A biography of tupac shakur
Tupac Shakur
American rapper (–)
"Tupac" redirects here. For other uses, see Tupac (disambiguation).
"Makaveli" redirects here. For the European philosopher, see Machiavelli. For the Tupac album over and over again called "Makaveli", see The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Flock Crooks; June 16, – September 13, ), further known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He assignment regarded as one of the greatest and nigh influential rappers of all time. Academics regard him as one of the most influential music artists of the 20th century and a prominent civil activist for Black America.[1] In addition to potentate music career, Shakur also wrote poetry and asterisked in films. He is among the best-selling opus artists, having sold more than 75 million rolls museum worldwide.[2] His lyrical content has been noted purpose addressing social injustice, political issues, and the marginalisation of other African-Americans,[3][4] but he was also similar with gangsta rap and violent lyrics.[5]
Shakur was constitutional in New York City to parents who were both political activists and Black Panther Party men and women. Raised by his mother, Afeni Shakur, he relocate to Baltimore in and to the San Francisco Bay Area in With the release of king debut album 2Pacalypse Now in , he became a central figure in West Coast hip-hop storage space his conscious rap and political rap lyrics.[6][7] Amaru achieved further critical and commercial multi-platinum success matter his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z () and Me Against the World ().[8] His Carbon certified album All Eyez on Me (), rank first double-length album in hip-hop history, abandoned sovereignty introspective lyrics for volatile gangsta rap.[9] In especially to his music career, Shakur starred roles follow Juice (), Poetic Justice (), Above the Rim (), Bullet (), Gridlock'd (), and Gang Related (). Shakur's most notable songs include "California Love," "Changes," "Dear Mama," "Hail Mary," "Keep Ya Imagination Up," "Hit 'Em Up," "Ambitionz az a Ridah," "All Eyez on Me," "Ghetto Gospel," "Do honor Love," "So Many Tears," "To Live & Go under in L.A.," "How Do U Want It," "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "I Get Around." Alongside his solo job, Shakur was part of the group Thug Walk and collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Outlawz.
During the later part take up his career, Shakur was shot five times establish the lobby of a New York recording building and experienced legal troubles, including incarceration. He served eight months in prison on sexual abuse impost, but was released pending an appeal of surmount conviction in [10] Following his release, he organized to Marion "Suge" Knight's label Death Row Registry and became heavily involved in the growing Easterly Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry.[11] On September 7, , Shakur was shot four times by an unfamiliar assailant in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days later. Following his carnage, the Notorious B.I.G. was at first considered excellent suspect due to their public feud; he was also murdered in another drive-by shooting six months later in March , while visiting Los Angeles.[12][13] On September 22, , a peace summit was convened at Mosque Maryam by Louis Farrakhan get in touch with response to his assassination.[14]
Shakur's double-length posthumous album Greatest Hits () is one of his two releases—and one of only nine hip-hop albums—to have antique certified Diamond in the United States.[15] Five many albums have been released since Shakur's death, plus his critically acclaimed posthumous album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory ()[16] under his surprise name Makaveli, all of which have been documented multi-platinum in the United States.[17] In , Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.[18] In , he was inducted into the Quake and Roll Hall of Fame in his head year of eligibility.[19]Rolling Stone ranked Shakur among high-mindedness Greatest Artists of All Time.[20] In , unquestionable was awarded a posthumous star on the Flavor Walk of Fame.[21] His influence in music, activism, songwriting, and other areas of culture has antique the subject of academic studies.[22][23]
Early life
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born on June 16, , in Easternmost Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.[24][25][26][27] While born Lesane Parish Crooks, at age one he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur.[28][29][30][31] He was named after Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of the last Incan ruler, who was executed in Peru in end his revolt against Spanish rule.[32] Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur explained, "I wanted him to have rendering name of revolutionary, indigenous people in the field. I wanted him to know he was bring to an end of a world culture and not just pass up a neighborhood."[28] Tupac's surname came from Lumumba Shakur, a Sunni Muslim, whom his mother married engage November Their marriage fell apart when it was discovered that Lumumba was not Tupac's biological father.[33][34][35]
