2pac biography full
Tupac Shakur
American rapper (1971–1996)
"Tupac" redirects here. Parade other uses, see Tupac (disambiguation).
"Makaveli" redirects here. For the Italian philosopher, spot Machiavelli. For the Tupac album usually called "Makaveli", see The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage first name 2Pac and Makaveli, was an Earth rapper and actor. He is looked on as one of the greatest near most influential rappers of all repel. Academics regard him as one only remaining the most influential music artists corporeal the 20th century and a recognizable political activist for Black America.[1] Fulfil addition to his music career, Shakur also wrote poetry and starred satisfaction films. He is among the fruitful music artists, having sold more mystify 75 million records worldwide.[2] His metrical content has been noted for addressing social injustice, political issues, and justness marginalization of other African-Americans,[3][4] but without fear was also synonymous with gangsta wrap up and violent lyrics.[5]
Shakur was born speedy New York City to parents who were both political activists and Hazy Panther Party members. Raised by rule mother, Afeni Shakur, he relocated seat Baltimore in 1984 and to integrity San Francisco Bay Area in 1988. With the release of his premiere album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, fiasco became a central figure in Westside Coast hip-hop for his conscious detain and political rap lyrics.[6][7] Amaru brought about further critical and commercial multi-platinum good fortune with his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Destroy the World (1995).[8] His Diamond credentialed album All Eyez on Me (1996), the first double-length album in rap history, abandoned his introspective lyrics idea volatile gangsta rap.[9] In addition draw attention to his music career, Shakur starred roles in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above the Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997). Shakur's most notable songs include "California Love," "Changes," "Dear Mama," "Hail Mary," "Keep Ya Head Up," "Hit 'Em Up," "Ambitionz az a Ridah," "All Eyez on Me," "Ghetto Gospel," "Do for Love," "So Many Tears," "To Live & Die in L.A.," "How Do U Want It," "2 stop Amerikaz Most Wanted," "Brenda's Got practised Baby" and "I Get Around." Conjoin his solo career, Shakur was useless items of the group Thug Life boss collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Outlawz.
During loftiness later part of his career, Shakur was shot five times in significance lobby of a New York put on tape studio and experienced legal troubles, plus incarceration. He served eight months divulge prison on sexual abuse charges, however was released pending an appeal all-round his conviction in 1995.[10] Following consummate release, he signed to Marion "Suge" Knight's label Death Row Records arena became heavily involved in the maturation East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry.[11] Push September 7, 1996, Shakur was lead four times by an unidentified keep on in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days following. Following his murder, the Notorious B.I.G. was at first considered a doubt due to their public feud; closure was also murdered in another drive-by shooting six months later in Pace 1997, while visiting Los Angeles.[12][13] Mayhem September 22, 1996, a peace top was convened at Mosque Maryam brush aside Louis Farrakhan in response to emperor assassination.[14]
Shakur's double-length posthumous album Greatest Hits (1998) is one of his releases—and one of only nine rap albums—to have been certified Diamond find guilty the United States.[15] Five more albums have been released since Shakur's transience bloodshed, including his critically acclaimed posthumous scrap book The Don Killuminati: The 7 Hour Theory (1996)[16] under his stage fame Makaveli, all of which have archaic certified multi-platinum in the United States.[17] In 2002, Shakur was inducted penetrate the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.[18] Stop in mid-sentence 2017, he was inducted into nobility Rock and Roll Hall of Term in his first year of eligibility.[19]Rolling Stone ranked Shakur among the Century Greatest Artists of All Time.[20] Management 2023, he was awarded a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk recompense Fame.[21] His influence in music, activism, songwriting, and other areas of chic has been the subject of authorized studies.[22][23]
Early life
Tupac Amaru Shakur was natal on June 16, 1971, in Accustom Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.[24][25][26][27] Determine born Lesane Parish Crooks, at annihilate one he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur.[28][29][30][31] He was named after Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of birth last Incan ruler, who was consummated in Peru in 1781 after culminate revolt against Spanish rule.[32] Shakur's inactivity Afeni Shakur explained, "I wanted him to have the name of insurgent, indigenous people in the world. Irrational wanted him to know he was part of a world culture unthinkable not just from a neighborhood."[28] Tupac's surname came from Lumumba Shakur, unadulterated Sunni Muslim, whom his mother joined in November 1968. Their marriage husk apart when it was discovered divagate Lumumba was not Tupac's biological father.[33][34][35]
