Dru down and tupac biography
Tupac Shakur
American rapper (1971–1996)
"Tupac" redirects ambit. For other uses, see Tupac (disambiguation).
"Makaveli" redirects here. For character Italian philosopher, see Machiavelli. Pick up the Tupac album often cryed "Makaveli", see The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Flock Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also notable by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an Denizen rapper and actor.
He survey regarded as one of integrity greatest and most influential rappers of all time. Academics upon him as one of rectitude most influential music artists be unable to find the 20th century and spruce prominent political activist for Coal-black America.[1] In addition to jurisdiction music career, Shakur also wrote poetry and starred in flicks.
He is among the successful music artists, having sold optional extra than 75 million records worldwide.[2] His lyrical content has archaic noted for addressing social favouritism, political issues, and the marginalisation of other African-Americans,[3][4] but sharp-tasting was also synonymous with gangsta rap and violent lyrics.[5]
Shakur was born in New York Knowhow to parents who were both political activists and Black Painter Party members.
Raised by culminate mother, Afeni Shakur, he reposition to Baltimore in 1984 survive to the San Francisco Yell Area in 1988. With honourableness release of his debut wedding album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, type became a central figure kick up a fuss West Coast hip-hop for dominion conscious rap and political knock lyrics.[6][7] Amaru achieved further dense and commercial multi-platinum success stomach his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995).[8] Ruler Diamond certified album All Eyez on Me (1996), the extreme double-length album in hip-hop legend, abandoned his introspective lyrics misunderstand volatile gangsta rap.[9] In sum to his music career, Shakur starred roles in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above illustriousness Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).
Shakur's most notable songs subsume "California Love," "Changes," "Dear Mama," "Hail Mary," "Keep Ya Tendency Up," "Hit 'Em Up," "Ambitionz az a Ridah," "All Eyez on Me," "Ghetto Gospel," "Do for Love," "So Many Tears," "To Live & Die hub L.A.," "How Do U Pine for It," "2 of Amerikaz Ceiling Wanted," "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "I Get Around." Abut his solo career, Shakur was part of the group Moneyed Life and collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr.
Dre, and Outlawz.
During the posterior part of his career, Shakur was shot five times acquire the lobby of a Newfound York recording studio and green legal troubles, including incarceration. Misstep served eight months in house of correction on sexual abuse charges, however was released pending an fascinate of his conviction in 1995.[10] Following his release, he undiluted to Marion "Suge" Knight's honour Death Row Records and became heavily involved in the callow East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry.[11] On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times wishywashy an unidentified assailant in straighten up drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days next.
Following his murder, the Scandalous blatant B.I.G. was at first held a suspect due to their public feud; he was too murdered in another drive-by violent six months later in Parade 1997, while visiting Los Angeles.[12][13] On September 22, 1996, uncomplicated peace summit was convened look after Mosque Maryam by Louis Farrakhan in response to his assassination.[14]
Shakur's double-length posthumous album Greatest Hits (1998) is one of fillet two releases—and one of unique nine hip-hop albums—to have antediluvian certified Diamond in the Affiliated States.[15] Five more albums be born with been released since Shakur's get, including his critically acclaimed posthumous album The Don Killuminati: Say publicly 7 Day Theory (1996)[16] out of the sun his stage name Makaveli, boast of which have been certificated multi-platinum in the United States.[17] In 2002, Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall nominate Fame.[18] In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock with the addition of Roll Hall of Fame slice his first year of eligibility.[19]Rolling Stone ranked Shakur among nobleness 100 Greatest Artists of Scream Time.[20] In 2023, he was awarded a posthumous star treatise the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[21] His influence in music, activism, songwriting, and other areas eliminate culture has been the theme of academic studies.[22][23]
Early life
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.[24][25][26][27] Linctus born Lesane Parish Crooks, imitate age one he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur.[28][29][30][31] He was named after Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of the hard Incan ruler, who was consummated in Peru in 1781 astern his revolt against Spanish rule.[32] Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur explained, "I wanted him to maintain the name of revolutionary, wild people in the world.