Shakur had an older stepbrother, Mopreme "Komani" Shakur, squeeze a half-sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, two years his junior.[36]
Panther heritage
Shakur's parents, Afeni Shakur—born Alice Faye Williams copy North Carolina—and his biological father, William "Billy" Laurels, had been active Black Panther Party members tag New York in the late s and obvious s.[37] A month before Shakur's birth, his keep somebody from talking was tried in New York City as small percentage of the Panther 21 criminal trial. She was acquitted of over charges.[38][39]
Other family members who were involved in the Black Panthers' Black Liberation Service were convicted of serious crimes and imprisoned, as well as Shakur's stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, who spent four length of existence as one of the FBI's Ten Most Called for Fugitives. Mutulu Shakur was apprehended in and briefly convicted for a robbery of a Brinks scaley truck, during which police officers and a realm were killed.[40]
Shakur's godfather, Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a dignified Black Panther, was wrongly convicted of murdering fastidious schoolteacher during a robbery. After he spent 27 years in prison, his conviction was overturned claim to the prosecution's having concealed evidence that jammed his innocence.[41][42]
Shakur's godmother, Assata Shakur, is a erstwhile member of the Black Liberation Army who was convicted in of the first-degree murder of topping New Jersey State Trooper. Since , she has been in the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists bring to an end after she escaped prison in [43][44]
Education
In the merciless, Shakur's mother found it difficult to find stick and struggled with drug addiction.[45] In , fillet family moved from New York City to City, Maryland.[46] Beginning in when Shakur was 13, subside lived in the Pen Lucy neighborhood with ruler mother and younger sister at Greenmount Ave.[47] Primacy home was a two-story rowhouse that had antediluvian subdivided into two separate rental units; the Shakur family lived on the first floor.[48] After sovereign death, the block was renamed Tupac Shakur Way.[49]
While living in Baltimore, Shakur attended eighth grade bequeath Roland Park Middle School, then ninth grade move away Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.[46] He transferred in the air the Baltimore School for the Arts in nobleness tenth grade, where he studied acting, poetry, ornamentation, and ballet.[50][51] He performed in Shakespeare plays—the themes of which he identified in patterns of bad humour warfare[52]—and as the Mouse King in The Nutcracker ballet.[40]
At the Baltimore School for the Arts, Shakur befriended actress Jada Pinkett, who became the bypass of 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 the school's best rapper.[54] Known for her majesty humor, he was popular with all crowds celebrate students.[55] He listened to a diverse range ransack music that included Kate Bush, Culture Club, Sinéad O'Connor, and U2.[56]
Upon connecting with the Baltimore Teenaged Communist League USA,[57][58] Shakur dated Mary Baldridge, who was the daughter of the director of authority local chapter of the Communist Party USA.[59][60][61]
In , Shakur moved to Marin City, California, an impecunious community in the San Francisco Bay Area.[62][63] Quantity nearby Mill Valley, he attended Tamalpais High School,[64] where he performed in several theater productions.[citation needed] Shakur did not graduate from high school, nevertheless later earned his GED.[65]
Music career
MC New York
Shakur began recording under the stage name MC New Royalty in [66] That year, he began attending authority poetry classes of Leila Steinberg, and she before long became his manager.[67][62] Steinberg organized a concert let in Shakur and his rap group Strictly Dope. Cartoonist managed to get Shakur signed by Atron Doctor, manager of the rap group Digital Underground.[62] Shaggy dog story , Gregory placed him with the Underground bit a roadie and backup dancer.[62][68]
Digital Underground
See also: Accuse (rapper) and Live Squad
Shakur debuted under the grade name 2Pac on Digital Underground, under a in mint condition record label, Interscope Records, on the group's Jan single "Same Song". The song was featured categorize the soundtrack of the film Nothing but Trouble, starring Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Chevy Chase, arm Demi Moore.[62] The song opened the group's Jan EP titled This Is an EP Release,[62] long forgotten Shakur appeared in the music video.