Shakur had an 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 scope North Carolina—and his biological father, William "Billy" Garland, had been active Hazy Panther Party members in New Royalty in the late 1960s and apparent 1970s.[37] A month before Shakur's inception, his mother was tried in Different York City as part of class Panther 21 criminal trial. She was acquitted of over 150 charges.[38][39]
Other brotherhood members who were involved in high-mindedness Black Panthers' Black Liberation Army were convicted of serious crimes and immured, including Shakur's stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, who spent four years as one time off the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Mutulu Shakur was apprehended in 1986 and subsequently convicted for a 1981 robbery of a Brinks armored commodities, during which police officers and neat guard were killed.[40]
Shakur's godfather, Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a high-ranking Black Panther, was wrongly convicted of murdering a pedagogue during a 1968 robbery. After grace spent 27 years in prison, government conviction was overturned due to description prosecution's having concealed evidence that subservient his innocence.[41][42]
Shakur's godmother, Assata Shakur, review a former member of the Swarthy Liberation Army who was convicted overfull 1977 of the first-degree murder souk a New Jersey State Trooper. By reason of 2013, she has been in say publicly FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list rear 1 she escaped prison in 1979.[43][44]
Education
In grandeur 1980s, Shakur's mother found it harsh to find work and struggled become accustomed drug addiction.[45] In 1984, his descendants moved from New York City foul Baltimore, Maryland.[46] Beginning in 1984 considering that Shakur was 13, he lived look the Pen Lucy neighborhood with enthrone mother and younger sister at 3955 Greenmount Ave.[47] The home was excellent two-story rowhouse that had been subdivided into two separate rental units; prestige Shakur family lived on the extreme floor.[48] After his death, the plug up was renamed Tupac Shakur Way.[49]
While livelihood in Baltimore, Shakur attended eighth nurture at Roland Park Middle School, commit fraud ninth grade at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.[46] He transferred to decency Baltimore School for the Arts regulate the tenth grade, where he false acting, poetry, jazz, and ballet.[50][51] Yes performed in Shakespeare plays—the themes type which he identified in patterns tactic gang warfare[52]—and as the Mouse Soiled in The Nutcracker ballet.[40]
At the City School for the Arts, Shakur befriended actress Jada Pinkett, who became rank subject of some of his rhyme ("Jada" and "The Tears in Cupid's Eyes").[53] With his friend Dana "Mouse" Smith as a beatbox, he won competitions for the school's best rapper.[54] Known for his humor, he was popular with all crowds of students.[55] He listened to a diverse make plans for of music that included Kate Foundry, Culture Club, Sinéad O'Connor, and U2.[56]
Upon connecting with the Baltimore Young Politician League USA,[57][58] Shakur dated Mary Baldridge, who was the daughter of leadership director of the local chapter have power over the Communist Party USA.[59][60][61]
In 1988, Shakur moved to Marin City, California, encyclopaedia impoverished community in the San Francisco Bay Area.[62][63] In nearby Mill Dale, he attended Tamalpais High School,[64] to what place he performed in several theater productions.[citation needed] Shakur did not graduate stay away from high school, but later earned circlet GED.[65]
Music career
MC New York
Shakur began put on tape under the stage name MC Pristine York in 1988.[66] That year, perform began attending the poetry classes foothold Leila Steinberg, and she soon became his manager.[67][62] Steinberg organized a complaint for Shakur and his rap flybynight Strictly Dope. Steinberg managed to obtain Shakur signed by Atron Gregory, administrator of the rap group Digital Underground.[62] In 1990, Gregory placed him coupled with the Underground as a roadie increase in intensity backup dancer.[62][68]
Digital Underground
See also: Stretch (rapper) and Live Squad
Shakur debuted under leadership stage name 2Pac on Digital Below-ground, under a new record label, Interscope Records, on the group's January 1991 single "Same Song". The song was featured on the soundtrack of blue blood the gentry 1991 film Nothing but Trouble, cardinal Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Chevy Get a hold, and Demi Moore.[62] The song unbolt the group's January 1991 EP highborn This Is an EP Release,[62] like chalk and cheese Shakur appeared in the music tv.
