It has been 10 years since Tupac Shakur passed away after being ambushed in a drive-by shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. Since then, he has been transformed from superstar artist to iconic legend--a hero and idol to countless fans around the world, even those who were far too young to appreciate him while he was still alive. Like Jimi Hendrix or James Dean, Tupac went out at the height of his fame, and as such will always be remembered in all of his glory, never having a chance to grow old and/or fall off (a la Elvis).

Despite being a symbolic champion of the West Coast, and California in particular, Tupac was actually born in Manhattan, and back in the day went by the moniker MC New York. His revolutionary spirit was in effect even as a baby--his mother Afeni was a Black Panther, his godfather was Geronimo Pratt, and his godmother was Assata Shakur. As a young teen, he was active in music, dance, and theater, attending performing arts schools in both Harlem and Baltimore before relocating to the Bay (Marin City) in the summer of 1988. There he continued honing his emcee skills, first with a group called Strictly Dope, then eventually hooking up with Digital Underground to work as a dancer/hype-man/roadie with the fast-rising crew.

In 1991, he made his official debut, rhyming on two DU albums and briefly appearing with them in the feature film, Nothing to Lose. He also dropped the solo album 2pacalypse Now, which wasn't a huge hit but showcased his views on political and social injustice, addressing teen pregnancy on the single "Brenda's Got a Baby." It also got him some high-profile controversy when Vice President Dan Quayle attacked the album after a motorist claimed it inspired him to kill a cop.

The following year, Tupac starred as a psychotic high school kid in Juice. A solid thriller that also launched the career of Omar Epps, it introduced 'Pac as a talented and charismatic leading man, and made Hollywood take notice. Over the next four years he would go on to star in other movies such as Poetic Justice, Above the Rim, and Gridlock'd.

Tupac

In 1993, he released his sophomore full-length Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., and scored hits with the upbeat party/player jam "I Get Around" as well as the contemplative, inspirational anthem "Keep Ya Head Up." Though his status as a rapper/actor was rising at a fast pace, he was also dealing with much legal drama. He sued the Oakland Police Department for beating him down in '91, got into a shootout with off-duty cops in Atlanta, was convicted of assaulting someone on a video set, and was accused of sodomy by a female fan who claimed she was gang-raped by his entourage. Then, in late '94, he was shot five times at a recording studio in New York. Biggie and Puffy were in the building at the time, and Tupac assumed it was them who set him up. The seeds were now sewn for what the media would call the "East Coast-West Coast rap war."

The day after the shooting, he appeared in court in a wheelchair and received a sentence of 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years, being found guilty on three charges of sexual assault. He was incarcerated in upstate New York the following February. While in prison, his third LP, aptly titled Me Against the World was released, shooting to the top of the charts and easily going multiplatinum. Locked up in Clinton Correctional Facility, he plotted his revenge against his former friends at Bad Boy Records.

In October of that year, Suge Knight posted his $1.4 million bail and signed Tupac to Death Row Records. He had been wanting to bring him to the label for several years, and had worked with him earlier for the Above the Rim soundtrack. With the Row's overtly gangsta lineup of Dre, Snoop, and Tha Dogg Pound, 'Pac was the perfect fit. Meanwhile, Tupac enlisted several New Jersey rappers to form his new crew the Outlawz, recording "Hit 'Em Up," a furiously hardcore diss track aimed at Biggie, Puffy, Junior Mafia, and Mobb Deep. It remains one of the most celebrated insult songs ever released.

Tupac

In the spring of '96, All Eyez on Me hit the scene, an undeniably classic double album loaded with signature singles, G-funkdafied beats, and thug life philosophies. It was enormously successful, and was his biggest hit to date. But although his fame/infamy was at an all-time high, Tupac's inner circle at Death Row was crumbling.

Frustrated with shady accounting and unprofessional behavior, Dr. Dre walked away from the label. Suge Knight was being investigated by both state and federal authorities, and the overzealous press corps was stoking the flames of dissent between both coasts. Still relishing his freedom, Tupac just wanted to make music, and hit the studio with a passion, knocking out new songs at a breakneck pace.

He recorded The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory under his Makaveli alter ego. He also connected with Brooklyn rappers Buckshot and Smif-N-Wessun (of the Boot Camp Clik) to record an East/West unity project called One Nation. He looked forward to launching a Death Row East label and was reaching out to Big Daddy Kane and Wu-Tang Clan. He spoke of founding community programs such as youth sports leagues, looking to help out disenfranchised kids and encourage them to stay in school. But it was not to be.

After watching a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot four times while riding in a car on the Strip in Las Vegas. Suge Knight, who was driving, suffered a mild scratch, while 'Pac was put on life support after doctors had removed one of his lungs. Six days later he was pronounced dead at age 25.

There are many, many theories regarding his murder. Some say it was the Crips, retaliating for a vicious beating that 'Pac and his crew gave to Orlando Anderson earlier that night at the MGM Grand. Others contend that Biggie was involved, having put a $1 million contract out on his life and actually providing the murder weapon. Some suspect the police or government, looking to take him out because he was young, black, rich, and too influential for his own good. Many still point the finger at Suge, who supposedly owed him millions in royalties and wanted to keep him on the label, any way he could. Meanwhile, there remains a committed few who believe he is still alive, merely faking his death and laughing at us all from an undisclosed location.

Ten years later, in every neighborhood, rich and poor, in the States and abroad, kids wear Tupac T-shirts. Their walls sport his posters, their stereos bump his music. The Internet is overflowing with ravenous fan sites, conspiracy theory breakdowns, and assorted tributes. Ever since he left us, many rappers have emerged--and become very successful--by blatantly imitating certain aspects of his style (see: DMX, Ja Rule, 50 Cent).

Meanwhile, Suge Knight, 'Pac's mother, and others have continued to unleash an avalanche of new and recycled posthumous records, which still sell consistently. Regular television specials and documentaries further his legacy, and every year more and more kids are introduced to his music. His albums have sold more than 70 million copies to date, making him the most commercially successful rap artist ever.

Tupac was full of contradictions; he could be hateful and ignorant on one track, then conscious and inspirational and on the next. He celebrated thug life on records and on the streets, yet he yearned to uplift the masses and be a positive role model for youth. His music has provided the soundtrack for many a party; it is also powerful enough to provoke violence, yet deep enough to bring tears.

Tupac

We may never find out who shot Tupac that night in Las Vegas. Seeing their track record in solving rap-related homicides, it's unlikely the police will be much help. But regardless of whether he's six feet under, hiding in a secret mansion, or looking down from above, Tupac's legacy--his music, movies, and writing--will live on forever, continuing to inspire the masses for generations to come.