Deaths are usually taken hard in this world, especially when a person dies young (“Tupac Shakur Biography”). Tupac Shakur was a hip hop legend whose lyrics were very explicit and controversial (1). He sold over 75 million albums worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artist in the world (1). He was also involved in the East coast-West coast hip hop rappers rivalry (1). Twenty years later, his murder remained unsolved and many conspiracy theories started to form:
1. Were Orlando Anderson, the Crips, and Biggie Smalls are responsible for the murder (“The Mysterious Death of Tupac Shakur”)?
2. Did Suge Knight plan the murder, including getting Tupac to Las Vegas that evening (1)?
3. Was Sean Combs, CEO of the East Coast record label Bad Boy Records, responsible for Tupac’s death (1)?
4. Did Tupac actually fake his own death (1)?
Let’s examine these theories on the mystery of Tupac Shakur’s death.
Tupac Shakur was born to parents Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland, members of the Black Panther Party (“Tupac Shakur Bio”). He spent most of his childhood traveling with his mother and attending performing arts schools until he dropped out at the age of 17 (1). Shakur stood out like a candle among darkness in the rap game because of his “poetic styled lyrics and ‘gangster’ like personality (“Tupac Shakur's ‘Changes’ Analysis”).” That explains why he was always hated by other gang members in the music industry.
Stated in an interview by MTV, when asked “what are you most known for,” Tupac uses emphasis and says with a laugh “My big mouth.” (“Tupac Shakur In His Own Words’ MTV News 1997,”) He begins to say:
“I got a big mouth, I can’t help it, I talk from my heart. I’m real. You know what I’m saying? Whatever comes, comes. But my controversy probably but it’s not my fault, I’m trying to find my way in the world. I’m trying to be somebody instead of make money off of everybody. So I go down a path that haven’t been traveled before and I usually mess up but I learn. You know what I’m saying? I come back stronger, I’m not talking ignorant. You know what I’m saying? So obviously I put thought into what I do. Um, so I think my mouth and my controversy (3).”
Although Tupac is known for his “thug-like” music, once you take the time out to actually get to understand why he is the he is, you’ll realize how much of a heart he actually has.
In the murder case of Tupac Shakur, many conspiracy theories began to come to light. One theory suggests that Orlando Anderson, the Crips, and Biggie Smalls murdered him. Other theories state that Suge Knight or Sean Combs murdered him. However, one theory states that he’s still alive.
Tupac Shakur attended a Mike Tyson boxing event on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand with the CEO of Death Row Records, Suge Knight, which was his label company at the time (“The Mysterious Death of Tupac Shakur”). Afterwards as they began to head out, a fight broke out between Tupac, his bodyguard, and Orlando Anderson, a member of the Compton-based Southside Crips (1). Shakur then left with Suge Knight once the fight broke up (1). They went to Knight’s house and were supposed to attend Club 662, but plans took a turn and they never arrived (1). As they were stopped at a traffic light, a white Cadillac pulled up beside them and began shooting (1). Las Vegas Police Department never arrested anyone, and the case is still currently unsolved (1).
The first theory proposes that Orlando Anderson, the Crips, and Biggie Smalls were responsible for the murder. This theory comes from Chuck Philips, a former L.A. Times journalist (“The Mysterious Death of Tupac Shakur”). He developed three conclusions as he did research. The first conclusion states that members of the Southside Crips were in charge of the shooting as revenge for his fight with Orlando Anderson (1). The second conclusion states that Orlando Anderson was the shooter and the third one states that Biggie Smalls provided the gun and paid the Crips $1 million to kill Tupac (1). You’re probably wondering why Biggie would want Tupac dead? The beef between Biggie and Tupac was Biggie represented the East Coast and Tupac represented the West (1). They even made diss tracks about each other, which Tupac claimed to have slept with Biggie’s wife in “Hit ‘Em Up” (1). Although that was one of the conclusions, Biggie and his crew were never questioned (1). But, what about Orlando Anderson? Well, it turns out he denied the responsibility of Tupac’s murder and was actually shot to death in May of 1998 (1).
The second theory states the Suge Knight planned the murder, including getting Tupac to Las Vegas that evening. This theory comes from Russell Poole, a former LAPD detective (“The Mysterious Death of Tupac Shakur”). You’re probably wondering why Suge, who was his manager, wanted to kill Tupac. Turns out that he owed Tupac possibly up to $3 million (1). Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, actually sued Death Row Records back in 1997 for not properly handling his money (1). Tupac was supposedly leaving Death Row after he had fired the lawyer he shared with Suge (1). After the lawyer was fired, Suge invited him to the event (1). Poole stated that Suge made a phone call that night after the fight instead of actually leaving, and even got Tupac to ride in his car (1). Orlando Anderson actually gave mixed signals involving the fight (1). He started by saying Suge participated then he said Suge actually tried to stop it. Most think Suge paid him to not tell (1). Chris Carroll, who was the first officer on scene, said that Suge’s head was “gushing blood,” and he had “concern” for Tupac (1). But, if Suge’s head was seriously injured, why wasn’t he put on life support like Tupac? Why is Suge still alive and healthy as of today?