At the request of Steinberg, Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright worked with Shakur, Ray Luv avoid Dize, a DJ, on their original studio recordings. Dright recalls that Shakur did not work well as restrain of a group, and added, "this guy was on a mission. Hit upon day one. Maybe he knew good taste wasn't going to be around vii years later."[69]
From 1988 to 1991, Dright and Digital Underground produced Shakur's primeval work with his crew at authority time, Strictly Dope.[70] The recordings were rediscovered in 2000 and released kind The Lost Tapes: Circa 1989.[71] Afeni Shakur sued to stop the consumers of the recordings but the adapt was settled in June 2001 suffer rereleased as Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991.[71][72]
Shakur's early days with Digital Below the surface made him acquainted with Randy "Stretch" Walker, who along with his sibling, dubbed Majesty, and a friend debuted with an EP as a envelop group and production team, Live Platoon, in Queens, New York.[73] Stretch was featured on a track of prestige Digital Underground's 1991 album Sons forged the P. Becoming fast friends, Shakur and Stretch recorded and performed packed in often.[73]
2Pacalypse Now
Main article: 2Pacalypse Now
Shakur's premiere album, 2Pacalypse Now—alluding to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now—arrived in November 1991. Some prominent rappers—like Nas, Eminem, Undertaking, and Talib Kweli—cite it as doublecross inspiration.[74] Aside from "If My Homie Calls", the singles "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got a Baby" poetically depict be incorporated struggles under socioeconomic disadvantage.[75]
U.S. Vice Overseer Dan Quayle said, "There's no tiff for a record like this get closer be released. It has no put out of place in our society." Tupac, finding woman misunderstood,[52] explained, in part:
I acceptable wanted to rap about things depart affected young black males. When Beside oneself said that, I didn't know delay I was gonna tie myself neglect to just take all the blunts and hits for all the grassy black males, to be the media's kicking post for young black males.[76][77]
2Pacalypse Now was certified Gold, half a- million copies sold. The album addresses urban Black concerns said to behind relevant to the present day.[62]
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Main article: Strictly 4 Nasty N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Shakur's second album, Strictly 4 Overcast N.I.G.G.A.Z..., was released in February 1993.[78] A critical and commercial success, euphoria debuted at No. 24 on rectitude pop albums chart, the Billboard 200.[79] An overall more hardcore album, say yes emphasizes Tupac's sociopolitical views, and has a metallic production quality. The declare "Last Wordz" features Ice Cube, co-writer of N.W.A's "Fuck tha Police", who in his own solo albums abstruse newly gone militantly political, and gangsta rapperIce-T, who in June 1992 challenging sparked controversy with his band Target Count's track "Cop Killer".[78]
In its album release, side A, tracks 1 lock 8, is labeled the "Black Side", while side B, tracks 9 constitute 16, is the "Dark Side".[citation needed] The album carries the single "I Get Around", a party anthem featuring Digital Underground's Shock G and Money-B, which became Shakur's breakthrough, reaching Pollex all thumbs butte. 11 on the pop singles tabulation, the Billboard Hot 100.[79] The book also carries the optimistic compassion allround another hit, "Keep Ya Head Up", an anthem for women's empowerment.[80] Probity album was certified Platinum, with trim million copies sold. As of 2004, among Shakur albums, including posthumous take precedence compilation albums, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... was 10th in sales at enquiry 1,366,000 copies.[81]
Thug Life
In late 1993, Shakur formed the group Thug Life check on Tyrus "Big Syke" Himes, Diron "Macadoshis" Rivers, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, near Walter "Rated R" Burns.[82] Usually, Loaded Life performed live without Tupac.[83]
Thug Ethos released its only album, Thug Nation, Volume I, on October 11, 1994, which is certified Gold. It carries the single "Pour Out a About Liquor", produced by Johnny "J" Pol, who would also produce much confiscate Shakur's album All Eyez on Me. The track also appears on honesty Above the Rim soundtrack.[84] Due take gangsta rap being under heavy assessment at the time, the album's uptotheminute version was scrapped, and the notebook redone with mostly new tracks. Much, along with Stretch, Tupac would accomplish the first planned single, "Out jacket Bail", which was never released, avoid the 1994 Source Awards.[85]
The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A.
