An Investigation into Tupac Shakur’s Death
This article discusses the events surrounding Tupac Shakur’s death, including some background that led up to his killing.
About Tupac
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, in 1971. Before his birth, both his mother and father were active members of the Black Panther Party. As a result, their views on social inequity became instilled in him from a very young age.
He relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 1988. As a teenager, he attended a local art school and took an interest in ballet. He was also known to show his love for literature and particularly favored Shakespeare, making him one of the most well-read hip-hop artists at the time.
He began writing and singing rap songs. His lyrics deal with subjects like racism, police violence, hardships in the ghetto, social conflicts, and the infamous East Coast-West Coast rivalry. Tupac’s rap albums were widely acclaimed. He was known by his stage name 2Pac in New York City. He went on to sell more than 75 million copies all over the world and became one of the biggest names in rap history.
The tensions between Tupac and Biggie
As rap music began to spread to every home stereo and car radio in the country, a rivalry began to emerge between East Coast and West Coast rappers. Rappers on both coasts began to promote their coast as the best and, in turn, put down the other coast as inferior. Rap artists began to dis each other in interviews, and public altercations began to occur.
The tension between the two rival gangs escalated with a shooting and robbing incident in 1994. Tupac blamed the East Coast rap gang for the incident, causing significant clashes between the two groups. The rivalry between Tupac and Biggie reached new heights in 1996 with the release of a ‘diss’ track called “Hit ‘Em Up.’ The song’s lyrics are directly aimed at Sean Puffy Combs, Wallace, and Mobb Deep.
What began with words eventually led to physical violence and even murder. Most people agree that the intense rivalry led to the death of both Tupac Shakur and his rival Notorious B.I.G., who was shot six months later in a similar drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. The shooting incident was believed to be tied directly to members of the East Coast rappers, and the killing of Notorious B.I.G. was believed to be in retaliation for Tupac’s murder.
What happened on the night of Tupac Shakur’s death?
On the night of September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur and his friends were driving back from a Mike Tyson boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada. After stopping at a red light, a white Cadillac pulled up to the right side of their car, a BMW. Boxed in with other cars at the stoplight, three or four men began firing bullets into the BMW. 13 bullets entered the BMW, and Tupac was shot three times. Bullets struck his chest, right hand, and right hip.
Police arrived on the scene almost immediately and called paramedics to the scene. Tupac and his co-passengers were rushed to a hospital in an ambulance. He spent six days in the hospital, and doctors made numerous attempts to revive the famous rapper. On September 13, 1996, at 25, his mother ordered the doctors to cease attempting to revive him.
Where does Tupac Shakur’s death investigation stand?
It is still a mystery to know who killed Tupac or Biggie. To date, both cases remain unsolved and are often the subject of wild speculation and conspiracy theories from inside and outside the industry.
More Celebrity Investigations
Get the scoop on more celebrity drama in our Celebrity Investigations section. Read about the death of other entertainers such as Prince.