The third theory states that Sean Combs, CEO of East Coast record label “Bad Boy Records,” was responsible for Tupac’s death. This theory comes from LAPD detective Greg Kading (1). He got a confession on tape of Keith Davis, a Crips gang member, saying that Diddy paid him $1 million to kill Tupac and Suge (1). How is that true if Suge is still alive? There’s more to that story than we know. Davis also said that Orlando Anderson was the shooter (1). He stated “Orlando rolled down the window, and popped him. If they would have drove on my side, I would have popped them (1).” He also said that Diddy’s reason was defense, and he was afraid that Suge would’ve gotten him first (1). Diddy had beef with Tupac after he released “Hit ‘Em Up” (1). Tupac was actually shot before on November 30 of 1994, and he believed it was people working with Diddy (1). Dexter Isaac supported the Diddy theory as he claims that Diddy hired him to rob Tupac at a recording studio in New York City, but Diddy denied every part of this story. Isaac has life in prison (1).
The last theory is that Tupac faked his own death. Many believe that he is actually away in Cuba and there have been many YouTube videos with proof of his siting’s. Tupac was interested in the number seven and its significance. There was an album released after his “death” named “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” or “Makaveli” (‘The 7 Day Theory Conspiracy’). Many began to put pieces together and for some reason the number 7 kept popping up everywhere. Tupac’s time of death was 4:03, which adds up to 7 (4 + 3 = 7) (2). During the intro to the Don Killuminati: 7 day theory there are 7 gunshots going off at the start of the song (2). The number 7 kept appearing in many of his movies (2). Tupac was also a fan of Machiavelli who is an Italian writer that said “to fool one’s enemies, fake one’s death (‘Tupac is alive (and probably living in Cuba): A Conspiracy, Explained’).” That is how Tupac came up with the name Makavelli.
In a survey of twenty-three people, more than half agreed with Tupac being dead while the rest agreed with him being alive. As of today, no one still was charged on the case of Tupac Shakur. The theory that makes the most sense was theory number four about him still being alive. All the other three theories compared to this one makes no sense and the details don’t tie together with reality. All the YouTube evidence looks very realistic about Tupac being seen.
The hip-hop rapper Tupac Shakur was very young when the “murder” took place in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996 after a mike Tyson fight (“The Mysterious Death of Tupac Shakur”). No one was ever charged or arrested as the years went by so fans took matters into their hands and came up with theories as to what had happened that night. The first and most known theory is that Orlando Anderson, the Crips, and Biggie Smalls were responsible for the murder (1). Following that theory was that Suge Knight planned the murder, including getting Tupac to Las Vegas that evening (1). The third theory states that Sean Combs, CEO of the East Coast record label Bad Boy Records, was responsible (1). The fourth and final theory is that Tupac is still alive (1). That theory is less looked at but by looking at the proof and evidence of that theory, everything makes sense and seems to be true which makes that the best theory.
Works Cited
“‘Tupac Shakur In His Own Words’ MTV News 1997,” director. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thorl-qcwru.
“The 7 Day Theory Conspiracy.” The 7 Day Theory Conspiracy, 13 Mar. 2006, 2paclives.blogspot.com/2006/03/7-day-theory-conspiracy.html.
“The Mysterious Death Of Tupac Shakur.” The Mysterious Death Of Tupac Shakur, 20 May 2016, https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanbergara/a-deep-dive-into-the-infamous-unsolved-murder-of-tupac-shaku?utm_term=.nnolzjw0b#.pkayerqb0.
“Tupac Shakur Bio.” Rolling Stone, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/tupac-shakur/biography.
“Tupac Shakur Biography.” Tupac Shakur Biography, 16 May 2016, tupac shakur biography.
“Tupac Shakur's ‘Changes’ Analysis.” The Art of Rap Music, http://artofrap.weebly.com/tupac-shakurs-changes-analysis.html.
Parham, Jason. “Tupac Is Alive (and Probably Living in Cuba): A Conspiracy, Explained.” Tupac Is Alive (and Probably Living in Cuba): A Conspiracy, Explained, 31 Mar. 2015, blackbag.gawker.com/tupac-is-alive-and-probably-living-in-cuba-a-conspir-1693861660.
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