Major Controversies Surrounding Tupac Shakur: A Detailed Timeline
Public opinion and media debates around Tupac Shakur—discover key moments of controversy.
Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was a highly influential American rapper, actor, and poet. Considered one of the greatest rappers ever, he addressed social injustice, political issues, and marginalization of African-Americans in his lyrics, although he was also associated with gangsta rap. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold worldwide. Academics also recognize him as a significant political activist and music artist of the 20th century.
October 17, 1991: Shakur Stopped by Police and Files Lawsuit
On October 17, 1991, Shakur was stopped by Oakland Police Department officers for jaywalking, leading to a $10 million lawsuit for police brutality, which was later settled for about $43,000. The incident also marked the onset of his alopecia.
August 22, 1992: Incident at Marin City Festival
On August 22, 1992, at a festival in Marin City, Shakur allegedly dropped a legally carried Colt Mustang during a conflict after signing autographs.
April 5, 1993: Shakur Charged with Assault at Michigan State University
On April 5, 1993, Shakur was charged with felonious assault for allegedly attacking rapper Chauncey Wynn at a concert at Michigan State University.
October 31, 1993: Shakur Arrested for Shooting Police Officers in Atlanta
On October 31, 1993, Shakur was arrested in Atlanta for shooting two off-duty police officers, with conflicting accounts of the incident, including claims of self-defense and racial slurs.
November 1993: Charged with Sodomy and Firearm Possession
In November 1993, Tupac Shakur and two other men were charged in New York with sodomizing a woman in Shakur's hotel room. Shakur was also charged with illegal possession of a firearm as two guns were found in the hotel room.
1993: Replaced in "Menace II Society" After Assaulting Director
In 1993, Director Allen Hughes replaced Tupac Shakur as Sharif in the film Menace II Society once Shakur assaulted him on set due to a discrepancy with the script. The film was ultimately made without Shakur's involvement.
1993: Prior Conviction for Carrying Concealed Firearm
In 1993, Shakur had a prior conviction in Los Angeles for carrying a concealed firearm.
1993: Shakur Replaced in Menace II Society
In 1993, Shakur was replaced by actor Vonte Sweet in the film Menace II Society after allegedly assaulting director Allen Hughes.
1993: Police Raid and Confiscation of Videotape
In 1993, during a police raid of Tupac Shakur's room at New York City's Parker Meridian Hotel, a videotape was confiscated which showed Shakur having sex with his then-girlfriend Desiree Smith. This incident was part of the legal challenges he faced.
1993: Criticism of Quincy Jones' Interracial Marriage
In a 1993 interview published in The Source, Tupac Shakur criticized record producer Quincy Jones for his interracial marriage to actress Peggy Lipton. This led to a public response and subsequent apology.
September 14, 1994: Shakur Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Assault
On September 14, 1994, Shakur pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from the April 5, 1993 incident and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
November 1994: Shakur Accuses Combs, Henchman, and Notorious B.I.G. of Involvement in Shooting
In November 1994, Shakur accused Sean Combs, Jimmy Henchman, and the Notorious B.I.G. of setting up or being involved in the robbery and shooting at Quad Studios.
December 1, 1994: Conviction of Sexual Abuse
On December 1, 1994, Tupac Shakur was acquitted of three counts of sodomy and the associated gun charges, but convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced and his bail was set at $3 million.
1994: Shakur Arrested in Los Angeles for Firearm Possession
In 1994, Shakur was arrested in Los Angeles for possessing a semiautomatic pistol, a felony due to a prior conviction.
1994: Shakur Theorized Agnant Set Him Up
In 1994, after Shakur's sexual abuse conviction, he theorized that Jacques Agnant had set him up with the case, suspecting Agnant's connection to his accuser and James "Henchman" Rosemond, whom he blamed for the Quad Studios shooting.
1994: Ambush and Shooting Investigation
In 1994, an investigation into the ambush and shooting took place.
1994: Shakur Serves Jail Time for Assault
In early 1994, Shakur served 15 days in jail after being found guilty of assaulting Allen Hughes, the director of Menace II Society.
1995: East-West Coast Rivalry Escalates
In 1995, the East-West Coast rivalry in hip-hop escalated after the November 1994 shooting and Shakur accused rivals.
1995: Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Shakur
In 1995, the mother of Qa'id Walker-Teal, who was fatally shot in 1992, filed a wrongful death suit against Shakur, which was later settled for $300,000 to $500,000.
April 4, 1996: Shakur Sentenced to Jail for Release Violation
On April 4, 1996, Shakur was sentenced to 120 days in jail for violating his release terms and failing to appear for a road cleanup job, but was allowed to remain free awaiting appeal.
2002: Chuck Philips Reports Anderson as Shooter
In 2002, Chuck Philips reported that Anderson, attacked by Suge and Shakur's entourage, fired the fatal gunshots after the boxing match but police interviewed him briefly.
March 2008: Los Angeles Times Reports on 1994 Ambush and Shooting
In March 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported on the 1994 ambush and shooting, but the article was later retracted due to reliance on forged FBI documents.
June 2011: Dexter Isaac Confesses to Shooting Shakur
In June 2011, convicted murderer Dexter Isaac confessed to being one of the gunmen who robbed and shot Shakur in 1994 on Henchman's order.
2011: Sex Tape Sold to Private Collector
In 2011, a sex tape featuring Tupac Shakur receiving oral sex from a groupie while rapping and dancing along to one of his own unreleased songs was sold to a private collector. The video, filmed in 1993, also featured rapper Money B from Digital Underground.
2011: FBI Releases Documents on Extortion Scheme
In 2011, the FBI released documents describing an extortion scheme by the Jewish Defense League that included death threats against Shakur.
2022: Smith Insists She Was Not Underage
In 2022, Desiree Smith insisted she was neither underage nor intoxicated at the time of her tryst with Shakur in 1993. This clarification came years after the initial incident.
2023: Release of Sexually Explicit Poems in "Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography"
In 2023, sexually explicit poems Tupac wrote to Jada Pinkett Smith while in prison went public in the book "Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography."
