Top 5 Surprising Tupac Facts
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Mythologized and often misrepresented, this legendary rapper continues to influence pop culture even after his death. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down the most interesting facts about the late Tupac Amaru Shakur.
#5: On the Night Tupac Was Fatally Shot, He Almost Wore a Bulletproof Vest
Tupac was known to wear a bulletproof vest, especially after a 1994 attack in which he suffered five gunshot wounds.
However, on September 7th, 1996, Tupac strayed from his typical routine after attending a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand. His fiancée, Kidada Jones, reportedly tried to pack his bullet proof vest for him, but he decided not to wear it, claiming that the weather would be too hot. And so, a vulnerable Tupac made his way to Club 662 with Suge Knight. When a white Cadillac pulled up beside them Tupac suffered four gunshot wounds, including two to the chest, leading to his death six days later.
#4: A Teenaged Rashida Jones Wrote an Angry Letter to Tupac
At the times of his death, Tupac Shakur was engaged to the aforementioned Kidada Jones - the oldest daughter of music producer Quincy Jones. Three years prior, though, when the two were complete strangers, Tupac harshly criticized her father’s personal life in Source Magazine. Kidada’s teenage sister, Rashida, was so upset that she confronted Tupac with an impassioned public response letter, defending her father’s legacy while reminding of his relevancy as well. Tupac later apologized to Rashida’s sister Kidada in person, which ultimately led to a relationship and engagement. Meanwhile, Rashida embarked on an acting career that culminated with notable roles on the NBC sitcoms “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.”
#3: Tupac Secretly Dated Madonna
Tupac’s outspoken persona made him a polarizing figure. Behind the scenes though, he established strong bonds with the women in his life, including close friend actress Rosie Perez. When she got stood up by her date in 1993 for the Soul Train Music Awards, Pac accompanied her, on the condition that Perez introduce him to Madonna - which actually led to an under-the-radar romance. In 2015, speaking to Howard Stern about a profanity-laced Letterman appearance in 1994, Madonna cited the influence of her then-boyfriend, Tupac Shakur, as the possible cause. And so, in a revelation that speaks volumes about pre-internet pop culture, we learned that 2pac and Madonna were an item. Talk about a power couple?
#2: Tupac Studied Ballet at the Baltimore School for the Arts
Given Tupac’s association with the West Coast scene, many don’t realize that he actually grew up in New York City. In fact, he even went by the moniker “MC New York” after relocating to Baltimore in 1986, a pivotal time in which the aspiring entertainer developed his performance skills. At the Baltimore School for the Arts, Tupac studied various art forms, including ballet. While Tupac is known for his raw charisma, his Baltimore years reveal a young man that wasn’t afraid to challenge himself intellectually or explore art forms far removed from rap. In 1988, Tupac moved cross-country to California, where his career in both the music and film industry blossomed.
#1: Beef or not, Tupac and Dr. Dre Didn’t Know Each Other Well
Less than a year before his death, Tupac signed with Suge Knight’s Death Row Records. And for his first single, he teamed up with Dr. Dre for the now legendary anthem “California Love.” At the time, Dre was on the verge of leaving to begin Aftermath Entertainment. And so, the two men quickly went their separate ways, without ever developing much of a rapport one way or another. In keeping with the rules of rap label loyalty however, Tupac soon began throwing insults at the Doctor. Dre has since acknowledged that he was never close with Tupac, and despite the popularity of their famous collaboration, it seems to have been business more than anything else.
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