Tupac Shakur is considered one of the most successful American rap artists (he performed under the pseudonyms Makaveli and 2Pac). He also carried out production activities and even starred in several films. The musician has sold over 75 million records. He is an influential representative of hip-hop culture throughout its history.
Childhood of a musician
The artist's civil passport was inscribed with the name he received at birth - Laisen Parish Kruks, but Tupac is not a pseudonym. This is a baptismal name that previously belonged to an Indian warrior.
Tupac never knew his biological father, who left his once beloved woman immediately after he found out about his wife's pregnancy.
Having lived alone with the baby for a short time, his mother met a new love and got married. The new dad adopted the child, giving him his last name - Shakur. Father made every effort to ensure that Tupac received an adequate level of education. The whole process was complicated by the fact that due to the active social activities of the mother, who was a defender of the rights of the black population, they were often forced to leave their homes and move from one city to another.
Baltimore was their home for several years. It was here that the boy, while studying in elementary school, showed the teachers remarkable acting skills. The child was sent to an art school, where he studied musical literacy, stage speech, choreography and vocals. Rap came to Tupac's life as a teenager. It was at this time that he began to compose his own works.
At the age of 17, he moved to the town of Merin City, where he gained popularity among local rappers. Under the negative influence of the streets, Tupac often became a "guest" of police stations.
Career development
By 1990, Tupac had become a member of the Digital Underground, whose concerts were accompanied by a variety of special effects and powerful dancers. Along with soloing in a collective, the musician creates his own works. The lyrics were extremely socialized. However, after a while, he managed to find the line that was not worth crossing, so as not to make trouble.
In 1991, his debut album went gold, and in 1992 he starred in an action movie. A year later, the next picture comes out, where his partner was Janet Jackson.
1993-94 - a triumphant time for the artist. A platinum album was released, another film was shot, a multimillion-dollar fortune was made. The army of fans also grew. However, the life of crime dragged on Tupac too much. He received 4.5 years for rape and spent several months in prison. By agreement of the parties, Tupac had to reimburse the studio's expenses for the deposit and record 3 discs within a year. Two more films were shot with his participation and the third album was presented (after the death of the singer).
A few facts about personal life
Shakur has been a womanizer since adolescence. He was constantly changing girlfriends. It was rumored that he was having an affair with Madonna. The singer was married to actress Keisha Morris, but their marriage did not last long.
Tupac Shakur died due to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. Many gunshot wounds led to this - Tupac's car was shot while he was moving around the city. He spent several days in the hospital, but was never able to recover.
