Born Tupac Amaru Shakur in New York City he
grew up primarily on the streets of Oakland, California. His first breakthrough
in music came in 1991 as a member of the group Digital Underground. In the same
year he recieved individual recognition for his album "2Pacalypse Now"
- but this album was also the beginning of his notoriety as a leading figure of
'gangsta rap' with references to cop killing and sexual violence. His solo movie
career also began in this year with Juice (1992), and in 1992 he co-starred with
Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice (1993). But law confrontations were soon to
come; a 15 day jail term in 1994 for assault and battery, and in 1995 a conviction
for sexual assault of a female fan. He was released after serving 8 months pending
an appeal, but following the Tyson vs Seldon fight in Las Vegas he was hit by
four bullets while riding in a car driven by Death Row Records chief executive
'Marion "Suge" Knight' . His right lung was removed in emergency surgery,
and after 6 days in a medical coma he died. Few Things about Tupac
Named after Tupac Amaru, the Inca Indian that was sentenced to
death by Spaniards. Tupac Amaru, in the Inca Indian language, means "shining serpent".
Wrote a song about his mother called "Dear Mama" while in prison. Son
of black panther Afeni Shakur; grew up in Harlem, Baltimore and Marin County California
He had the words 'Thug Life' tatooed across his abdomen | 