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The best-selling rapper of all time, 2Pac Shakur's life was tragically and famously cut short in the prime of his career. Though he ended up with Death Row Records on the West Coast side of the battle, Shakur had his own unique rap style, separate from the West's party g-funk thang or the East's grittier gangsta beats. Shakur was always special?a poet, author, actor and all around entertainer as well as a rapper. The son of radical Black Panthers, Shakur grew up all over the country. Born in New York's Spanish Harlem, he moved to Maryland, then settled in Marin City, California. Shakur consistently excelled in school arts programs, landing lead rolls in plays and making friends with his rap skills and sense of humor. 2Pac went on to release his debut disc, 2Pacalypse Now. It was well received by fans but courted critical controversy with violent lyrics, usually directed at policemen. Racism and social problems would be a constant theme in 2Pac's lyrics. His second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. did better commercially, yielding the singles Keep Ya Head Up and I Get Around and eventually hit platinum. But just when it seemed his career was poised to take off, Shakur became embroiled in a messy, and ultimately life-changing sexual abuse trial. While awaiting the verdict, he was shot in the lobby of Quad Recording Studios in New York. He survived, but was immediately suspicious that East Coast rappers P.Diddy and Notorious B.I.G. had been aware of, if not co-conspirators in the shooting. 2Pac got a year and a half for sexual assault and was bailed out by Death Row's "Suge" Knight. After serving half his sentence, Shakur was obligated to release three albums for Death Row. He dropped the double-disc All Eyez On Me in 1996. Fans could instantly detect the Death Row influence as it still had his trademark, socially-conscious lyrics but the g-funk party vibe was apparent too.The album went 9X platinum. In September, 1996, 2Pac Shakur was shot to death in Las Vegas after attending a boxing match.

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