Early Life and Education of Tupac Shakur: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Tupac Shakur. From birth to education, explore key events.

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.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

January 10, 1947: Birth of Afeni Shakur

On January 10, 1947, Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, was born as Alice Faye Williams in North Carolina. She was a member of the Black Panther Party.

March 14, 1949: Birth of William "Billy" Garland

On March 14, 1949, William "Billy" Garland, Tupac's biological father, was born. He was also a member of the Black Panther Party.

November 1968: Marriage of Afeni Shakur to Lumumba Shakur

In November 1968, Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, married Lumumba Shakur, a Sunni Muslim, who later turned out not to be Tupac's biological father.

1968: Wrongful Conviction of Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt

In 1968, Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, Tupac Shakur's godfather, was wrongly convicted of murdering a schoolteacher during a robbery, leading to his imprisonment.

June 16, 1971: Tupac Shakur's Birth

On June 16, 1971, Lesane Parish Crooks, later known as Tupac Amaru Shakur, was born in New York City. He became one of the most influential rappers of all time.

1971: Tupac Shakur's Birth Year

Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in 1971.

1977: Conviction of Assata Shakur

In 1977, Assata Shakur, Tupac's godmother, was convicted of the first-degree murder of a New Jersey State Trooper.

1979: Escape of Assata Shakur from prison

In 1979, Assata Shakur, Tupac's godmother, escaped from prison after being convicted of the first-degree murder of a New Jersey State Trooper.

1979: Release of Apocalypse Now

In 1979, the film Apocalypse Now was released, which later served as an allusion for Tupac's debut album, 2Pacalypse Now.

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1981: Brinks armored truck robbery

In 1981, Mutulu Shakur was involved in a robbery of a Brinks armored truck, during which police officers and a guard were killed.

1984: Relocation to Baltimore

In 1984, Tupac Shakur relocated with his family to Baltimore, Maryland, marking a new chapter in his upbringing.

1986: Apprehension of Mutulu Shakur

In 1986, Mutulu Shakur, Tupac's stepfather, who had been one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives for four years, was apprehended.

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.

1988: Move to Marin City, California

In 1988, Tupac Shakur moved to Marin City, California, an impoverished community in the San Francisco Bay Area, and attended Tamalpais High School.

1988: Relocation to San Francisco Bay Area

In 1988, Tupac Shakur moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, further shaping his environment and future career.

March 1995: Shakur Transferred to Clinton Correctional Facility

In March 1995, Tupac Shakur was transferred to Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. While imprisoned, he began reading works like The Prince and The Art of War, sparking his interest in philosophy, philosophy of war, and military strategy. On April 29, 1995, Shakur married his girlfriend Keisha Morris; the marriage was later annulled.

The Prince | Niccolò Machiavelli

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October 1995: Suge Knight Posts Bail for Shakur

In October 1995, Suge Knight visited Tupac Shakur in prison and posted $1.4 million bond, leading to Shakur's release. Shakur then returned to Los Angeles and joined Death Row Records.

October 1995: Shakur Bonded Out of Prison

In October 1995, while his judicial appeal was pending, Tupac Shakur was incarcerated in New York. On October 12, Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, arranged for the posting of his $1.4 million bond, and Shakur was released from the maximum security Dannemora Clinton Correctional Facility.

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.

September 7, 1996: Shooting in Las Vegas

On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Paradise, Nevada, leading to his death six days later.

September 13, 1996: Tupac Shakur's Death

On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur died after being shot on September 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. His death marked a significant loss to the hip-hop community.

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.

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1997: UC Berkeley course on Tupac Shakur

In 1997, the University of California, Berkeley, offered a course titled "History 98: Poetry and History of Tupac Shakur", exploring his life and works from an academic perspective.

April 2003: Harvard symposium on Tupac Shakur

In April 2003, Harvard University cosponsored the symposium "All Eyez on Me: Tupac Shakur and the Search for the Modern Folk Hero", analyzing Shakur's influence as both an artist and an activist.

2012: University of Oslo course on Tupac

In 2012, the Norwegian University of Oslo organized the course: "Tupac, hiphop og kulturhistorie (Tupac, hip-hop and cultural history)", highlighting his influence on culture.

2013: Assata Shakur Added to FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List

In 2013, Assata Shakur, Tupac's godmother, was added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list after escaping prison in 1979.

May 2, 2016: Death of Afeni Shakur

On May 2, 2016, Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, passed away. She had been an influential figure in his life and a former member of the Black Panther Party.