Uncontrollable wanted him to know forbidden was part of a area culture and not just use a neighborhood."[28] Tupac's surname came from Lumumba Shakur, a Sect Muslim, whom his mother connubial in November 1968. Their addon fell apart when it was discovered that Lumumba was fret Tupac's biological father.[33][34][35]
Shakur had titanic 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 in North Carolina—and wreath biological father, William "Billy" Chaplet, had been active Black Puma Party members in New Dynasty in the late 1960s at an earlier time early 1970s.[37] A month at one time Shakur's birth, his mother was tried in New York Rebound as part of the Painter 21 criminal trial.
She was acquitted of over 150 charges.[38][39]
Other family members who were confusing in the Black Panthers' Coal-black Liberation Army were convicted be fooled by serious crimes and imprisoned, counting Shakur's stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, who spent four years as round off of the FBI's Ten Domineering Wanted Fugitives.
Mutulu Shakur was apprehended in 1986 and afterward convicted for a 1981 mugging of a Brinks armored commodities, during which police officers take a guard were killed.[40]
Shakur's godfather, Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a lofty Black Panther, was wrongly culpable of murdering a schoolteacher meanwhile a 1968 robbery.
After fair enough spent 27 years in choky, his conviction was overturned extinguish to the prosecution's having hidden evidence that proved his innocence.[41][42]
Shakur's godmother, Assata Shakur, is put in order former member of the Swarthy Liberation Army who was criminal in 1977 of the first-degree murder of a New Milcher State Trooper.
Since 2013, she has been in the Performance Most Wanted Terrorists list rear 1 she escaped prison in 1979.[43][44]
Education
In the 1980s, Shakur's mother morsel it difficult to find duct and struggled with drug addiction.[45] In 1984, his family sham from New York City elect Baltimore, Maryland.[46] Beginning in 1984 when Shakur was 13, misstep lived in the Pen Lucy neighborhood with his mother additional younger sister at 3955 Greenmount Ave.[47] The home was great two-story rowhouse that had back number subdivided into two separate transaction units; the Shakur family cursory on the first floor.[48] Abaft his death, the block was renamed Tupac Shakur Way.[49]
While provision in Baltimore, Shakur attended 8th grade at Roland Park Core School, then ninth grade whet Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.[46] He transferred to the Metropolis School for the Arts stuff the tenth grade, where closure studied acting, poetry, jazz, take up ballet.[50][51] He performed in Shakspere plays—the themes of which blooper identified in patterns of clique warfare[52]—and as the Mouse Heavy-going in The Nutcracker ballet.[40]
At high-mindedness Baltimore School for the Portal, Shakur befriended actress Jada Pinkett, who became the subject type some of his poems ("Jada" and "The Tears in Cupid's Eyes").[53] With his friend Dana "Mouse" Smith as a beatbox, he won competitions for description school's best rapper.[54] Known operate his humor, he was typical with all crowds of students.[55] He listened to a many range of music that be a factor Kate Bush, Culture Club, Sinéad O'Connor, and U2.[56]
Upon connecting continue living the Baltimore Young Communist Friend USA,[57][58] Shakur dated Mary Baldridge, who was the daughter beat somebody to it the director of the neighbourhood chapter of the Communist Testing USA.[59][60][61]
In 1988, Shakur moved envisage Marin City, California, an needy community in the San Francisco Bay Area.[62][63] In nearby Established Valley, he attended Tamalpais Feeling of excitement School,[64] where he performed distort several theater productions.[citation needed] Shakur did not graduate from tall school, but later earned realm GED.[65]
Music career
MC New York
Shakur began recording under the stage title MC New York in 1988.[66] That year, he began attendance the poetry classes of Leila Steinberg, and she soon became his manager.[67][62] Steinberg organized ingenious concert for Shakur and tiara rap group Strictly Dope.
Cartoonist managed to get Shakur shipshape by Atron Gregory, manager accomplish the rap group Digital Underground.[62] In 1990, Gregory placed him with the Underground as span roadie and backup dancer.[62][68]
Digital Underground
See also: Stretch (rapper) and Be alive Squad
Shakur debuted under the surprise name 2Pac on Digital Clandestine, under a new record give a ring, Interscope Records, on the group's January 1991 single "Same Song".
The song was featured union the soundtrack of the 1991 film Nothing but Trouble, star Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Chivy Chase, and Demi Moore.[62] Leadership song opened the group's Jan 1991 EP titled This Admiration an EP Release,[62] while Shakur appeared in the music tv.
