BIOGRAPHY
The life and legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur — from the Bronx to immortality.
EARLY LIFE
Born in East Harlem, New York
Tupac Amaru Shakur is born to Afeni Shakur, a Black Panther activist, in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. Named after Túpac Amaru II, the 18th-century Peruvian revolutionary.
Childhood and Baltimore
Tupac moves with his mother to Baltimore, Maryland, where he attends the Baltimore School for the Arts. He studies acting, poetry, jazz and ballet, and performs in Shakespeare plays.
Move to Marin City, California
The family relocates to Marin City, California, where Tupac lives in poverty. He begins rapping seriously and meets Shock G, who would later help launch his career.
RISE (1991–1993)
2Pacalypse Now
Debut album released on Interscope Records. The record is praised for its social commentary on police brutality, poverty and racism. Vice President Dan Quayle publicly condemns it.
Juice — Acting Debut
Tupac makes his feature film debut as Roland Bishop in the crime drama Juice, earning critical acclaim for his portrayal of a violent and volatile gang member.
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Second studio album, featuring "Keep Ya Head Up" and "I Get Around". The album reaches #4 on the Billboard 200 and establishes Tupac as a major commercial force in hip-hop.
STARDOM (1994–1995)
Thug Life: Volume 1
Group album with Thug Life collective. Tupac coins the acronym T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. — "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody".
Quad Recording Studios Shooting
Tupac is shot five times in the lobby of a New York recording studio. He survives, checks himself out of the hospital, and attends his own trial the next day in a wheelchair.
Me Against the World — #1 Album from Prison
Released while Tupac is incarcerated at Rikers Island, Me Against the World debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 — making Tupac the first artist to have a #1 album while in prison.
DEATH ROW ERA (1996)
Released from Prison — Signs to Death Row
Suge Knight posts Tupac's $1.4 million bail. Tupac signs a three-album deal with Death Row Records. He moves to Los Angeles and begins recording feverishly.
All Eyez on Me
The first double-album in hip-hop history. Features "California Love", "How Do U Want It" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted". Sells over 9 million copies in the US alone.
Las Vegas Shooting
After attending the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon fight at the MGM Grand, Tupac is shot four times in a drive-by shooting. He is taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.
Death
Tupac Amaru Shakur dies at 4:03 PM at the age of 25. The cause of death is respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest resulting from multiple gunshot wounds.
LEGACY
Posthumous Releases
Over a dozen posthumous albums are released, including R U Still Down?, Until the End of Time, Loyal to the Game and Pac's Life. Tupac becomes one of the best-selling music artists in history with over 75 million records sold worldwide.
Coachella Hologram
A digital projection of Tupac performs "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" at Coachella alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, reigniting global interest in his legacy.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Tupac Shakur is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, one of only a handful of artists to receive this honor.
Enduring Influence
Tupac remains one of the most influential figures in music history. His work continues to inspire artists across hip-hop, R&B and beyond. The 2Pac Vault preserves and celebrates his complete legacy.