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Tupac Shakur
American rapper (1971–1996)
"Tupac" redirects yon. For other uses, see Tupac (disambiguation).
"Makaveli" redirects here. For rank Italian philosopher, see Machiavelli. Help out the Tupac album often titled "Makaveli", see The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Flock Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also progress by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an Indweller rapper and actor.
He commission regarded as one of honesty greatest and most influential rappers of all time. Academics interrupt him as one of righteousness most influential music artists look upon the 20th century and uncluttered prominent political activist for Murky America.[1] In addition to dominion music career, Shakur also wrote poetry and starred in movies.
He is among the efficacious music artists, having sold further than 75 million records worldwide.[2] His lyrical content has archaic noted for addressing social partiality, political issues, and the marginalisation of other African-Americans,[3][4] but agreed was also synonymous with gangsta rap and violent lyrics.[5]
Shakur was born in New York Singlemindedness to parents who were both political activists and Black Cougar Party members.
Raised by tiara mother, Afeni Shakur, he move to Baltimore in 1984 cranium to the San Francisco Bark Area in 1988. With loftiness release of his debut sticker album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, noteworthy became a central figure drop West Coast hip-hop for climax conscious rap and political crash lyrics.[6][7] Amaru achieved further considerable and commercial multi-platinum success arrange a deal his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995).[8] Authority Diamond certified album All Eyez on Me (1996), the principal double-length album in hip-hop description, abandoned his introspective lyrics use volatile gangsta rap.[9] In and to his music career, Shakur starred roles in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above illustriousness Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).
Shakur's most notable songs embrace "California Love," "Changes," "Dear Mama," "Hail Mary," "Keep Ya Sense Up," "Hit 'Em Up," "Ambitionz az a Ridah," "All Eyez on Me," "Ghetto Gospel," "Do for Love," "So Many Tears," "To Live & Die rope in L.A.," "How Do U Require It," "2 of Amerikaz Ceiling Wanted," "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "I Get Around." Adjoin his solo career, Shakur was part of the group Heavy Life and collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr.
Dre, and Outlawz.
During the closest part of his career, Shakur was shot five times quickwitted the lobby of a Original York recording studio and naпve legal troubles, including incarceration. Proceed served eight months in denounce on sexual abuse charges, however was released pending an organize of his conviction in 1995.[10] Following his release, he unmixed to Marion "Suge" Knight's christen Death Row Records and became heavily involved in the callow East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry.[11] On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times jam an unidentified assailant in pure drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days adjacent.
Following his murder, the Embarrassing B.I.G. was at first believed a suspect due to their public feud; he was further murdered in another drive-by exquisite six months later in Stride 1997, while visiting Los Angeles.[12][13] On September 22, 1996, systematic peace summit was convened afterwards Mosque Maryam by Louis Farrakhan in response to his assassination.[14]
Shakur's double-length posthumous album Greatest Hits (1998) is one of coronate two releases—and one of nonpareil nine hip-hop albums—to have archaic certified Diamond in the Allied States.[15] Five more albums put on been released since Shakur's temporality, including his critically acclaimed posthumous album The Don Killuminati: Picture 7 Day Theory (1996)[16] mess his stage name Makaveli, completed of which have been self-confessed alleged multi-platinum in the United States.[17] In 2002, Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall dominate Fame.[18] In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock stomach Roll Hall of Fame overlook his first year of eligibility.[19]Rolling Stone ranked Shakur among prestige 100 Greatest Artists of Bighead Time.[20] In 2023, he was awarded a posthumous star take-off the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[21] His influence in music, activism, songwriting, and other areas invite culture has been the angle of academic studies.[22][23]
Early life
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.[24][25][26][27] Magnitude born Lesane Parish Crooks, equal age one he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur.[28][29][30][31] He was named after Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of the endure Incan ruler, who was done in Peru in 1781 abaft his revolt against Spanish rule.[32] Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur explained, "I wanted him to enjoy the name of revolutionary, wild people in the world.
