2Pac
2Pac
Pac, MC New York, Makaveli, Tupac Shakur, Makaveli the Don, Lesane P. Crooks, 2Pac Shakur, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Lesane Parish Crooks, Tupac
Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an actor and a highly influential rapper who is considered by many to be the greatest of all-time due to the revolutionary spirit and thug passion he mixed into his music. During his music career, he made appearances in movies such as his acclaimed debut in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), and Above the Rim (1994).
Born in Harlem, New York City to Black Panther Party members Billy Garland and Afeni Shakur, Tupac would later move to Baltimore before settling in the Bay Area cities of Oakland and Marin City in the late 1980s. There, he joined his first rap group Strictly Dope with Ray Luv before connecting with Shock G and Digital Underground. He was a roadie and backup dancer for the group before his breakthrough performance on their 1991 song “Same Song.”
2Pac released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, which featured intense storytelling on singles such as “Trapped” and “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” His sophomore album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z featured one of his signature songs, the Digital Underground-assisted “I Get Around.” After working on the Thug Life group album in 1994, 2Pac released Me Against the World the following year, which is considered by many to be his best album, peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200 and receiving a Grammy nomination—all while he sat in prison.
- Hit ’Em Up
- Changes
- Keep Ya Head Up
- Hail Mary
- Dear Mama
- California Love
- Ambitionz Az a Ridah
- All Eyez On Me
- Life Goes On
- The Rose That Grew From Concrete
- 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted
- I Ain’t Mad At Cha
- Only God Can Judge Me
- Runnin’ (Dying to Live)
- Me Against the World
- I Get Around
- All About U
- So Many Tears
- Do for Love
- Ghetto Gospel
- The Rose That Grew From Concrete (Autobiographical)
- Me and My Girlfriend
- Can’t C Me
- How Do U Want It