NAME: Tupac Amaru Shakur
BORN: June 16, 1971 IN: Brooklyn, New York, USA
PARENTS: Mother Afeni Shakur; Father Billy Garland;
Stepfather Mutulu Shakur.
FAMILY: Sister Asantewaa Shakur; Aunt Assata Shakur
PROFESSION: Rapper/Producer/Actor
ALBUMS RELEASED:
2 Pacalypse Now, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z
Thug Life Volume 1, Me Against The World
All Eyez On Me, Makaveli - The Don Killuminati
RU Still Down? (Remember me), 2pacs Greatest Hits,
2pac/Outlawz Still I Rise, Untill The End Of Time
Tupac, which translates as 'Shining Serpent', and Amaru, interpreted as 'Thankful to God' lived a short and troubled life but still managed to prevail to unexpected expectations. Tupac once told his child hood Reverend, Reverend Daughtry, 'I want to be a revolutionary', I believe that this was accomplished in many respects. Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother was a member of the Black Panther activists and was pregnant with him while in jail on bombing charges. Afeni was forced to move Tupac from New York to Baltimore due to hardships. From here Tupac attended the Baltimore school of arts. A school which helped bring out his creative side, here he wrote his first rap under the name MC New York, also it was where a close and long lasting friendship was formed with Jada Pinkett. It was tracks like 'Ahmad's 'Back in the day', 'Wu Tang Clan's 'It was all so simple' and especially L.L.Cool J's 'I'm Bad' that Tupac enjoyed and was influenced by before his own career began. Never graduating from the Baltimore school of arts Tupac was moved again, this time to Marin City on the West Coast, here he took to selling drugs, and hustling after moving in with a neighbor. At the same time Tupac's stepfather was sentenced to 60 years in prison for playing a part in a 1981 armored-car robbery. Shortly after, Tupac became part of the short-lived group Strictly Dope with Ray Luv (who incidentally made one album but was never released). After the Strictly Dope break up Tupac eventually became a member of Digital Underground. Tupac moved on to produce his first solo album, '2Pacalypse Now' which was composed of such hits as 'Trapped' and 'Brenda's Got A Baby'. Also he appeared on the Digital Underground track 'Same Song' which was nominated at the Grammy awards. In 1992 Tupac furthered his acting career and appeared in the Ernest Dickerson film 'Juice', this was a real stepping stone in his acting career as he gained experience and was recognized as a strong actor. Tupacs next major acting skit was in John Singleton's 'Poetic Justice' in 1993 along side Janet Jackson. Also in 1993 was the release of 'Strictly 4 My NIGGAZ' which contained such hits as 'I Get Around' and 'Keep Ya Head Up'. Tupac's acting career was unfolding rapidly alongside his rapping. In 1994 he appeared in Jeff Pollack's 'Above The Rim' and released an album with his crew Thug Life, 'Thug Life Volume 1'. Before the 1995 release of 'Me Against The World' could happen there were many complications. In November of 1994 his New York sex assault trial was opened. In the same month he was shot five times in the Quad recording studio, New York. Matters got worse for Tupac as he was convicted of sexual abuse and was sentenced to 4-12 years in prison. It was in prison where some of the 'Me Against The World' material was produced and inspired, such as the famous 'Dear Mama' track. Fortunately Tupac was released eight months after on bail. In 1996 Tupac joined 'Death Row Records' and released 'All Eyez On Me'. It debuted at number 1 with top five singles such as 'How Do You Want It' and 'California Love', it was the first Hip-Hop double album ever and excelled in sales reaching over 6 million. In yet another film, 'Gang Related' Tupac played the role of a detective. A tragic end was to come of Tupac's life, returning from watching a Mike Tyson fight he was shot in Las Vegas on September the 7th. He was pronounced dead on the 13th, which put incredible numbers of his fans in disbelief and an early state of mourning. Tupac had changed his rapping name to 'Makaveli' and in 1997, just a few months after his death, 'Makaveli - the Don Killuminati - the 7 day theory' was released. Again this was immediately a top selling album. To date Tupac's Mother has released a double album called 'R U Still Down? It is under Amaru records and sold 5 million records. Afterwards in 1998 Deathrow and Amaru joined to release 2pacs Greatest Hits which sold 6 million records and hit off a great video and single called "Changes" which was one of the 4 new pac songs featured on the greatest hits album. On December 28th 1999 Deathrow and Amaru again teamed up to release 2pac + Outlawz Still I Rise which has now gone double platinum. In 2001 Death Row releaed a double cd of 2pacs unreleaed material called "Untill The End Of Time" and it sold over 3 million copies. The impact of a legend, still lives on today.
Keep The Faith In Me, I Will Not Let U Down! Love 2Pac
TUPAC R.I.P