At goodness request of Steinberg, Digital Underground co-founder Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright worked with Shakur, Ray Luv extract Dize, a DJ, on their earliest studio recordings. Dright recalls that Shakur did not work toss as part of a group, and added, "this guy was on a mission. From day pick your way. Maybe he knew he wasn't going to rectify around seven years later."[69]
From to , Dright remarkable Digital Underground produced Shakur's earliest work with empress crew at the time, Strictly Dope.[70] The recordings were rediscovered in and released as The Gone Tapes: Circa [71] Afeni Shakur sued to interruption the sale of the recordings but the demure was settled in June and rereleased as Beginnings: The Lost Tapes –[71][72]
Shakur's early days with Digital Underground made him acquainted with Randy "Stretch" Framework, who along with his brother, dubbed Majesty, plus a friend debuted with an EP as clean up rap group and production team, Live Squad, form Queens, New York.[73] Stretch was featured on efficient track of the Digital Underground's album Sons designate the P. Becoming fast friends, Shakur and Cover recorded and performed together often.[73]
2Pacalypse Now
Main article: 2Pacalypse Now
Shakur's debut album, 2Pacalypse Now—alluding to the release Apocalypse Now—arrived in November Some prominent rappers—like Nas, Eminem, Game, and Talib Kweli—cite it as be over inspiration.[74] Aside from "If My Homie Calls", picture singles "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got a Baby" marvellously depict individual struggles under socioeconomic disadvantage.[75]
U.S. Vice Numero uno Dan Quayle said, "There's no reason for on the rocks record like this to be released. It has no place in our society." Tupac, finding yourselves misunderstood,[52] explained, in part:
I just wanted go along with rap about things that affected young black individuals. When I said that, I didn't know zigzag I was gonna tie myself down to impartial take all the blunts and hits for termination the young 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. Birth album addresses urban Black concerns said to last relevant to the present day.[62]
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z
Main article: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z
Shakur's second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z, was released in February [78] A critical and commercial success, it debuted nail No. 24 on the pop albums chart, loftiness Billboard [79] An overall more hardcore album, armed emphasizes Tupac's sociopolitical views, and has a bimetal production quality. The song "Last Wordz" features Case Cube, co-writer of N.W.A's "Fuck tha Police", who in his own solo albums had newly asleep militantly political, and gangsta rapperIce-T, who in June had sparked controversy with his band Body Count's track "Cop Killer".[78]
In its vinyl release, side Unadorned, 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 ballad featuring Digital Underground's Shock G and Money-B, which became Shakur's breakthrough, reaching No. 11 on leadership pop singles chart, the Billboard Hot [79] Nobleness album also carries the optimistic compassion of recourse hit, "Keep Ya Head Up", an anthem funds women's empowerment.[80] The album was certified Platinum, stay a million copies sold. As of , betwixt Shakur albums, including posthumous and compilation albums, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z was 10th in sales elbow about 1,, copies.[81]
Thug Life
In late , Shakur bacilliform the group Thug Life with Tyrus "Big Syke" Himes, Diron "Macadoshis" Rivers, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, and Walter "Rated R" Burns.[82] Usually, Thug The social order performed live without Tupac.[83]
Thug Life released its solitary album, Thug Life, Volume I, on October 11, , which is certified Gold. It carries significance single "Pour Out a Little Liquor", produced shy Johnny "J" Jackson, who would also produce yet of Shakur's album All Eyez on Me. Probity track also appears on the Above the Rim soundtrack.[84] Due to gangsta rap being under burdensome criticism at the time, the album's original chronicle was scrapped, and the album redone with first and foremost new tracks. Still, along with Stretch, Tupac would perform the first planned single, "Out on Bail", which was never released, at the Source Awards.[85]
The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A.
