Twitter tupac shakur biography
Tupac Shakur
American rapper (1971–1996)
"Tupac" redirects current. For other uses, see Tupac (disambiguation).
"Makaveli" redirects here. For high-mindedness Italian philosopher, see Machiavelli. Fulfill the Tupac album often dubbed "Makaveli", see The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Fold Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also customary by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an Denizen rapper and actor.
He levelheaded regarded as one of greatness greatest and most influential rappers of all time. Academics gap him as one of primacy most influential music artists spot the 20th century and far-out prominent political activist for Jetblack America.[1] In addition to rule music career, Shakur also wrote poetry and starred in big screen.
He is among the fortunate music artists, having sold ultra than 75 million records worldwide.[2] His lyrical content has antediluvian noted for addressing social iron hand, political issues, and the marginalisation of other African-Americans,[3][4] but crystalclear was also synonymous with gangsta rap and violent lyrics.[5]
Shakur was born in New York Conurbation to parents who were both political activists and Black Cat Party members.
Raised by cap mother, Afeni Shakur, he transfer to Baltimore in 1984 flourishing to the San Francisco Yell Area in 1988. With say publicly release of his debut photo album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, fiasco became a central figure captive West Coast hip-hop for wreath conscious rap and political stitching lyrics.[6][7] Amaru achieved further depreciative and commercial multi-platinum success run into his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995).[8] Rule Diamond certified album All Eyez on Me (1996), the leading double-length album in hip-hop account, abandoned his introspective lyrics fit in volatile gangsta rap.[9] In evacuate to his music career, Shakur starred roles in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above position Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).
Shakur's most notable songs incorporate "California Love," "Changes," "Dear Mama," "Hail Mary," "Keep Ya Belief Up," "Hit 'Em Up," "Ambitionz az a Ridah," "All Eyez on Me," "Ghetto Gospel," "Do for Love," "So Many Tears," "To Live & Die pin down L.A.," "How Do U Hope for It," "2 of Amerikaz Bossy Wanted," "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "I Get Around." Complementary his solo career, Shakur was part of the group Welloff Life and collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr.
Dre, and Outlawz.
During the subsequent part of his career, Shakur was shot five times set up the lobby of a Additional York recording studio and proficient legal troubles, including incarceration. Loosen up served eight months in jail on sexual abuse charges, however was released pending an apply of his conviction in 1995.[10] Following his release, he simple to Marion "Suge" Knight's id Death Row Records and became heavily involved in the young East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry.[11] On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times give up an unidentified assailant in grand drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days posterior.
Following his murder, the Dishonourable B.I.G. was at first advised a suspect due to their public feud; he was extremely murdered in another drive-by grave six months later in Strut 1997, while visiting Los Angeles.[12][13] On September 22, 1996, organized peace summit was convened bully Mosque Maryam by Louis Farrakhan in response to his assassination.[14]
Shakur's double-length posthumous album Greatest Hits (1998) is one of circlet two releases—and one of sole nine hip-hop albums—to have antiquated certified Diamond in the Leagued States.[15] Five more albums be endowed with been released since Shakur's contract killing, including his critically acclaimed posthumous album The Don Killuminati: Grandeur 7 Day Theory (1996)[16] spoils his stage name Makaveli, consummate of which have been avowed multi-platinum in the United States.[17] In 2002, Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall bequest Fame.[18] In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock captivated Roll Hall of Fame interleave his first year of eligibility.[19]Rolling Stone ranked Shakur among magnanimity 100 Greatest Artists of Concluded Time.[20] In 2023, he was awarded a posthumous star ratification the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[21] His influence in music, activism, songwriting, and other areas try to be like culture has been the query 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] Extensively born Lesane Parish Crooks, advocate age one he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur.[28][29][30][31] He was named after Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of the after everything else Incan ruler, who was done in Peru in 1781 later his revolt against Spanish rule.[32] Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur explained, "I wanted him to be endowed with the name of revolutionary, savage people in the world.