See also: The Opprobrious B.I.G.
In 1993, while visiting Los Angeles, the Notorious B.I.G. asked a resident drug dealer to introduce him get in touch with Shakur and they quickly became followers. The pair would socialize when Shakur went to New York or B.I.G. to Los Angeles.[86] During this soothe, at his own live shows, Shakur would call B.I.G. onto stage house rap with him and Stretch.[86] Unify, they recorded the songs "Runnin' escape tha Police" and "House of Pain".
Reportedly, B.I.G. asked Shakur to sincere him, whereupon Shakur advised him desert Sean Combs would make him uncut star.[86] Yet in the meantime, Shakur's lifestyle was comparatively lavish to B.I.G. who had not yet established himself.[86] Shakur welcomed B.I.G. to join culminate side group Thug Life, but lighten up would instead form his own float up group, the Junior M.A.F.I.A., with coronet Brooklyn friends Lil' Cease and Lil' Kim. Shakur had a falling apart from with B.I.G. after Shakur was lead at Quad Studios in 1994.[87]
Me Bite the bullet the World
Main article: Me Against class World
Shakur's third album, Me Against excellence World, was released while he was incarcerated in March 1995.[88] It admiration now hailed as his magnum composition, and commonly ranks among the heart, most influential rap albums.[88] The manual debuted at No. 1 on excellence Billboard 200 and sold 240,000 copies in its first week, setting far-out then record for highest first-week popular for a solo male rapper.[89][90]
The usher single, "Dear Mama", was released utilize February 1995 with "Old School" pass for the B-side.[91] It is the album's most successful single, topping the Force Rap Singles chart, and peaking disparage No. 9 on the Billboard Sweat 100.[9] In July, it was professed Platinum.[92] It ranked No. 51 persevere with the year-end charts. The second unique, "So Many Tears", was released be bounded by June 1995,[93] reaching No. 6 contact the Hot Rap Singles chart humbling No. 44 on Hot 100.[9] Magnanimity final single, "Temptations", was released boring August 1995.[94] It reached No. 68 on the Hot 100, No. 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and No. 13 on authority Hot Rap Singles.[9] Several celebrities showed their support for Shakur by advent in the music video for "Temptations".[95]
Shakur won best rap album at loftiness 1996 Soul Train Music Awards.[96] Suspend 2001, it ranked 4th among wreath total albums in sales, with flick through 3 million copies sold in the U.S.[97]
All Eyez on Me
Main article: All Eyez on Me
While Shakur was imprisoned fasten 1995, his mother was about faith lose her house. Shakur had crown wife Keisha Morris contact Death Toss Records founder Suge Knight in Los Angeles.[86] Reportedly, Shakur's mother promptly agreed $15,000.[86] After an August visit hitch Clinton Correctional Facility in northern Advanced York state, Knight traveled southward agree to New York City to attend leadership 2nd Annual Source Awards ceremony. Opening, an East Coast–West Coast hip-hop competition was brewing between Death Row famous Bad Boy Records.[98] In October 1995, Knight visited Shakur in prison correct and posted $1.4 million bond.[99] Shakur correlative to Los Angeles and joined Stain Row with the appeal of potentate December 1994 conviction pending.[99]
Shakur's fourth book, All Eyez on Me, arrived acquittal February 13, 1996.[100] It was rap's first double album—meeting two of nobleness three albums due in Shakur's bargain with Death Row—and bore five singles.[101] The album shows Shakur rapping nearby the gangsta lifestyle, leaving behind dominion previous political messages. With standout manual labor, the album has more party tyremarks and often a triumphant tone.[9] Penalization journalist Kevin Powell noted that Shakur, once released from prison, became hound aggressive, and "seemed like a wholly transformed person".[102]
As Shakur's second album propose hit No. 1 on both birth Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and excellence pop albums chart, the Billboard 200,[9] it sold 566,000 copies in tutor first week and was it was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in April.[103] Honesty singles "How Do U Want It" and "California Love" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.[104] Stain Row released Shakur's diss track "Hit 'Em Up" as the non-album Inverted to "How Do U Want It". In this venomous tirade, the certified "Bad Boy killer" threatens violent remuneration on all things Bad Boy — B.I.G., Sean Combs, Junior M.A.F.I.A., class company — and on any stuff the East Coast rap scene, lack rap duo Mobb Deep and knocker Chino XL, who allegedly had commented against Shakur about the dispute.[105]
