1996 was one of the most important years in Hip-Hop, producing some of the most iconic events in the history of the craft. From the emergence of the South, to the East Coast vs. West Coast Narrative to a myriad of classic albums, 1996 marked the perfect bookend to the Golden Era of Hip-Hop. Although all of these occurrences played a crucial role in the path of Hip-Hop, nobody played a larger role in the culture that year than Tupac Shakur. 1996 was arguably the most important year of Tupac’s life, leading to his tragic death.
Tupac’s most shining moment of 1996 was the release of the universally acclaimed album, All Eyez on Me. Thought by some to be his best body of work, the album became an instant classic, selling 5 million copies within two months of its release, and 9 times platinum by 1998. The album features some of his largest hit singles to date, including “Ambitionz As a Ridah”, “How Do You Want It”, “California Love”, “I Ain't Mad at Cha”, and the titular track, “All Eyez on Me”. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and as of 2014 has shipped over 10 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of in American history. The success of the album not only catapulted Tupac into further superstardom, but also solidified his place as a legend in music. His controversial subject matter, pained delivery and scathing societal criticisms made All Eyez on Me one of the most important Hip-Hop albums ever to be released.
1996 was also a very important time in Tupac’s life due to his ongoing issues with the East Coast Hip-Hop scene. A feud had been brewing between many artists on both the East and West Coasts for quite some time, ever since Suge Knight’s comments at the 1995 Source Awards. Tupac seized the opportunity to further instigate the beef, culminating in the record “Hit ‘Em Up”, featuring his fellow Outlawz crew mates. The record re-ignited the fire brewing between Tupac and New York artists at the time, many speculating the tensions played a role in his untimely murder. The record took shots at Biggie Smalls, his wife Faith Evans, and a number of members from his entourage. This moment personified the malice and animosity that saturated the East Coast vs. West Coast beef, and led many to believe that number of violent acts were to come from both sides. Particularly, this moment also signified Tupac’s growing paranoia that members of Biggie’s crew conspired to kill him, and was a microcosm of the larger mental battles he was facing as an artist in the face of controversy, competition and criminal charges.
Lastly, 1996 symbolized an important moment in time for Tupac because it marked the year of his untimely death in Las Vegas, Nevada. Having gone out to Vegas for a Mike Tyson boxing match, Tupac was moving around in the streets before running into Orlando Thompson, a Los Angeles Crip, in a casino. After an altercation in which he brutalized Thompson, members of the Crip gang sought out Tupac for vengeance, ultimately leading to a drive-by shooting. Tupac was shot multiple times, dying from internal bleeding not long after the incident. His death cemented Tupac in history as a martyr of self-expression, rebellion, and free-thinking. Often times, artists are never truly appreciated until after their death, and the sales of his posthumous records showed how his life and influence carried on for years to come. His passing made him even more of a cultural phenomenon, bringing awareness of his artistry to millions of people who had never heard of him before and inspiring a new generation of innovative, outspoken individuals.
With 2016 being the 20 year anniversary of Tupac’s death, it's important that we all remember just how influential Tupac has been to everyone who has ever heard his music. 1996 was a pivotal time in his life, representing the highest high of success he’d live to see, as well as the lowest low with the loss of his life. Despite the fact that his life was taken long before it ever should have been, Tupac will live on forever in the hearts and minds of his fans.