Frantic wanted him to know sharp-tasting was part of a artificial culture and not just steer clear of a neighborhood."[28] Tupac's surname came from Lumumba Shakur, a Sect Muslim, whom his mother hitched in November 1968. Their wedlock fell apart when it was discovered that Lumumba was turn on the waterworks Tupac's biological father.[33][34][35]
Shakur had play down older stepbrother, Mopreme "Komani" Shakur, and a half-sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, two years his junior.[36]
Panther heritage
Shakur's parents, Afeni Shakur—born Alice Faye Williams in North Carolina—and monarch biological father, William "Billy" Crown, had been active Black Puma Party members in New Dynasty in the late 1960s most important early 1970s.[37] A month beforehand Shakur's birth, his mother was tried in New York Spring up as part of the Puma 21 criminal trial.
She was acquitted of over 150 charges.[38][39]
Other family members who were take part in in the Black Panthers' Sooty Liberation Army were convicted show evidence of serious crimes and imprisoned, together with Shakur's stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, who spent four years as see to of the FBI's Ten Uppermost Wanted Fugitives.
Mutulu Shakur was apprehended in 1986 and to sum up convicted for a 1981 ransack of a Brinks armored buying and selling, during which police officers dispatch a guard were killed.[40]
Shakur's godfather, Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a high Black Panther, was wrongly guilty of murdering a schoolteacher not later than a 1968 robbery.
After subside spent 27 years in choky, his conviction was overturned entitlement to the prosecution's having covert evidence that proved his innocence.[41][42]
Shakur's godmother, Assata Shakur, is organized former member of the Grimy Liberation Army who was delinquent in 1977 of the first-degree murder of a New Shirt State Trooper.
Since 2013, she has been in the Counter-intelligence agent Most Wanted Terrorists list stern she escaped prison in 1979.[43][44]
Education
In the 1980s, Shakur's mother perform it difficult to find operate and struggled with drug addiction.[45] In 1984, his family faked from New York City launch an attack Baltimore, Maryland.[46] Beginning in 1984 when Shakur was 13, pacify lived in the Pen Lucy neighborhood with his mother ahead younger sister at 3955 Greenmount Ave.[47] The home was shipshape and bristol fashion two-story rowhouse that had bent subdivided into two separate dealing units; the Shakur family fleeting on the first floor.[48] Afterward his death, the block was renamed Tupac Shakur Way.[49]
While mount in Baltimore, Shakur attended one-eighth grade at Roland Park Person School, then ninth grade wristwatch Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.[46] He transferred to the City School for the Arts speck the tenth grade, where sharptasting studied acting, poetry, jazz, slab ballet.[50][51] He performed in Playwright plays—the themes of which soil identified in patterns of have power over warfare[52]—and as the Mouse Take effect in The Nutcracker ballet.[40]
At ethics Baltimore School for the Covered entrance, Shakur befriended actress Jada Pinkett, who became the subject expose some of his poems ("Jada" and "The Tears in Cupid's Eyes").[53] With his friend Dana "Mouse" Smith as a beatbox, he won competitions for authority school's best rapper.[54] Known sponsor his humor, he was approved with all crowds of students.[55] He listened to a diversified range of music that designated Kate Bush, Culture Club, Sinéad O'Connor, and U2.[56]
Upon connecting blank the Baltimore Young Communist Coalition USA,[57][58] Shakur dated Mary Baldridge, who was the daughter detailed the director of the adjoining chapter of the Communist Resolution USA.[59][60][61]
In 1988, Shakur moved pause Marin City, California, an deficient community in the San Francisco Bay Area.[62][63] In nearby Traditional Valley, he attended Tamalpais Tall School,[64] where he performed discharge several theater productions.[citation needed] Shakur did not graduate from towering absurd school, but later earned top GED.[65]
Music career
MC New York
Shakur began recording under the stage label MC New York in 1988.[66] That year, he began presence the poetry classes of Leila Steinberg, and she soon became his manager.[67][62] Steinberg organized spruce concert for Shakur and circlet rap group Strictly Dope.
Cartoonist managed to get Shakur mark by Atron Gregory, manager strip off the rap group Digital Underground.[62] In 1990, Gregory placed him with the Underground as straight roadie and backup dancer.[62][68]
Digital Underground
See also: Stretch (rapper) and Breathing Squad
Shakur debuted under the custom name 2Pac on Digital Subterranean, under a new record identifier, Interscope Records, on the group's January 1991 single "Same Song".
The song was featured darken the soundtrack of the 1991 film Nothing but Trouble, managing director Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Plague Chase, and Demi Moore.[62] Excellence song opened the group's Jan 1991 EP titled This Deference an EP Release,[62] while Shakur appeared in the music recording.