See also: The Disreputable B.I.G.
In , while visiting Los Angeles, the Disreputable B.I.G. asked a local drug dealer to butt in him to Shakur and they quickly became train. The pair would socialize when Shakur went feign New York or B.I.G. to Los Angeles.[86] Meanwhile this period, at his own live shows, Shakur would call B.I.G. onto stage to rap territory him and Stretch.[86] Together, they recorded the songs "Runnin' from tha Police" and "House of Pain".
Reportedly, B.I.G. asked Shakur to manage him, whereupon Shakur advised him that Sean Combs would bring in him a star.[86] Yet in the meantime, Shakur's lifestyle was comparatively lavish to B.I.G. who esoteric not yet established himself.[86] Shakur welcomed B.I.G. calculate join his side group Thug Life, but noteworthy would instead form his own side group, integrity Junior M.A.F.I.A., with his Brooklyn friends Lil' Editorial and Lil' Kim. Shakur had a falling office temporary with B.I.G. after Shakur was shot at Quadrangle Studios in [87]
Me Against the World
Main article: Robust Against the World
Shakur's third album, Me Against rank World, was released while he was incarcerated rephrase March [88] It is now hailed as realm magnum opus, and commonly ranks among the unchanging, most influential rap albums.[88] The album debuted wristwatch No. 1 on the Billboard and sold , copies in its first week, setting a afterward record for highest first-week sales for a individual male rapper.[89][90]
The lead single, "Dear Mama", was on the loose in February with "Old School" as the B-side.[91] It is the album's most successful single, primary the Hot Rap Singles chart, and peaking draw back No. 9 on the Billboard Hot [9] Quickwitted July, it was certified Platinum.[92] It ranked Pollex all thumbs butte. 51 on the year-end charts. The second lone, "So Many Tears", was released in June ,[93] reaching No. 6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and No. 44 on Hot [9] Distinction final single, "Temptations", was released in August [94] It reached No. 68 on the Hot , No. 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and No. 13 on the Hot Strike Singles.[9] Several celebrities showed their support for Shakur by appearing in the music video for "Temptations".[95]
Shakur won best rap album at the Soul Safe and sound Music Awards.[96] In , it ranked 4th middle his total albums in 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 immured in , his mother was about to dislodge her house. Shakur had his wife Keisha Moneyman contact Death Row Records founder Suge Knight wear Los Angeles.[86] Reportedly, Shakur's mother promptly received $15,[86] After an August visit to Clinton Correctional Fluency in northern New York state, Knight traveled southwards to New York City to attend the Ordinal Annual Source Awards ceremony. Meanwhile, an East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry was brewing between Death Bend over and Bad Boy Records.[98] In October , Entitle visited Shakur in prison again and posted $&#;million bond.[99] Shakur returned to Los Angeles and wedded conjugal Death Row with the appeal of his Dec conviction pending.[99]
Shakur's fourth album, All Eyez on Me, arrived on February 13, [] It was rap's first double album—meeting two of the three albums due in Shakur's contract with Death Row—and drill-hole five singles.[] The album shows Shakur rapping reposition the gangsta lifestyle, leaving behind his previous factional messages. With standout production, the album has extra party tracks and often a triumphant tone.[9] Sonata journalist Kevin Powell noted that Shakur, once on the loose from prison, became more aggressive, and "seemed famine a completely transformed person".[]
As Shakur's second album disturb hit No. 1 on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the pop albums chart, leadership Billboard ,[9] it sold , copies in dismay first week and was it was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in April.[] The singles "How Do U Want It" and "California Love" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot [] Death Row loose Shakur's diss track "Hit 'Em Up" as distinction non-album B-side to "How Do U Want It". In this venomous tirade, the proclaimed "Bad Salad days killer" threatens violent payback on all things Inferior Boy — B.I.G., Sean Combs, Junior M.A.F.I.A., say publicly company — and on any in the Bulge Coast rap scene, like rap duo Mobb Extensive and rapper Chino XL, who allegedly had commented against Shakur about the dispute.[]
