Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996) was a highly influential, best-selling American hip hop artist, considered by many to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. His aliases included 2Pac aka Makaveli. Among his fans especially, he is remembered simply as "Tupac". The names "Tupac Amaru" and "Shakur" mean Shining Serpent or Royal Serpent in Quechua and Thankful (to God) in Arabic, respectively. The name "Tupac Amaru" comes from Túpac Amaru II, grandson of the last Sapa Inca (Túpac Amaru).

Rivalries

During his life, Shakur had a number of rivals. Most famous of all is probably his rivalry with The Notorious B.I.G. and his cohorts at Bad Boy Records. The two were originally close friends when Biggie was still largely unknown. After the robbery, though, Shakur publicly accused Biggie, Puff Daddy, and Andre Harrell of having previously known that his attempted murder would take place. While Shakur was in jail, he was incensed by Biggie and Puffy's derogatory remarks about him in Vibe Magazine. After all his legal troubles, he claimed he "wanted to get out the game", but Biggie's remarks spurred him to come back.

Related Topics:
The Notorious B.I.G. - Bad Boy Records - Puff Daddy

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As part of the ongoing feud between Shakur and his former friend Biggie, Shakur bragged about having slept with Biggie's estranged wife, Faith Evans, in "Hit 'Em Up", although Faith Evans denied the affair. Suge Knight vocalized the resentment between the Death Row and Bad Boy labels at an awards ceremony, saying "If anyone wants to come to a record company where they don't want the executive producer dancing, singing all up in the videos come to Death Row."

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In addition to his enemies at Bad Boy Records, Shakur accused his former friend Stretch (real name Randy Walker who was present at the shooting) of having "switched-sides" to the Bad Boy camp. On November 30, 1995, exactly one year after the shooting of Shakur in New York, Walker was gunned down in Queens, New York.

Related Topics:
Bad Boy Records - Randy Walker - November 30 - 1995 - Queens, New York

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Shakur also had some disputes with Dr. Dre, who was the in-house producer for Death Row. He claimed that Dre did nothing at Death Row and was taking credit for other people's work. Shakur got angry when Dre refused to show up and testify in defense of his friend, Snoop Doggy Dogg, in a murder trial. In addition, Shakur made hints in songs that he thought Dre was a homosexual, and Suge Knight concurred in the ' documentary.

Related Topics:
Snoop Doggy Dogg - Homosexual

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There was also some animosity between Tupac and others. Nas (who is said to have met up with Shakur and ended the animosity just three days before his fatal shooting in Las Vegas) and Jay-Z were both attacked in the album. Shakur also mocked Mobb Deep for snubbing him at a concert and commented on the illness that one member suffered from in the controversial track When We Ride On Our Enemies, remarking, "Don't one of you niggas got sickle cell or something?". After Shakur's death, Mobb Deep changed tack and apparently showed respect for him.

Related Topics:
Mobb Deep - Sickle cell

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While filming Poetic Justice with Janet Jackson, he created quite a stir when he refused to take an AIDS test as a prerequisite for a love scene with Jackson. Shakur stated that other men had love scenes with Jackson on stage before without taking a test, and he didn't feel it necessary. He also stated that if they were going to have sex in the scene he would have taken the test. It is unknown whether she took offence but she stopped talking to him immediately after the filming was completed. In a later interview, Shakur said that he had met Jackson during an immature time of his life, and hoped that he could one day make amends with her.

Related Topics:
Janet Jackson - AIDS

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Shakur also frequently insulted popular New York underground rapper Chino XL, Lil Kim, Junior Mafia and other artists of Bad Boy Records, of which the Notorious B.I.G. was member.

Related Topics:
New York - Chino XL - Lil Kim - Junior Mafia - Notorious B.I.G.

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