Tupac Amaru Shakur, born Lesane Parish Crooks on June 16, 1971, and known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an influential American rapper, considered one of the greatest in the genre. With over 75 million records sold worldwide, Shakur's music often addressed social issues. Born in New York City to Black Panther activists, he moved to Baltimore and then to the San Francisco Bay Area. His debut album, "2Pacalypse Now" (1991), marked his rise in West Coast hip hop. He gained further success with albums like "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..." (1993) and "Me Against the World" (1995). His 1996 album, "All Eyez on Me," was the first double-length album in hip-hop history.

Shakur also acted in films like "Juice" and "Poetic Justice." His career later was marred by legal troubles and involvement in the East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry. Shakur was fatally shot in a 1996 drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and died six days later. His posthumous "Greatest Hits" (1998) and "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" (1996) were highly acclaimed, with several more Platinum-certified albums released after his death. Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2023, he received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.