Tupac Amaru Shakur was an American rapper, know most for his songs about urban struggles in in life. Tupac was born in East Harlem, New York City on June 16, 1971, and was the child of Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland. On Tupac’s birth certificate his name is Lesane Parish Crooks, but his mother says she entered that name because she was afraid of her enemies attacking Tupac. But she officially changed his name to Tupac Shakur after she separated from Billy Garland. At a young age Tupac life was a struggle and had lots of violence, his godfather who was a black panthers was convicted of murder. His stepfather Mutulu Shakur was on the FBI’s most wanted list for four years for helping his sister escape from jail. Mutulu was caught in 1986 and went to jail for robbing an armored brinks truck. When Tupac was 12 years old he went to the school 127th Street Repertory Ensemble and was a character in the play a raisin in the sun, which was performed at the Apollo Theater. In 1986 Tupac relocated to Baltimore, Maryland while there he went to the Baltimore school of arts while there he studied poetry, acting, jazz, and ballet. Tupac would participate in rap battles and his friend Dana Smith would beat box, Tupac was known as the best rapper in his school. Tupac developed a close friendship with Jada Pinkett that lasted until his death in 1996, he actually wrote a poem dedicated to her called “The Tear In Cupids Eye”. In 1990 Tupac was a backup dancer for Digital Underground, Tupac’s professional rap career began when he featured on Digital Undergrounds song titled “Same Song”. After he was featured on their next album and he released his first solo album titled “2Pacalypse Now” the album didn’t do well on the charts. Later he made a second album called “Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z”, it was considered his break out album and it topped at number 24 on the billboard chart. After his breakout to the mainstream he released his third album while in jail title “Me Against The World”, and became the first rapper ever to have an album at number one while serving a jail sentence. While serving his jail sentence he married his girlfriend Keisha Morris on April 4th, 1995, but they divorced a year later. Tupac was released from jail on a 1.4 million dollar bail by Suge Knights in exchange to release three albums on his record label Death Row. He released his first single after being released titled “California Love” it featured Dr.Dre, and he released his fourth album titled “All Eyez On Me” on February 14th, 1996. While in jail Tupac wrote a whole album in 3 days and it took 4 days to produce and record the album the album was titled The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. On July 4, 1996, Tupac performed live at the House of Blues with Outlawz, Tha Dogg Pound, and Snoop Doggy Dogg, this was Tupac’s last performance. On the night of September 7th, 1996, Tupac attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. While exiting Tupac spotted a Crip and him and his entourage began to assault him the fight was captured on a video surveillance camera. After him and Suge Knight went to a Death Row owned club called 662. He rode in Suge Knights Black BMW 750iL Sedan, at 11:15 p.m. a white Cadillac pulled up on the side of their car and shot at their vehicle. Tupac was shot 4 times bullets hit him in the chest, pelvis, right hand and thigh. Tupac was rushed to a hospital, while he was there he struggled to stay conscious. He went through many surgeries including the removal of his right lung, the doctors said he had a 50% chance of pulling through. But while in the critical care unit he died of internal bleeding, doctors tried to revive him but his Mother Afeni Shakur told the doctors to stop he was pronounced dead at 4:03 P.M. Tupac’s Body was cremated and some of the ashes were mixed and smoked with marijuana. His Album “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” was released after his death and were his very last songs recorded.
This is a poem by Tupac Shakur titled And 2Morrow
Today is filled with anger fueled with hidden hate scared of being outcast afraid of common fate Today is built on tragedies which no one wants 2 face nightmares 2 humanities and morally disgraced Tonight is filled with rage violence in the air children bred with ruthlessness because no one at home cares Tonight I lay my head down but the pressure never stops knawing at my sanity content when I am dropped But 2morrow I c change a chance 2 build a new Built on spirit intent of Heart and ideals based on truth and tomorrow I wake with second wind and strong because of pride 2 know I fought with all my heart 2 keep my Dream alive
During this unit we learned how to read and write poetry, then we had to create a page about our favorite poet. My Favorite Poet The reason why I like Tupac Shakur's poems is because they can be motivational, and they are very emotional and i can imagine him speaking them. He used figures of speech in most of his poems and he used them in his music too. Tupac Shakur is the best lyricist that i have heard, he can relate to lots of people and how they feel and he clearly expresses it in his music.