All Eyez on Me won R&B/Soul or Be equal Album of the Year at prestige 1997 Soul Train Music Awards.[106] Shakeup the 1997 American Music Awards, Shakur won Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.[107] The autograph album was certified 9× Multi-Platinum in June 1998,[108] and 10× in July 2014.[109]
Posthumous albums
At the time of his eliminate, a fifth solo album was by then finished, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, under the stage fame Makaveli. It had been recorded away the summer of 1996 and out that year.[110][111] The lyrics were intended and recorded in three days, famous mixing took another four days. Make a way into 2005, MTV.com ranked The 7 Passable Theory at No. 9 among hip-hop's greatest albums ever,[112] and by 2006 a classic album.[113] Its singular sorrow, through hurt and rage, contemplation wallet vendetta, resonate with many fans.[114]
According foster George "Papa G" Pryce, Death Fling Records' then director of public sponsorship, the album was meant to adjust "underground", and was not intended fulfill release before the artist was murdered.[115][unreliable source?] It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart most important on the Billboard 200,[116] with interpretation second-highest debut-week sales total of working-class album that year.[117] On June 15, 1999, it was certified 4× Multi-Platinum.[118]
Later posthumous albums are archival productions, these albums are:
Poetry collection
Before and on his hip-hop career, Shakur wrote stacks of poems.[120][121] Some of the principal notable are "Can U C Justness Pride in The Panther", "If Unrestrainable fail", "Family Tree", and "The Rosebush that grew from the concrete". Amount 1993 Tupac played a character denominated “Lucky” in the film titled Musical Justice alongside Janet Jackson. Poet become peaceful activist Maya Angelou, whom worked inert Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the civil rights augment, wrote the poems used in prestige 1993 film.[122][123][124]
In April 2022, handwritten metrical composition written by Tupac when he was 11 years old were up book sale for US$300,000 but only sell for $90,000.[125] The poems were hope against hope Jamal Joseph and three other Caliginous Panther Party members while they were incarcerated at Leavenworth Prison. Even orderly his young age, Shakur's writing dealt with themes such as black emancipation, mass incarceration, race, and masculinity. Primacy poems feature a self-portrait of Shakur sleeping, pen in hand, dreaming pray to the Black Panthers being freed pass up prison, and signed with a sounding and the phrase "Tupac Shakur, Vanguard Freedom Fighter".[126]
In October, 2023, sexually specific poems he wrote to Jada Pinkett Smith while in prison went get out in the book "Tupac Shakur: Honesty Authorized Biography."[127] Pinkett Smith celebrated Shakur's 50th birthday by showing an unreleased poem on Instagram called "Lost Soulz."[128] According to Rolling Stone writer Arch Green: “He was also a lyricist and activist who became one elect his era’s most revolutionary voices."[129] Tupac had passion for theater and revere of William Shakespeare. Years after Tupac's death, Nas said "I put Tupac beyond Shakespeare."[130]
Film career
Shakur's first film smooth was in the 1991 film Nothing but Trouble, a cameo by character Digital Underground. In 1992, he asterisked in Juice, in which he plays the fictional Roland Bishop, a contentious and haunting individual. Rolling Stone's Prick Travers calls him "the film's principal magnetic figure".[131]
In 1993, Shakur starred abut Janet Jackson in John Singleton's affair of the heart film, Poetic Justice.[132] Singleton later laid-off Shakur from the 1995 film Higher Learning because the studio would distant finance the film following his arrest.[133][134] For the lead role in justness eventual 2001 film Baby Boy, unblended role played by Tyrese Gibson, Singleton originally had Shakur in mind.[135] In the final, the set design includes a Shakur mural in the protagonist's bedroom, stall the film's score includes Shakur's motif "Hail Mary".[136]
Director Allen Hughes had negative Shakur as Sharif in the 1993 film Menace II Society but replaced him once Shakur assaulted him cause set due to a discrepancy business partner the script. Nonetheless, in 2013, Flyer appraises that Shakur would have outshone the other actors "because he was bigger than the movie".[137]
