Tupac Shakur & The Bloody History Of U.S. Hip-Hop

Although Tupac was only 25-years-old when he died, there’s a hell of a lot to try and cover. From his devastating childhood dealing with a drug addicted mother, to his powerful early albums, 2Pacalyse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

From seemingly endless lawsuits for shootings, assaults, and his trial for sexual assault charges in 1994. To his own shooting in the lobby of a Manhattan recording studio, the day before the verdict of his sexual assault trial was to be announced, which sparked the ‘East Coast vs West Coast’ feud between Tupac and Biggie Smalls.

From his conviction for sexual assault in 1995, coinciding with his No. 1 album Me Against The World- the first musician to be in prison while attaining a No.1 record.

Following his release from jail on bail paid for by Suge Knight of Death Row Records. Which sparked his crowning glory, All Eyes On Me, his defining West Coast hip-hop double album.

All leading to that fateful night on September 7 in Las Vegas, when a white, four-door, Cadillac pulled up along side Pac and Suge, off the Vegas strip at 11:15pm, and began firing shots at the rapper, wounding him in the chest, pelvis, thigh and right hand. They were injuries that he would never recover from. He eventually passed away on Friday September 13, 1996, of internal bleeding.

Peter Murphy examines the legendary Tupac Shakur and the bloody history of U.S. hip-hop.

Read the full article HERE.