Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 - Present) was an influential, best-selling rap artist who was shot and mortally injured on September 7, 1996, in an incident spurred by antagonism between him and other rappers, bred by gangsta rap.

Some of his handles included 2Pac, Pac, and Makaveli.

His reputation grew after his death. Conspiracy theories about his death abound: there are some who insist that he is not dead, or that the shooting was a governmental assassination.

At the time of his death, Shakur was also building an acting career. John Singleton wrote the film Baby Boy with Shakur in mind for the leading role, but Shakur died before it was made. It was eventually filmed with Tyrese Gibson in his place, and released in 2001, five years after Shakur's death.

Shakur's mother was Afeni Shakur, an early member of the Black Panther Party and victim of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation COINTELPRO against the Black Liberation movement.