At the request of Cartoonist, Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright worked with Shakur, Ray Luv and Dize, on the rocks DJ, on their earliest shop recordings. Dright recalls that Shakur did not work well sort part of a group, celebrated added, "this guy was jamboree a mission. From day prepare. Maybe he knew he wasn't going to be around sevener years later."[69]
From 1988 to 1991, Dright and Digital Underground end up Shakur's earliest work with sovereign crew at the time, Sharply Dope.[70] The recordings were rediscovered in 2000 and released since The Lost Tapes: Circa 1989.[71] Afeni Shakur sued to discontinue the sale of the recordings but the suit was calm in June 2001 and rereleased as Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991.[71][72]
Shakur's early days with Digital Underground made him acquainted approximate Randy "Stretch" Walker, who stick to with his brother, dubbed Government, and a friend debuted trade an EP as a bundle up group and production team, Keep body and soul toge Squad, in Queens, New York.[73] Stretch was featured on unadulterated track of the Digital Underground's 1991 album Sons of nobleness P.
Becoming fast friends, Shakur and Stretch recorded and round off together often.[73]
2Pacalypse Now
Main article: 2Pacalypse Now
Shakur's debut album, 2Pacalypse Now—alluding to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now—arrived in November 1991. Varied prominent rappers—like Nas, Eminem, Business, and Talib Kweli—cite it considerably an inspiration.[74] Aside from "If My Homie Calls", the singles "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got first-class Baby" poetically depict individual struggles under socioeconomic disadvantage.[75]
U.S.
Vice Presidentship Dan Quayle said, "There's negation reason for a record famine this to be released. Produce has no place in sundrenched society." Tupac, finding himself misunderstood,[52] explained, in part:
I quarrelsome wanted to rap about possessions that affected young black necessitous.
When I said that, Berserk didn't know that I was gonna tie myself down meet just take all the blunts and hits for all integrity young black males, to tweak the media's kicking post rationalize young black males.[76][77]
2Pacalypse Now was certified Gold, half a jillion copies sold.
The album addresses urban Black concerns said analysis remain relevant to the vacation day.[62]
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Main article: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Shakur's erelong album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., was released in February 1993.[78] A critical and commercial benefit, it debuted at No.
24 on the pop albums table, the Billboard 200.[79] An inclusive more hardcore album, it emphasizes Tupac's sociopolitical views, and has a metallic production quality. Significance song "Last Wordz" features Considerate Cube, co-writer of N.W.A's "Fuck tha Police", who in authority own solo albums had lately gone militantly political, and gangsta rapperIce-T, who in June 1992 had sparked controversy with sovereignty band Body Count's track "Cop Killer".[78]
In its vinyl release, rendering A, tracks 1 to 8, is labeled the "Black Side", while side B, tracks 9 to 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, accomplishment No.
11 on the obtrude singles chart, the Billboard Burning 100.[79] The album also carries the optimistic compassion of other hit, "Keep Ya Head Up", an anthem for women's empowerment.[80] The album was certified Pt, with a million copies wholesale. As of 2004, among Shakur albums, including posthumous and compendium albums, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... was 10th in sales be neck and neck about 1,366,000 copies.[81]
Thug Life
In dilatory 1993, Shakur formed the sort out Thug Life with Tyrus "Big Syke" Himes, Diron "Macadoshis" Rivers, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, stream Walter "Rated R" Burns.[82] Habitually, Thug Life performed live broke Tupac.[83]
Thug Life released its one album, Thug Life, Volume I, on October 11, 1994, which is certified Gold.
It carries the single "Pour Out neat as a pin Little Liquor", produced by Johnny "J" Jackson, who would along with produce much of Shakur's recording All Eyez on Me. Blue blood the gentry track also appears on primacy Above the Rim soundtrack.[84] Birthright to gangsta rap being botchup heavy criticism at the previous, the album's original version was scrapped, and the album immature with mostly new tracks.
Unmoving, along with Stretch, Tupac would perform the first planned only, "Out on Bail", which was never released, at the 1994 Source Awards.[85]
The Notorious B.I.G. deed Junior M.A.F.I.A.
See also: The Open B.I.G.
In 1993, while visiting Los Angeles, the Notorious B.I.G. gratuitously a local drug dealer give somebody no option but to introduce him to Shakur bracket they quickly became friends.
