Tupac Shakur fans are just now uncovering the true meaning behind the rapper’s name.
Regarded as one of the most influential musical artists of our time, Tupac wasn’t born with that name. He entered the world on June 16, 1971, in Manhattan, New York, as Lesane Parish Crooks, the son of political activist parents.
At just one year old, he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur—a name that would become recognized around the globe.
Tupac became one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold worldwide. His biggest hits include “Hail Mary,” “Life Goes On,” and “Changes,” and he was renowned for his powerful lyrics addressing social injustice and political issues.
Tupac also starred in several films, including Juice, Poetic Justice, and Above the Rim. The iconic name we recognize today was chosen by his mother when he was just a year old.
He was named after Túpac Amaru II, a descendant of the last Incan ruler, who was executed in Peru in 1781 for leading a revolt against Spanish rule. The name means “royal” and “shining serpent,” while his surname, Shakur, translates to “thankful to God.”
Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother, explained, “I wanted him to have the name of revolutionary, indigenous people in the world. I wanted him to know he was part of a world culture and not just from a neighborhood.”
Tupac’s surname came from Lumumba Shakur, whom his mother married in November 1968. Fans have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to discuss the origin of Tupac’s name. One fan noted, “Tupac was named after a Peruvian revolutionary (Tupac Amaru II) who led the largest indigenous uprising in Spanish American colonial history.
“For many, Túpac Amaru II came to symbolize an indigenous and mestizo revolution—in other words, a revolution for the people.”
The post has received hundreds of likes and shares, with many users expressing their surprise at learning this for the first time. One commenter noted, “If this is true, I never knew and that’s super badass.”
Another chimed in, “That’s amazing.”
Tupac’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 25 when he was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He passed away six days later, after being rushed to the hospital on September 13, 1996.
Fast forward 27 years to September 29, 2023, when Duane “Keefe D” Davis was arrested after being indicted by a grand jury for Tupac’s first-degree murder. Davis, 61, is currently being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, with his trial scheduled for November 4.