Tupac Shakur is remembered as many things. He was—and still is—one of the most successful and influential hip-hop artists ever with more than 75 million records sold. His story was also painfully sad—his life ended as a victim of violence, which he simultaneously criticized and glamorized for an entire generation of fans. If he seems to be a complex contradiction, he was. Perhaps the best explanation for the clashing forces in his life is that despite being a leader and legend, he was just 25 years old when he died. We never found out how he might mature and make peace with the world around him—or himself. This tragedy is compounded by the fact that we still grapple with most of the issues that Tupac had the courage to face and talent to express. That’s why so many still turn to his work today, not as a nostalgic escape, but as a release of deep frustration and yearning.
DRIVING FORCES
AGAINST ALL ODDS • An artist of his time—and ahead of it
HIP-HOP IS BORN • The most dominant category of music in America today began in the Bronx in 1973
BIRTH OF A LEGEND • Tupac’s early life was humble, and also intense
2PACALYPSE NOW • From his first album, Tupac arrived with something to say
LIVING DANGEROUSLY • At the peak of his fame, Tupac constantly found himself surrounded by trouble
TUPAC ON FILM • His performances on-screen showed how his career might have evolved
TUPAC AND BIGGIE • The biggest names in hip-hop history shared much in common, but that didn’t stop them from having one of music’s biggest feuds
ME AGAINST THE WORLD • Tupac’s third album release is still considered one of his greatest
THE END • Tupac’s death was unsurprising—and his legacy is unsatisfying
Tupac
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