‘It always comes around’: fans react to conviction in Tupac Shakur’s murder 30 years later

Fans of the late rapper Tupac Shakur are reacting to the recent conviction of Duane "Keffe D" Davis for the 1996 murder of Shakur, a case that has been waiting for answers for three decades. Davis, a former California gang leader, was found guilty on Monday of orchestrating the fatal shooting, which occurred on September 7th, 1996, after Shakur's entourage had attacked Davis's nephew at the MGM Grand hotel.

The case relied heavily on confessions from Davis, including details from his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend. As a teenager, Kelly Wilson, now 48, was deeply inspired by Shakur's artistry. While acknowledging Shakur's controversial lyrical content, Wilson connected with his philosophy of speaking for the voiceless, drawing parallels to the themes in Shakur's song "Hail Mary".

Wilson's children were also influenced by Shakur, with one of them noting the irony of the verdict coming 25 years later, even though some of the people most responsible may have already passed away. Casey Rain, a British musician and former moderator of HitEmUp.com, also reflected on the significance of the conviction. Rain, who once bought into conspiracy theories about Shakur's death, acknowledged that the case against Davis was bolstered by his own admissions.

The conviction finally grounded Shakur's death in reality, moving it away from folklore and conspiracy theories. Davis is set to be sentenced in October, facing at least 40 years in prison.