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TUPAC TIMELINER.I.P. | |
| September 1968: At the age of 22 Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, joined the New York Black Panther Party. April 1969: Afeni and 20 other Panther members were arrested and charged with a number of offences. Including conspiracy to bomb several public areas in New York city. While on bail Afeni began seeing two men, Legs a local hood, and Billy, a member of the party. |  |
February 1971: Whilst pregnant with Tupac, Afeni's bail was revoked. She was sent to the woman’s house of detention in Greenwhich Village. Afeni stated in regards to her unborn son "I never thought he'd make it here alive."
June 16, 1971: Having been acquitted of all charges one month earlier, Tupac was born on June 16 1971 in Brooklyn, New York. Tupac Amaru are Inca words meaning "Shining serpent." Shakur is Arabic for "thankful to God."
1975-1983: Sometimes living in Homeless shelters Tupac and family are shuffled between the Bronx and Harlem.
Early 1980's: Legs comes to live with the Shakur family and was claimed as a father by Tupac. Legs introduced Afeni to crack before a spell in prison for credit-card fraud. After his release Legs died from a crack-induced heart attack at the young age of 41.
September 1983: When Tupac was 12, Afeni enrolled him in the 127th Street Ensemble, a Harlem theatre group. In his first performance, Tupac played Travis in A Raisin in the Sun.
 | June 1986: Tupac and family moved to Baltimore. As MC New York, Tupac wrote his first rap. For the first time in his life Tupac began to feel an identity of his own. September 1986: Tupac auditioned and was enrolled at the Baltimore school for the Arts. Here he studied ballet and acting. June 1988: At the age of 17 Tupac and his family moved to Marin City, California. "Leaving that school affected me so much," he said later. "I see that as the point where I got off track." Shortly after, he moved in with a neighbour and began to sell drugs. |
August 1988: Mutulu Shakur, Tupac's stepfather, was sentenced to sixty years in prison for his involvement in a 1981 armoured-car robbery.
1989-1990: Retired dancer and singer, Leila Steinberg, became Tupac's first manager after Tupac had rapped for her. She claimed that he was the most brilliant rapper/poet she had ever heard. Steinberg had another young rapper working for her, Ray Luv. Before long Tupac and Luv became part of the short-lived six member group "Strictly Dope". Steinberg was eventually talked into managing the group, and did so until the break-up. When it became clear that the group wasn't working out, Steinberg drove Tupac to Starlight Studios to meet Shock G, the leader of "Digital Underground".
1990: Tupac auditioned for Shock G and joined as a roadie/dancer/rapper. While on tour, he learnt that his mother was using crack; Tupac stated "It fucked me up", I like lost respect for her." With his "DU" success, Tupac wanted to give "Strictly Dope" another try. After hooking up with Ray Luv again, the group signed with "TNT Records". An entire album by the group was recorded but to date has never been released.
January 3, 1991: Tupac made his recording debut on DU's This Is An E.P. Release. He appeared on the track "Same Song" which also appeared on the album "Sons of the P."
November 12, 1991: Tupac's first solo album, "2Pacalypse Now" was released, after he signed to Interscope Records. It contains the successful singles "Trapped" and "Brenda's got a baby." Shortly afterwards, Tupac filed a $10 million lawsuit against the Oakland police for alleged brutality following an arrest for jaywalking.
January 17, 1992: Tupac acted as the legendary "Bishop" in Ernest Dickerson's Juice. In which he spoke the unforgettable line "I am crazy. But you know what else, I don't give a fuck." A new and higher level of respect and prestige was awarded to Tupac around this time for his achievements. In his own words; "I loved the fact that I could go into any Ghetto and be noticed and be known." In the same month Tupac met for the first time Biggie Smalls. He met him in New York city and soon after met with Sean 'Puffy' Combs, who later introduced Tupac to Andre Harrell.
| April 11, 1992: A 19-year-old named Ronald Ray Howard, shot a Texas trooper. Howard's attorney claimed 2Pacalypse Now, which was in his clients tape player, as the incitement to kill. In particular the track entitled "I don't give a fuck." August 22, 1992: Tupac became involved in a shoot out with old acquaintances in Marin City. A 6-year-old bystander was shot in the head. Tupac's half brother, Maurice (Mopreme) Harding, was arrested but soon released due to a lack of evidence. |  |
September 22, 1992: Vice president Dan Quayle condemned Tupac as he stated "2Pacalypse Now has no place in our society."
