a renowned actor and was used in many movies. He starred as Birdie in the 1994 American movie entitled “Above the Rim”. His other movie credits include “Poetic Justice” and “Bullet”.
Birth to Death
He was born as Lesane Parish Crooks, but was later named after the former Peruvian leader, Túpac Amaru II. His parents were Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland. He had a step-sibling named Mopreme “Komani” Shakur who was also a member of his group, ‘Thug Life’.
He got married to Keisha Morris, a movie actress, in 1995, but the couple went their separate ways a year later. The same year after he divorced, he started dating movie actress cum model, Kidada Jones.
On September 7, 1996, 2Pac moved to Las Vegas to attend a birthday celebration of Tracy Danielle Robinson who happened to be his business partner. Later that night, the rapper, together with other friends and members of his team, decided to move to the Club 662 nightclub to continue with their personal stuffs.
On their way, they were attacked by a group of people in a white Cadillac car and the rapper was shot four times. He was rushed to the hospital and after series of treatments, the artistes was announced dead on September 13. After some investigations, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, who was a member of the group known as Southside Compton Crips was named as the chief suspect, though he pleaded not guilty.
It should be noted that decades after Pac’s death, there are still persistent conspiracy theories that Pac is still alive.
2Pac’s brush with the Law
He was said to be involved in a shootout at the Qa’id Walker-Teal schoolyard which led to the death of one child. He was also charged for shooting a policeman in 1993. The following year, he was sentenced to 30-days imprisonment after he pleaded guilty for assaulting fellow rapper, Chauncey Wynn. In 1995, he was given an 18 months – 4.5 years jail sentence after he was found guilty of first-degree sexual assault.
Notable 2Pac Songs
“Changes”
