The Life Of Tupac Shakur

6 Pages 1619 Words

Tupac Amaru Shakur will go down in history as a rapper who always lived up to his wild reputation. He rapped about gunfights, rough sex, gang rivalries and "Thug Life," and was arrested, jailed, shot and later killed over the same issues. Known as a gifted rapper and a brilliant lyricist, Tupac was often said to be the Marvin Gaye of hip-hop, complex and talented, but a "Trouble Man" to the core. He parlayed his music career into a successful film career and was one of the hardest working men in show business, putting out five albums, five films and numerous guest appearances in just under five years. Tupac lead a full life and accomplished a great deal before his murder in 1996. (Rolling Stone Magazine)
Afeni Shakur, born Alice Faye Williams, gave birth to Lesane Parish Crooks while serving time in a Bronx, New York, prison on June 16, 1971. She would call her son Tupac Amaru Shakur, Tupac Amaru after an Incan-chief, meaning “shining serpent,” and Shakur, Arabic for “thankful to God.” She was a member of the Black Panther party and successfully defended herself and twenty other members of the Black Panthers against numerous felony and conspiracy charges while pregnant with her son. Tupac’s father was never known or spoke of, but he did have a step-father for a few years of his life. Mutulu Shakur was the only influential man in his life growing up, playing the role of his father and his spiritual advisor. He was soon taken away from Tupac when he was allegedly accused of bank robberies, conspiracies and armored truck heists. He would be sent to prison in 1986 and would have to serve 60 years. (Tupac Shakur :Thug Angel-The Life of an Outlaw)
Tupac and his mother would first live in the Bronx, where Afeni would find work as a paralegal and instilled pride, a sense of justice, strength and a thirst for knowledge in her young son. She would go on to lose her job as a paralegal after people found out who she was and ho...