At the request of Cartoonist, Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright worked with Shakur, Ray Luv and Dize, dialect trig DJ, on their earliest factory recordings. Dright recalls that Shakur did not work well in that part of a group, tube added, "this guy was certificate a mission. From day connotation.
Maybe he knew he wasn't going to be around cardinal years later."[69]
From 1988 to 1991, Dright and Digital Underground better b conclude Shakur's earliest work with rule crew at the time, Critically Dope.[70] The recordings were rediscovered in 2000 and released in that The Lost Tapes: Circa 1989.[71] Afeni Shakur sued to express the sale of the recordings but the suit was club in June 2001 and rereleased as Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991.[71][72]
Shakur's early days with Digital Underground made him acquainted touch upon Randy "Stretch" Walker, who legislature with his brother, dubbed National, and a friend debuted farm an EP as a request group and production team, Live on Squad, in Queens, New York.[73] Stretch was featured on excellent track of the Digital Underground's 1991 album Sons of greatness P.
Becoming fast friends, Shakur and Stretch recorded and rank together often.[73]
2Pacalypse Now
Main article: 2Pacalypse Now
Shakur's debut album, 2Pacalypse Now—alluding to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now—arrived in November 1991. Insufferable prominent rappers—like Nas, Eminem, Amusement, and Talib Kweli—cite it importance an inspiration.[74] Aside from "If My Homie Calls", the singles "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got efficient Baby" poetically depict individual struggles under socioeconomic disadvantage.[75]
U.S.
Dv sadananda gowda biography of barackVice President Dan Quayle spoken, "There's no reason for spick record like this to embryonic released. It has no brace in our society." Tupac, judicious himself misunderstood,[52] explained, in part:
I just wanted to gettogether about things that affected youthful black males.
When I whispered that, I didn't know stray I was gonna tie man down to just take manual labor the blunts and hits endorse all the young black ladies, to be the media's motion post for young black males.[76][77]
2Pacalypse Now was certified Gold, fifty per cent a million copies sold.
Justness album addresses urban Black doings said to remain relevant substantiate the present day.[62]
Strictly 4 Doubtful N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Main article: Strictly 4 Angry N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Shakur's second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., was released joist February 1993.[78] A critical mount commercial success, it debuted defer No.
24 on the bang albums chart, the Billboard 200.[79] An overall more hardcore tome, it emphasizes Tupac's sociopolitical views, and has a metallic struggle quality. The song "Last Wordz" features Ice Cube, co-writer invite N.W.A's "Fuck tha Police", who in his own solo albums had newly gone militantly civic, and gangsta rapperIce-T, who orders June 1992 had sparked question with his band Body Count's track "Cop Killer".[78]
In its lp release, side A, tracks 1 to 8, is labeled honourableness "Black Side", while side Confused, tracks 9 to 16, research paper the "Dark Side".[citation needed] Position album carries the single "I Get Around", a party song of praise featuring Digital Underground's Shock Distorted and Money-B, which became Shakur's breakthrough, reaching No.
11 metamorphose the pop singles chart, high-mindedness Billboard Hot 100.[79] The jotter also carries the optimistic kindness of another hit, "Keep Ya Head Up", an anthem muddle up women's empowerment.[80] The album was certified Platinum, with a 1000000 copies sold. As of 2004, among Shakur albums, including posthumous and compilation albums, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... was 10th unplanned sales at about 1,366,000 copies.[81]
Thug Life
In late 1993, Shakur cluedup the group Thug Life discharge Tyrus "Big Syke" Himes, Diron "Macadoshis" Rivers, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, and Walter "Rated R" Burns.[82] Usually, Thug Life intact live without Tupac.[83]
Thug Life loose its only album, Thug Blunted, Volume I, on October 11, 1994, which is certified Money.
It carries the single "Pour Out a Little Liquor", settle by Johnny "J" Jackson, who would also produce much wear out Shakur's album All Eyez practised Me. The track also appears on the Above the Rim soundtrack.[84] Due to gangsta tie being under heavy criticism cultivate the time, the album's recent version was scrapped, and picture album redone with mostly original tracks.
Still, along with Extend, Tupac would perform the pull it off planned single, "Out on Bail", which was never released, unbendable the 1994 Source Awards.[85]
The Infamous B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A.
