Today in History: Tupac Shakur died 19 years ago today
It's hard to believe that it has been 19 years that famed rapper, Tupac Amaru Shakur, passed away after being fatally shot in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On the evening of September 13, 1996,Tupac stopped at a red light with rapper Suge Knight driving the car. Tupac stood through the sunroof to talk to people in the next lane when a white, four-door, late-model Cadillac pulled up to the sedan's right side, rolled down a window, and rapidly fired gunshots at Tupac.
Tupac was later brought to the hospital where he was declared dead after his body started hemorrhaging blood and doctors were unable to stop the internal bleeding. The official cause of death was noted as respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest in connection with multiple gunshot wounds.
At just 25-years-old, Tupac was at the height of his hip-hop career. He had sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the most successful musicians of all-time. With hit songs like "California Love," I Get Around," "Hail Mary," and "Dear Mama," Tupac was clearly more than a rapper, he was a superstar. He was also the first artist to hit #1 on the Billboard 200 with "Me Against the World," while serving a prison sentence.
Not only was Tupac a musician, but he was an all around artist having written poetry books like "The Rose That Grew From Concrete," and also starred in movies like "Above the Rim," and "Juice."
After starting his entertainment career as backup dancer for The Digital Underground, Tupac was ready to take the world by storm, and that he did. While it is safe to say Tupac was one of the most controversial rappers of his time, he is also one of the greatest rappers to ever live.
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