Does the name Tupac Shakur still resonate with raw power and unwavering social consciousness decades after his death? Absolutely. His lyrics, brimming with both vulnerability and defiance, continue to challenge, inspire, and provoke thought, cementing his status as more than just a rapper, but a cultural icon.

Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. His birth name was Lesane Parish Crooks, but a year later, in 1972, he was renamed after Tpac Amaru II, an 18th-century Peruvian revolutionary who led an indigenous uprising against Spanish rule. This renaming was a deliberate act, imbuing the young Shakur with a legacy of resistance and rebellion from the very beginning. His work delved deeply into themes of social injustice, poverty, and racial inequality, solidifying his position as a voice for the marginalized and oppressed.

His upbringing was steeped in activism. Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, and his stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, were both prominent members of the Black Panther Party. Afeni faced serious charges, including conspiracy to incite violence and a race war, stemming from her involvement with the Black Panthers. Remarkably, she acted as her own attorney and secured an acquittal just a month before Tupac's birth. Mutulu was a party leader and even appeared on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list during the 1980s. Afeni had been in jail in New York City on bombing charges before she gave birth to her son. Tupac's parents separated before he was born, and he later connected with his biological father, Billy Garland, as an adult.

Category	Information
Full Name	Tupac Amaru Shakur (Lesane Parish Crooks at birth)
Stage Names	2Pac, Makaveli
Date of Birth	June 16, 1971
Place of Birth	East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, NY
Date of Death	September 13, 1996
Place of Death	Las Vegas, NV
Age at Death	25
Occupation	Rapper, Actor
Genres	Hip Hop, West Coast Hip Hop, Gangsta Rap
Years Active	1991 1996
Labels	Death Row Records, Interscope Records
Associated Acts	Digital Underground, The Outlawz
Spouse	Keisha Morris (m. 1995-1996)
Net Worth (at death)	Estimated $3.5 Million
Legacy	Over 75 million albums sold worldwide (as of 2010). Posthumous estate now worth over $40 million.
Reference	AllMusic - Tupac Shakur Biography

Shakur's life was tragically cut short on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25, following a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery, and the case remains an open homicide investigation. He attended the Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson boxing match with Marion "Suge" Knight, the head of Death Row Records, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on that fateful night. After leaving the match, one of Knight's associates, Trevon Lane, a member of the M.O.B. Pirus gang based in Compton, California, spotted Orlando Anderson, from the rival South Side Compton Crips gang, in the MGM Grand lobby. This encounter is believed to have contributed to the events that unfolded later that evening.

The evening took a dark turn after the Tyson fight at the MGM Grand Hotel. Six days later, the world mourned the loss of a lyrical giant. The events leading up to the shooting remain subjects of intense scrutiny and debate. No arrests were ever made, although in September 2011, Dexter Isaac admitted to the shooting, further complicating the already complex narrative. For many, the 27th anniversary of Tupac Shakur's death in 2023 felt like only yesterday.

Beyond the controversies and the conspiracies, Tupac was a deeply intellectual individual. He was well-read and appreciated the works of influential thinkers such as Niccol Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, J.D. Salinger, Hermann Hesse, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, and Khalil Gibran. These influences shaped his worldview and informed his socially conscious lyrics.

His artistic journey began in 1991 when he joined the hip-hop group Digital Underground, marking his first major breakthrough in the music industry. That same year, he also achieved individual recognition for his solo work. Shakur's impact on music is undeniable. His catalog includes iconic songs like "Dear Mama," which was added to the Library of Congress in 2010, a testament to its cultural significance. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2010.

Born in New York City, Tupac spent a significant portion of his childhood in Harlem. In 1984, his family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where he formed a close friendship with Jada Pinkett Smith. In 1988, they moved once again, this time to Oakland, California. These formative years in diverse environments shaped his perspectives and fueled his creative fire.

Tupac Shakur's legacy extends beyond his music. In late 2003, his mother, Afeni Shakur, launched the Makaveli branded clothing line, ensuring that his name and image continued to inspire. In 2005, Death Row Records released "Tupac: Live at the House of Blues," the final recorded performance of Shakur's career, which took place on July 4, 1996. It featured numerous Death Row artists. In August 2006, "Tupac Shakur Legacy" was released, further cementing his place in music history.

Vanity Fair reported that one month before Tupacs birth, his mother was part of a group of Black Panthers who were arrested and charged on 156 counts of conspiring to incite violence and a race war. Acting as her own attorney, she successfully argued their case and was acquitted.

Tupac was originally named Lesane Parish Crooks, but he was renamed a year after his birth. He was married to Keisha Morris from 1995 to 1996. More than 25 years after his tragic death in 1996 at just 25, he remains one of the most misunderstood, complex, and iconic figures in music history.

Tupac Shakur, the son of two Black Panther members, William Garland and Afeni Shakur, was born in East Harlem, New York, on June 16, 1971, and named after Jos Gabriel Tpac Amaru II, an 18th-century political leader in Peru who was executed after leading a rebellion against Spanish rule. Tupacs parents separated before he was born. At the age of 12, Shakur performed in A Raisin in the Sun.

Even after his death, Shakurs influence has continued to grow. Tupac Shakur had an estimated net worth of $3.5 million before his death. His net worth has more than quadrupled after his death, as his family estate is now said to be worth over $40 million, thanks to posthumous album sales of both released and unreleased material.

He was also known as Makaveli. His mother, Afeni Shakur Davis (born Alice Faye Williams), was the mother of rapper Tupac Shakur and the executor of his estate.