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| Tupac Shakur | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tupac Amaru Shakur |
| Also known as | 2Pac, Makaveli |
| Born | June 16, 1971 (age 42) East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Origin | Marin City, California, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Rap, West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, songwriter, actor, record producer, poet, screenwriter, activist |
| Years active | 1990 - present |
| Label(s) | Interscope, Out Da Gutta, Death Row Records, Amaru, Makaveli |
| Associated acts | Digital Underground, Outlawz, Yaki Fula, E.D.I., E-40, Notorious B.I.G., Shock G, Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Dr Dre |
Tupac Amaru Shakur (born June 16, 1971), also known by his stage names Pac, 2Pac, or Makaveli, is an American rapper. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur is a promising actor and a social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in society, and conflicts with other rappers. Shakur's work is known for advocating political, economic, social and racial equality. Shakur was initially a roadie and backup dancer for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground.
Shakur became the target of lawsuits and experienced other legal problems. He was later shot five times and robbed in the lobby of a recording studio in New York City. Following the event, Shakur grew suspicious that other figures in the rap industry had prior knowledge of the incident and did not warn him; the controversy helped spark the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry. Shakur was later a convicted sex offender, guilty of sexual abuse. After serving eleven months of his sentence, he was released from prison on an appeal financed by Marion "Suge" Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records. In exchange for Suge's assistance, Shakur agreed to release 3 albums under the Death Row label.
Discography
Studio album
- 1991: 2Pacalypse Now
- 1993: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
- 1995: Me Against the World
- 1996: All Eyez on Me
- 1996: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Posthumous albums
- 1997: R U Still Down?(Remember Me)
- 1999: Still I Rise
- 2001: Until the End of Time
- 2002: Better Dayz
- 2004: Loyal to the Game
- 2006: Pac's Life
- 2009: The Lost Scriptures
Collaboration albums
- 1994: Thug Life
Top 10 Billboard singles
- 1991: "Brenda's Got a Baby"
- 1991: "If My Homie Calls"
- 1993: "I Get Around"
- 1993: "Keep Ya Head Up"
- 1995: "Dear Mama"
- 1995: "Old School"
- 1995: "Me Against the World"
- 1995: "So Many Tears"
- 1996: "California Love"
- 1996: "Hit 'Em Up"
- 1996: "How Do You Want It"
- 1997: "To Live & Die in L.A."
- 1997: "Made Niggaz"
- 1997: "Do for Love"
- 1998: "Changes"
- 2002: "Thugz Mansion"
- 2003: "Runnin' (Dying to Live)"
- 2005: "Ghetto Gospel"
- 2006: "Pac's Life"
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Nothing But Trouble | Himself | Brief appearance |
| 1992 | Juice | Bishop | First starring role |
| 1993 | Poetic Justice | Lucky | Co-starred with Janet Jackson |
| 1994 | Above the Rim | Birdie | Co-starred with Duane Martin |
| 1996 | Bullet | Tank | Released one month after Shakur's death |
| 1997 | Gridlock'd | Ezekiel 'Spoon' Whitmore | Released several months after Shakur's death |
| 1997 | Gang Related | Detective Rodríguez | Shakur's last film performance |
| 2003 | Tupac: Resurrection | Himself | Official documentary |
| 2009 | Notorious | Himself (archive footage) | Portrayed by Anthony Mackie |
| 2013 | Tupac | Himself (archive footage) | The official biographical motion picture of Tupac Shakur.The film is currently being produced. |
| 20?? | Live 2 Tell | Screenwriter | Written by Shakur in 1996 |