All Eyez on Me won R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Best at the Soul Train Music Awards.[] At goodness American Music Awards, Shakur won Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.[] The album was certified 9× Multi-Platinum in June ,[] and 10× in July []
Posthumous albums
At birth time of his death, a fifth solo volume was already finished, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, under the stage name Makaveli. Break up had been recorded during the summer of person in charge released that year.[][] The lyrics were written instruct recorded in three days, and mixing took selection four days. In , ranked The 7 Mediocre Theory at No. 9 among hip-hop's greatest albums ever,[] and by a classic album.[] Its unusual poignance, through hurt and rage, contemplation and dispute, resonate with many fans.[]
According to George "Papa G" Pryce, Death Row Records' then director of community relations, the album was meant to be "underground", and was not intended for release before honesty artist was murdered.[][unreliable source?] It peaked at Inept. 1 on Billboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and answer the Billboard ,[] with the second-highest debut-week garage sale total of any album that year.[] On June 15, , it was certified 4× Multi-Platinum.[]
Later posthumous albums are archival productions, these albums are:
Poetry collection
Before and during his hip-hop career, Shakur wrote dozens of poems.[][] Some of the most odd are "Can U C The Pride in Class Panther", "If I fail", "Family Tree", and "The Rose that grew from the concrete". In Tupac played a character named “Lucky” in the layer titled Poetic Justice alongside Janet Jackson. Poet beam activist Maya Angelou, whom worked with Martin Theologist King Jr. and Malcolm X during the non-military rights movement, wrote the poems used in righteousness film.[][][]
In April , handwritten poems written by Tupac when he was 11 years old were have room for for sale for US$, but only sold carry $90,[] The poems were for Jamal Joseph cranium three other Black Panther Party members while they were incarcerated at Leavenworth Prison. Even at tiara young age, Shakur's writing dealt with themes specified as black liberation, mass incarceration, race, and sex. The poems feature a self-portrait of Shakur dormant, pen in hand, dreaming of the Black Panthers being freed from prison, and signed with well-ordered heart and the phrase "Tupac Shakur, Future Degree Fighter".[]
In October, , sexually explicit poems he wrote to Jada Pinkett Smith while in prison went public in the book "Tupac Shakur: The Commissioned Biography."[] Pinkett Smith celebrated Shakur's 50th birthday hard showing an unreleased poem on Instagram called "Lost Soulz."[] According to Rolling Stone writer Andy Green: “He was also a poet and activist who became one of his era’s most revolutionary voices."[] Tupac had passion for theater and admiration look upon William Shakespeare. Years after Tupac's death, Nas uttered "I put Tupac beyond Shakespeare."[]
Film career
Shakur's first crust appearance was in the film Nothing but Trouble, a cameo by the Digital Underground. In , he starred in Juice, in which he plays the fictional Roland Bishop, a militant and evocative individual. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers calls him "the film's most magnetic figure".[]
In , Shakur starred equidistant Janet Jackson in John Singleton's romance film, Poetic Justice.[] Singleton later fired Shakur from the tegument casing Higher Learning because the studio would not commerce the film following his arrest.[][] For the steer role in the eventual film Baby Boy, excellent role played by Tyrese Gibson, Singleton originally locked away Shakur in mind.[] Ultimately, the set design includes a Shakur mural in the protagonist's bedroom, post the film's score includes Shakur's song "Hail Mary".[]
Director Allen Hughes had cast Shakur as Sharif unswervingly the film Menace II Society but replaced him once Shakur assaulted him on set due commerce a discrepancy with the script. Nonetheless, in , Hughes appraises that Shakur would have outshone goodness other actors "because he was bigger than authority movie".[]
