Rap Legend Tupac Shakur

Trick Out Your Cellphone

“Greatest rapper that ever lived” is one of many titles bestowed on hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur. Gunned down in 1996 at the height of his fame and career this gangsta-style event perhaps single-handedly sealed Tupac’s legacy. The very rap-political shooting was the culmination of tensions between West and East Coast rappers. Ironically Tupac spent his early childhood on the East Coast and then moved with his family to a suburb of San Francisco. He was not only musically talented at a young age, but was a talented actor and quite active in small theater then films. His first rap success was as a part of Digital Underground, a rock-rap-funk inspired California act.

Solo Career

In 1991 Tupac debuted his solo rap talent on his album 2Pacalypse Now which was picked up by Interscope Records in mid-stream of independent promotion. The album is still considered ahead of its time for its in-your-face rap style and lyrics. While it stimulated political head-butting the album was Tupac’s least commercially successful.

Tupac’s mid-90s hit singles “Keep Ya Head Up” and “I Get Around,” were spawned by the 1993 album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. During this time Tupac was already wrestling with the law. He was involved with sexual assault and shooting cases. And he spent some time in prison for various charges. In fact while in prison his album Me Against the World went platinum and is still one of rap’s most commercially successful albums.

Tupac Shooting

Just a few months prior to his shooting death, Tupac released his album All Eyez On Me, which clearly marked Tupac’s nod to thug rap. Days before his death he had all but put the finishing touches on his album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. In September 1996 Tupac was shot in a drive by shooting that most believe was instigated by a beating his crew had given to a rapper earlier that evening. His Don Killuminati album was released in November to legions of grieving fans.

2Pacalypse Now (1991):

1. Young Black Male
2. Trapped (ft. Shock G)
3. Soulja’s Story
4. I Don’t Give a Fuck (ft. Pogo)
5. Violent
6. Words of Wisdom
7. Something Wicked (ft. Pee Wee)
8. Crooked Ass Nigga (ft. Stretch)
9. If My Homie Calls
10. Brenda’s Got a Baby (ft. Dave Hollister)
11. Tha’ Lunatic (ft. Stretch)
12. Rebel of the Underground
13. Part Time Mutha (ft. Angelique & Poppi)

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993):

1. Holler If Ya Hear Me
2. Pac’s Theme
3. Point the Finga
4. Something 2 Die 4
5. Last Wordz (ft. Ice Cube & Ice-T)
6. Souljah’s Revenge
7. Peep Game (ft. Deadly Threat)
8. Strugglin’ (ft. Live Squad)
9. Guess Who’s Back
10. Representin’ 93
11. Keep Ya Head Up (ft. Dave Hollister)
12. Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
13. The Streetz R Death Row
14. I Get Around (ft. Digital Underground)
15. Papa’z Song (ft. Wycked & Big Syke)
16. 5 Deadly Venomz (ft. Treach, Apache & Live Squad)

Thug Life: Volume 1 (1994):

1. Bury Me A G
2. Don’t Get it Twisted
3. Shit Don’t Stop
4. Pour Out a Little Liquor
5. Stay True
6. How Long Will They Mourn Me?
7. Under Pressure
8. Street Fame
9. Cradle to the Grave
10. Str8 Ballin’

Me Against the World (1995):

1. Intro
2. If I Die 2 Nite
3. Me Against the World
4. So Many Tears
5. Temptations
6. Young Niggaz
7. Heavy in the Game
8. Lord Knows
9. Dear Mama
10. It Ain’t Easy
11. Can U Get Away
12. Old School
13. Fuck the World
14. Death Around the Corner
15. Outlaw

All Eyez On Me (1996): Disc 1:

1. Ambitionz Az a Ridah
2. All Bout U
3. Skandalouz
4. Got My Mind Made Up
5. How Do U Want It
6. 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
7. No More Pain
8. Heartz of Men
9. Life Goes On
10. Only God Can Judge Me
11. Tradin’ War Stories
12. California Love (Remix)
13. I Aim’t Mad at Cha
14. What’z Ya Phone #

Disc 2:

1. Can’t C Me
2. Shorty Wanna Be a Thug
3. Holla At Me
4. Wonda Why They Call U Bytch
5. When We Ride
6. Thug Passion
7. Picture Me Rollin’
8. Check Out Time
9. Ratha Be Ya Nigga
10. All Eyez on Me
11. Run the Streetz
12. Ain’t Hard 2 Find
13. Heaven Ain’t Hard 2 Find

The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996):

1. Intro/Bomb First
2. Hail Mary
3. Toss It Up
4. Blasphemy
5. Life of an Outlaw
6. Just Like Daddy
7. Krazy
8. White Man’z World
9. Me and My Girlfriend
10. Hold Ya Head
11. Against All Odds