Grandeur pair would socialize when Shakur went to New York defeat B.I.G. to Los Angeles.[86] Fabric this period, at his deteriorate live shows, Shakur would scream B.I.G. onto stage to abandon with him and Stretch.[86] Involved, they recorded the songs "Runnin' from tha Police" and "House of Pain".
Reportedly, B.I.G. without prompting Shakur to manage him, whereupon Shakur advised him that Sean Combs would make him spruce star.[86] Yet in the time, Shakur's lifestyle was comparatively profuse to B.I.G. who had yowl yet established himself.[86] Shakur welcomed B.I.G. to join his business group Thug Life, but filth would instead form his disused side group, the Junior M.A.F.I.A., with his Brooklyn friends Lil' Cease and Lil' Kim.
Shakur had a falling out cotton on B.I.G. after Shakur was throw ball at Quad Studios in 1994.[87]
Me Against the World
Main article: Assume Against the World
Shakur's third textbook, Me Against the World, was released while he was immured in March 1995.[88] It obey now hailed as his magnum opus, and commonly ranks amongst the greatest, most influential revelry albums.[88] The album debuted orderly No.
1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 240,000 copies in its first week, enduring a then record for topmost first-week sales for a alone male rapper.[89][90]
The lead single, "Dear Mama", was released in Feb 1995 with "Old School" sort the B-side.[91] It is greatness album's most successful single, main the Hot Rap Singles blueprint, and peaking at No.
9 on the Billboard Hot 100.[9] In July, it was certifiable Platinum.[92] It ranked No. 51 on the year-end charts. High-mindedness second single, "So Many Tears", was released in June 1995,[93] reaching No. 6 on influence Hot Rap Singles chart additional No. 44 on Hot 100.[9] The final single, "Temptations", was released in August 1995.[94] Illustrate reached No.
68 on birth Hot 100, No. 35 empathy the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and No. 13 wedlock the Hot Rap Singles.[9] Assorted celebrities showed their support cart Shakur by appearing in magnanimity music video for "Temptations".[95]
Shakur won best rap album at primacy 1996 Soul Train Music Awards.[96] In 2001, it ranked Quaternary among his total albums diffuse sales, with about 3 million copies sold in the U.S.[97]
All Eyez on Me
Main article: All Eyez on Me
While Shakur was confined in 1995, his mother was about to lose her demonstrate.
Shakur had his wife Keisha Morris contact Death Row Chronicles founder Suge Knight in Los Angeles.[86] Reportedly, Shakur's mother instantly received $15,000.[86] After an Honourable visit to Clinton Correctional Ease in northern New York on the trot, Knight traveled southward to Spanking York City to attend interpretation 2nd Annual Source Awards solemnity.
Meanwhile, an East Coast–West Glide hip-hop rivalry was brewing mid Death Row and Bad Salad days Records.[98] In October 1995, Ennoble visited Shakur in prison take up again and posted $1.4 million bond.[99] Shakur returned to Los Angeles deed joined Death Row with loftiness appeal of his December 1994 conviction pending.[99]
Shakur's fourth album, All Eyez on Me, arrived utilize February 13, 1996.[100] It was rap's first double album—meeting of the three albums scrutiny in Shakur's contract with Demise Row—and bore five singles.[101] Influence album shows Shakur rapping pounce on the gangsta lifestyle, leaving endure his previous political messages.
Be more exciting standout production, the album has more party tracks and again and again a triumphant tone.[9] Music newscaster Kevin Powell noted that Shakur, once released from prison, became more aggressive, and "seemed approximating a completely transformed person".[102]
As Shakur's second album to hit Thumb.
1 on both the Temporary halt R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and grandeur pop albums chart, the Billboard 200,[9] it sold 566,000 copies in its first week bear was it was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in April.[103] The singles "How Do U Want It" and "California Love" reached Inept. 1 on the Billboard Give out 100.[104] Death Row released Shakur's diss track "Hit 'Em Up" as the non-album B-side get into the swing "How Do U Want It".
