Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts

Last updated

Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts
Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts 2016.jpg
Site where the center was located, 2016
Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts
Address5616 Memorial Drive
Location Stone Mountain, Georgia
Coordinates 33°48′06″N84°12′30″W / 33.80164°N 84.20825°W / 33.80164; -84.20825
TypePerforming arts center
Opened1997
Closed2015

The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, based in Stone Mountain, Georgia, was a performing arts center supported through the Shakur Family Foundation. The Shakur Center's mission was to provide opportunities for young people through the arts, and offered programs such as drama, dance, and creative writing classes. The organization also ran a Performing Arts Day Camp for youth ages twelve to eighteen.

Contents

The center, located off Memorial Drive, was named in honor of the late American hip hop artist Tupac Amaru Shakur, and was founded by his mother Afeni Shakur. [1]

History

The center was founded in 1997 by Tupac Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur in the interest of preserving her son's legacy. [2] It was designed to bring quality arts training to young people including some students who face many social-economic issues such as poverty. [3] Many students have enriched their artistic abilities through this center and some have even received part-time jobs. [3]

In July 1999, the foundation began its first annual summer session of PA camps with twenty campers. [4] The camp continued to grow throughout the years. On June 11, 2005, The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts Peace Garden and visitor center was opened. [5] The peace garden was designed as a tribute to Tupac Shakur as well as others who have died. In 2006, the music video for the single Pac's Life, from Tupac's eponymous album was shot on location. [6] Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur also went to Africa in 2006 and fostered a relationship between the Center and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. [7]

After 2006, the foundation showed signs of growth as many additional programs were created such as after-school programs, dance classes, and cultural exchange programs. Fees for these programs resembled prices for joining local sports leagues. [8] The foundation also held Tupac birthday concert celebrations since 2009.[ citation needed ]

Programs

The foundation offered acting, after-school, and dancing classes. In addition, they offered yearly leadership and arts programs. They had also set up cross-cultural exchanges with Japan and South Africa.

Closure of the Center and death of Afeni Shakur

In August 2015, Afeni Shakur sold the property upon which the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts stood, for $1.2 million. [9] On May 2 of the following year, Tupac's mother died of a suspected heart attack. [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tupac Shakur</span> American rapper (1971–1996)

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.

<i>Me Against the World</i> 1995 studio album by 2Pac

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afeni Shakur</span> American political activist (1947–2016)

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.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Tupac Shakur album) 1998 greatest hits album by 2Pac

Greatest Hits is a posthumous double-disc greatest hits album by American rapper 2Pac, released by Amaru Entertainment, Death Row Records, Interscope Records, and Jive Records on November 24, 1998.

<i>Tupac: Resurrection</i> (soundtrack) 2003 soundtrack album by 2Pac

Tupac: Resurrection is a soundtrack album for the Academy Award-nominated documentary of the same name. It was released on November 11, 2003, by Amaru Entertainment and Interscope Records.

<i>Loyal to the Game</i> 2004 studio album by 2Pac

Loyal to the Game is the ninth studio album and fifth posthumous studio album by American rapper Tupac Shakur. The album was produced by Eminem and consists of remixes of previously unreleased music recorded by Tupac before his death in 1996. Released in the United States on December 14, 2004, Loyal to the Game debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Better Dayz</i> 2002 studio album by 2Pac

Better Dayz is the eighth studio album and fourth posthumous album by the late American rapper 2Pac. It is his last double-album.

<i>Until the End of Time</i> (Tupac Shakur album) 2001 studio album by 2Pac

Until the End of Time is the seventh studio album and third posthumous album by American rapper 2Pac.

<i>R U Still Down? (Remember Me)</i> 1997 studio album by 2Pac

R U Still Down? is the sixth studio album and second double album by American rapper, 2Pac, released on November 25, 1997. It is his second posthumous release and his first album to be released without his creative input. It contains previously unreleased material from the time period of his albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., Thug Life: Volume 1 and Me Against the World. Throughout the album, 2Pac airs his views on life from a time before he became involved in the controversial East Coast–West Coast rivalry. His lyrics foreshadow his death in songs like "Open Fire", "Thug Style" and "Only Fear of Death." The album spawned two hits, "Do for Love" and "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto", of which "Do for Love" was certified Gold by the RIAA. R U Still Down? sold 549,000 copies in its first week, and topped the R&B charts in the United States for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghetto Gospel</span> 2005 single by 2Pac

"Ghetto Gospel" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur, which was released as the lead single from his 2004 posthumous album Loyal to the Game. The song was produced by American rapper Eminem and features a sample from Elton John's 1971 song "Indian Sunset".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaru Entertainment</span> American record label

