Tupac Amaru Shakur, better known by his stage name 2Pac and by his alias Makaveli, was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential rappers of all time. Much of Shakur's work has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he has often been considered a symbol of activism against inequality.
Bad Boy Records is an American record label founded in 1993, by Sean Combs. It operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music. It has been home to many artists, including Craig Mack, The Notorious B.I.G, Faith Evans, Mase, 112, Total, The Lox, Machine Gun Kelly, French Montana, Cassie, Janelle Monáe, Day 26, and Elephant Man.
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is the fifth studio album and first posthumous album by American rapper Tupac Shakur, credited as the alias Makaveli. It was released on November 5, 1996, almost two months after his death, and was released through Death Row Records, Makaveli Records and Interscope Records. It is his only album released under a new alternative stage name, Makaveli.
The Outlawz was an American hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur.
Better Dayz is the eighth studio album and fourth posthumous album by the late American rapper 2Pac, the third to be released without the artist's creative input and is the last to be a double-album.
"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss song by hip hop artist 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, Christopher Wallace, also known by his stage name, the Notorious B.I.G. The song was recorded at Can Am Studios in 1996.There is a previous version of this song recorded in October 1995. Reporter Chuck Philips, who interviewed Shakur at Can Am, described the song as "a caustic anti–East Coast jihad in which the rapper threatens to eliminate Biggie, Puff, and a slew of Bad Boy artists and other New York acts." The song was produced by long-time collaborator Johnny "J". The video, itself described as infamous, includes impersonations of Biggie, Puffy and M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Kim.
"It's All About the Benjamins" is a song by American rapper and producer Puff Daddy. It was released as the third single from his debut studio album No Way Out. "Benjamins" is slang for money, referring to Benjamin Franklin's image on the US$100 bill. The Notorious B.I.G. used the slang on his debut album Ready to Die. The song featured an uncredited vocal arrangement by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, and featured a signature guitar hook played by Marc Solomon.
"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is a song by American hip hop artist 2Pac from his 1996 album All Eyez on Me. The song features fellow West Coast rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and was produced by Daz Dillinger. The song served as a promotional single for the album and later as the B-side to the album's second major single, How Do U Want It. The song peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The song contains an interpolations of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's song "The Message" and "Radio Activity Rap " by MC Frosty and Lovin' C.
Bruce Edward Washington Jr., better known by his stage name Hussein Fatal, or sometimes as Fatal Hussein, was an American rapper, best known for his collaborative work with Tupac Shakur as a member of Outlaw Immortalz.
The East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry was a feud 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. Focal points of the feud were East Coast–based rapper The Notorious B.I.G. and his New York–based label, Bad Boy Records, and West Coast–based rapper Tupac Shakur and his LA-based label Death Row Records. They were both murdered in drive-by shootings. Orlando Anderson, a.k.a. Baby Lane, has been accused of the murder of Shakur, but he was shot dead in the spring of 1998. The person responsible for the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. remains unknown.
"Hypnotize" is a single by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. featuring vocals by Pamela Long, released as the first single from his album Life After Death on March 1, 1997. The last song released before his death in a drive-by shooting a week later, it was the fifth song by a credited artist to hit number one posthumously since "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1980. Rolling Stone ranked the song as number 30 on their list of 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.
"Hail Mary" is a single by American rapper Tupac Shakur from his final album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, under the new stage name Makaveli. The song, released after his September 1996 death, features rap verses by Kastro, Young Noble and Yaki Kadafi of The Outlawz and Prince Ital Joe. A music video was shot for the song and can be found on the DualDisc of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
"To Live & Die in L.A." is a song by rapper Tupac Shakur, released under the stage name Makaveli. The song was released as a single in Europe and parts of Oceania and was included on Shakur's posthumous album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. The song peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK R&B chart.
Gang Related – The Soundtrack is a soundtrack for the Jim Kouf's 1997 crime film Gang Related. It was released on October 7, 1997 through Death Row Records, making it their first album to be distributed by Priority Records after Interscope Records dropped Death Row from their label. Production was handled by several record producers, including Daz Dillinger, Quincy Jones III, Binky Mack and Bud'da among others. The album features contributions by the likes of CJ Mac, J-Flexx, Tha Realest, members of Dogg Pound, Outlawz, Westside Connection, four songs by the supporting actor Tupac Shakur, and also marked the first national rap debut of Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne. The soundtrack peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the US, and was eventually certified 2x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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 Records and Interscope Records, All Eyez on Me features guest appearances from several artists including the Outlawz, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, E-40, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, K-Ci & JoJo, Roger Troutman, among others. The album features productions by Shakur alongside a variety of producers, including DJ Quik, Johnny "J", G Syier Hawkins Brown, Dr. Dre, Rick Rock, Daz Dillinger, DJ Pooh, DeVante Swing, among others.
"Victory" is a song recorded by American hip hop recording artist Puff Daddy. The song was originally written by The Notorious B.I.G., Jason Phillips and Steven Jordan for his debut studio album No Way Out (1997). It features heavy use of mafioso-style lyrics, as was popular at the time. It features The Notorious B.I.G., who raps two verses, and Busta Rhymes, who raps the song's chorus. The song also heavily sampled the Bill Conti song "Going the Distance", which featured on the soundtrack to the movie Rocky making it a darker start to a rap album that featured many club-standard singles. The song was released as a single in 1998, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song featured the last verses recorded by The Notorious B.I.G. before his 1997 death as these verses were recorded a day before his shooting. The song was used for the EA Sports video game, Fight Night 2004, and the 2K Sports video game, NBA 2K13 by Puff Daddy and the Family featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. This was re-used for the soundtrack of NBA 2K18. It was also used on professional wrestling, for Masahiro Chono's Team 2000 faction in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Damon J. Blackman, better known by his stage name Dame Grease, is an American record producer from Harlem, New York. In 1996, he gained recognition in the hip hop industry, through his production work with Bad Boy Records and The Lox, while also establishing the sound of East Coast rapper DMX and the Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label.
"Tupac Back" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Meek Mill, released as his debut single and the lead single from the Maybach Music Group compilation album, Self Made Vol. 1. The song features MMG label boss and fellow rapper Rick Ross, and peaked at #31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Rick Ross said that, in making the song, they were “paying homage to the fallen icon.”
"Toss It Up" is a song by rapper Tupac Shakur, released under the stage name Makaveli. The song served as the lead single to his posthumous album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. It was first released in the United States just under two weeks after his death, peaking at number 34 on the R&B singles chart. The song is known for including a diss toward Dr. Dre and instrumentally being very similar to Dre's production on the song "No Diggity". It features vocals and singing from Aaron Hall, Danny Boy, and K-Ci & JoJo. The single release altered slightly to the version found on the album. The album version was later included on Shakur's 1998 compilation Greatest Hits with a new mix and altered lyrics.
Katari Terrance Cox better known by his stage name K.Kastro, is an American rapper. Best known for being part of Tupac Shakur's rap group Outlawz. He was also blood cousins with Shakur and is featured on many of the late rapper's songs such as "Made Niggaz", & "Hail Mary". When he was in elementary school, he introduced his friend, and future Outlawz rapper, Malcolm Greenridge, later named E.D.I. Mean, to his cousin.
