Tupac Shakur Received "California Love" on Birthday, Biography Part 1

Tupac Shakur received some serious "California Love" on his birthday. Classicalite has a brief bio of the slain rapper.

Tupac Shakur (who I once heard Lou Dobb's call "Two-Pack Shaker") would have been 42 years old, yesterday. Born June 16, 1971, Tupac was just 25 years old when he died.

Named after Tupac Amaru, the famous South American revolutionary, he was born in Harlem, New York. From his birth, Tupac was surrounded by murder.

His parents both belonged to a particularly radical faction of the Black Panthers. His godfather was, perhaps, among the worst, having been arrested for the murder of a school teacher. This verdict was later overturned, but many still feel he was responsible.

Luckily for Shakur, there was at least one healthy outlet. He was 12 when he first enrolled in Harlem's 127th Street Repertory Ensemble. It was here where he found his true calling--performing.

In high school, he continued his arts education. After attending public school for a number of years, he transferred to Baltimore School for the Arts, where he flourished.

In 1991, his music career officially took off. His first solo project, 2Pacalypse Now, generated a ton of buzz.

Music critics loved its underground vibe and politicians couldn't stop condemning the lyrics. Dan Quayle (who can't spell "potato" but can criticize free speech), issued the following statement about his freshman album:

"There's no reason for a record like this to be released. It has no place in our society."

Just one year later, Mr. Shakur killed a 6-year-old boy in Marin County, Calif.

After performing at a music festival, Shakur was attacked. Attendees were throwing rocks at him and his vehicle.

Mr. Shakur pulled out a legally registered pistol in an attempt to scare them.

In what was ruled an accidental shooting, Mr. Shakur dropped the pistol he was carrying. When his bodyguard picked it up, the gun fired.

The bullet traveled a few hundred feet and struck a young child in the head. The boy was riding his bike in a playground.

This concludes Part One of our bio. Check back, as we will be posting the next chapter of his life, soon.