Tupac Remembered Ten Years After His Death

Tupac Amaru Shakur has been called a poet and a thug. He was neither and both of those things, an artist who struggled to find his voice and tenuous place in the world. Most rappers who rhyme about guns and sex don't turn around and spin beautiful pieces celebrating the importance of mothers as Tupac did.

Tupac was shot in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996; he died 10 years ago.
His death at 25 guaranteed a life for his legend that shows no sign of burning out.

There might have been better rappers, but no rapper has had the influence on the game that Tupac has had. Tupac is Hip Hop Elvis Presley, In that we mean people still feel he is alive and well.

Ten years later, we continue to dissect Tupac's music. We debate his legacy. We wonder what kind of music he would have produced had his life not been cut short. His murder, still unsolved, continues to prompt questions: Who shot him? Why? Did rap culture contribute to his death? A few conspirasts still float the theory that Tupac is still alive.
Tupac's death, which has inspired movies, conspiracy theories, investigations, documentaries and Web sites. They have, so far, proved nothing, other than a key suspect, who also is now dead.

We don't know who pulled the trigger as Tupac sat in a car on the busy Las Vegas Strip on Friday, Sept. 7, 1996. His art may never escape the shadow of the mystery.