In an exclusive PEOPLEcover story, Jada Pinkett Smith sheds light on a hidden facet of the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, revealing that he silently battled alopecia, an autoimmune disease causing unpredictable hair loss. The Emmy Award-winning actress speculates that had Shakur been alive today, he might have chosen to speak openly about his condition.
Shakur’s journey with alopecia mirrors Smith’s experience, with the onset of symptoms dating back to 1991, around the time of his arrest for jaywalking by the Oakland Police Department in California. Subsequently, Shakur pursued legal action against the police department, ultimately settling the matter.
Smith reflects, “After he was in Northern California with the police officers that beat him up, he started losing his hair. And his alopecia patterns were far more extreme than mine.” It’s a revelation that invites a new perspective on Shakur’s life and challenges.
Jada Pinkett Smith, an actress and talk show host, disclosed her alopecia diagnosis in 2018, becoming a notable advocate for alopecia awareness. She believes that Shakur’s silence about his alopecia was due to societal pressures of his time. “I don’t think Pac ever talked about his alopecia, but he also looked really good with a bald head. But that was during a time and during an era that you wouldn’t – he just wouldn’t talk about it.”
A lot of new revelations have been made known to the public since Jada Pinkett-Smith has been promoting her new book Worthy and during one of her recent interviews, the actress says that the late rapper/actor icon Tupac Shakur proposed to her during a visit while he was incarcerated in NYC’s notorious Riker’s Island.
Will Smith’s estranged wife spoke about visiting Tupac in prison, stating, “That was probably one of the more painful parts seeing him there, the condition he was in and he was in a bad shape.” She added, “When he asked me to marry him, he was in Rikers and I knew at that time he needed somebody to do time with him which I was going to do anyway. You have to marry me to do that, right?”
As for when this all went down: As ABC News points out, Tupac was shot five times on November 30, 1994, during a robbery at Quad Studios in Times Square, but he survived. A couple years later, on September 7, 1996, he was shot in a drive-by after leaving a boxing match at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas strip. He was shot multiple times and taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries a few days later, on September 13. He was 25 years old.
As for the recent arrest, Davis has admitted to his involvement in the shooting before: In his 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend, he said he was a passenger in the car from which the shots were fired, and he claimed his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson was the one who actually pulled the trigger. Anderson was later killed in a shooting in Compton, two years after Tupac’s death.
Jada Pinkett Smith has often spoken about her relationship with the late Tupac Shakur, and she brought it up again in a pair of recent Instagram posts, in which she shared a video of her and the rapper dancing and lip-syncing to, of all songs, Will Smith’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”
Sharing the two-minute clip on Instagram yesterday (September 20), Pinkett Smith wrote, “Here is part of the original video of Pac and I doing a terrible job at lip syncing Parents Just Don’t Understand.”
That post came shortly after another one in which Pinkett Smith shared a short passage about the clip, from her memoir Worthy. It reads, “Not in a million years would I have dreamed that the Fresh Prince and I would become, um, very acquainted. Not in a million years did I imagine three lives, their fates, would be so intertwined. And… I never would have imagined that this video would become a tangible memory, of the last time Pac and I, were simply kids together. Pac and I lip syncing Parents Just Don’t Understand by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince during our Junior year in high school. Who would have thought?”
On the fateful evening of September 13, 1996, the world lost an artist and a poet of the streets. The ringing of Tupac Amaru Shakur’s untimely demise reverberated across continents, touching hearts and minds that had been invigorated by his activism and musical talents.
While Las Vegas streets bore witness to the tragic drive-by shooting that claimed his life at just 25, they also became the epicenter of countless conspiracy theories. Some whispered about rivalries as others hinted at a larger setup. However, among the speculations, one fact remained unwavering—Tupac’s influence was far more significant than the life he lived. To truly understand the man behind the legend, we must venture beyond that tragic evening, back into the roots. We’re revisiting his celebrated life and career 27 years after his passing.
From Panther Roots To Hip-Hop Royalty: The Genesis Of Tupac
American rapper Tupac Shakur (1971 – 1996), Oakland, California, January 7, 1992. (Photo by Gary Reyes/Oakland Tribune Staff Archives/MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images)
Beneath Tupac’s multifaceted public image was a history rich with activism and a legacy of challenging the established order. Born in East Harlem in 1971, Tupac’s formative years were intertwined with the ideals of the Black Panther movement. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was more than a guiding light in his life. She was a formidable member of the Panthers and a fervent activist. Her 1969 arrest and her subsequent acquittal in 1971 highlighted a period marked by racial tensions and intense political engagement. These surroundings heavily influenced Tupac’s growing hunger for change.
