The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur

The death of Tupac Amaru Shakur is still classified as an unsolved case according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Many believe the loss of his life is linked to gang rivalry and rapper rivalry. Although many may argue that Notorious B.I.G. is responsible for the death of Tupac Shakur because of the rapper rivalry they had but, Orlando Anderson is actually the cause for his death because he had brawls with Shakur and his entourage outside the casino and all the rivalry they had in the past.

Tupac Shakur was the son of Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland. He was born on June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York and died on September 13, 1996 in Las Vegas. As a child, Shakur traveled from state to state where they finally decided to settle in Baltimore, Maryland. While he was there he attended Baltimore School of Arts, which brought out his creativity and academic in him. He finally felt like he could be someone and was happy. Before he could graduate his mother forced him and his sister to move to Marin City, California.

Finally, this was last move they made during his life, but moving to Marin City led Shakur forgot about school and focused on chasing the money. By being so focused on money it led him into being involved with the streets, selling drugs, and joining a gang. While in California, Shakur witnessed people getting murdered right in front of him. The gangsta lifestyle is what led him into starting his rapping career and making movies. Some may argue that if he would have stayed in Baltimore he would be here today. Others believe that if he never took the path he did that his rapping career would have never took off the way it did.

During Tupac’s vocation of working on Poetic Justice in Los Angeles, Notorious B.I.G met Tupac on the set where they were playing one of Biggie’s songs. The song was Biggie’s first big hit and it made him feel a type a way that a huge artist like Tupac was listening to his music. They clicked right off the bat and thought their friendship would last forever. Biggie looked to Tupac for advice on how to better his career because he knew Shakur was more experienced in the rapping world, but he knew that somehow his friendship with Shakur would come to an end. The duo even performed together on stage, freestyling back and forth at venues including Madison Square Garden. By this time Pac was a platinum-selling musician and movie star.

Biggie was still not advancing in his career at the same speed as him. Pac was even asked by Biggie take over being manager from Puff Daddy and he declined it. Pac told him to stay Puff because he would make him a star one day. They even hung out at Shakur’s house in Los Angeles when Biggie came down from New York to listen to music, smoke, and drink. He was now famous for movies and rapping career. Tupac started to becoming friends with Jaques 'Haitian Jack' Agnant and Jimmy Henchman, but Biggie warned Pac not to get involved with guys like them. Pac did not listen to him and continued to do what he wanted.

The day after hanging with Agnant and Henchman, Shakur was headed to walking to the New York City recording studio through the lobby of where he was shot five times, beaten, and robbed of his jewelry. He later found out that Biggie and Puff Daddy were inside the building. This leaded him to believe that Biggie was behind it all. That was the end of the friendship and leaded to rivalry.

After the friendship ended, he continued his career and performed at more concerts and acted in more movies. One night he was headed back to his hotel room when he met this fan who was flirting with him so he invited her to the room. Some days later he was convicted of sexually abusing the young lady and was served four and a half years in prison. Since Tupac was still going through the sexually abuse trial and could not afford to pay the plea, the record label Death Row Records presented a deal to pay for his plea if he signed onto their label and Shakur did just that so his profession could be continued.

After that altercation, Tupac Shakur attended Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon boxing match on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada. When the match ended Shakur and his entourage headed to the MGM Grand Hotel and they were spotted on cameras fighting a man named Orlando Anderson, a member of the Southside Compton Crips gang, in the lobby. A couple of hours later, Shakur was in the passenger seat while Marian Knight and was headed to the 662 night club in Las Vegas.

Suddenly a white Cadillac pulled up beside them at a red light on Flamingo Road and that is when the shots were fired. There were no less than twelve bullets shot, four of the bullets hit Shakur and one grazed Knight’s head. Instantly, Tupac Shakur was rushed to University of Medical Center where he had to undergo emergency surgery. The doctors stated that the surgery saved his life and that his chances of improving were highly. While placed in an induced coma, he died 6 days later on September 13, 1996 from internal bleeding caused by all the wounds. The doctors tried to revive him but after so many failed attempts his mother, Afeni Shakur decided to request for him to be taken off of life support.