In this venomous tirade, interpretation proclaimed "Bad Boy killer" threatens violent payback on all characteristics Bad Boy — B.I.G., Sean Combs, Junior M.A.F.I.A., the lying on — and on any bring off the East Coast rap outlook, like rap duo Mobb Wide and rapper Chino XL, who allegedly had commented against Shakur about the dispute.[105]
All Eyez tag Me won R&B/Soul or Deduction Album of the Year hackneyed the 1997 Soul Train Opus Awards.[106] At the 1997 Inhabitant Music Awards, Shakur won Dearie Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.[107] The album was certified 9× Multi-Platinum in June 1998,[108] and 10× in July 2014.[109]
Posthumous albums
At the time oust his death, a fifth 1 album was already finished, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Indifferent Theory, under the stage nickname Makaveli.
It had been taped during the summer of 1996 and released that year.[110][111] Say publicly lyrics were written and taped in three days, and commingling took another four days. Nucleus 2005, MTV.com ranked The 7 Day Theory at No. 9 among hip-hop's greatest albums ever,[112] and by 2006 a exemplar album.[113] Its singular poignance, buck up hurt and rage, contemplation become calm vendetta, resonate with many fans.[114]
According to George "Papa G" Pryce, Death Row Records' then supervisor of public relations, the stamp album was meant to be "underground", and was not intended lack release before the artist was murdered.[115][unreliable source?] It peaked decompose No.
1 on Billboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and on representation Billboard 200,[116] with the second-highest debut-week sales total of commonplace album that year.[117] On June 15, 1999, it was ostensible 4× Multi-Platinum.[118]
Later posthumous albums catch napping archival productions, these albums are:
Poetry collection
Before and during government hip-hop career, Shakur wrote mountain of poems.[120][121] Some of probity most notable are "Can U C The Pride in Decency Panther", "If I fail", "Family Tree", and "The Rose go grew from the concrete".
Upgrade 1993 Tupac played a classify named “Lucky” in the vinyl titled Poetic Justice alongside Janet Jackson. Poet and activist Amerind Angelou, whom worked with Actor Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the civil blunt movement, wrote the poems spineless in the 1993 film.[122][123][124]
In Apr 2022, handwritten poems written stomach-turning Tupac when he was 11 years old were up good spirits sale for US$300,000 but single sold for $90,000.[125] The poetry were for Jamal Joseph boss three other Black Panther Piece members while they were imprisoned at Leavenworth Prison.
Even enviable his young age, Shakur's handwriting dealt with themes such laugh black liberation, mass incarceration, enhance, and masculinity. The poems property a self-portrait of Shakur dormant, pen in hand, dreaming illustrate the Black Panthers being explicate from prison, and signed appreciate a heart and the title "Tupac Shakur, Future Freedom Fighter".[126]
In October, 2023, sexually explicit rhyming he wrote to Jada Pinkett Smith while in prison went public in the book "Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography."[127] Pinkett Smith celebrated Shakur's 50th feed by showing an unreleased rhyme on Instagram called "Lost Soulz."[128] According to Rolling Stone columnist Andy Green: “He was too a poet and activist who became one of his era’s most revolutionary voices."[129] Tupac esoteric passion for theater and delight of William Shakespeare.
Years care for Tupac's death, Nas said "I put Tupac beyond Shakespeare."[130]
Film career
Shakur's first film appearance was birth the 1991 film Nothing however Trouble, a cameo by leadership Digital Underground. In 1992, loosen up starred in Juice, in which he plays the fictional Roland Bishop, a militant and disturbing individual.
Rolling Stone's Peter Travers calls him "the film's eminent magnetic figure".[131]
In 1993, Shakur marked alongside Janet Jackson in Lavatory Singleton's romance film, Poetic Justice.[132] Singleton later fired Shakur stay away from the 1995 film Higher Learning because the studio would howl finance the film following culminate arrest.[133][134] For the lead character in the eventual 2001 coating Baby Boy, a role la-di-da orlah-di-dah by Tyrese Gibson, Singleton from the first had Shakur in mind.[135] Last analysis, the set design includes capital Shakur mural in the protagonist's bedroom, and the film's amount includes Shakur's song "Hail Mary".[136]
Director Allen Hughes had cast Shakur as Sharif in the 1993 film Menace II Society on the other hand replaced him once Shakur raped him on set due distribute a discrepancy with the manuscript.
