Tupac Shakur (4)

Tupac Shakur
1971-1996
Original Gangsta
Cause of Death: Murdered in a drive-by shooting

Life After Death: In death, Tupac became a T-shirt and poster icon—hip-hop’s answer to James Dean—and one of the biggest earners in music. In 2003 his estate brought in $12 million, a stark contrast to the $150,000 in his bank account when he was shot.
America's Most Wanted: Tupac released just four albums in his lifetime—but at least 14 have appeared since then. Before his death, he had recorded an estimated 200 unreleased tracks, which are now controlled by his mother, Afeni Shakur. Although many of these releases fall well below the standards Tupac himself set, recent Eminem-assisted albums Resurrection and Loyal to the Game sold more than 1 million copies each.
Peer Plaudits: Tupac looms large over the generation of rappers who followed him: Eminem says he’s “the greatest songwriter who ever lived.” His mother has also sought to glorify his name, founding the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Currently offering dance, vocal and yoga classes, a seven-foot bronze statue of her son stands in the gardens.