June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996

TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR

Tupac was born June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York

His mother Afeni Shakur and dad Billy Garland were both active members of the Black Panther Party.

Although unconfirmed by the Shakur family, several sources including the official coroner's report list Tupac’s birth

name as "Lesane Parish Crooks".

She changed it later, after breaking up with Garland and marrying Mutulu Shakur. It was also tribute to an Incan

revolutionary named Tupac Amaru.

EARLY LIFE

Tupac’s stepfather was imprisoned for armored car robbery when he was two years old, leaving his family to be stuck

under conditions of extreme poverty.

In 1986 Tupac and his mother moved to Baltimore, Maryland.

While a teenager in Baltimore, Tupac developed an interest in performance; and was able to attend The Baltimore School for the Performing Arts where he studied acting and ballet.

Before he could complete his education, he was forced to relocate to Marin City, California in June 1988.

There he went to Tamalpais High School. He started taking poetry classes in 1989.

GROWING UP

During his time on the streets of Oakland, he became involved with gang life, accumulating a criminal record with eight arrests by the beginning of his twenties. On a

positive note he began developing his skills as a rapper he had first started to explore during his years in Baltimore.

In 1991, Tupac released his first album 2Pacalypse Now. While Shakur claimed his album was about pointing out the problems facing young black males, it was also filled with images of violence by and against police. 2Pacalypse Now received a lot of public criticism, especially after a man

killed a Texas Trooper and claimed he was inspired by the album.

In November of 1994, he was shot five times during a robbery

Tupac surprisingly recovered and produced his most impressive accomplishments.

Including 1995's Me Against the World, which sold two million copies, and the double-CD All Eyez on Me, which

sold nearly three million & was released during 1996.

RISE TO FAME

Come on come on

I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself

is life worth living should I blast myself?

I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black

my stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch

Cops give a damn about a negro

pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero

Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares

one less hungry mouth on the welfare

First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers

give 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each other

It's time to fight back that's what Huey said

2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead

I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere

unless we share with each other

CHANGES

[2Pac]Tell me do you see that old lady aint it sad

Living out a bag, but she's glad for the little things she hasAnd over there there's a lady, crack got her crazy

Guess she's given birth to a babyI don't trip and let it fade me, from outta the frying pan

We jump into another form of slaveryEven now I keep discouraged

Wonder if they take it all back while I still keep the courageI refuse to be a role model

I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottleI make mistakes, I learn from everyone

And when its said and doneI bet this Brotha be a better one

If I'm upset, you don't stressNever forget, that God hasn't finished with me yet

I feel his hand on my brainWhen I write rhymes, I go blind, and let the lord do his thang

But am I less holyCuz I choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies

Before we find world peaceWe gotta find peace in that war on the streets

My ghetto gospel

[Chorus - Elton John]

Ghetto Gospel

On September 7, 1996 Shakur was shot 4 times after watching a Mike Tyson fight with Death Row Records

president Marion "Suge" Knight. He died six days later.

Even though Tupac’s death was a shock to all his fans and the whole music community, Tupac always told people that he expected he'd die by the sword before he reached thirty.