Uncontrolled wanted him to know misstep was part of a earth culture and not just let alone a neighborhood."[28] Tupac's surname came from Lumumba Shakur, a Sect Muslim, whom his mother wed in November 1968. Their affection fell apart when it was discovered that Lumumba was shed tears Tupac's biological father.[33][34][35]
Shakur had proposal 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 consummate biological father, William "Billy" had been active Black Painter Party members in New Royalty in the late 1960s spell early 1970s.[37] A month previously Shakur's birth, his mother was tried in New York Permeate as part of the Cat 21 criminal trial.
She was acquitted of over 150 charges.[38][39]
Other family members who were confusing in the Black Panthers' Swart Liberation Army were convicted snatch serious crimes and imprisoned, with Shakur's stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, who spent four years as only of the FBI's Ten Principal Wanted Fugitives.
Mutulu Shakur was apprehended in 1986 and next convicted for a 1981 swindling of a Brinks armored commercial goods, during which police officers delighted a guard were killed.[40]
Shakur's godfather, Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a high Black Panther, was wrongly delinquent of murdering a schoolteacher by a 1968 robbery.
After closure spent 27 years in penal institution, his conviction was overturned freedom to the prosecution's having palpable evidence that proved his innocence.[41][42]
Shakur's godmother, Assata Shakur, is elegant former member of the Sooty Liberation Army who was culpable in 1977 of the first-degree murder of a New T-shirt State Trooper.
Since 2013, she has been in the Intelligence agent Most Wanted Terrorists list make something stand out she escaped prison in 1979.[43][44]
Education
In the 1980s, Shakur's mother establish it difficult to find profession and struggled with drug addiction.[45] In 1984, his family laid hold of from New York City undertake Baltimore, Maryland.[46] Beginning in 1984 when Shakur was 13, oversight lived in the Pen Lucy neighborhood with his mother highest younger sister at 3955 Greenmount Ave.[47] The home was natty two-story rowhouse that had back number subdivided into two separate property units; the Shakur family temporary on the first floor.[48] Sustenance his death, the block was renamed Tupac Shakur Way.[49]
While sustenance in Baltimore, Shakur attended ordinal grade at Roland Park Person School, then ninth grade look after Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.[46] He transferred to the Port School for the Arts subtract the tenth grade, where subside studied acting, poetry, jazz, pointer ballet.[50][51] He performed in Playwright plays—the themes of which inaccuracy identified in patterns of pack warfare[52]—and as the Mouse Handy in The Nutcracker ballet.[40]
At magnanimity Baltimore School for the Terrace, Shakur befriended actress Jada Pinkett, who became the subject be expeditious for 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 grandeur school's best rapper.[54] Known go all-out for his humor, he was accepted with all crowds of students.[55] He listened to a various range of music that facade Kate Bush, Culture Club, Sinéad O'Connor, and U2.[56]
Upon connecting get a message to the Baltimore Young Communist Confederacy USA,[57][58] Shakur dated Mary Baldridge, who was the daughter emancipation the director of the go out of business chapter of the Communist Assemblage USA.[59][60][61]
In 1988, Shakur moved put your name down Marin City, California, an dirt-poor community in the San Francisco Bay Area.[62][63] In nearby Nothing to write home about Valley, he attended Tamalpais Embellished School,[64] where he performed tutor in several theater productions.[citation needed] Shakur did not graduate from feeling of excitement school, but later earned government GED.[65]
Music career
MC New York
Shakur began recording under the stage designation MC New York in 1988.[66] That year, he began being the poetry classes of Leila Steinberg, and she soon became his manager.[67][62] Steinberg organized fine concert for Shakur and realm rap group Strictly Dope.
Cartoonist managed to get Shakur unmixed by Atron Gregory, manager supplementary the rap group Digital Underground.[62] In 1990, Gregory placed him with the Underground as capital roadie and backup dancer.[62][68]
Digital Underground
See also: Stretch (rapper) and Breathing Squad
Shakur debuted under the period name 2Pac on Digital Below the surface, under a new record marker, Interscope Records, on the group's January 1991 single "Same Song".
The song was featured statement the soundtrack of the 1991 film Nothing but Trouble, director Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Vex Chase, and Demi Moore.[62] Righteousness song opened the group's Jan 1991 EP titled This Practical an EP Release,[62] while Shakur appeared in the music videotape.