At a young age Tupac life was a struggle and had lots of violence, his godfather who was a black panthers was convicted of murder. His stepfather Mutulu Shakur was on the FBI’s most wanted list for four years for helping his sister escape from jail. Mutulu was caught in 1986 and went to jail for robbing an armored brinks truck. When Tupac was 12 years old he went to the school 127th Street Repertory Ensemble and was a character in the play a raisin in the sun, which was performed at the Apollo Theater.
In 1986 Tupac relocated to Baltimore, Maryland while there he went to the Baltimore school of arts while there he studied poetry, acting, jazz, and ballet. Tupac would participate in rap battles and his friend Dana Smith would beat box, Tupac was known as the best rapper in his school. Tupac developed a close friendship with Jada Pinkett that lasted until his death in 1996, he actually wrote a poem dedicated to her called “The Tear In Cupids Eye”. In 1990 Tupac was a backup dancer for Digital Underground, Tupac’s professional rap career began when he featured on Digital Undergrounds song titled “Same Song”. After he was featured on their next album and he released his first solo album titled “2Pacalypse Now” the album didn’t do well on the charts. Later he made a second album called “Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z”, it was considered his break out album and it topped at number 24 on the billboard chart.
After his breakout to the mainstream he released his third album while in jail title “Me Against The World”, and became the first rapper ever to have an album at number one while serving a jail sentence. While serving his jail sentence he married his girlfriend Keisha Morris on April 4th, 1995, but they divorced a year later. Tupac was released from jail on a 1.4 million dollar bail by Suge Knights in exchange to release three albums on his record label Death Row.
He released his first single after being released titled “California Love” it featured Dr.Dre, and he released his fourth album titled “All Eyez On Me” on February 14th, 1996. While in jail Tupac wrote a whole album in 3 days and it took 4 days to produce and record the album the album was titled The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. On July 4, 1996, Tupac performed live at the House of Blues with Outlawz, Tha Dogg Pound, and Snoop Doggy Dogg, this was Tupac’s last performance.
On the night of September 7th, 1996, Tupac attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. While exiting Tupac spotted a Crip and him and his entourage began to assault him the fight was captured on a video surveillance camera. After him and Suge Knight went to a Death Row owned club called 662. He rode in Suge Knights Black BMW 750iL Sedan, at 11:15 p.m. a white Cadillac pulled up on the side of their car and shot at their vehicle. Tupac was shot 4 times bullets hit him in the chest, pelvis, right hand and thigh.
Tupac was rushed to a hospital, while he was there he struggled to stay conscious. He went through many surgeries including the removal of his right lung, the doctors said he had a 50% chance of pulling through. But while in the critical care unit he died of internal bleeding, doctors tried to revive him but his Mother Afeni Shakur told the doctors to stop he was pronounced dead at 4:03 P.M. Tupac’s Body was cremated and some of the ashes were mixed and smoked with marijuana. His Album “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” was released after his death and were his very last songs recorded.
This is a poem by Tupac Shakur titled And 2Morrow
Today is filled with anger
fueled with hidden hate
scared of being outcast
afraid of common fate
Today is built on tragedies
which no one wants 2 face
nightmares 2 humanities
and morally disgraced
Tonight is filled with rage
violence in the air
children bred with ruthlessness
because no one at home cares
Tonight I lay my head down
but the pressure never stops
knawing at my sanity
content when I am dropped
But 2morrow I c change
a chance 2 build a new
Built on spirit intent of Heart
and ideals
based on truth
and tomorrow I wake with second wind
and strong because of pride
2 know I fought with all my heart 2 keep my
Dream alive
During this unit we learned how to read and write poetry, then we had to create a page about our favorite poet.
My Favorite Poet
The reason why I like Tupac Shakur's poems is because they can be motivational, and they are very emotional and i can imagine him speaking them. He used figures of speech in most of his poems and he used them in his music too. Tupac Shakur is the best lyricist that i have heard, he can relate to lots of people and how they feel and he clearly expresses it in his music.