Tupac Amaru Shakur

1. Tupac Amaru Shakur June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996

2. Early Life • Tupac was born June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York • His mother Afeni Shakur and dad Billy Garland were both active members of the Black Panther Party. • Although unconfirmed by the Shakur family, several sources including the official coroner's report list Tupac’s birth name as "Lesane Parish Crooks". • She changed it later, after breaking up with Garland and marrying Mutulu Shakur. It was also tribute to an Incan revolutionary named Tupac Amaru.

3. Growing UP • Tupac’s stepfather was imprisoned for armored car robbery when he was two years old, leaving his family to be stuck under conditions of extreme poverty. • In 1986 Tupac and his mother moved to Baltimore, Maryland. • While a teenager in Baltimore, Tupac developed an interest in performance; and was able to attend The Baltimore School for the Performing Arts where he studied acting and ballet. • Before he could complete his education, he was forced to relocate to Marin City, California in June 1988. • There he went to Tamalpais High School.He started taking poetry classes in 1989.

4. During his time on the streets of Oakland, he became involved with gang life, accumulating a criminal record with eight arrests by the beginning of his twenties. On a positive note he began developing his skills as a rapper he had first started to explore during his years in Baltimore.

5. Rise to Fame • In 1991, Tupac released his first album 2Pacalypse Now. While Shakur claimed his album was about pointing out the problems facing young black males, it was also filled with images of violence by and against police. 2Pacalypse Now received a lot of public criticism, especially after a man killed a Texas Trooper and claimed he was inspired by the album. • In November of 1994, he was shot five times during a robbery • Tupac surprisingly recovered and produced his most impressive accomplishments. • Including 1995's Me Against the World, which sold two million copies, and the double-CD All Eyez on Me, which sold nearly three million & was released during 1996.

6. Changes • Come on come on • I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself • is life worth living should I blast myself? • I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black • my stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch • Cops give a damn about a negro • pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero • Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares • one less hungry mouth on the welfare • First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers • give 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each other • It's time to fight back that's what Huey said • 2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead • I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere • unless we share with each other

7. Ghetto Gospel • [2Pac]Tell me do you see that old lady aint it sadLiving out a bag, but she's glad for the little things she hasAnd over there there's a lady, crack got her crazyGuess she's given birth to a babyI don't trip and let it fade me, from outta the frying panWe jump into another form of slaveryEven now I keep discouragedWonder if they take it all back while I still keep the courageI refuse to be a role modelI set goals, take control, drink out my own bottleI make mistakes, I learn from everyoneAnd when its said and doneI bet this Brotha be a better oneIf I'm upset, you don't stressNever forget, that God hasn't finished with me yetI feel his hand on my brainWhen I write rhymes, I go blind, and let the lord do his thangBut am I less holyCuz I choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homiesBefore we find world peaceWe gotta find peace in that war on the streetsMy ghetto gospel[Chorus - Elton John]

8. On September 7, 1996 Shakur was shot 4 times after watching a Mike Tyson fight with Death Row Records president Marion "Suge" Knight. He died six days later. • Even though Tupac’s death was a shock to all his fans and the whole music community, Tupac always told people that he expected he'd die by the sword before he reached thirty.