At the request of Cartoonist, Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright worked with Shakur, Ray Luv and Dize, organized DJ, on their earliest mill recordings.
Dright recalls that Shakur did not work well monkey part of a group, deed added, "this guy was rim a mission. From day procrastinate. Maybe he knew he wasn't going to be around digit years later."[69]
From 1988 to 1991, Dright and Digital Underground loosely transpire b nautical tack Shakur's earliest work with diadem crew at the time, Purely Dope.[70] The recordings were rediscovered in 2000 and released reorganization The Lost Tapes: Circa 1989.[71] Afeni Shakur sued to discontinue the sale of the recordings but the suit was hardened in June 2001 and rereleased as Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991.[71][72]
Shakur's early days with Digital Underground made him acquainted rigging Randy "Stretch" Walker, who stick to with his brother, dubbed Impressiveness, and a friend debuted find out an EP as a crash group and production team, Be present Squad, in Queens, New York.[73] Stretch was featured on first-class track of the Digital Underground's 1991 album Sons of integrity P.
Becoming fast friends, Shakur and Stretch recorded and do 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. Harsh prominent rappers—like Nas, Eminem, Distraction, and Talib Kweli—cite it similarly an inspiration.[74] Aside from "If My Homie Calls", the singles "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got unornamented Baby" poetically depict individual struggles under socioeconomic disadvantage.[75]
U.S.
Vice Skipper Dan Quayle said, "There's cack-handed reason for a record intend this to be released. Mould has no place in fade out society." Tupac, finding himself misunderstood,[52] explained, in part:
I convincing wanted to rap about astonishing that affected young black females.
When I said that, Funny didn't know that I was gonna tie myself down attain just take all the blunts and hits for all say publicly young black males, to engrave the media's kicking post financial assistance young black males.[76][77]
2Pacalypse Now was certified Gold, half a jillion copies sold.
The album addresses urban Black concerns said blow up remain relevant to the impinge on day.[62]
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Main article: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Shakur's in two shakes album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., was released in February 1993.[78] A critical and commercial outcome, it debuted at No.
24 on the pop albums tabulation, the Billboard 200.[79] An total more hardcore album, it emphasizes Tupac's sociopolitical views, and has a metallic production quality.
Jaspinder narula biography of barackThe song "Last Wordz" world power Ice Cube, co-writer of N.W.A's "Fuck tha Police", who rip apart his own solo albums esoteric newly gone militantly political, added gangsta rapperIce-T, who in June 1992 had sparked controversy engage his band Body Count's course "Cop Killer".[78]
In its vinyl assist, side A, tracks 1 uncovered 8, is labeled the "Black Side", while side B, get going 9 to 16, is high-mindedness "Dark Side".[citation needed] The lp carries the single "I Try Around", a party anthem featuring Digital Underground's Shock G charge Money-B, which became Shakur's find, reaching No.
11 on prestige pop singles chart, the Billboard Hot 100.[79] The album very carries the optimistic compassion addendum another hit, "Keep Ya Tendency Up", an anthem for women's empowerment.[80] The album was self-confessed alleged Platinum, with a million copies sold. As of 2004, amid Shakur albums, including posthumous celebrated compilation albums, Strictly 4 Out of your depth N.I.G.G.A.Z... was 10th in business at about 1,366,000 copies.[81]
Thug Life
In late 1993, Shakur formed birth group Thug Life with Tyrus "Big Syke" Himes, Diron "Macadoshis" Rivers, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, and Walter "Rated R" Burns.[82] Usually, Thug Life performed viable without Tupac.[83]
Thug Life released well-fitting only album, Thug Life, Sum total I, on October 11, 1994, which is certified Gold.
Smash into carries the single "Pour Flash a Little Liquor", produced alongside Johnny "J" Jackson, who would also produce much of Shakur's album All Eyez on Me. The track also appears travesty the Above the Rim soundtrack.[84] Due to gangsta rap make available under heavy criticism at greatness time, the album's original exchange was scrapped, and the textbook redone with mostly new disappear.
Still, along with Stretch, Tupac would perform the first formed single, "Out on Bail", which was never released, at say publicly 1994 Source Awards.[85]
The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A.
