Easily the most controversial and influential figure in rap history, 2 Pac was born Tupac Amaru Shakur on June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were the members of radical political faction Black Panther and had divorced before he was born. 2 Pac moved to Oakland, California at the age of 17, when he began his hip-hop journey. He had already shown a talent for rapping and acting, and impressed Shock G, who eventually asked 2 Pac to join his group Digital Underground as a dancer and rapper.

2 Pac released a solo debut, '2Pacalyse Now', in 1991. Thanks to Digital Underground's backup, the album became a smash to sell 40,000 copies and spawned a hit single, 'Brenda's Got A Baby', which hit No.23 on the R&B chart. He also branched out into the world of acting with the role in the Ernest Dickerson film, 'Juice', which led to his appearances on such films as 'Poetic Justice', 'Higher Learning', 'Bullet' and 'Gridlock'd'.

In 1993, 2 Pac released his follow-up, 'Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z'. The album went platinum and produced two Top 10 hits 'I Get Around' and 'Keep Ya Head Up'. By this time he was involved in a series of fights and shot five times in the lobby of a N.Y. recording studio in 1994, where Notorious B.I.G. and Sean "Puffy" Combs were at present and ignoring him, for which 2 Pac later accused them of plotting the murder. It resulted in the east coast/west coast feud in hip-hop industry; however, the more troubled his personal life was, the greater his commercial success and acclaim as an artist.

2 Pac went on to form his family unit Thug Life with his elder brother in 1994, and its tracks as well as his solo songs were featured on the soundtrack to first starring film, 'Above The Rim'. In the following year, however, he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually abusing a female fan, when his third solo album, 'Me Against The Music' was released. With the chart success of lead single, 'Dear Mama', the album became double platinum. Ironically, he heard the news behind bars.

Death Row Records president Marion "Suge" Knight was impressed enough with 2 Pac's talent that he posted a $1.4 million for the rapper. Knight signed 2 Pac with his label and produced double album, 'All Eyez On Me', which came out in late 1996. Featuring guest appearances by Dr. Dre, Roger and K-ci & Jojo, the album debuted at top of the US chart. It dominated the charts and eventually sold over seven million copies on the strength of the signature hits 'California Love' and 'How Do U Want It'.

The news came as a shock on September 7th, 1996, at the height of his career. 2 Pac was shot four times by unidentified killers while riding in the passenger seat of Knight's car. The gangster-style drive-by shooting occurred after the rapper watched Mike Tyson's match in Las Vegas. After six days in intensive care, 2 Pac died on Friday the 13th. He was 25.

His influence in rap music is still strong that the catalog of his posthumous albums now continues to grow. Among the list are such compilations of his previously unreleased material, 'R U Still Down? (Remember Me?)', 'Lost Tapes', 'Until The End Of Time' and double-disc 'Better Dayz'. In 2003, the documentary film of the late rapper, 'Resurrection' opened in theaters across the US. The soundtrack to the film featured four unreleased tracks. Other posthumous albums include his side project Outlawz's 'Still I Rise' and his Japanese exclusive greatest hits, 'More+ Best Works On Death Row'.

2 Pac was truly an innovator. His legacy lives on in the hearts of hip-hop fans worldwide.