Remembering Fallen MC Tupac Shakur

Today marks what would have been Tupac Shakur's 39th birthday had he not been gunned down by an unknown assailant in 1996. Nearly 14 years after his death at the age of 25, Shakur still remains one of the most influential rappers ever, and one of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. An icon of '90s hip-hop, Shakur released only four albums during his brief career that mixed tales of street life with politically charged lyricism, including the classics Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me, both of which rank among the top sellers of the decade. Tupac was also an acclaimed actor who stood out in Juice and Poetic Justice.

Look back at more artists lost before their time.

Recently, T.I. revealed to RS that his new album King Uncaged was influenced by Shakur's own post-incarceration disc All Eyez on Me, and there likely isn't a rapper in the game today that wasn't inspired by Shakur. As Rolling Stone celebrates Tupac's life, look back at the rapper's career in photos, plus check out a guide to his albums and our feature that ran shortly after his death:

• All Eyez on Tupac: The Life and Times of the Hip-Hop Great

• Album Guide: Tupac Shakur

• Tupac Shakur: 1971-1996: The Short Life & Violent Death of Tupac Shakur

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  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
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  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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