Tupac Shakur Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
This past June 2023, Tupac Shakur, the late rapper and actor, was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Friends and family of the much-adored artist lined up outside of the TCL Chinese Theater. The ceremony took place at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard, a mere two miles from his last live performance at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip 27 years ago.
Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa Shakur accepted the star on his behalf. She said that her brother would have been “humbled and honored” by the recognition.
“Today, we aren’t just honoring a star on the sidewalk; we are honoring the very essence of a person who fearlessly pursued his dreams and fought to turn them into reality,” said Sekyiwa. “This is Tupac’s moment — the culmination of years of dedication and passion.”
“He always wanted to be a star,” she said. “But he wanted to be a star for the people.”
Radio personality Big Boy was there to emcee and was quoted on CBS as saying, “He defied the distinction between art and activism… Though his career lasted just five years, Tupac Shakur remains one of the most complex and prolific artists of his generation with over 75 million records sold worldwide.”
Shakur’s star is the 2,758th on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is one of only 12 rappers to have been honored with a star.
Shakur was born in East Harlem, New York City in 1971. He moved to Marin City, California with his family when he was 12 years old. Shakur began his career as a poet and actor and he made his film debut in the 1991 film Nothing but Trouble.
Shakur released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991. The album was a critical and commercial success and it established Shakur as a major force in the hip-hop world.
Popping up nationwide, he went on to release four more albums, all of which were successful. He also starred in several films, including Juice and Above the Rim.
Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996. He was 25 years old.
As the hip hop genre of music turns 50 this year, tributes and legacy events are happening nationwide.
Ladies first. All hail to Queen Latifah – Salt-N-Pepa is in full effect – and, if you’ve ever seen her live, you too would lose control after a Missy Elliott high-energy performance. Shakur joins Death Row records label mates Snoop Dogg and the one and only Dr. Dre will also get his star later this year. Also on the famed boulevard are Rock n Roll Hall of fame inductees Run-DMC and LL Cool J. The West Coast is even more represented with over 100 years combined between Ice T, Cypress Hill and Ice Cube. 50 Cent, P Diddy, and The Notorious B.I.G. represent Queens, Harlem and Brooklyn. Ludacris is holding it down for the dirty South. According to Billboard:
Tupac’s last live performance was on July 4, 1996. A show that almost didn’t happen.
Culture Honey explored the epic show that only 1000 people can say that they were at — live on the Sunset Strip. Millions now claim to have been in the world famous House of Blues.
Culture Honey published the exclusive story about the show that had never before been told before. Now, 27 years since the show that almost never happened, fans of the late Shukur are discovering and reacting. Not so much about the writing or Tupac, but the journalism’s impact back in Richmond, California.
The city that was the gateway to his path to Digital Underground. Shukur once said, “‘I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”
Anselmo R, a youth worker, reached out via IG saying, “Just read an article written by you. Great piece of journalism.” His DM went on to explain that, “working with youth in Richmond, I try to impress onto them stories of success, especially stories related to Richmond. It’s inspiring and shows that success can propagate even from harsh conditions.”
A career shortened to his untimely death, Shakur’s music and legacy continue to inspire fans around the world.
He is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, and his music has been praised for its social commentary and its raw emotion.
Shakur’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a fitting tribute to his life and his work. It is a reminder of his impact on popular culture and it is a testament to his lasting legacy.
A couple of days after receiving his five-point enshrinement in the concrete that he metaphorically said a rose could grow from — I’ve come to the full understanding stars are held together by their own gravity and are the most important source of energy in the universe.
True Shukur fans know ‘Tupac been had a star.’
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