Hip-Hop Veteran (2Pac in general)

Member Name:

Product:	2Pac in general
Date:	18/07/02 (308 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent Rapper, Inspired Actor, Brilliant Poet

Disadvantages: Ghetto Roots

Intro

Tupac Shakur a.k.a 2pac has been hailed as one, if not the best and most provocative rappers of the 20th century. From his poems, to his lyrical genius on the mic to his critic pleasing performances on the silver screen, 2pac caught the imagination of a nation and made them realise the harshness of the ghetto with his famous quote.

"If I keep talking about how dirty it is here, somebody gonna clean it up"

To make this review more organised I have decided to do a timeline, covering the exploits of the artist, from his birth in the ghetto to his unsolved death.

June 16th 1971

Due to a black panther protest, which got out of hand, Afeni Shakur, pregnant with Tupac Shakur, is rationed to a glass of water and an egg a day. During labour she is released from prison and gives birth to a son she names Tupac Amaru Shakur is born.

1971 - 1985

During this period, Afeni brought her child up on the harsh streets of the Bronx and Harlem. It was here that our young 2pac got his first taste of what black poverty entailed.

September 1983

It is clear that Tupac has a talent for poetry, he enrols in the 127th Street Ensemble and receives early praise from those who watch him in the Apollo Theatre production, Raisin In The Sun. Afeni is certainly proud of her sun, and 2pac believes that he has a chance in performing arts and a chance to tare away from ghetto life.

1985

After following his mother is Baltimore, Maryland - Tupac decides to pursue his dream of entering the business of performing arts, he enrols in Baltimore School for performing arts. He is claimed to be an up and coming poet.

1988

Once again, Afeni moves the family to Marin City. It is hard for 2pac to find any kind of stability. He realises that his mother is a drug addict and decides to leave in search of something more.

1989

Tupac starts a group called Strictly Do
pe with Ray Luv. Although not his greatest achievement, he has broken into the industry for the first time.

1989 cont

Tupac becomes chairman for the New African Panthers. A prestigious position and one, which shall echo throughout his later work as a rapper with Death Row Records.

1990

In a song entitles Same Song; Tupac performs with a ground known as Digital Underground. Although he didn't like his role in the song, it gave him a taste of showbiz. He definitely grows as an artist in this period. 2pac will later pay back this favour to Digital Underground in his 2pacalypse album.

November 12, 1991

When Pac's 2pacalypse goes Gold, it catches the eye of the hip-hop community and especially entrepreneur, and member of the Bloods (A notorious American gang), Suge Knight.

January 17, 1992

Juice is a film which sees 2pac playing a troubled youth living in the ghetto. Undoubtedly he can relate to the characters position and he gives a startling performance.

April 1992

Gangster rap has well and truly taken of by now, and East and West struggle for the number one spot. During this time Def Jam was quiet but it was only when an incident occurred involving the shooting of 19 year old Ronald that the media questioned 2pac's lyrics and the effect they had on the youth. It was claimed that the Howard was influenced by 2pac's 2pacalypse and Pac received heavy criticism

August 22, 1992

In a notorious gunfight, Tupac and an unidentified character exchange bullets and a 6-year-old dies in the crossfire. Pac pleads his innocence.

February 1993

Strictly for my N.I.G.G.A.Z goes platinum. Tupac is now an established rapper.

July 23, 1993

In a film entitled Poetic Justice, Pac stars as a confused postman, living in the ghetto and struggling to achieve his creative dream of becoming a rapper. (Not to far fetched from Tupac
9;s own life). Starring alongside Janet Jackson, Poetic Justice received a lot of publicity and 2pac as a consequence.

November 18, 1993

Tupac is accused by a 19 year old that he sodomized her.

March 23, 1994

Another film is released starring Tupac. Above The Rim establishes pack as well founded actor.

September 7, 1994

Again, during an incident where 2 teens murder a police officer, the raw lyrics of 2pac are held accountable.

November 31, 1994

Tupac is acquitted from the sodomy and weapon charges but is found guilty of sexual assault.

February 14, 1995

Tupac's gangster rap image is blown up when he is sentenced to prison in Rikers Island in New York.

April 1, 1995

Me Against The World goes platinum while 2pac is still in the penitentiary.

May 1995

Pac marries Keisha Morris

October 1995

Suge Knight makes his move to sign Pac to Death Row Records L.A, paying $1.4 million dollars to free 2pac; the still young Pac feels that he owes everything to Suge Knight.

April 25, 1996

All Eyes On Me goes quintuple platinum, 2pac tells Suge Knight that he will continue to make hits for him. Suge responds by claiming that 2pac is his most prestigious rapper alongside mega producer Dr Dre.

Sept. 4, 1996

In the MTV Music Video Awards ceremony, Tupac gets into a fight in which Frank Alexander (his bodyguard) helps to split up.

Sept. 7, 1996

It is only 2 shots, which are fatal, but 4 are fired at Pac.

Sept. 13, 1996

The hip-hop nation holds its breath as Pac breathes his last.

Conclusion

Tupac is definitely one of the most talented artists to ever bless a hip-hop mic, the fact that 6 years after his death, people are still talking about and enjoying his music is the symbol that the rapper truly was something special. There are theories such
as Killuminati and the Seven-Day theory, which suggests that Pac is still alive, I believe he is, every time I listen to his music.

Summary: