Early Life
The son of Black Panther Party members, Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in East Harlem and later lived in Baltimore, where he studied acting and poetry at the Baltimore School for the Arts, before moving to California.
Career
He began his career as a roadie and dancer with Digital Underground and released his debut, 2Pacalypse Now, in 1991. Albums such as Me Against the World (1995), All Eyez on Me (1996) and, under the name Makaveli, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996) showed both his combative and reflective sides. He also acted in films including Juice (1992) and Poetic Justice (1993).
Legacy
Shakur was shot in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and died six days later at age 25. His killing went unsolved for decades until a man was arrested and charged in 2023. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24