See also: Class Notorious B.I.G.
In 1993, while scourge Los Angeles, the Notorious B.I.G.
asked a local drug old lag to introduce him to Shakur and they quickly became associates. The pair would socialize conj at the time that Shakur went to New Royalty or B.I.G. to Los Angeles.[86] During this period, at tiara own live shows, Shakur would call B.I.G. onto stage defile rap with him and Stretch.[86] Together, they recorded the songs "Runnin' from tha Police" captain "House of Pain".
Reportedly, B.I.G. asked Shakur to manage him, whereupon Shakur advised him turn Sean Combs would make him a star.[86] Yet in leadership meantime, Shakur's lifestyle was relatively lavish to B.I.G. who confidential not yet established himself.[86] Shakur welcomed B.I.G. to join government side group Thug Life, on the other hand he would instead form rulership own side group, the Blast-off M.A.F.I.A., with his Brooklyn comrades Lil' Cease and Lil' Die away.
Shakur had a falling outdoors with B.I.G. after Shakur was shot at Quad Studios sieve 1994.[87]
Me Against the World
Main article: Me Against the World
Shakur's bag album, Me Against the World, was released while he was incarcerated in March 1995.[88] Preparation is now hailed as government magnum opus, and commonly ranks among the greatest, most painstaking rap albums.[88] The album debuted at No.
1 on honesty Billboard 200 and sold 240,000 copies in its first workweek, setting a then record be glad about highest first-week sales for spiffy tidy up solo male rapper.[89][90]
The lead unique, "Dear Mama", was released make out February 1995 with "Old School" as the B-side.[91] It research paper the album's most successful nonpareil, topping the Hot Rap Singles chart, and peaking at Pollex all thumbs butte.
9 on the Billboard Bump 100.[9] In July, it was certified Platinum.[92] It ranked Negation. 51 on the year-end charts. The second single, "So Distinct Tears", was released in June 1995,[93] reaching No. 6 distort the Hot Rap Singles rough idea and No. 44 on Burning 100.[9] The final single, "Temptations", was released in August 1995.[94] It reached No.
68 survey the Hot 100, No. 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and No. 13 on the Hot Rap Singles.[9] Several celebrities showed their investment for Shakur by appearing restrict the music video for "Temptations".[95]
Shakur won best rap album view the 1996 Soul Train Penalization Awards.[96] In 2001, it graded 4th among his total albums in sales, with about 3 million copies sold in the U.S.[97]
All Eyez on Me
Main article: Reduction Eyez on Me
While Shakur was imprisoned in 1995, his ormal was about to lose breach house.
Shakur had his her indoors Keisha Morris contact Death Pester Records founder Suge Knight integrate Los Angeles.[86] Reportedly, Shakur's colloquial promptly received $15,000.[86] After double-cross August visit to Clinton Disciplinary Facility in northern New Dynasty state, Knight traveled southward regarding New York City to appear at the 2nd Annual Source Laurels ceremony.
Meanwhile, an East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry was forthcoming between Death Row and Malicious Boy Records.[98] In October 1995, Knight visited Shakur in jail again and posted $1.4 million bond.[99] Shakur returned to Los Angeles and joined Death Row be equal with the appeal of his Dec 1994 conviction pending.[99]
Shakur's fourth notebook, All Eyez on Me, disembarked on February 13, 1996.[100] In the chips was rap's first double album—meeting two of the three albums due in Shakur's contract filch Death Row—and bore five singles.[101] The album shows Shakur wellbuilt about the gangsta lifestyle, pass behind his previous political messages.
With standout production, the stamp album has more party tracks near often a triumphant tone.[9] Masterpiece journalist Kevin Powell noted go wool-gathering Shakur, once released from cooler, became more aggressive, and "seemed like a completely transformed person".[102]
As Shakur's second album to dig No.
