Tupac Amaru Shakur,also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli,was an American rapper and actor. Considered to be one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time,academics regard him as one of the most influential music artists of the 20th century and a prominent political activist for Black America. In addition to his music career,Shakur also wrote poetry and had numerous starring roles in movies. Shakur is among the best-selling music artists,having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. His lyrical content has been noted for addressing social injustice,political issues,and the marginalization of other African-Americans,but he was also synonymous with gangsta rap and violent lyrics.
Me Against the World is the third studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on March 14,1995,by Interscope Records and Out da Gutta Records and distributed by Atlantic Records. 2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence,troubles with the police,and poverty.
Afeni Shakur Davis was an American political activist and member of the Black Panther Party. Shakur was the mother of rapper Tupac Shakur and the executor of his estate. She founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and also served as the CEO of Amaru Entertainment,Inc.,a record and film production company she founded.
The Don Killuminati:The 7 Day Theory is the fifth studio album by American rapper Tupac Shakur,his first posthumous album and the last released with his creative input. Recorded in July and August 1996,it was released on November 5,1996,almost two months after his death,under the stage name of Makaveli,through Death Row Records,Makaveli Records and Interscope Records.
Outlawz is an American hip hop group founded by Tupac Shakur,Kastro,E.D.I. Mean,and Yafeu Fula in 1992. Initially known as Thoro Headz and Young Thugs,the group attracted attention with their appearance on Tupac's song "Flex," which was the B-side of his single "Holler If Ya Hear Me," released on February 4,1993.
Tupac:Resurrection is a 2003 American documentary film about the life and death of rapper Tupac Shakur. The film,directed by Lauren Lazin and released by Paramount Pictures,is narrated by Shakur himself.
"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss track by American rapper 2Pac,featuring the Outlawz. It is the B-side to the single "How Do U Want It",released on June 4,1996. The song's lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers,chiefly Shakur's former friend turned rival,The Notorious B.I.G.. The song was recorded at Can Am Studios on April 19,1996. A previous version of the song was recorded on October 31,1995.
Live Squad was an American hip hop group and production team from Hollis,Queens,New York consisting of brothers Stretch and Majesty and DJ K-Low,best known for their early collaborations with Tupac Shakur.
"Keep Ya Head Up" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur from his second studio album,Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993). It was released on October 28,1993 by Interscope Records as the album's third single,peaking at numbers 12 and 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.
"Dear Mama" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album,Me Against the World (1995). It was released on February 21,1995,as the lead single from the album. The song is a tribute to his mother,Afeni Shakur. In the song,Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine,but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song became his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100,peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks. As of March 2021,the song is certified 3×Platinum by the RIAA.
The East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry is a dispute between artists and fans of the East Coast hip hop and West Coast hip hop scenes in the United States,especially from the mid-1990s. A focal point of the rivalry was the feud between East Coast–based rapper the Notorious B.I.G. signed by Puff Daddy and their New York City–based label,Bad Boy Records,and West Coast–based rapper Tupac Shakur signed by Suge Knight and their Los Angeles–based label,Death Row Records. Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. were murdered in drive-by shootings within six months of each other,after which the feud entered a truce with a "peace" summit in 1997 at the behest of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Randy Walker,better known by his stage name Stretch,was an American rapper and record producer,working in Live Squad. In the early 1990s,he joined 2Pac's rap group Thug Life. The November 30,1994,shooting of Shakur led to their split. On November 30,1995,Walker was shot and killed at the age of 27.
"I Ain't Mad at Cha" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from Shakur's fourth studio album,All Eyez on Me (1996). It was released on September 15,1996 two days after Shakur's death as the album's fourth and final single. The song features contemporary soul singer Danny Boy providing vocals for its hook and was written by Shakur,Danny Boy and Daz Dillinger,who produced the song using a sample from DeBarge's "A Dream". The lyrics focus on Shakur reminiscing about past friends,love interests and associates he has lost touch with. The song is widely considered one of Shakur's best with Cheo Hodari Coker calling it "possibly the best song 2Pac has ever recorded". In 1998,The Source ranked the song's three verses second in its category of "dopest verses" in the history of hip-hop.
"Who Shot Ya?" is a song by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G. (Wallace),backed by Sean Combs. Bad Boy Entertainment released it on February 21,1995,on an alternate reissue of Wallace's single "Big Poppa/Warning". Its new B-side "Who Shot Ya",a revision of a track already issued earlier in 1995,was "controversial and hugely influential." Widely interpreted as a taunt at Tupac Shakur,the single provoked a "rap battle" between the two rappers,formerly friends.
"Thugz Mansion" is a song by 2Pac,released as a posthumous single with two known popular versions both released on the 2002 album Better Dayz. It was nominated by the Source Awards for Single of the Year.
"I Shot Ya" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J featuring Keith Murray,from his sixth album Mr. Smith. The remix version,which featured Prodigy of Mobb Deep,Fat Joe,and Foxy Brown,of the song was released as a B-side to "Hey Lover",but received a video directed by Hype Williams,leading some to believe the track was an actual single from the album. Produced by Trackmasters,the remix was released in 1995 for Def Jam Recordings,and peaked at number 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the Billboard charts.
Kenny Leon is an American actor,director and producer. He is notable for his extensive work on Broadway,on television,and in regional theater. He has received a Tony Award and a Drama League Award as well as nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Drama Desk Award.
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13,1996,by Death Row and Interscope Records,the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre,Snoop Doggy Dogg,Redman,Method Man,Nate Dogg,Kurupt,Daz Dillinger,E-40,K-Ci &JoJo,and the Outlawz,among others.
"Holler If Ya Hear Me is a jukebox musical written by Todd Kreidler featuring the rap music of Tupac Shakur.
All Eyez on Me is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by Benny Boom. Titled after the 1996 studio album,as well as the song of the same name,it is based on the life and death of the American rapper Tupac Shakur. The film stars Demetrius Shipp Jr. as Tupac,with Kat Graham,Lauren Cohan,Hill Harper,and Danai Gurira. Jamal Woolard reprises his role as Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace / The Notorious B.I.G. from Notorious (2009).
