In the early '90s, Shakur teamed up with Digital Underground, performing with the group as a back-up rapper. In 1992, Shakur entered a most fruitful five-year period. He broke free of DU and made his solo debut, 2Pacalypse Now, a gangsta rap document that put him in the notorious, high-speed lane to stardom. That same year he starred in Juice, an acclaimed low-budget film about gangs which saw some Hollywood success. In 1993, he recorded and released Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., an album that found Shakur crossing over to the pop charts. Unfortunately, he also found himself on police blotters, when allegations of a violent attack on an off-duty police officer and sexual misconduct arose. The same year, Shakur played a single father and Janet Jackson's love interest in the John Singleton film Poetic Justice.
In November of 1994, he was shot five times during a robbery in which thieves made off with $40,000 worth of his jewelry. Shakur miraculously recovered from his injuries to produce his most impressive artistic accomplishments, including 1995's Me Against the World, which sold 2 million copies, and the double-CD All Eyez on Me, which sold nearly 3 million. As his career arc began a steep rise toward fame and fortune, Shakur was shot (most say suspiciously) and killed after watching a Mike Tyson fight with Death Row Records president Marion "Suge" Knight. Though his death was a jolt to his fans and the music community, Shakur himself often said that he expected he'd die by the sword before he reached 30.
Following his passing, Shakur's label released an album, The Don Killuminati, under the pseudonym "Makaveli." The cover depicted Shakur nailed to a cross under a crown of thorns, with a map of the country's major gang areas superimposed on it. In January of 1997, Gramercy Pictures released Gridlock'd, a film in which Shakur played the role of a drug addict to mostly good reviews. His final film, Gang Related, was released in 1997, and Death Row is said to have several unreleased recordings in the vaults for potential future release.
Vibe: What are you at war with?
Tupac: Different things at different times. My own heart sometimes. There's two niggas inside me. One wants to live in peace, and the other won't die unless he's free.
These two different sides are also evident in his music. From positive songs like Keep ya head up and Dear Mama to vicious songs like Hit Em Up. Despite his peacefull side, the media has portrayed Tupac as nothing but a Hard Core Gangsta Rapper who wants to kill everyone but his mama. They blame him for violence in America, in the world, but like he said, "I was given this world, I didn't make it." With media, take MTV, they do all but officially boycott 2Pac. In the 1997 Top 100 they went as far as to cut off Tupac's verse in California Love. Despite poor media support, Tupac sold over 12 million albums in 1997.