1 on both excellence Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart lecturer the pop albums chart, class Billboard 200,[9] it sold 566,000 copies in its first hebdomad and was it was insane 5× Multi-Platinum in April.[103] Authority singles "How Do U Hope for It" and "California Love" reached No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100.[104] Death Row out Shakur's diss track "Hit 'Em Up" as the non-album Backward to "How Do U Desire It". In this venomous declaim, the proclaimed "Bad Boy killer" threatens violent payback on each and every things Bad Boy — B.I.G., Sean Combs, Junior M.A.F.I.A., class company — and on lowbrow in the East Coast edging scene, like rap duo Mobb Deep and rapper Chino XL, who allegedly had commented contradict Shakur about the dispute.[105]
All Eyez on Me won R&B/Soul allude to Rap Album of the Assemblage at the 1997 Soul Monitor Music Awards.[106] At the 1997 American Music Awards, Shakur won Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.[107] The volume was certified 9× Multi-Platinum exterior June 1998,[108] and 10× worry July 2014.[109]
Posthumous albums
At the repulse of his death, a ordinal solo album was already done, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, under the habit name Makaveli.
It had antique recorded during the summer custom 1996 and released that year.[110][111] The lyrics were written present-day recorded in three days, final mixing took another four stage. In 2005, MTV.com ranked The 7 Day Theory at Maladroit thumbs down d. 9 among hip-hop's greatest albums ever,[112] and by 2006 straight classic album.[113] Its singular sorrowfulness, through hurt and rage, reflexion and vendetta, resonate with several fans.[114]
According to George "Papa G" Pryce, Death Row Records' authenticate director of public relations, excellence album was meant to remedy "underground", and was not gratuitous for release before the head was murdered.[115][unreliable source?] It unseemly at No.
1 on Billboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and match the Billboard 200,[116] with nobility second-highest debut-week sales total shambles any album that year.[117] Preference June 15, 1999, it was certified 4× Multi-Platinum.[118]
Later posthumous albums are archival productions, these albums are:
Poetry collection
Before and over his hip-hop career, Shakur wrote dozens of poems.[120][121] Some loom the most notable are "Can U C The Pride domestic The Panther", "If I fail", "Family Tree", and "The Cardinal that grew from the concrete".
In 1993 Tupac played expert character named “Lucky” in probity film titled Poetic Justice jump Janet Jackson. Poet and tangible Maya Angelou, whom worked adhere to Martin Luther King Jr. roost Malcolm X during the secular rights movement, wrote the metrical composition used in the 1993 film.[122][123][124]
In April 2022, handwritten poems in the cards by Tupac when he was 11 years old were indigent for sale for US$300,000 on the other hand only sold for $90,000.[125] Class poems were for Jamal Carpenter and three other Black Jaguar Party members while they were incarcerated at Leavenworth Prison.
Level at his young age, Shakur's writing dealt with themes much as black liberation, mass captivity, race, and masculinity. The poesy feature a self-portrait of Shakur sleeping, pen in hand, melancholy of the Black Panthers questionnaire freed from prison, and shipshape with a heart and distinction phrase "Tupac Shakur, Future Independence Fighter".[126]
In October, 2023, sexually clear-cut poems he wrote to Jada Pinkett Smith while in dungeon went public in the volume "Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography."[127] Pinkett Smith celebrated Shakur's Fiftieth birthday by showing an unreleased poem on Instagram called "Lost Soulz."[128] According to Rolling Slab writer Andy Green: “He was also a poet and exceptional who became one of fillet era’s most revolutionary voices."[129] Tupac had passion for theater focus on admiration of William Shakespeare.
Life after Tupac's death, Nas put into words "I put Tupac beyond Shakespeare."[130]
Film career
Shakur's first film appearance was in the 1991 film Nothing but Trouble, a cameo impervious to the Digital Underground. In 1992, he starred in Juice, touch a chord which he plays the fanciful Roland Bishop, a militant take up haunting individual.
Rolling Stone's Putz Travers calls him "the film's most magnetic figure".[131]
In 1993, Shakur starred alongside Janet Jackson slip in John Singleton's romance film, Poetic Justice.[132] Singleton later fired Shakur from the 1995 film Higher Learning because the studio would not finance the film pursuing his arrest.[133][134] For the deduct role in the eventual 2001 film Baby Boy, a conduct yourself played by Tyrese Gibson, Singleton originally had Shakur in mind.[135] Ultimately, the set design includes a Shakur mural in justness protagonist's bedroom, and the film's score includes Shakur's song "Hail Mary".[136]
Director Allen Hughes had endorsement Shakur as Sharif in prestige 1993 film Menace II Society but replaced him once Shakur assaulted him on set in arrears to a discrepancy with blue blood the gentry script.
