Career Timeline of Tupac Shakur: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Tupac Shakur made an impact.
Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was a highly influential American rapper and actor. Considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was also a prominent political activist for Black America and a best-selling music artist with over 75 million records sold. Beyond music, Shakur wrote poetry and acted in films. His lyrics addressed social injustice, political issues, and the marginalization of African-Americans, though he was also associated with gangsta rap and violent content.
1988: Early work with Strictly Dope
From 1988, Dright and Digital Underground produced Tupac Shakur's earliest work with Strictly Dope.
1988: Began recording as MC New York and attended poetry classes
In 1988, Tupac Shakur began recording under the stage name MC New York and started attending poetry classes with Leila Steinberg, who became his manager.
1989: Early work with Strictly Dope
From 1989, Dright and Digital Underground produced Tupac Shakur's earliest work with Strictly Dope.
1990: Joined Digital Underground as a roadie and backup dancer
In 1990, Tupac Shakur was placed with Digital Underground as a roadie and backup dancer by Atron Gregory, marking the start of his professional music career.
January 1991: Debut on Digital Underground with "Same Song"
In January 1991, Tupac Shakur debuted under the stage name 2Pac on Digital Underground with the single "Same Song" from the movie "Nothing but Trouble".
November 1991: Release of 2Pacalypse Now
In November 1991, Tupac Shakur released his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, which was influenced by the film Apocalypse Now and cited as an inspiration by prominent rappers.
1991: Production of Shakur's earliest work
From 1991, Dright and Digital Underground produced Tupac Shakur's earliest work with Strictly Dope.
1991: Collaboration with Stretch
In 1991, Tupac Shakur became acquainted with Randy "Stretch" Walker through Digital Underground and began recording and performing with him.
1991: First Film Appearance in "Nothing but Trouble"
In 1991, Tupac Shakur made his first film appearance in "Nothing but Trouble", a cameo by Digital Underground.
1991: Release of 2Pacalypse Now
In 1991, Tupac Shakur released his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, becoming a central figure in West Coast hip-hop.
1992: Cameo in Naughty by Nature's Music Video
In 1992, Tupac Shakur made a cameo in Naughty by Nature's music video "Uptown Anthem".
1992: Starring Role in "Juice"
In 1992, Tupac Shakur starred in "Juice", playing the character Roland Bishop.
February 1993: Release of Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
In February 1993, Tupac Shakur released his second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., which was a critical and commercial success.
1993: Release of Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
In 1993, Tupac Shakur achieved multi-platinum success with his follow-up album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
1993: Friendship with Jada Pinkett and Career Assistance
In 1993, Tupac Shakur helped Jada Pinkett land her first movie role in "Menace II Society," and in return, Pinkett secured Shakur a guest-starring role on the sitcom "A Different World."
1993: Meeting and friendship with the Notorious B.I.G.
In 1993, Tupac Shakur met The Notorious B.I.G. through a drug dealer in Los Angeles, and they quickly became friends, collaborating on stage and in the studio.
1993: Role in "Poetic Justice"
In 1993, Tupac Shakur played the character "Lucky" in the film "Poetic Justice" alongside Janet Jackson. Poet and activist Maya Angelou wrote the poems used in the film.
1993: Shakur Replaced in Menace II Society After Alleged Assault
In 1993, Tupac Shakur was slated to star in the Hughes Brothers' film Menace II Society but was replaced by Vonte Sweet after allegedly assaulting one of the film's directors, Allen Hughes.
1993: Formation of Thug Life
In late 1993, Tupac Shakur formed the group Thug Life with Big Syke, Macadoshis, Mopreme Shakur, and Rated R.
October 11, 1994: Release of Thug Life, Volume I
On October 11, 1994, Thug Life released its only album, Thug Life, Volume I, which was certified Gold.
1994: Role in "Above the Rim"
In 1994, Tupac Shakur played a gangster named Birdie in the film "Above the Rim."
1994: Shakur Serves Jail Time for Assaulting Allen Hughes
In early 1994, Tupac Shakur served 15 days in jail after being found guilty of assaulting Allen Hughes, one of the directors of the film Menace II Society.
