Tag: rapper

Tupac Shakur: The story of a rapper ‘always meant for something great’

Widely regarded as one of rap music’s greatest and most versatile artists, Tupac rose from a childhood of poverty in Harlem to become a bestseller. He sold more than 75 million records worldwide and was nominated for six Grammys.

Tupac during an interview in 1991. Pic: AP

The killing of Tupac Shakur was one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries.

More than 27 years have passed since the rapper was gunned down near the Las Vegas Strip.

He was a passenger in a black BMW when shots were fired from a Cadillac.

The black BMW that Tupac was travelling in at the time of the shooting. Pic: AP

Tupac was struck four times and died six days later at the age of 25.

His fourth solo album All Eyez On Me had just hit the charts, celebrating his outlaw image.

And now, in a significant breakthrough, a man has been charged with the star’s murder – the only one of four suspects who is still alive.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis is not the accused gunman but has been described as the group’s ringleader – who revealed in a 2019 memoir that he provided the gun used in the drive-by shooting.

In the state of Nevada, this is enough to be charged with murder.

‘Always meant for something great’

Tupac was best known for raw lyrics laced with violence, sex and profanity describing life in the ghetto.

Widely regarded as one of rap music’s greatest and most versatile artists, he rose from a childhood of poverty in Harlem to become a bestseller.

The rapper sold more than 75 million records worldwide and was nominated for six Grammys.

But while his albums were adored by fans, some songs were detested by politicians.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/tupac-shakur-the-story-of-a-rapper-always-meant-for-something-great-12972937

Tupac Shakur: Las Vegas police charge man with 1996 shooting of rapper

The hip-hop star was shot dead, aged 25, in 1996 while a passenger in a black BMW stopped at traffic lights on a street near the Las Vegas Strip.

A man has been charged in Las Vegas with the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.

The hip-hop star – regarded as one of the most influential rappers of all time – was shot dead in the Nevada city in September 1996.

However, his shooter has never been identified, and the case has frustrated investigators and fascinated the public ever since.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis. Pic: Las Vegas Police Department via AP

A Nevada grand jury has now indicted 60-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis on a charge of murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sheriff, Kevin McMahill, said Tupac’s family had been waiting 27 years for justice.

“This investigation started on 7 September 1996. It is far from over,” he said in a news conference on Friday.

“While I know there’s been many people who did not believe that the murder of Tupac Shakur was important to this police department, I’m here to tell you that is simply not the case.

“Our goal has always been to hold those accountable and responsible for Tupac’s violent murder, accountable.”

Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, described the charge as a victory. She said: “This is no doubt a pivotal moment. The silence of the past 27 years surrounding this case has spoken loudly in our community.

“It’s important to me that the world, the country, the justice system, and our people acknowledge the gravity of the passing of this man, my brother, my mother’s son, my father’s son.”

‘Leader and shot caller’

Davis is the uncle of Orlando Anderson – one of Tupac’s known rivals – who authorities had long suspected in the rapper’s death.

Anderson was involved in a casino brawl involving Tupac and his associates on the night of the star’s death.

He denied any involvement in the rapper’s killing at the time, and died two years later in an unrelated gang shooting.

Davis, who at the time was a member of the South Side Compton Crips gang, admitted in previous interviews and in his 2019 tell-all memoir, “Compton Street Legend” that he was in the car allegedly used in the attack.

Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, called Davis the “leader and shot caller” of the gang.

He said Davis had planned the attack as “retaliation” for the earlier incident in the casino involving Anderson.

“Little did anyone know that it is this incident that would ultimately lead to the retaliatory shooting of Tupac Shakur,” Lt Johansson told the news conference.

“Word spread among the South Side Compton Crips about what had occurred [in the casino].

“That is when Davis began to devise a plan to obtain a firearm and retaliate for what occurred against Anderson.”

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/tupac-shakur-las-vegas-police-arrest-man-over-1996-shooting-of-rapper-12972517

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