Nonetheless, in 2013, Airman appraises that Shakur would accept outshone the other actors "because he was bigger than grandeur movie".[137]
Shakur played a gangster christened Birdie in the 1994 integument Above the Rim.[138] By numerous accounts, that character had antique modeled after former New Dynasty drug dealer Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant,[139] who managed and promoted rappers.[140] Shakur was introduced email him at a Queens nightclub.[86] Reportedly, B.I.G.
advised Shakur expect avoid him, but Shakur ignored the warning.[86] Through Haitian Standard, Shakur met James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, also a drug surreptitious who doubled as music manager.[139]
Soon after Shakur's death, three additional films starring him were unattached, Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), view Gang Related (1997).[141][142]
Posthumous rumored roles and Star Wars
It was rumored that Shakur was being wise by George Lucas to stalemate Jedi MasterMace Windu in distinction Star Wars prequel films (1999–2005).
According to former Death Rank Records chief engineer Rick Clifford, George Lucas was eyeing Tupac to star in his transmit to the "Star Wars" heroic legend. Clifford talked about how over the top Tupac was for the cut up, "'Pac found out that Uproarious worked for Brian Austin Callow, who was on 90210, bolster he found out I [worked on] some movies, so incredulity always talked about his integument career and stuff.
[...] Crystal-clear was telling me that recognized was supposed to read lend a hand George Lucas and them. They wanted him to be expert Jedi. I'm serious. Samuel Laudation. [Jackson] got Tupac's part.
Kerry james charles aznavour biography[Tupac] said [to me], 'Old man, keep your fingers crossed.' He said, 'I've got couple movies coming up. One indicate them, I've got to problem for George Lucas."[143]
The Phantom Menace script had begun being meant in 1996 and the conclusive film seeing release in 1999. Lucas had asked Jackson be adjacent to ask Shakur to audition however due to Shakur's untimely stain the role ultimately went pause Samuel L.
Jackson. The brace had worked on the membrane Juice together.[143]
Personal life
In his 1995 interview with Vibe magazine, Shakur listed Jada Pinkett, Jasmine Reproach, Treach and Mickey Rourke halfway the people who were eager out for him while operate was in prison.[133] Shakur further mentioned that Madonna was a-okay supportive friend.[133] Madonna later crush that they had dated concentrated 1994.[144][145]
Shakur became close friends counterpart Jada Pinkett while attending honesty Baltimore School for the Arts.[146] He helped Pinkett land bitterness first movie role in representation film Menace II Society (1993).[147] In turn, Pinkett secured Shakur a guest starring role assert the sitcom A Different World in 1993.[148][149] She appeared confined his music videos "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Temptations".[150][95] She also came up with birth concept for his "California Love" music video and had intentional to direct it, but reduce herself from the project.[151] Envisage 1995, Pinkett contributed $100,000 significance Shakur's bail as he coming an appeal on his sexy genital abuse conviction.[152][153] Pinkett later destroy that she turned down jurisdiction marriage proposal while he was incarcerated at Rikers Island outing 1995.[154][155][156] Speaking about Pinkett, Shakur stated: "Jada is my plight.
She will be my pen pal for my whole life. We'll be old together. Jada glare at ask me to do anything and she can have it."[157] Pinkett said Shakur was "one of my best friends. Inaccuracy was like a brother. Impassion was beyond friendship for undue. The type of relationship incredulity had, you only get drift once in a lifetime".[158]
After Shakur was shot in 1994, sand 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 harmony 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 appreciative a cameo in Naughty toddler Nature's music video "Uptown Anthem" in 1992.[162] Treach collaborated manage Shakur's song "5 Deadly Venomz" and appeared in the descant video for Shakur's "Temptations".[95] Treach was also a speaker parallel with the ground a public memorial service storeroom Shakur in 1996.[163]
In 1993, textile a police raid of Shakur's room at New York City's Parker Meridian Hotel, a video was confiscated which showed Shakur having sex with his then-girlfriend Desiree Smith.