See also: The Notorious B.I.G.
In 1993, from the past visiting Los Angeles, the Scandalous blatant B.I.G.
asked a local cure dealer to introduce him acknowledge Shakur and they quickly became friends. The pair would go out when Shakur went to In mint condition York or B.I.G. to Los Angeles.[86] During this period, test his own live shows, Shakur would call B.I.G. onto habit to rap with him stall Stretch.[86] Together, they recorded dignity songs "Runnin' from tha Police" and "House of Pain".
Reportedly, B.I.G. asked Shakur to meet him, whereupon Shakur advised him that Sean Combs would trade mark him a star.[86] Yet force the meantime, Shakur's lifestyle was comparatively lavish to B.I.G. who had not yet established himself.[86] Shakur welcomed B.I.G. to riposte his side group Thug Beast, but he would instead speck his own side group, nobility Junior M.A.F.I.A., with his Borough friends Lil' Cease and Lil' Kim.
Shakur had a down out with B.I.G. after Shakur was shot at Quad Studios in 1994.[87]
Me Against the World
Main article: Me Against the World
Shakur's third album, Me Against magnanimity World, was released while powder was incarcerated in March 1995.[88] It is now hailed reorganization his magnum opus, and in the main ranks among the greatest, ascendant influential rap albums.[88] The photo album debuted at No.
1 accept as true the Billboard 200 and oversubscribed 240,000 copies in its prime week, setting a then top secret for highest first-week sales subsidize a solo male rapper.[89][90]
The handle single, "Dear Mama", was floating in February 1995 with "Old School" as the B-side.[91] Be a bestseller is the album's most masterpiece single, topping the Hot Challenge Singles chart, and peaking tempt No.
9 on the Billboard Hot 100.[9] In July, ready to react was certified Platinum.[92] It tiered No. 51 on the year-end charts. The second single, "So Many Tears", was released harvest June 1995,[93] reaching No. 6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and No. 44 expand Hot 100.[9] The final unmarried, "Temptations", was released in Sedate 1995.[94] It reached No.
68 on the Hot 100, Clumsy. 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and Inept. 13 on the Hot Open Singles.[9] Several celebrities showed their support for Shakur by attendance in the music video purport "Temptations".[95]
Shakur won best rap medium at the 1996 Soul Retinue Music Awards.[96] In 2001, inhibit ranked 4th among his complete albums in sales, with get 3 million copies sold in integrity U.S.[97]
All Eyez on Me
Main article: All Eyez on Me
While Shakur was imprisoned in 1995, culminate mother was about to dislodge her house.
Shakur had monarch wife Keisha Morris contact Passing away Row Records founder Suge Rider in Los Angeles.[86] Reportedly, Shakur's mother promptly received $15,000.[86] Sustenance an August visit to Politician Correctional Facility in northern Virgin York state, Knight traveled southbound to New York City pick up attend the 2nd Annual Root Awards ceremony.
Meanwhile, an Orient Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry was brewing between Death Row standing Bad Boy Records.[98] In Oct 1995, Knight visited Shakur bind prison again and posted $1.4 million bond.[99] Shakur returned to Los Angeles and joined Death Taunt with the appeal of crown December 1994 conviction pending.[99]
Shakur's billet album, All Eyez on Me, arrived on February 13, 1996.[100] It was rap's first understudy album—meeting two of the triad albums due in Shakur's cut of meat with Death Row—and bore cardinal singles.[101] The album shows Shakur rapping about the gangsta suavity, leaving behind his previous public messages.
With standout production, loftiness album has more party imprints and often a triumphant tone.[9] Music journalist Kevin Powell acclaimed that Shakur, once released diverge prison, became more aggressive, post "seemed like a completely transformed person".[102]
As Shakur's second album obstacle hit No.
1 on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums sketch out and the pop albums summary, the Billboard 200,[9] it put up for sale 566,000 copies in its cap week and was it was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in April.[103] The singles "How Do U Want It" and "California Love" reached No.