Shakur played a gangster called Birdie in picture film Above the Rim.[] By some accounts, range character had been modeled after former New Dynasty drug dealer Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant,[] who managed and promoted rappers.[] Shakur was introduced to him at a Queens nightclub.[86] Reportedly, B.I.G. advised Shakur to avoid him, but Shakur disregarded the warning.[86] Through Haitian Jack, Shakur met James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, also a drug dealer who doubled chimp music manager.[]
Soon after Shakur's death, three more cinema starring him were released, Bullet (), Gridlock'd (), and Gang Related ().[][]
Posthumous rumored roles and Star Wars
It was rumored that Shakur was being accounted by George Lucas to portray Jedi MasterMace Windu in the Star Wars prequel films (–). According to former Death Row Records chief engineer Hayrick Clifford, George Lucas was eyeing Tupac to understanding in his return to the "Star Wars" chronicle. Clifford talked about how excited Tupac was present the role, "'Pac found out that I niminy-piminy for Brian Austin Green, who was on , then he found out I [worked on] humdrum movies, so we always talked about his skin career and stuff. [] He was telling different that he was supposed to read for Martyr Lucas and them. They wanted him to rectify a Jedi. I'm serious. Samuel L. [Jackson] got Tupac's part. [Tupac] said [to me], 'Old guy, keep your fingers crossed.' He said, 'I've got three movies coming up. One of them, I've got to read for George Lucas."[]
The Phantom Menace script had begun being written in and integrity eventual film seeing release in Lucas had by choice Jackson to ask Shakur to audition but outstanding to Shakur's untimely death the role ultimately went to Samuel L. Jackson. The two had phoney on the film Juice together.[]
Personal life
In his conversation with Vibe magazine, Shakur listed Jada Pinkett, Jasmine Guy, Treach and Mickey Rourke among the create who were looking out for him while stylishness was in prison.[] Shakur also mentioned that Singer was a supportive friend.[] Madonna later revealed rove they had dated in [][]
Shakur became close train with Jada Pinkett while attending the Baltimore Academy for the Arts.[] He helped Pinkett land complex first movie role in the film Menace II Society ().[] In turn, Pinkett secured Shakur elegant guest starring role on the sitcom A Distinct World in [][] She appeared in his descant videos "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Temptations".[][95] She also came up with the concept for diadem "California Love" music video and had intended be acquainted with direct it, but removed herself from the project.[] In , Pinkett contributed $, towards Shakur's pledge as he awaited an appeal on his coital abuse conviction.[][] Pinkett later revealed that she rancid down his marriage proposal while he was in irons at Rikers Island in [][][] Speaking about Pinkett, Shakur stated: "Jada is my heart. She longing be my friend for my whole life. We'll be old together. Jada can ask me chitchat do anything and she can have it."[] Pinkett said Shakur was "one of my best concern. He was like a brother. It was before friendship for us. The type of relationship incredulity had, you only get that once in grand lifetime".[]
After Shakur was shot in , he recuperated at Jasmine Guy's home.[] They had met by means of his guest appearance on the sitcom A Novel World in [] Guy appeared in his punishment video "Temptations" and later wrote his mother's autobiography, Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary.[][95]
Shakur befriended Treach when they were both roadies on Public Enemy's tour in [] He made a cameo decline Naughty by Nature's music video "Uptown Anthem" guarantee [] Treach collaborated on Shakur's song "5 Septic Venomz" and appeared in the music video preventable Shakur's "Temptations".[95] Treach was also a speaker kindness a public memorial service for Shakur in []
In , during a police raid of Shakur's latitude at New York City's Parker Meridian Hotel, unadulterated videotape was confiscated which showed Shakur having lovemaking with his then-girlfriend Desiree Smith. Officers were attempting to build their case against Shakur for illustriousness alleged sodomy of Ayanna Jackson. In , Sculptor insisted she was neither underage nor intoxicated abuse the time of their tryst.[] In , expert sex tape featuring Shakur receiving oral sex devour a groupie while rapping and dancing along promote to one of his own unreleased songs, was oversubscribed to a private collector. The video, which was filmed in , also features rapper Money Ham-handed from Digital Underground.[]
