(Photo Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
2Pac Shakur is one of the most iconic hip hop acts of all time. Born on June 16, 1971 the son of the late Afeni Shakur was the Rebel of the Underground. As one of the most complex and influential figures in hip hop history.
What made 2Pac special was his complexity as a human being and as an artist. He would make songs like “Dear Mama” “Changes” and “Brenda’s Got A Baby” while also creating songs that are controversial in nature such as “Hit Em Up,” “All About You,” “Hail Mary” and many more.
Suge Knight signed Pac and helped him get out of jail which began his Death Row Records run. He was the missing piece in a trio of future legends named Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg who called the label home. As soon as he touched the studio following his release, he record “Ambitionz Of A Ridah” and the rest is history. He endured a murder attempt and jail a more aggressive artist, but created a classic double album known as All Eyez On Me.
He has sold over 75 million records in his lifetime. Overall, he used his art in both music, acting, and poetry along with his Black Panthers background to one day hopefully help bring change to inner cities along with black and latinos across the nation.
On September 13, 1996 he was murdered in Las Vegas, Nevada following a Mike Tyson fight. His legacy as a free spirit, artist, activist has lived on and gotten even greater over the years.
Snoop Dogg stepped onto the stage at the Barclays Center to accept the award on behalf of 2Pac Shakur. He told some rare stories about their time together. Including a time in Africa days after Pac had been released from behind bars and signed with Death Row. They went parasailing with Suge Knight. He explained they were like “f*** it” after their recent issues with the law. Pac told Snoop that he wanted to make a movie and give him the lead role. He was murdered shortly after.
Snoop Dogg is inducting #2Pac into the #RockHall2017 right now! pic.twitter.com/UMQlSikUaG
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
“I’m here to remember PAC the way he wanted to be. A strong black man who stood up for his” – @SnoopDogg #RockHall2017
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
“I finally got to meet PAC in 1993 at a wrap party for Poetic Justice in LA. And that’s when he passed me my first blunt” #RockHall2017
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
“Snoop Dogg & 2Pac parasailing together with Suge Knight driving the boat” – @SnoopDogg #RockHall2017
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
“That’s the thing with Pac. When he loves he loves hard.” – @SnoopDogg #RockHall2017
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
“He’s hip hop history. He’s American history.” – @SnoopDogg #RockHall2017
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
“I love you 2Pac! Welcome to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! THUG life!” @SnoopDogg #RockHall2017
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) April 8, 2017
Alicia Keys began the performance with “Ambitionz of a Ridah” off of his classic album All Eyez On Me. After a small medley through some of his hits, YG came out to perform one of 2Pac’s biggest hits “2 Of Americaz Most Wanted” alongside Snoop Dogg. One of his best friends Treach also came out to pay homage before T.I. finished off the performance with “Dear Mama.”
2Pac, welcome to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
“My mama always used to tell me: ‘If you can’t find somethin’ to live for, you best find somethin’ to die for.’”
The 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will premiere on HBO on Saturday, April 29 at 8:00 p.m.
Watch Snoop remember Tupac, “the greatest rapper of all time”: pic.twitter.com/nlVUJVHGm0
— Maeve McDermott (@maeve_mcdermott) April 8, 2017
Look for highlights of his induction below.