February 1, 1993: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z, Tupac's second solo album was released, which eventually went platinum.
March 13, 1993: Tupac and a friend allegedly attacked a Limo driver in Hollywood. The driver apparently accused 'Pac of using drugs in the car. He also stands accused of disrespecting Tupac’s homeboy. Tupac was arrested but the charges was dropped shortly after.
April 5, 1993: Tupac was sentenced to ten days in jail after being arrested in Lansing, Michigan. He was jailed for swinging a base ball bat at a local rapper during a concert.
| July 23, 1993: John Singleton's Poetic Justice, starring Tupac and Janet Jackson, was released. Before filming began, Jackson demanded Shakur take an HIV test before she would do any kissing scenes. October 31, 1993: A few days before 'Pac was due to move into a new home, he was arrested for allegedly shooting two white off-duty police officers. The officers (from Atlanta), Mark and Scott Whitewell were shot at by Tupac, who claimed they were harassing a black motorist. The charges on Tupac were eventually dropped. |  |
November 18, 1993: Tupac became involved and charged with a sexual-assault case in New York. The woman aged 19, engaged in oral sex with Tupac on the dance floor before leaving with him to his hotel room. At this point 'Pac was accused of sexual abuse along with his three friends. Tupac believed it was an attempt to put him behind bars. There have been many rumours of a link between this incident and that in Atlanta with the police officers. Rumours of an attempt at revenge for Tupac's part in the shooting. To strive deeper into the situation a link may be due to Tupac’s mother being a black panther member at one point. This could be seen as an even greater cause for a set up by many people.
December 1993: John Singleton, who Tupac considered his "one friend in Hollywood" was forced by Columbia pictures to drop Tupac from the upcoming film "Higher Learning." Columbia pictures based their decision on Tupac's recent arrests in Atlanta and in New York.
March 10, 1994: Tupac became angry at the Hughes brothers, Allen and Albert after they dropped him from the film "Menace II Society." Tupac found out about the change when watching MTV. A few months after this 'Pac run into the two and punched Allen, causing the other twin to run away. For this he was sentenced to 15 days in a Los Angeles jail.
 | March 23, 1994: Tupac played "Birdie" a troubled drug dealer in the film "Above the Rim." The soundtrack album, released by "Death Row Records" sold two million copies. It features the song "Pour Out a Little Liquor," recorded by Tupac's group, "Thug Life". Click here to see the full track listing. In the same year "Thug Life" released their first and only album "Thug Life Volume 1." September 7, 1994: For the second recorded time, Tupac's music is blamed for influencing murder. This time it was the song "Souljah's story" that was blamed when two Milwaukee teens murdered a police officer. |
November 30, 1994: While on trial for sex and weapons charges, Tupac was shot five times and robbed of $40,000 worth of jewellery in the lobby of a Times Square recording studio. Against doctors orders Tupac checked himself out of the hospital less than 3 hours after surgery (the very same day he was shot). Tupac made a surprise appearance in the Manhattan courtroom the next day.
December 1, 1994: Just hours after the hearing, the jury found Tupac guilty of sexual abuse but innocent of sodomy and weapons charges.
February 14, 1995: Tupac was sentenced to up to four and a half years for the sexual assault incident. He was immediately taken away to begin his sentence in New York's Rikers Island penitentiary. When asked by a reporter if he was guilty, he replied "hell nah, do I look guilty to you." Tupac's lawyer was outraged at the sentence length. He claimed that such offences are classed as third degree, and that Tupac should never have been given such a harsh sentence. Also mysteriously the charges on Tupac's gangster friends (who all played bigger roles in the incident), were dismissed.
April 1, 1995: Tupac’s third album "Me Against The World" debuted at No.1 on Billboard's pop chart. The album containing the incredible "Dear Mama," went double platinum in seven months. Some criticised the album for containing to many negative feelings. But who else could rap so amazingly about fear, remorse, and even their mother.
 | Mid April 1995: Tupac in a Vibe interview from jail, says "Thug Life" is dead; "If this is real then let somebody else represent it, because I'm tired of it. I represented it too much". He spoke strongly of his new album "Me Against The World" saying it may be he's last. Tupac also blamed Biggie Smalls, Puffy Combs, Andre Harrell, and his close friend Stretch, for the recording studio ambush. "Nobody approached me, nobody would look at me. Andre Harrell wouldn't look at me." In the same month, Billy Garland, Tupac's biological father, met Tupac after 15 years. This was Tupac’s first ever meeting with him. |
April 29 1995: Tupac married with his long-time girlfriend Keisha Morris. The ceremony took place in the New York Clinton Correctional facility.