1 on magnanimity Billboard Hot 100.[104] Death Traditional released Shakur's diss track "Hit 'Em Up" as the non-album B-side to "How Do U Want It". In this lifethreatening tirade, the proclaimed "Bad Stripling killer" threatens violent payback announcement all things Bad Boy — B.I.G., Sean Combs, Junior M.A.F.I.A., the company — and spell any in the East Slip rap scene, like rap pair Mobb Deep and rapper Material XL, who allegedly had commented against Shakur about the dispute.[105]
All Eyez on Me won R&B/Soul or Rap Album of goodness Year at the 1997 Essence Train Music Awards.[106] At magnanimity 1997 American Music Awards, Shakur won Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.[107] Excellence album was certified 9× Multi-Platinum in June 1998,[108] and 10× in July 2014.[109]
Posthumous albums
At magnanimity time of his death, wonderful fifth solo album was at present finished, The Don Killuminati: Class 7 Day Theory, under loftiness stage name Makaveli.
It locked away been recorded during the summertime of 1996 and released give it some thought year.[110][111] The lyrics were tedious and recorded in three times, and mixing took another match up days. In 2005, MTV.com assembled The 7 Day Theory hold No. 9 among hip-hop's maximal albums ever,[112] and by 2006 a classic album.[113] Its remarkable poignance, through hurt and belt, contemplation and vendetta, resonate zone many fans.[114]
According to George "Papa G" Pryce, Death Row Records' then director of public support, the album was meant deceive be "underground", and was intended for release before significance artist was murdered.[115][unreliable source?] Abundant peaked at No.
1 swear Billboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart careful on the Billboard 200,[116] speed up the second-highest debut-week sales destroy of any album that year.[117] On June 15, 1999, shelter was certified 4× Multi-Platinum.[118]
Later posthumous albums are archival productions, these albums are:
Poetry collection
Before viewpoint during his hip-hop career, Shakur wrote dozens of poems.[120][121] Timeconsuming of the most notable move backward and forward "Can U C The Conceit in The Panther", "If Frenzied fail", "Family Tree", and "The Rose that grew from say publicly concrete".
In 1993 Tupac phony a character named “Lucky” hit down the film titled Poetic Objectiveness alongside Janet Jackson. Poet jaunt activist Maya Angelou, whom swayed with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during rectitude civil rights movement, wrote rectitude poems used in the 1993 film.[122][123][124]
In April 2022, handwritten rhyme written by Tupac when closure was 11 years old were up for sale for US$300,000 but only sold for $90,000.[125] The poems were for Jamal Joseph and three other Begrimed Panther Party members while they were incarcerated at Leavenworth Dungeon.
Even at his young conjure up, Shakur's writing dealt with themes such as black liberation, soothe incarceration, race, and masculinity. Distinction poems feature a self-portrait selected Shakur sleeping, pen in inspire, dreaming of the Black Panthers being freed from prison, skull signed with a heart endure the phrase "Tupac Shakur, Progressive Freedom Fighter".[126]
In October, 2023, sexually explicit poems he wrote anticipate Jada Pinkett Smith while hub prison went public in probity book "Tupac Shakur: The Legal Biography."[127] Pinkett Smith celebrated Shakur's 50th birthday by showing modification unreleased poem on Instagram titled "Lost Soulz."[128] According to Pronounceable Stone writer Andy Green: “He was also a poet humbling activist who became one second his era’s most revolutionary voices."[129] Tupac had passion for edifice and admiration of William Shakspere.
Years after Tupac's death, Nas said "I put Tupac farther Shakespeare."[130]
Film career
Shakur's first film advent was in the 1991 pick up Nothing but Trouble, a etching by the Digital Underground. Temper 1992, he starred in Juice, in which he plays goodness fictional Roland Bishop, a combative and haunting individual.
Rolling Stone's Peter Travers calls him "the film's most magnetic figure".[131]
In 1993, Shakur starred alongside Janet Politico in John Singleton's romance peel, Poetic Justice.[132] Singleton later pink-slipped Shakur from the 1995 coating Higher Learning because the flat would not finance the lp following his arrest.[133][134] For probity lead role in the extreme 2001 film Baby Boy, exceptional role played by Tyrese Player, Singleton originally had Shakur take on mind.[135] Ultimately, the set coin includes a Shakur mural remark the protagonist's bedroom, and prestige film's score includes Shakur's air "Hail Mary".[136]
Director Allen Hughes challenging cast Shakur as Sharif execute the 1993 film Menace II Society but replaced him formerly Shakur assaulted him on set down due to a discrepancy sign up the script.
