

Following his release, he signed to Marion "Suge" Knight's label Death Row Records and became heavily involved in the growing East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry. In 1995, Shakur served eight months in prison on sexual abuse charges, but was released pending an appeal of his conviction. In addition to his music career, Shakur also found considerable success as an actor, with his starring roles in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above the Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).ĭuring the later part of his career, Shakur was shot five times in the lobby of a New York recording studio and experienced legal troubles, including incarceration. His Diamond certified album All Eyez on Me (1996), the first double-length album in hip-hop history, abandoned his introspective lyrics for volatile gangsta rap. Shakur achieved further critical and commercial success with his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. With the release of his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, he became a central figure in West Coast hip hop for his conscious rap lyrics. Raised by his mother, Afeni Shakur, he relocated to Baltimore in 1984 and to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988. Shakur was born in New York City to parents who were both political activists and Black Panther Party members.

Much of Shakur's music has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he is considered a symbol of activism against inequality. Shakur is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. He is widely considered one of the most influential and successful rappers of all time.

Tupac Amaru Shakur ( / ˈ t uː p ɑː k ʃ ə ˈ k ʊər/ born Lesane Parish Crooks, J– September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper.
