Tupac Shakur (1971–1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century and as a prominent political activist for Black America. His record sales exceed 75 million worldwide. His songs addressed social injustice, political issues, and the marginalization of African Americans, although his gangsta rap also drew strong association with violent lyrics. He was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 1996.
Early life and education
Shakur was born in New York City to parents who were members of the Black Panther Party. His mother, Afeni Shakur, raised him, and the family moved to Baltimore in 1984. He studied acting, poetry, jazz, and ballet at the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he began rapping. In 1988 he moved to Marin City, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he attended high school and performed in theater productions, though he did not graduate and later earned a GED.
Music and acting career
His debut album, 2Pacalypse Now (1991), made him a central figure in West Coast hip-hop for its political lyrics. Later albums brought further critical and commercial success, including the first hip-hop double album, All Eyez on Me (1996), which included two Billboard Hot 100 number one singles. He also starred in films such as Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993) and Above the Rim (1994).
Death and legacy
Shakur was shot in New York in 1994 and later served time in prison on sexual abuse charges. After signing with Death Row Records, he became involved in the East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry. He was shot in a drive-by shooting in Paradise, Nevada, in September 1996 and died six days later. His posthumous album Greatest Hits (1998) was certified Diamond in the United States, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
