‘RIP King’: Fans pay respect to Tupac Shakur, hope for justice as murder trial nears the end

Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur's death, his grieving fans are turning out in droves as a trial begins that could finally bring justice for his murder. Shardae Williams, a fan from Las Vegas, says she has been seeing people wearing Shakur t-shirts and listening to his music more frequently since the trial started. She believes the trial offers a chance for resolution after decades of carrying the loss of her favorite artist.

For fans like Williams, Shakur's presence is everywhere - from pop culture references to memorials at his shooting location. The only person ever charged in Shakur's killing, Duane "Keffe D" Davis, has pleaded not guilty to orchestrating the drive-by shooting. Shakur's philosophy, T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E., which stood for "the hate U give little infants f—-s everybody," called for uplifting marginalized communities and demanding accountability from oppressive systems.

For Atlanta resident Julie Hardy, Shakur is more than just a rapper. She sees him as an icon and revolutionary, like Malcolm X or Martin Luther King Jr., who wrote about the "revolution" the Black community faces. When Hardy learned of Shakur's death, she felt a sense of loss, as if a family member had passed away. He taught her to translate her tears into words, and he inspired her to write hip-hop songs that reflected her experiences growing up in Black communities.

Din "Lil Therapy" Malone, a songwriter and artist, took a bus from Denver to watch the trial. He was introduced to Shakur through his role in the 1992 movie "Juice" and his music. Shakur's writing about his own hardships inspired Malone to do the same, putting into words experiences of bullying and family deaths. He sees Shakur as a legend who taught him how to express his emotions through music.