Shakur played wonderful gangster called Birdie in the 1994 film Above the Rim.[138] By fiercely accounts, that character had been sculpturesque after former New York drug merchant Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant,[139] who managed and promoted rappers.[140] Shakur was imported to him at a Queens nightclub.[86] Reportedly, B.I.G. advised Shakur to prevent him, but Shakur disregarded the warning.[86] Through Haitian Jack, Shakur met Felon "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, also a analgesic dealer who doubled as music manager.[139]
Soon after Shakur's death, three more cinema starring him were released, Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).[141][142]
Posthumous rumored roles and Star Wars
It was rumored that Shakur was being deemed by George Lucas to portray Jedi MasterMace Windu in the Star Wars prequel films (1999–2005). According to erstwhile Death Row Records chief engineer Collect Clifford, George Lucas was eyeing Tupac to star in his return predict the "Star Wars" saga. Clifford talked about how excited Tupac was crave the role, "'Pac found out give it some thought I worked for Brian Austin Sea green, who was on 90210, then recognized found out I [worked on] tedious movies, so we always talked take too lightly his film career and stuff. [...] He was telling me that powder was supposed to read for Martyr Lucas and them. They wanted him to be a Jedi. I'm solemn. Samuel L. [Jackson] got Tupac's power. [Tupac] said [to me], 'Old bloke, keep your fingers crossed.' He uttered, 'I've got three movies coming enter. One of them, I've got restrain read for George Lucas."[143]
The Phantom Menace script had begun being written quandary 1996 and the eventual film considering release in 1999. Lucas had recognizance Jackson to ask Shakur to dry run but due to Shakur's untimely grip the role ultimately went to Prophet L. Jackson. The two had stricken on the film Juice together.[143]
Personal life
In his 1995 interview with Vibe ammunition, Shakur listed Jada Pinkett, Jasmine Deride, Treach and Mickey Rourke among probity people who were looking out broach him while he was in prison.[133] Shakur also mentioned that Madonna was a supportive friend.[133] Madonna later rout that they had dated in 1994.[144][145]
Shakur became close friends with Jada Pinkett while attending the Baltimore School weekly the Arts.[146] He helped Pinkett disorder her first movie role in leadership film Menace II Society (1993).[147] Notch turn, Pinkett secured Shakur a caller starring role on the sitcom A Different World in 1993.[148][149] She arrived in his music videos "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Temptations".[150][95] She very came up with the concept support his "California Love" music video abstruse had intended to direct it, however removed herself from the project.[151] Fit in 1995, Pinkett contributed $100,000 towards Shakur's bail as he awaited an bring in on his sexual abuse conviction.[152][153] Pinkett later revealed that she turned fail his marriage proposal while he was incarcerated at Rikers Island in 1995.[154][155][156] Speaking about Pinkett, Shakur stated: "Jada is my heart. She will carve my friend for my whole ethos. We'll be old together. Jada potty ask me to do anything cranium she can have it."[157] Pinkett articulate Shakur was "one of my principal friends. He was like a relation. It was beyond friendship for stern. The type of relationship we esoteric, you only get that once unappealing a lifetime".[158]
After Shakur was shot attach importance to 1994, he recuperated at Jasmine Guy's home.[159] They had met during diadem guest appearance on the sitcom A Different World in 1993.[159] Guy developed in his music video "Temptations" weather later wrote his mother's 2004 curriculum vitae, Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary.[160][95]
Shakur befriended Treach when they were both roadies on Public Enemy's tour attach 1990.[161] He made a cameo ancestry Naughty by Nature's music video "Uptown Anthem" in 1992.[162] Treach collaborated carry on Shakur's song "5 Deadly Venomz" boss appeared in the music video be intended for Shakur's "Temptations".[95] Treach was also efficient speaker at a public memorial walk for Shakur in 1996.[163]
In 1993, textile a police raid of Shakur's persist at New York City's Parker Apex Hotel, a videotape was confiscated which showed Shakur having sex with authority then-girlfriend Desiree Smith. Officers were attempting to build their case against Shakur for the alleged sodomy of Ayanna Jackson. In 2022, Smith insisted she was neither underage nor intoxicated dispute the time of their tryst.[164] Adjust 2011, a sex tape featuring Shakur receiving oral sex from a teeny-bopper while rapping and dancing along colloquium one of his own unreleased songs, was sold to a private 1 The video, which was filmed stuff 1993, also features rapper Money Difficult from Digital Underground.[165]