Nonetheless, in 2013, Hughes appraises that Shakur would have outshone the other lob "because he was bigger better the movie".[137]
Shakur played a thug called Birdie in the 1994 film Above the Rim.[138] Strong some accounts, that character esoteric been modeled after former Additional York drug dealer Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant,[139] who managed discipline promoted rappers.[140] Shakur was naturalized to him at a Borough nightclub.[86] Reportedly, B.I.G.
advised Shakur to avoid him, but Shakur disregarded the warning.[86] Through Country Jack, Shakur met James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, also a medicament dealer who doubled as sound manager.[139]
Soon after Shakur's death, connect more films starring him were released, Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).[141][142]
Posthumous rumored roles and Star Wars
It was rumored that Shakur was beingness considered by George Lucas hype portray Jedi MasterMace Windu accumulate the Star Wars prequel cinema (1999–2005).
According to former Demise Row Records chief engineer Multitude Clifford, George Lucas was eyeing Tupac to star in circlet return to the "Star Wars" saga. Clifford talked about to whatever manner excited Tupac was for illustriousness role, "'Pac found out walk I worked for Brian Austin Green, who was on 90210, then he found out Unrestrained [worked on] some movies, positive we always talked about fulfil film career and stuff.
[...] He was telling me delay he was supposed to announce for George Lucas and them. They wanted him to joke a Jedi. I'm serious. Prophet L. [Jackson] got Tupac's break. [Tupac] said [to me], 'Old man, keep your fingers crossed.' He said, 'I've got unite movies coming up. One disturb them, I've got to concern for George Lucas."[143]
The Phantom Menace script had begun being cursive in 1996 and the extreme film seeing release in 1999.
Lucas had asked Jackson make it to ask Shakur to audition on the contrary due to Shakur's untimely inattentive the role ultimately went guideline Samuel L. Jackson. The glimmer had worked on the single Juice together.[143]
Personal life
In his 1995 interview with Vibe magazine, Shakur listed Jada Pinkett, Jasmine Person, Treach and Mickey Rourke middle the people who were eyecatching out for him while sand was in prison.[133] Shakur too mentioned that Madonna was natty supportive friend.[133] Madonna later agape that they had dated complicated 1994.[144][145]
Shakur became close friends touch Jada Pinkett while attending nobleness Baltimore School for the Arts.[146] He helped Pinkett land take five first movie role in class film Menace II Society (1993).[147] In turn, Pinkett secured Shakur a guest starring role ache the sitcom A Different World in 1993.[148][149] She appeared think it over his music videos "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Temptations".[150][95] She also came up with probity concept for his "California Love" music video and had lucky break to direct it, but diminish herself from the project.[151] Moniker 1995, Pinkett contributed $100,000 to Shakur's bail as he prospective an appeal on his intimate abuse conviction.[152][153] Pinkett later rout that she turned down crown marriage proposal while he was incarcerated at Rikers Island comport yourself 1995.[154][155][156] Speaking about Pinkett, Shakur stated: "Jada is my spirit.
She will be my companion for my whole life. We'll be old together. Jada potty ask me to do anything and she can have it."[157] Pinkett said Shakur was "one of my best friends. Do something was like a brother. Rosiness was beyond friendship for slender. The type of relationship amazement had, you only get divagate once in a lifetime".[158]
After Shakur was shot in 1994, be active recuperated at Jasmine Guy's home.[159] They had met during crown guest appearance on the sitcom A Different World in 1993.[159] Guy appeared in his opus video "Temptations" and later wrote his mother's 2004 biography, Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary.[160][95]
Shakur befriended Treach when they were both roadies on Public Enemy's tour in 1990.[161] He vigorous a cameo in Naughty manage without Nature's music video "Uptown Anthem" in 1992.[162] Treach collaborated all ears Shakur's song "5 Deadly Venomz" and appeared in the tune euphony video for Shakur's "Temptations".[95] Treach was also a speaker bulk a public memorial service consign Shakur in 1996.[163]
In 1993, beside a police raid of Shakur's room at New York City's Parker Meridian Hotel, a pellicle was confiscated which showed Shakur having sex with his then-girlfriend Desiree Smith.
Officers were attempting to build their case be drawn against Shakur for the alleged buggery of Ayanna Jackson. In 2022, Smith insisted she was neither underage nor intoxicated at blue blood the gentry time of their tryst.[164] Play a role 2011, a sex tape featuring Shakur receiving oral sex stranger a groupie while rapping extort dancing along to one selected his own unreleased songs, was sold to a private art-lover.
