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5 Questions We Still Have About The Death Of Tupac Shakur
Here's what we're wondering after Snapped.
Snapped Notorious: Tupac Shakur airs Sunday, September 10 at 6/5c.
Rap legend Tupac Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996 at the age of 25. Snapped: Notorious 'Tupac and Biggie Special' investigates the infamous crime with commentary and reactions from Tupac's friends, business associates and industry insiders including rapper Yo-Yo, collaborator Danny Boy and journalist Toure. Despite being so high profile, no charges have been filed in the murder of Tupac Shakur. Here's five questions we still have about his death.
Gang Related?
One of the most prevailing theories about Tupac's death involves an altercation with the Crips. Hours before he was shot, the rapper was seen in a scuffle at the MGM Grand—caught on camera—with gang member Orlando Anderson. Although a gun matching Tupac's murder weapon was found in Anderson's home afterwards, he was never questioned by authorities.
East Coast vs. West Coast?
At the time of his death, Tupac was involved in the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast feud with the Notorious B.I.G. Less than a year later, Biggie died in a similar drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Did Tupac's murder have anything to do with the coastal war?
Was Suge Knight The Real Target?
Death Row Records honcho Suge Knight was in the car with Tupac when he got shot. The assailant fired four rounds from a Glock, which leads many to wonder if the real target was Suge.
Was Suge Knight Involved?
A different theory involves Suge Knight not as the intended target but as the mastermind behind the shooting. As journalist Brennan Williams explains on Snapped, some speculate that Tupac wanted out of his Death Row Records contract and Suge, who had invested money and resources in his star, put a hit out as retaliation. "Some people looked at Suge Knight as the killer due to reports circulating that Tupac was planning to leave the label." Wendy Day, Founder of the Rap Coalition, says that Tupac told her personally that he wanted to leave and start his own record label. No charges have been filed to support Suge's involvement. Ironically, Tupac sold more music posthumously than when he was alive.
Did Tupac Know?
Tupac often rapped about themes of death. His music video "I Ain't Mad at Cha," which was shot weeks before his murder, eerily shows the rapper being gunned down and rapping from heaven. Did Tupac have a feeling that he was going to be murdered or did life just happen to imitate art?
[Photo: Getty Images, Oxygen]