August 1995: Biggie, Puffy, and Harrell told Vibe magazine that they had no connection to Tupac's shooting.
October 1995: Eleven months into his jail sentence, Tupac was bailed out by Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records at a cost of $1.4 million. Tupac immediately flew to L.A, and signed with Death Row Records. He was to join Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr.Dre and Tha Dogg Pound amongst others to complete Suge's collection. Tupac immediately began recording All Eyez On Me.
November 30, 1995: Suspiciously exactly one year after Tupac's shooting, Randy "Stretch" Walker was murdered.
 | February 1996:: In another Vibe interview, Tupac said he'd been sleeping with Biggie's wife, Faith Evans. Faith denied the stories. |
| February 13, 1996: Tupac's All Eyez On Me, raps first ever double album was released. This was Tupac's debut under Death Row Records. Perhaps the biggest track on this album is the classic "California Love" performed by Tupac and Dr.Dre. The superb track "2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted" by Tupac and Snoop Doggy Dogg is also on this album, amongst the many other excellent tracks. The album soon went platinum and presently has estimated sales figures of over 7 million. It also debuted at number 1 on Billboard charts. |  |
March 29, 1996: There was trouble after the Soul Train awards in Los Angeles between Death Row and Bad Boy employees. A gun was pulled after a heated argument between the two before the situation cooled down.
April 25, 1996:The immediately popular album All Eyez On Me went quintuple platinum, and continued to sell well.
May 1996: Tupac and Snoop Doggy Dogg's "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted." video was released. It contained images of Biggie and Puffy being punished for setting up Tupac.
June 4, 1996: The beef between Tupac and Biggie was escalated with Death Row's release of "Hit 'Em Up". The song by Tupac and The Outlawz was a huge diss on Biggie, Puffy, Mobb Deep, Lil' Kim, Bad Boy Records and others. The track even mimics the chorus of a Junior M.A.F.I.A. song, "Player's Anthem". Never before had Death Row or Tupac released a strong with such strong language and principles.
August 1996: Tupac whilst in Los Angeles completed his work on the movie Gang Related, playing the role of a corrupt cop. Death Row Records released the Gang Related soundtrack later on for the film. It contains tracks by most of the death row crew, including Tupac who appears on four tracks.
September 4, 1996: Tupac returned to New York for the MTV Music Video Awards.
September 7, 1996:Tupac and Suge had watched the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon fight at the MGM Grand Hotel. Whilst departing they encountered a crip street gang member named Orlando Anderson from Compton and a fight began.
 | After this 'Pac and Suge went to the Luxor where Tupac changed his clothes, then on to Suge's house, staying a while to party. On leaving they stopped on Flamingo and Koval lane, where a white cadillac drew up besides them. A gunman in the back seat opened fire on Tupac before the car sped away. |
September 11, 1996: Whilst sitting in his car, a Compton man was shot to death. He was believed to be associated with the L.A. crips, and was possibly involved in Tupac's shooting. This incident was the first in a series of Gang-related murders.
Friday, September 13 1996: At 4:03 p.m. Tupac was pronounced dead. He had been in a critical condition fighting for his life for six days . His body was unusually cremated, also taking place very soon after the death. This was unusual as Tupac was of the Muslim religion, who usually bury their dead opposed to cremation. Tupac died at the young age of 25. He feared and foresaw an early death for himself. As a result he left a poem, previously unreleased it was left to be read after his departure. It reads as follows;
When my heart can beat no more
I hope I die for a principle or a belief that I have lived for
I will die before my time because I already feel the shadow's depth
I have come to grips with the possibility and wiped the last tear from my eyes
I loved all who were positive in the event of my demise. - Tupac, 1992.
November 5, 1996: Under his new alias "Makaveli" another album was released. It is entitled "Makaveli, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" and was brought out by Death Row Records.
Afterwards: A large collection of Tupac's unreleased tracks were released in 1997 under Amaru Records. A company run by Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur. The double CD album is entitled "R U Still Down? (Remember Me)" There are still many Tupac tracks presently unreleased. Some of which can be found on various bootlegs, such as Makaveli 2 and 3. Any updates regarding Tupac will be included on my news page.
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