The Revolutionary Roots That Inspired Tupac Shakur
Last month, Duane “Keffe D” Davis was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. The verdict came 30 years after Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas that for decades remained cloaked in conspiracy theory and mystery. Subscribe to Mother Jones podcasts on Apple Podcasts or your […]
In June 2026, sports writer Jeff Pearlman released his book Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur, just months after rapper Tupac Shakur was found guilty of first-degree murder in his own death. Tupac, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 25, remains one of the most influential figures in music and culture of the 1990s, known for his vulnerable introspective lyrics and Black power politics.
Despite his untimely death, Pearlman posits that Tupac would have earned a 12th Academy Award if he had lived. His mother, Afeni Shakur, a Black Panther, undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping her son's worldview. The book delves into the mystery surrounding Tupac's life and death, which has persisted for decades as conspiracy theories continue to swirl around his demise.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