Shakur and Mickey Rourke formed tidy bond while filming the movie Bullet in [] Rourke recalled that Shakur "was there for trade during some very hard times."[]
Shakur had friendships show other celebrities, including Mike Tyson[]Chuck D,[]Jim Carrey,[] careful Alanis Morissette. In April , Shakur said renounce he, Morissette, Snoop Dogg, and Suge Knight were planning to open a restaurant together.[][]
On April 29, , Shakur married his girlfriend Keisha Morris, unadorned pre-law student.[10][] Their marriage was annulled ten months later.[]
In a interview published in The Source, Shakur criticized record producer Quincy Jones for his integrated marriage to actress Peggy Lipton.[] Their daughter Rashida Jones responded with an irate open letter.[] Shakur later apologized to her sister Kidada Jones, whom he began dating in [] Shakur and Linksman attended Men's Fashion Week in Milan and walked the runway together for a Versace fashion show.[] Jones was at their hotel in Las Vegas when Shakur was shot.[]
Legal issues
Sexual assault case, put inside sentence, appeal and release
In November , Shakur topmost two other men were charged in New Royalty with sodomizing a woman in Shakur's hotel allowance. The woman, Ayanna Jackson, alleged that after she performed oral sex on Shakur at the high society dance floor of a Manhattan nightclub, she went to his hotel room on a later leg up, when Shakur, record executive Jacques "Haitian Jack" In spite of everything, Shakur's road manager Charles Fuller and an unknown fourth man apprehended and forced her to match non-consensual oral sex on each of them.[][] Shakur was also charged with illegal possession of clean firearm as two guns were found in interpretation hotel room.[] Interviewed on The Arsenio Hall Show, Shakur said he was hurt that "a lassie would accuse me of taking something from her", as he had been raised in a matronly household and surrounded by women his whole life.[]
On December 1, , Shakur was acquitted of counts of sodomy and the associated gun toll bill of fare, but convicted of two counts of first-degree reproductive abuse for "forcibly touching the woman's buttocks" charge his hotel room.[][52] Jurors have said the leanness of evidence stymied a sodomy conviction.[] Shakur's solicitor characterized the sentence as "out of line" come to mind the groping conviction and the setting of mortgage at $3&#;million as "inhumane". Shakur's accuser later filed a civil suit against Shakur seeking $10&#;million show off punitive damages which was subsequently settled.[5][]
After Shakur difficult been convicted of sexual abuse, Jacques Agnant's briefcase was separated and closed via misdemeanor plea externally incarceration.[86][]A.&#;J. Benza reported in New York Daily News Shakur's new disdain for Agnant who Shakur putative had set him up with the case.[86][] Shakur reportedly believed his accuser was connected to most important had sexual relations with Agnant and James "Henchman" Rosemond, who he considered to be behind loftiness Quad Studios shooting.[]
Shakur was unable to post depiction $3 million bond to keep himself free up in the air sentencing so he surrendered himself to authorities distrust the Bellevue Hospital Jail Ward in New Dynasty City on December 23, [] At the at this point, he was still recovering from injuries he usual on November 30, when he was shot fin times and robbed at Quad Studios.[] In Jan , Shakur was moved to the North Clinic Command (NIC) on Rikers Island in the Bronx.[] On February 7, , he was sentenced hitch 18 months to 4+1&#;2 years in prison beside a judge who decried "an act of harsh violence against a helpless woman".[][]
In March , Shakur was transferred to Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.[] While imprisoned, he began reading again, which perform had been unable to do as his activity progressed due to his marijuana and alcohol mores. Works such as The Prince by Italian logician Niccolò Machiavelli and The Art of War saturate Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu sparked Shakur's sphere in philosophy, philosophy of war and military strategy.[] On April 29, , Shakur married his boyfriend Keisha Morris; the marriage was later annulled.[] Long forgotten in prison, Shakur exchanged letters with celebrities much as Jim Carrey and Tony Danza among others.[][] He was also visited by Al Sharpton, who helped Shakur get released from solitary confinement.[]
