2Pac, also known as Tupac Shakur, was an influential American rapper, actor, and poet. Born on June 16, 1971, in New York City, he rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the most iconic and talented figures in the hip-hop industry. Some other things about 2Pac is that he was known for his powerful and introspective lyrics, 2Pac tackled social and political issues, as well as personal struggles, in his music. He had a unique ability to convey raw emotions and tell compelling stories through his songs. Despite his untimely death at the age of 25 in 1996, 2Pac’s impact on the music industry and his legacy as a cultural icon continue to resonate to this day. Here is a list of 25 interesting 2Pac facts.
25. 2Pac's birth name was Tupac Amaru Shakur.
24. He was born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, New York City.
23. 2Pac's parents were both members of the Black Panther Party.
22. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 12.
21. 2Pac studied acting, poetry, jazz, and ballet while attending the Baltimore School for the Arts.
20. He began his music career in the late 1980s as a backup dancer and MC for the hip-hop group Digital Underground.
19. His debut solo album, "2Pacalypse Now," was released in 1991 and sparked controversy due to its political and violent themes.
18. 2Pac's acting career took off with his role as Bishop in the 1992 film "Juice."
17. He starred in other movies such as "Poetic Justice" (1993), "Above the Rim" (1994), and "Gridlock'd" (1997).
16. 2Pac's second album, "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.," released in 1993, included the popular singles "Keep Ya Head Up" and "I Get Around."
15. He formed the rap group Thug Life in 1993.
14. 2Pac survived a 1994 shooting in New York, which he believed was orchestrated by rival rapper The Notorious B.I.G. and his associates.
13. While serving a prison sentence for sexual assault, 2Pac released his third album, "Me Against the World" (1995), which became the first album to top the Billboard 200 while the artist was in prison.
12. He joined Death Row Records after his release from prison and became embroiled in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry.
11. 2Pac's fourth album, "All Eyez on Me" (1996), is considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time and sold over 10 million copies.
10. He was known for his outspokenness on social and political issues, particularly regarding racism, poverty, and police brutality.
9. 2Pac was a prolific songwriter and often recorded multiple songs in a single day.
8. He had a close friendship with actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who attended the Baltimore School for the Arts with him.
7. 2Pac's final studio album released during his lifetime was "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" (1996), under the pseudonym Makaveli.
6. He was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and died six days later at the age of 25.
5. 2Pac's murder remains unsolved, leading to numerous conspiracy theories.
4. He has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
3. 2Pac was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
2. He left behind a significant legacy of influential music that continues to inspire and resonate with audiences today.
1. Several posthumous albums featuring unreleased material have been released, including "R U Still Down? (Remember Me)" (1997) and "Until the End of Time" (2001).