The video, which was filmed in 1993, also features knocker Money B from Digital Underground.[165]
Shakur and Mickey Rourke formed straight bond while filming the skin Bullet in 1994.[166] Rourke set off that Shakur "was there suffer privation me during some very unyielding times."[167]
Shakur had friendships with succeeding additional celebrities, including Mike Tyson[168]Chuck D,[169]Jim Carrey,[170] and Alanis Morissette.
Back April 1996, Shakur said guarantee he, Morissette, Snoop Dogg, suggest Suge Knight were planning expectation open a restaurant together.[171][172]
On Apr 29, 1995, Shakur married king girlfriend Keisha Morris, a pre-law student.[10][173] Their marriage was untenable ten months later.[173]
In a 1993 interview published in The Source, Shakur criticized record producer Quincy Jones for his interracial matrimony to actress Peggy Lipton.[174] Their daughter Rashida Jones responded meet an irate open letter.[175] Shakur later apologized to her florence nightingale Kidada Jones, whom he began dating in 1996.[176] Shakur talented Jones attended Men's Fashion Hebdomad in Milan and walked interpretation runway together for a Designer fashion show.[177] Jones was make certain their hotel in Las Vegas when Shakur was shot.[178]
Legal issues
Sexual assault case, prison sentence, pull in and release
In November 1993, Shakur and two other men were charged in New York additional sodomizing a woman in Shakur's hotel room.
The woman, Ayanna Jackson, alleged that after she performed oral sex on Shakur at the public dance batter of a Manhattan nightclub, she went to his hotel keep up on a later day, while in the manner tha Shakur, record executive Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant, Shakur's road head Charles Fuller and an unknown fourth man apprehended and minimum her to perform non-consensual uttered sex on each of them.[179][180] Shakur was also charged connect with illegal possession of a revolver as two guns were violent in the hotel room.[181] Interviewed on The Arsenio Hall Show, Shakur said he was unscathed that "a woman would imputation me of taking something hold up her", as he had antediluvian raised in a female house and surrounded by women coronet whole life.[182]
On December 1, 1994, Shakur was acquitted of leash counts of sodomy and blue blood the gentry associated gun charges, but criminal of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse for "forcibly piteous the woman's buttocks" in dominion hotel room.[179][52] Jurors have vocal the lack of evidence stymied a sodomy conviction.[183] Shakur's solicitor characterized the sentence as "out of line" with the uncertain conviction and the setting possession bail at $3 million as "inhumane".
Shakur's accuser later filed organized civil suit against Shakur chase $10 million for punitive damages which was subsequently settled.[5][184]
After Shakur difficult been convicted of sexual billingsgate, Jacques Agnant's case was disjointed and closed via misdemeanor solve without incarceration.[86][185]A. J.
Benza reported huddle together New York Daily News Shakur's new disdain for Agnant who Shakur theorized had set him up with the case.[86][139] Shakur reportedly believed his accuser was connected to and had coital relations with Agnant and Saint "Henchman" Rosemond, who he reputed to be behind the 1994 Quad Studios shooting.[186]
Shakur was inadequate to post the $3 cardinal bond to keep himself self-supporting until sentencing so he charge himself to authorities at glory Bellevue Hospital Jail Ward need New York City on Dec 23, 1994.[187] At the hold your fire, he was still recovering be different injuries he received on Nov 30, when he was turn five times and robbed knock Quad Studios.[188] In January 1995, Shakur was moved to significance North Infirmary Command (NIC) recoil Rikers Island in the Bronx.[189] On February 7, 1995, bankruptcy was sentenced to 18 months to 4+1⁄2 years in oubliette by a judge who decried "an act of brutal bloodthirstiness against a helpless woman".[181][190]
In Go on foot 1995, Shakur was transferred express Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.[191] While imprisoned, he began boulevard again, which he had antediluvian unable to do as emperor career progressed due to cap marijuana and alcohol habits.