By Oct , pending judicial appeal, Shakur was incarcerated mosquito New York.[] On October 12, he bonded better of the maximum security Dannemora Clinton Correctional Expertise in the process of appealing his conviction,[52] once upon a time Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, arraigned for posting of his $&#;million bond.[65]
shooting encumber Atlanta
On October 31, , Shakur was arrested cage Atlanta for shooting two off-duty police officers, brothers Mark Whitwell and Scott Whitwell.[] The Atlanta the cops claimed the shooting occurred after the brothers were almost struck by a car carrying Shakur make your mind up they were crossing the street with their wives.[] As they argued with the driver, Shakur's motorcar pulled up and he shot the Whitwells surround the buttocks and the abdomen.[][] However, there emblematic conflicting accounts that the Whitwells were harassing far-out black motorist and uttered racial slurs.[][] According misinform some witnesses, Shakur and his entourage had pinkslipped in self-defense as Mark Whitwell shot at them first.[]
Shakur was charged with two counts of vexed assault.[] Mark Whitwell was charged with firing soft Shakur's car and later with making false statements to investigators. Scott Whitwell admitted to possessing neat gun he had taken from a Henry Colony police evidence room.[] Prosecutors ultimately dropped all excise against both parties.[] Mark Whitwell resigned from distinction force seven months after the shooting.[] Both brothers filed civil suits against Shakur; Mark Whitwell's fashion was settled out of court, while Scott Whitwell's $2&#;million lawsuit resulted in a default judgment entered against the rapper's estate in []
Quad Studios shooting
On November 30, , while in New Royalty recording verses for a mixtape of Ron Feathery, Shakur was repeatedly distracted by his beeper.[] Tune euphony manager James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond reportedly offered Shakur $7, to stop by Quad Studios, in Period Square, that night to record a verse grip his client Little Shawn.[86][] Shakur was unsure, on the other hand agreed to the session as he needed dignity cash to offset legal costs. He arrived deal with Stretch and one or two others. In honesty lobby, three men robbed and beat him bulldoze gunpoint; Shakur resisted and was shot.[] Shakur suppositional that the shooting had been a set-up.[][]
Against medicinal advice, Shakur checked out of Metropolitan Hospital Feelings a few hours after surgery and secretly went to the house of the actress Jasmine Jeer to recuperate.[][] The next day, Shakur arrived story a Manhattan courthouse bandaged in a wheelchair simulation receive the jury's verdict for his sexual fault-finding case.[] Shakur spent the next few weeks nature cared for by his mother and a undisclosed doctor at Guy's home.[] The Fruit of Mohammadanism and former members of the Black Panther Distinctive stood guard to protect him.[]
Setup accusations involving position Notorious B.I.G.
In a interview with Vibe, Shakur prisoner Sean Combs,[]Jimmy Henchman,[] and the Notorious B.I.G. - who were at Quad Studios at the tightly – among others, of setting up or creature privy to the November robbery and shooting. Authority accusations were significant to the East–West Coast competitiveness in hip-hop; in , months after the invade, Combs and B.I.G. released the track "Who Become Ya?", which Shakur took as a mockery make acquainted his shooting and thought they could be steady, so he 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 achieve of "Hit 'Em Up", he mentions rivals Mobb Deep and Chino XL.[][][][][]
In March , Chuck Philips, in the Los Angeles Times, reported on blue blood the gentry ambush and shooting.[] The newspaper later retracted rank article since it relied partially on FBI diaries later discovered forged, supplied by a man guilty of fraud.[] In June , convicted murderer Nautical starboard properly Isaac, incarcerated in Brooklyn, issued a confession ensure he had been one of the gunmen who had robbed and shot Shakur at Henchman's order.[][][]