Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur (1971–1996), known professionally as 2Pac, was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. Born in New York City, he rose to prominence in the early 1990s for music that combined vivid storytelling with social commentary on racism, poverty, and violence. His albums include *Me Against the World* (1995) and *All Eyez on Me* (1996), and he was a central figure in the era’s East Coast–West Coast rap rivalry. Shakur also acted in films such as *Juice* (1992) and *Poetic Justice* (1993). He was shot in Las Vegas and died at age 25.