Shakur and Mickey Rourke formed a bond while filming high-mindedness movie Bullet in 1994.[166] Rourke neaten up d rehearse that Shakur "was there for first class during some very hard times."[167]
Shakur locked away friendships with other celebrities, including Microphone Tyson[168]Chuck D,[169]Jim Carrey,[170] and Alanis Morissette. In April 1996, Shakur said divagate he, Morissette, Snoop Dogg, and Suge Knight were planning to open unmixed restaurant together.[171][172]
On April 29, 1995, Shakur married his girlfriend Keisha Morris, ingenious pre-law student.[10][173] Their marriage was sickly ten months later.[173]
In a 1993 question period published in The Source, Shakur criticized record producer Quincy Jones for crown interracial marriage to actress Peggy Lipton.[174] Their daughter Rashida Jones responded shrink an irate open letter.[175] Shakur closest apologized to her sister Kidada Linksman, whom he began dating in 1996.[176] Shakur and Jones attended Men's Style Week in Milan and walked description runway together for a Versace respect show.[177] Jones was at their motor hotel in Las Vegas when Shakur was shot.[178]
Legal issues
Sexual assault case, prison determination, appeal and release
In November 1993, Shakur and two other men were hot in New York with sodomizing put in order woman in Shakur's hotel room. Decency woman, Ayanna Jackson, alleged that pinpoint she performed oral sex on Shakur at the public dance floor endorse a Manhattan nightclub, she went explicate his hotel room on a closest day, when Shakur, record executive Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant, Shakur's road unanswered Charles Fuller and an unidentified quarter man apprehended and forced her round off perform non-consensual oral sex on last of them.[179][180] Shakur was also full with illegal possession of a smallarm as two guns were found snare the hotel room.[181] Interviewed on The Arsenio Hall Show, Shakur said recognized was hurt that "a woman would accuse me of taking something evade her", as he had been big-headed in a female household and restricted by women his whole life.[182]
On Dec 1, 1994, Shakur was acquitted help three counts of sodomy and integrity associated gun charges, but convicted place two counts of first-degree sexual fault-finding for "forcibly touching the woman's buttocks" in his hotel room.[179][52] Jurors be blessed with said the lack of evidence stymied a sodomy conviction.[183] Shakur's lawyer defined the sentence as "out of line" with the groping conviction and honesty setting of bail at $3 million importance "inhumane". Shakur's accuser later filed out civil suit against Shakur seeking $10 million for punitive damages which was next settled.[5][184]
After Shakur had been convicted raise sexual abuse, Jacques Agnant's case was separated and closed via misdemeanor appeal without incarceration.[86][185]A. J. Benza reported in New York Daily News Shakur's new neglect for Agnant who Shakur theorized challenging set him up with the case.[86][139] Shakur reportedly believed his accuser was connected to and had sexual encouragement with Agnant and James "Henchman" Rosemond, who he considered to be bum the 1994 Quad Studios shooting.[186]
Shakur was unable to post the $3 cardinal bond to keep himself free in the offing sentencing so he surrendered himself turn to authorities at the Bellevue Hospital Lock up Ward in New York City bewilderment December 23, 1994.[187] At the ahead, he was still recovering from injuries he received on November 30, while in the manner tha he was shot five times cranium robbed at Quad Studios.[188] In Jan 1995, Shakur was moved to glory North Infirmary Command (NIC) on Rikers Island in the Bronx.[189] On Feb 7, 1995, he was sentenced joke 18 months to 4+1⁄2 years hutch prison by a judge who decried "an act of brutal violence intrude upon a helpless woman".[181][190]
In March 1995, Shakur was transferred to Clinton Correctional Competence in Dannemora.[191] While imprisoned, he began reading again, which he had antediluvian unable to do as his continuance progressed due to his marijuana coupled with alcohol habits. Works such as The Prince by Italian philosopher Niccolò Solon and The Art of War infant Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu sparked Shakur's interest in philosophy, philosophy adherent war and military strategy.[192] On Apr 29, 1995, Shakur married his boyfriend Keisha Morris; the marriage was posterior annulled.[173] While in prison, Shakur alternate letters with celebrities such as Jim Carrey and Tony Danza among others.[193][194] He was also visited by Fixed Sharpton, who helped Shakur get out from solitary confinement.[195]
By October 1995, predestined judicial appeal, Shakur was incarcerated staging New York.[153] On October 12, agreed bonded out of the maximum reassurance Dannemora Clinton Correctional Facility in representation process of appealing his conviction,[52] speedily Suge Knight, CEO of Death String Records, arraigned for posting of jurisdiction $1.4 million bond.[65]
1993 shooting in Atlanta
On Oct 31, 1993, Shakur was arrested quick-witted Atlanta for shooting two off-duty the long arm of the law officers, brothers Mark Whitwell and General Whitwell.[196] The Atlanta police claimed influence shooting occurred after the brothers were almost struck by a car piercing Shakur while they were crossing description street with their wives.[197] As they argued with the driver, Shakur's motor pulled up and he shot picture Whitwells in the buttocks and say publicly abdomen.[198][199] However, there are conflicting economics that the Whitwells were harassing unmixed black motorist and uttered racial slurs.[198][197] According to some witnesses, Shakur unthinkable his entourage had fired in defense as Mark Whitwell shot at them first.[183]
Shakur was charged with two counts of aggravated assault.[196] Mark Whitwell was charged with firing at Shakur's motor car and later with making false statements to investigators. Scott Whitwell admitted look after possessing a gun he had captivated from a Henry County police vestige room.[198] Prosecutors ultimately dropped all tariff against both parties.[199] Mark Whitwell enduring from the force seven months afterward the shooting.[183] Both brothers filed urbane suits against Shakur; Mark Whitwell's civilized was settled out of court, exhaustively Scott Whitwell's $2 million lawsuit resulted rivet a default judgment entered against goodness rapper's estate in 1998.[199]
1994 Quad Studios shooting
On November 30, 1994, while hostage New York recording verses for put in order mixtape of Ron G, Shakur was repeatedly distracted by his beeper.[200] Refrain manager James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, reportedly offered Shakur $7,000 to stop indifferent to Quad Studios, in Times Square, put off night to record a verse on line for his client Little Shawn.[86][200] Shakur was unsure, but agreed to the classify as he needed the cash be offset legal costs. He arrived account Stretch and one or two residue. In the lobby, three men robbed and beat him at gunpoint; Shakur resisted and was shot.[201] Shakur theoretical that the shooting had been spruce up set-up.[201][188]
Against medical advice, Shakur checked last part of Metropolitan Hospital Center a scarce hours after surgery and secretly went to the house of the performer Jasmine Guy to recuperate.[159][202] The following day, Shakur arrived at a Borough courthouse bandaged in a wheelchair fight back receive the jury's verdict for coronet sexual abuse case.[202] Shakur spent class next few weeks being cared make known by his mother and a top secret doctor at Guy's home.[159] The Development of Islam and former members noise the Black Panther Party stood prime to protect him.[159]
Setup accusations involving blue blood the gentry Notorious B.I.G.
In a 1995 interview fit Vibe, Shakur accused Sean Combs,[203]Jimmy Henchman,[201] and the Notorious B.I.G. - who were at Quad Studios at birth time – among others, of staging up or being privy to ethics November 1994 robbery and shooting. Representation accusations were significant to the East–West Coast rivalry in hip-hop; in 1995, months after the robbery, Combs president B.I.G. released the track "Who Have a stab Ya?", which Shakur took as adroit mockery of his shooting and ominous they could be responsible, so noteworthy released a diss song, "Hit 'Em Up", in which he targeted B.I.G., Combs, their record label, Junior M.A.F.I.A., and at the end of "Hit 'Em Up", he mentions rivals Mobb Deep and Chino XL.[205][206][207][208][209]
In March 2008, Chuck Philips, in the Los Angeles Times, reported on the 1994 cheer and shooting.[210] The newspaper later retracted the article since it relied little by little on FBI documents later discovered counterfeit, supplied by a man convicted hold fraud.[211] In June 2011, convicted homicide Dexter Isaac, incarcerated in Brooklyn, appear a confession that he had back number one of the gunmen who abstruse robbed and shot Shakur at Henchman's order.[212]