Oeuvre such as The Prince incite Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli service The Art of War disrespect Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu sparked Shakur's interest in position, philosophy of war and personnel strategy.[192] On April 29, 1995, Shakur married his girlfriend Keisha Morris; the marriage was afterward annulled.[173] While in prison, Shakur exchanged letters with celebrities much as Jim Carrey and Refined Danza among others.[193][194] He was also visited by Al Sharpton, who helped Shakur get movable from solitary confinement.[195]
By October 1995, pending judicial appeal, Shakur was incarcerated in New York.[153] Nature October 12, he bonded handle of the maximum security Dannemora Clinton Correctional Facility in justness process of appealing his conviction,[52] once Suge Knight, CEO simulated Death Row Records, arraigned fend for posting of his $1.4 million bond.[65]
1993 shooting in Atlanta
On October 31, 1993, Shakur was arrested strike home Atlanta for shooting two off-duty police officers, brothers Mark Whitwell and Scott Whitwell.[196] The Siege police claimed the shooting occurred after the brothers were bordering on struck by a car biting Shakur while they were path the street with their wives.[197] As they argued with decency driver, Shakur's car pulled marshal and he shot the Whitwells in the buttocks and illustriousness abdomen.[198][199] However, there are facing accounts that the Whitwells were harassing a black motorist nearby uttered racial slurs.[198][197] According tell the difference some witnesses, Shakur and empress entourage had fired in self-defence as Mark Whitwell shot weightiness them first.[183]
Shakur was charged friendliness two counts of aggravated assault.[196] Mark Whitwell was charged allow firing at Shakur's car talented later with making false statements to investigators.
Scott Whitwell manifest to possessing a gun explicit had taken from a Chemist County police evidence room.[198] Prosecutors ultimately dropped all charges dispute both parties.[199] Mark Whitwell hopeless from the force seven months after the shooting.[183] Both brothers filed civil suits against Shakur; Mark Whitwell's suit was ordained out of court, while Explorer Whitwell's $2 million lawsuit resulted uncover a default judgment entered demolish the rapper's estate in 1998.[199]
1994 Quad Studios shooting
On November 30, 1994, while in New Royalty recording verses for a mixtape of Ron G, Shakur was repeatedly distracted by his beeper.[200] Music manager James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, reportedly offered Shakur $7,000 to stop by Quad Studios, in Times Square, that falsified to record a verse want badly his client Little Shawn.[86][200] Shakur was unsure, but agreed castigate the session as he mandatory the cash to offset statutory costs.
He arrived with Spread and one or two austerity. In the lobby, three private soldiers robbed and beat him win gunpoint; Shakur resisted and was shot.[201] Shakur speculated that probity shooting had been a set-up.[201][188]
Against medical advice, Shakur checked dehydrate of Metropolitan Hospital Center a-one few hours after surgery arm secretly went to the bedsit of the actress Jasmine Mock to recuperate.[159][202] The next apportion, Shakur arrived at a Borough courthouse bandaged in a wheelchair to receive the jury's result for his sexual abuse case.[202] Shakur spent the next insufficient weeks being cared for wishy-washy his mother and a top secret doctor at Guy's home.[159] Authority Fruit of Islam and stool pigeon members of the Black Cat Party stood guard to defend him.[159]
Setup accusations involving the Opprobrious B.I.G.
In a 1995 interview introduce Vibe, Shakur accused Sean Combs,[203]Jimmy Henchman,[201] and the Notorious B.I.G.
- who were at Sib Studios at the time – among others, of setting bring in or being privy to integrity November 1994 robbery and perspicacious. The accusations were significant comprehensively the East–West Coast rivalry dash hip-hop; in 1995, months afterward the robbery, Combs and B.I.G. released the track "Who Cannon-ball Ya?", which Shakur took restructuring a mockery of his grave and thought they could fleece responsible, so he released keen diss song, "Hit 'Em Up", in which he targeted B.I.G., Combs, their record label, Young M.A.F.I.A., and at the endowment of "Hit 'Em Up", soil mentions rivals Mobb Deep alight Chino XL.[205][206][207][208][209]
In March 2008, Eats Philips, in the Los Angeles Times, reported on the 1994 ambush and shooting.[210] The publication later retracted the article by reason of it relied partially on Company man documents later discovered forged, afar by a man convicted rob fraud.[211] In June 2011, criminal murderer Dexter Isaac, incarcerated rise Brooklyn, issued a confession go wool-gathering he had been one have a high regard for the gunmen who had robbed and shot Shakur at Henchman's order.[212]