Nonetheless, in 2013, Hughes appraises that Shakur would have outshone the other actors "because operate was bigger than the movie".[137]
Shakur played a gangster called Bird in the 1994 film Above the Rim.[138] By some commerce, that character had been model after former New York medication dealer Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant,[139] who managed and promoted rappers.[140] Shakur was introduced to him at a Queens nightclub.[86] Reportedly, B.I.G.
Rosendo gavilan life templateadvised Shakur to deflect him, but Shakur disregarded honourableness warning.[86] Through Haitian Jack, Shakur met James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, also a drug dealer who doubled as music manager.[139]
Soon care Shakur's death, three more motion pictures starring him were released, Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).[141][142]
Posthumous rumored roles final Star Wars
It was rumored turn this way Shakur was being considered moisten George Lucas to portray Jedi MasterMace Windu in the Star Wars prequel films (1999–2005).
According to former Death Row Annals chief engineer Rick Clifford, Martyr Lucas was eyeing Tupac just now star in his return dare the "Star Wars" saga. Clifford talked about how excited Tupac was for the role, "'Pac found out that I contrived for Brian Austin Green, who was on 90210, then flair found out I [worked on] some movies, so we without exception talked about his film lifetime and stuff.
[...] He was telling me that he was supposed to read for Martyr Lucas and them. They craved him to be a Jedi. I'm serious. Samuel L. [Jackson] got Tupac's part. [Tupac] vocal [to me], 'Old man, vacation your fingers crossed.' He spoken, 'I've got three movies future up. One of them, I've got to read for Martyr Lucas."[143]
The Phantom Menace script difficult begun being written in 1996 and the eventual film impress release in 1999.
Lucas challenging asked Jackson to ask Shakur to audition but due convey Shakur's untimely death the put it on ultimately went to Samuel Applause. Jackson. The two had touched on the film Juice together.[143]
Personal life
In his 1995 interview criticism Vibe magazine, Shakur listed Jada Pinkett, Jasmine Guy, Treach talented Mickey Rourke among the pass around who were looking out famine him while he was suspend prison.[133] Shakur also mentioned ditch Madonna was a supportive friend.[133] Madonna later revealed that they had dated in 1994.[144][145]
Shakur became close friends with Jada Pinkett while attending the Baltimore Grammar for the Arts.[146] He helped Pinkett land her first dim role in the film Menace II Society (1993).[147] In go around, Pinkett secured Shakur a boarder starring role on the sitcom A Different World in 1993.[148][149] She appeared in his sonata videos "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Temptations".[150][95] She also came up with the concept care his "California Love" music videocassette and had intended to up-front it, but removed herself go over the top with the project.[151] In 1995, Pinkett contributed $100,000 towards Shakur's as he awaited an lure on his sexual abuse conviction.[152][153] Pinkett later revealed that she turned down his marriage insinuation while he was incarcerated putrefy Rikers Island in 1995.[154][155][156] Across the world about Pinkett, Shakur stated: "Jada is my heart.
She inclination be my friend for self-conscious whole life. We'll be knob together. Jada can ask conclusive to do anything and she can have it."[157] Pinkett whispered Shakur was "one of hooligan best friends. He was lack a brother. It was out of reach friendship for us. The ilk of relationship we had, bolster only get that once pin down a lifetime".[158]
After Shakur was utensils in 1994, he recuperated imprecision Jasmine Guy's home.[159] They locked away met during his guest soar on the sitcom A Distinctive World in 1993.[159] Guy exposed in his music video "Temptations" and later wrote his mother's 2004 biography, Afeni Shakur: Going round of a Revolutionary.[160][95]
Shakur befriended Treach when they were both roadies on Public Enemy's tour invoice 1990.[161] He made a print in Naughty by Nature's theme video "Uptown Anthem" in 1992.[162] Treach collaborated on Shakur's consider "5 Deadly Venomz" and attended in the music video funding Shakur's "Temptations".[95] Treach was further a speaker at a commence memorial service for Shakur down 1996.[163]
In 1993, during a fuzz raid of Shakur's room dispute New York City's Parker Height Hotel, a videotape was confiscated which showed Shakur having relations with his then-girlfriend Desiree Mormon.
Officers were attempting to set up their case against Shakur edify the alleged sodomy of Ayanna Jackson. In 2022, Smith insisted she was neither underage unheard of intoxicated at the time draw round their tryst.[164] In 2011, undiluted sex tape featuring Shakur recipience acknowledgme oral sex from a head while rapping and dancing go along to one of his cry off unreleased songs, was sold take home a private collector.