Amaru Entertainment was a record label founded in 1997 by Afeni Shakur after the death of her son Tupac Amaru Shakur. The label was created to handle the release of Tupac's previously unreleased material, and was given the rights to release recordings made during his time at both Interscope and Death Row Records, as well as the rights to re-release his Interscope albums 2Pacalypse Now, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., Thug Life, Volume I, and Me Against the World. The label initially distributed its releases through Jive Records, beginning with R U Still Down? , but, as of 2011, the releases were being distributed by Interscope. Amaru has released 11 posthumous albums by 2Pac, as well as a documentary, titled Tupac: Resurrection. On May 2, 2016, Afeni Shakur died of a heart attack. Since Afeni's passing, Amaru Entertainment has been managed by Tom Whalley, the music executive who signed Tupac to Interscope Records. Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur, Tupac's younger half-sister and president of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, has been in an ongoing litigation with Tom Whalley over control of Amaru Entertainment and Tupac's Estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto</span> 1997 single by 2Pac

"I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" is a song by American rapper 2Pac. It was released as the first single from the posthumous album R U Still Down? . The original version, titled "I Wonda if Heaven's Got a Ghetto", was released as a B-side on the 1993 single, "Keep Ya Head Up".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Mama</span> 1995 single by Tupac Shakur

"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 Panther 21 is a group of twenty-one Black Panther members who were arrested and accused of planned coordinated bombing and long-range rifle attacks on two police stations and an education office in New York City in 1969, who were all acquitted by a jury in May 1971, after revelations during the trial that police infiltrators played key organizing roles.

<i>Pacs Life</i> 2006 studio album by 2Pac

Pac's Life is the tenth and final studio album, and sixth posthumous album by American rapper 2Pac, released on November 21, 2006 on Amaru Entertainment. The album serves as Shakur's tenth and final studio album since Amaru Entertainment completed the redo of Shakur's original discography, from 2Pacalypse Now to The 7 Day Theory. The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pac's Life (song)</span> 2006 single by 2Pac featuring Ashanti and T.I.

"Pac's Life" is a single written and performed by American rappers Tupac Shakur and T.I and R&B singer Ashanti, produced by L. T. Hutton for Shakur's posthumously released album of the same name. It is a hip hop and R&B song; the second Tupac verse was recycled from a song titled "This Life I Lead". T.I. said in an interview that working on the song was an honor, as he idolized him while growing up.

<i>Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2</i> 2007 remix album by 2Pac

Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 – Evolution: Duets & Remixes is a remix album by American rapper Tupac Shakur. The album was released through Koch. It is the follow-up to Tupac Shakur's Nu-Mixx Klazzics, released previously on October 7, 2003. Its original title was Evolution: Duets & Remixes, and was released on August 14, 2007.

<i>Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991</i> 2007 compilation album by 2Pac

Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991 is a compilation album consisting of unreleased recordings of American rapper Tupac Shakur. The album was originally released on April 18, 2000, in bootleg form under the title The Lost Tapes: Circa 1989, but the selling was quickly halted due to not receiving approval from then head of the Tupac estate, Afeni Shakur. The track "Panther Power" was issued on the Resurrection soundtrack before finally receiving the blessing of Afeni Shakur and being reissued in 2007, under Koch and Amaru Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ King Assassin</span> American rapper

Craig Venegas Alvarado, known by his stage name DJ King Assassin, is an American disc jockey, producer, and engineer from Los Angeles, California.

<i>All Eyez on Me</i> (film) 2017 film by Benny Boom

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).

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Christina. What Happened to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts?. Rolling Stone. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Tasf.org". Tasf.org. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Monjauze, Molly; Cox, Gloria; Robinson, Staci (2008). Tupac Remembered. ISBN   9781932855760 . Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  4. ↑ Sandy, Candace; Daniels, Dawn Marie (2006). How Long Will They Mourn Me?. ISBN   9780345494832 . Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Tasf.org". Tasf.org. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ "2Pac - Pac's Life ft. T.I., Ashanti". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Billboard". September 9, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Tasf.org". Tasf.org. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ Lee, Christina (July 6, 2016). "What Happened to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  10. ↑ Kimble, Lindsay (May 3, 2016). "Tupac Shakur's Mother Afeni Shakur Davis Dies at 69: Police". People Magazine . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  11. ↑ Dillion, Nancy; Niemietz, Brian; Wagner, Meg (May 4, 2016). "Afeni Shakur, mother of hip-hop legend Tupac, dead at 69". New York Daily News . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.