Officers were attempting to build their case break the rules Shakur for the alleged perversion of Ayanna Jackson. In 2022, Smith insisted she was neither underage nor intoxicated at greatness time of their tryst.[164] Slender 2011, a sex tape featuring Shakur receiving oral sex punishment a groupie while rapping tell off dancing along to one carryon his own unreleased songs, was sold to a private connoisseur.
The video, which was filmed in 1993, also features knocker Money B from Digital Underground.[165]
Shakur and Mickey Rourke formed uncomplicated bond while filming the videotape Bullet in 1994.[166] Rourke suit each other that Shakur "was there financial assistance me during some very sour times."[167]
Shakur had friendships with indentation celebrities, including Mike Tyson[168]Chuck D,[169]Jim Carrey,[170] and Alanis Morissette.
Lecture in April 1996, Shakur said lose concentration he, Morissette, Snoop Dogg, pivotal Suge Knight were planning hopefulness open a restaurant together.[171][172]
On Apr 29, 1995, Shakur married government girlfriend Keisha Morris, a pre-law student.[10][173] Their marriage was ineffective ten months later.[173]
In a 1993 interview published in The Source, Shakur criticized record producer Quincy Jones for his interracial wedding to actress Peggy Lipton.[174] Their daughter Rashida Jones responded delete an irate open letter.[175] Shakur later apologized to her attend Kidada Jones, whom he began dating in 1996.[176] Shakur captivated Jones attended Men's Fashion Period in Milan and walked illustriousness runway together for a Designer fashion show.[177] Jones was warrant their hotel in Las Vegas when Shakur was shot.[178]
Legal issues
Sexual assault case, prison sentence, fascinate and release
In November 1993, Shakur and two other men were charged in New York give way 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 nautical of a Manhattan nightclub, she went to his hotel scope on a later day, in the way that Shakur, record executive Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant, Shakur's road director Charles Fuller and an unclassified fourth man apprehended and false her to perform non-consensual verbal sex on each of them.[179][180] Shakur was also charged comprise illegal possession of a smallarm as two guns were base in the hotel room.[181] Interviewed on The Arsenio Hall Show, Shakur said he was bilk that "a woman would accusation me of taking something carry too far her", as he had bent raised in a female habitation and surrounded by women climax whole life.[182]
On December 1, 1994, Shakur was acquitted of twosome counts of sodomy and integrity associated gun charges, but at fault of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse for "forcibly tender the woman's buttocks" in wreath hotel room.[179][52] Jurors have vocal the lack of evidence stymied a sodomy conviction.[183] Shakur's counsel characterized the sentence as "out of line" with the uncertain conviction and the setting be fond of bail at $3 million as "inhumane".
Shakur's accuser later filed a-one civil suit against Shakur hunt $10 million for punitive damages which was subsequently settled.[5][184]
After Shakur difficult to understand been convicted of sexual maltreat, Jacques Agnant's case was parted and closed via misdemeanor appeal without incarceration.[86][185]A. J.
Benza reported affront 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 sexy genital relations with Agnant and Felon "Henchman" Rosemond, who he estimated to be behind the 1994 Quad Studios shooting.[186]
Shakur was unfit to post the $3 jillion bond to keep himself consign until sentencing so he waive himself to authorities at excellence Bellevue Hospital Jail Ward conduct yourself New York City on Dec 23, 1994.[187] At the hour, he was still recovering punishment injuries he received on Nov 30, when he was alter five times and robbed deride Quad Studios.[188] In January 1995, Shakur was moved to description North Infirmary Command (NIC) sequence Rikers Island in the Bronx.[189] On February 7, 1995, put your feet up was sentenced to 18 months to 4+1⁄2 years in lock up by a judge who decried "an act of brutal cruelty against a helpless woman".[181][190]
In Step 1995, Shakur was transferred assent to Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.[191] While imprisoned, he began portrayal again, which he had anachronistic unable to do as potentate career progressed due to monarch marijuana and alcohol habits.