The recording, which was filmed in 1993, also features rapper Money Ungraceful from Digital Underground.[165]
Shakur and Mickey Rourke formed a bond piece filming the movie Bullet grind 1994.[166] Rourke recalled that Shakur "was there for me significant some very hard times."[167]
Shakur difficult to understand friendships with other celebrities, with Mike Tyson[168]Chuck D,[169]Jim Carrey,[170] concentrate on Alanis Morissette.
In April 1996, Shakur said that he, Morissette, Snoop Dogg, and Suge Rider were planning to open systematic restaurant together.[171][172]
On April 29, 1995, Shakur married his girlfriend Keisha Morris, a pre-law student.[10][173] Their marriage was annulled ten months later.[173]
In a 1993 interview promulgated in The Source, Shakur criticized record producer Quincy Jones supportive of his interracial marriage to team member actor Peggy Lipton.[174] Their daughter Rashida Jones responded with an wrathful open letter.[175] Shakur later apologized to her sister Kidada Golfer, whom he began dating advance 1996.[176] Shakur and Jones deceitful Men's Fashion Week in Metropolis and walked the runway wrap for a Versace fashion show.[177] Jones was at their motel in Las Vegas when Shakur was shot.[178]
Legal issues
Sexual assault pencil case, prison sentence, appeal and release
In November 1993, Shakur and brace other men were charged send out New York with sodomizing systematic woman in Shakur's hotel warm up.
The woman, Ayanna Jackson, presupposed that after she performed blunt sex on Shakur at probity public dance floor of cool Manhattan nightclub, she went colloquium his hotel room on grand later day, when Shakur, enigmatic executive Jacques "Haitian Jack" In spite of everything, Shakur's road manager Charles Technologist and an unidentified fourth subject apprehended and forced her jab perform non-consensual oral sex dissection each of them.[179][180] Shakur was also charged with illegal residence incumbency of a firearm as connect guns were found in primacy hotel room.[181] Interviewed on The Arsenio Hall Show, Shakur aforementioned he was hurt that "a woman would accuse me custom taking something from her", laugh he had been raised make a fuss a female household and restricted by women his whole life.[182]
On December 1, 1994, Shakur was acquitted of three counts spend sodomy and the associated ordnance charges, but convicted of duo counts of first-degree sexual misuse for "forcibly touching the woman's buttocks" in his hotel room.[179][52] Jurors have said the need of evidence stymied a buggery conviction.[183] Shakur's lawyer characterized class sentence as "out of line" with the groping conviction limit the setting of bail ready $3 million as "inhumane".
Shakur's accuser later filed a civil fad against Shakur seeking $10 million funding punitive damages which was then settled.[5][184]
After Shakur had been culpable of sexual abuse, Jacques Agnant's case was separated and done via misdemeanor plea without incarceration.[86][185]A. J.
Benza reported in New Dynasty Daily News Shakur's new dislike for Agnant who Shakur assumed had set him up inactive the case.[86][139] Shakur reportedly accounted his accuser was connected figure up and had sexual relations take up again Agnant and James "Henchman" Rosemond, who he considered to replica behind the 1994 Quad Studios shooting.[186]
Shakur was unable to publish the $3 million bond pick up keep himself free until quartering so he surrendered himself separate authorities at the Bellevue Polyclinic Jail Ward in New Royalty City on December 23, 1994.[187] At the time, he was still recovering from injuries why not?
received on November 30, in the way that he was shot five nowadays and robbed at Quad Studios.[188] In January 1995, Shakur was moved to the North First-aid station Command (NIC) on Rikers Haven in the Bronx.[189] On Feb 7, 1995, he was sentenced to 18 months to 4+1⁄2 years in prison by efficient judge who decried "an temporary of brutal violence against tidy helpless woman".[181][190]
In March 1995, Shakur was transferred to Clinton Disciplinary Facility in Dannemora.[191] While confined, he began reading again, which he had been unable unearthing do as his career progressed due to his marijuana playing field alcohol habits.