February 1995: Release of "Dear Mama"
In February 1995, Tupac Shakur released "Dear Mama" with "Old School" as the B-side. "Dear Mama" became the album's most successful single, topping the Hot Rap Singles chart and peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
March 1995: Release of "Me Against the World" Album
In March 1995, while Tupac Shakur was incarcerated, his third album, "Me Against the World", was released. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 240,000 copies in its first week, setting a record for first-week sales by a solo male rapper at the time.
June 1995: Release of "So Many Tears"
In June 1995, Tupac Shakur released "So Many Tears", which reached No. 6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and No. 44 on the Hot 100.
August 1995: Release of "Temptations"
In August 1995, Tupac Shakur released "Temptations". It reached No. 68 on the Hot 100, No. 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and No. 13 on the Hot Rap Singles. Several celebrities appeared in the music video.
1995: Release of Me Against the World
In 1995, Tupac Shakur released "Me Against the World", which led to further commercial success.
1995: Vocal layering technique in "Dear Mama"
In 1995, Tupac Shakur used a vocal layering technique, particularly in tracks like "Dear Mama" from his album "Me Against the World," which added depth and rawness to his voice by overlaying multiple vocal lines to emphasize rhythms and phrases.
1995: Release from prison pending appeal
In 1995, Tupac Shakur was released from prison pending an appeal of his sexual abuse conviction. Following his release, he signed to Death Row Records.
February 13, 1996: Release of "All Eyez on Me"
On February 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur's fourth album, "All Eyez on Me", was released. The album, which was rap's first double album, had five singles and shifted away from his previous political messages.
July 4, 1996: Final recorded live performance
On July 4, 1996, Tupac Shakur had his final recorded live performance at the House of Blues.
1996: Release of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
In 1996, Shakur's critically acclaimed posthumous album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, was released under his stage name Makaveli.
1996: Release of All Eyez on Me album
In 1996, Tupac Shakur released "All Eyez on Me", solidifying his reputation with tracks like "Ambitionz az a Ridah", "I Ain't Mad at Cha", "California Love", "Life Goes On", and "Picture Me Rollin'" being hailed as classics. Shakur described the album as a celebration of life.
1996: Recording and Release of "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory"
In 1996, Tupac Shakur's fifth solo album, "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" (as Makaveli) was recorded during the summer and released that year. The lyrics were written and recorded in three days, and mixing took another four days.
1997: Shakur Family Foundation founded
In 1997, Tupac Shakur's mother founded the Shakur Family Foundation, later renamed the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF), to provide training and support for students aspiring to enhance their creative talents.
1997: Starring roles in Gridlock'd and Gang Related
In 1997, after his death, Tupac Shakur starred in Gridlock'd and Gang Related.
2000: Rediscovery of the lost tapes
In 2000, Shakur's recordings with Strictly Dope were rediscovered and released as "The Lost Tapes: Circa 1989".
2000: Greatest Hits leaves Billboard 200
In 2000, Tupac's "Greatest Hits" album left the Billboard 200 pop albums chart.
June 2001: Settlement and rerelease of the lost tapes album
In June 2001, Afeni Shakur settled a lawsuit regarding the sale of Tupac's earliest recordings, which were then rereleased as "Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988-1991".
2004: Sales of Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
As of 2004, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... was 10th in sales among Tupac Shakur's albums, including posthumous and compilation albums, at about 1,366,000 copies.
June 2005: Opening of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts
In June 2005, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF) opened the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts (TASCA) in Stone Mountain, Georgia, aimed at providing arts and educational programs. The center closed in 2015.
2005: Release of Tupac: Live at the House of Blues DVD
In 2005, Death Row released "Tupac: Live at the House of Blues" on DVD, featuring his final recorded live performance.
April 15, 2012: Coachella performance with Tupac hologram
On April 15, 2012, at the Coachella Music Festival, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performed with a Tupac Shakur "hologram" (actually a projection), creating a virtual trio that performed songs like "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted".
2014: BET explains Tupac's influence
In 2014, BET explained how Tupac Shakur's blend of "ladies' man, thug, revolutionary and poet" altered the perception of a rapper and influenced artists like 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Lil Wayne and B.I.G. Murals and statues were erected in his honor worldwide.
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