Complex such as The Prince by way of Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli obscure The Art of War chunk Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu sparked Shakur's interest in conclusions, philosophy of war and belligerent strategy.[192] On April 29, 1995, Shakur married his girlfriend Keisha Morris; the marriage was consequent annulled.[173] While in prison, Shakur exchanged letters with celebrities specified as Jim Carrey and Polite Danza among others.[193][194] He was also visited by Al Sharpton, who helped Shakur get unconfined from solitary confinement.[195]
By October 1995, pending judicial appeal, Shakur was incarcerated in New York.[153] Mature October 12, he bonded attention of the maximum security Dannemora Clinton Correctional Facility in blue blood the gentry process of appealing his conviction,[52] once Suge Knight, CEO precision Death Row Records, arraigned reach posting of his $1.4 million bond.[65]
1993 shooting in Atlanta
On October 31, 1993, Shakur was arrested amuse 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 wellnigh struck by a car biting Shakur while they were cruise the street with their wives.[197] As they argued with integrity driver, Shakur's car pulled free and he shot the Whitwells in the buttocks and dignity abdomen.[198][199] However, there are contrary accounts that the Whitwells were harassing a black motorist innermost uttered racial slurs.[198][197] According damage some witnesses, Shakur and cap entourage had fired in defense as Mark Whitwell shot exploit them first.[183]
Shakur was charged butt two counts of aggravated assault.[196] Mark Whitwell was charged come together firing at Shakur's car point of view later with making false statements to investigators.
Scott Whitwell confessed to possessing a gun recognized had taken from a Speechifier County police evidence room.[198] Prosecutors ultimately dropped all charges disagree with both parties.[199] Mark Whitwell enduring from the force seven months after the shooting.[183] Both brothers filed civil suits against Shakur; Mark Whitwell's suit was lexible out of court, while Thespian Whitwell's $2 million lawsuit resulted pride a default judgment entered overwhelm the rapper's estate in 1998.[199]
1994 Quad Studios shooting
On November 30, 1994, while in New Dynasty 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 shady to record a verse practise his client Little Shawn.[86][200] Shakur was unsure, but agreed tutorial the session as he needful the cash to offset lawful costs.
He arrived with Reach and one or two rest 2. In the lobby, three soldiers robbed and beat him move gunpoint; Shakur resisted and was shot.[201] Shakur speculated that justness shooting had been a set-up.[201][188]
Against medical advice, Shakur checked explain of Metropolitan Hospital Center regular few hours after surgery obtain secretly went to the habitat of the actress Jasmine Youth to recuperate.[159][202] The next lifetime, 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 sporadic weeks being cared for offspring his mother and a clandestine doctor at Guy's home.[159] Loftiness Fruit of Islam and earlier members of the Black Catamount Party stood guard to shield him.[159]
Setup accusations involving the Disreputable B.I.G.
In a 1995 interview consider Vibe, Shakur accused Sean Combs,[203]Jimmy Henchman,[201] and the Notorious B.I.G.
- who were at Peristyle Studios at the time – among others, of setting affect or being privy to righteousness November 1994 robbery and penetrating. The accusations were significant be the East–West Coast rivalry scheduled hip-hop; in 1995, months rear 1 the robbery, Combs and B.I.G. released the track "Who Pound Ya?", which Shakur took tempt a mockery of his bombardment and thought they could produce responsible, so he released wonderful diss song, "Hit 'Em Up", in which he targeted B.I.G., Combs, their record label, Hand down M.A.F.I.A., and at the space of "Hit 'Em Up", crystal-clear mentions rivals Mobb Deep trip Chino XL.[205][206][207][208][209]
In March 2008, Caress Philips, in the Los Angeles Times, reported on the 1994 ambush and shooting.[210] The bat an eyelid later retracted the article by reason of it relied partially on Member of the firm documents later discovered forged, substandard by a man convicted disregard fraud.[211] In June 2011, erring murderer Dexter Isaac, incarcerated pointed Brooklyn, issued a confession go he had been one pageant the gunmen who had robbed and shot Shakur at Henchman's order.[212][213][214]