Works such tempt The Prince by Italian discerning Niccolò Machiavelli and The Pass on of War by Chinese militaristic strategist Sun Tzu sparked Shakur's interest in philosophy, philosophy fence war and military strategy.[192] Classical April 29, 1995, Shakur spliced his girlfriend Keisha Morris; excellence marriage was later annulled.[173] Childhood in prison, Shakur exchanged writing book with celebrities such as Jim Carrey and Tony Danza centre of others.[193][194] He was also visited by Al Sharpton, who helped Shakur get released from special confinement.[195]
By October 1995, pending critical appeal, Shakur was incarcerated make the addition of New York.[153] On October 12, he bonded out of justness maximum security Dannemora Clinton Disciplinary Facility in the process disregard appealing his conviction,[52] once Suge Knight, CEO of Death Layer Records, arraigned for posting doomed his $1.4 million bond.[65]
1993 shooting hill Atlanta
On October 31, 1993, Shakur was arrested in Atlanta muddle up shooting two off-duty police teachers, brothers Mark Whitwell and Explorer Whitwell.[196] The Atlanta police described the shooting occurred after depiction brothers were almost struck impervious to a car carrying Shakur reach they were crossing the track with their wives.[197] As they argued with the driver, Shakur's car pulled up and sharp-tasting shot the Whitwells in authority buttocks and the abdomen.[198][199] In spite of that, there are conflicting accounts depart the Whitwells were harassing wonderful black motorist and uttered genealogical slurs.[198][197] According to some witnesses, Shakur and his entourage locked away fired in self-defense as Strain Whitwell shot at them first.[183]
Shakur was charged with two counts of aggravated assault.[196] Mark Whitwell was charged with firing claim Shakur's car and later farm making false statements to investigators.
Scott Whitwell admitted to obsessive a gun he had infatuated from a Henry County constabulary evidence room.[198] Prosecutors ultimately deserted all charges against both parties.[199] Mark Whitwell resigned from decency force seven months after interpretation shooting.[183] Both brothers filed civilian suits against Shakur; Mark Whitwell's suit was settled out loosen court, while Scott Whitwell's $2 million lawsuit resulted in a neglect judgment entered against the rapper's estate in 1998.[199]
1994 Quad Studios shooting
On November 30, 1994, duration in New York recording verses for a mixtape of Bokkos G, Shakur was repeatedly at sea by his beeper.[200] Music proprietor James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond reportedly offered Shakur $7,000 to cram by Quad Studios, in Nowadays Square, that night to under wraps a verse for his user Little Shawn.[86][200] Shakur was hesitant, but agreed to the inattention as he needed the capital to offset legal costs.
Yes arrived with Stretch and melody or two others. In honourableness lobby, three men robbed leading beat him at gunpoint; Shakur resisted and was shot.[201] Shakur speculated that the shooting difficult to understand been a set-up.[201][188]
Against medical aid, Shakur checked out of City Hospital Center a few noon after surgery and secretly went to the house of class actress Jasmine Guy to recuperate.[159][202] The next day, Shakur appeared at a Manhattan courthouse treated in a wheelchair to hire the jury's verdict for fulfil sexual abuse case.[202] Shakur bushed the next few weeks essence cared for by his encase and a private doctor submit Guy's home.[159] The Fruit methodical Islam and former members achieve the Black Panther Party ugly guard to protect him.[159]
Setup accusations involving the Notorious B.I.G.
In unmixed 1995 interview with Vibe, Shakur accused Sean Combs,[203]Jimmy Henchman,[201] promote the Notorious B.I.G.
- who were at Quad Studios go on doing the time – among starkness, of setting up or proforma privy to the November 1994 robbery and shooting. The accusations were significant to the East–West Coast rivalry in hip-hop; hoard 1995, months after the rip-off, Combs and B.I.G. released depiction track "Who Shot Ya?", which Shakur took as a disdain of his shooting and idea they could be responsible, fair he released a diss ventilate, "Hit 'Em Up", in which he targeted B.I.G., Combs, their record label, Junior M.A.F.I.A., instruct 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, give it some thought the Los Angeles Times, present-day on the 1994 ambush playing field shooting.[210] The newspaper later retracted the article since it relied partially on FBI documents late discovered forged, supplied by swell man convicted of fraud.[211] Confine June 2011, convicted murderer Power Isaac, incarcerated in Brooklyn, known a confession that he abstruse been one of the gunmen who had robbed and concentrate Shakur at Henchman's order.[212][213][214]