Moving from Baltimore to the West Coast, Tupac experienced firsthand the stark contrasts of racial disparities. This backdrop nurtured his artistry, enabling him to give voice to the unheard stories of those around him in his lyrics. To the broader audience, Tupac was purely a significant figure in Hip Hop. However, he had an undeniable depth, sharpened by diverse readings from Shakespeare to contemporary Black American authors. Yet, the enduring spirit of his mother, tales of Black resistance, and the profound influence of the Panthers truly shaped Tupac’s ethos. This foundation not only permeated his music but also fueled the energy behind his activism.
Gangsta Beats To Heartfelt Feats: The Sonic Journey
Rising from the underbelly of Hip Hop’s Golden Era, Tupac’s music was an authentic reflection of his experiences. His rhymes were molded by the cultural and socio-political milieu of his times. Tracks like “Brenda’s Got A Baby” and “Keep Ya Head Up” were not mere songs—they were poignant tales of the struggles Black Americans faced daily. It revealed an artist deeply empathetic to the societal ills surrounding him. Shakur used his platform to shed light on the often-ignored stories of Black American women grappling with hardships.
Tracks like “Changes” underscored Tupac’s sharp socio-political consciousness. Tackling issues from racism to police brutality, it was a clarion call for change and introspection. His lyrical brilliance was apparent, and his relevance undying. Even today, amid waves of civil rights movements, the song’s message stands as pertinent as ever.
Balancing Revolutionary Rhymes & Gangsta Rap
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 19: A Tupac Shakur Two-Page handwritten & signed letter from prison. To the Deputy Warden of Rikers Island Prison for auction at Gotta Have It! store. On July 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
With such a background, it was no surprise that Shakur’s artistry was interwoven with pointed social and political commentary. Yet, his activism wasn’t restricted to his music. Tupac was known for his candid, often fiery interviews where he didn’t shy away from addressing injustices, institutional racism, and the importance of empowering Black American youth.
One might argue that this alignment of art and activism was a tightrope walk, especially in the mainstream music industry. The magnetism of commercial allure is seductive. Album sales, roaring fans, global tours, and the shimmer of accolades paint an irresistible portrait. For Tupac, these trappings were merely vehicles that transported his deeper message to a global stage. He consistently dodged the trend of diluting content for broader appeal. Instead, he chose to layer his artistry with intricate narratives, pushing forth a duality of street sagas alongside passionate calls for change.
This was the fine line Tupac Shakur perpetually walked upon, each step weighed against the gold standard of chart-topping success and the moral imperative to speak truth to power. However, Tupac managed this balance with finesse. He emphasized that his gangsta rap persona and his activist inclinations were not contradictory. Instead, they were reflective of the dual realities that many Black Americans, especially successful professionals, continue to balance.
More Than A Legend
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 07: Sekyiwa ‘Set’ Shakur attends the ceremony honoring Tupac Shakur. With a posthumous Star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame. On June 07, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
The sparkle of Tupac Shakur isn’t confined merely to the beats that punctuated his music or the lyrics that have been staples in Hip Hop culture. It lies in the undying reverberations that continue to reach the corners of both the music industry and larger expanse of activism. Moreover, Tupac’s influence is palpable. Turn on the radio, and you’ll find young artists echoing his passion. Their reverence for Tupac is unmistakable, recognizing in him a pioneer who carved a space for authenticity in arenas that often seemed consumed by superficiality.
Additionally, more than an artist, Tupac was a beacon for change. It wasn’t merely about identifying problems—it was about galvanizing change and urging collective action. Today, as we remember Tupac on the anniversary of his death, it’s evident that his physical departure from this world has done little to dim his legacy. Young activists, armed with microphones or placards, champion the causes the Rap icon shed light on.
In a life punctuated by both fame and tragedy, Tupac managed to transcend the traditional confines of celebrity. He became more than just a rapper or an actor. He emerged as a symbol, representing hope. As we reflect on his life, we’re reminded that Tupac’s legacy remains immortal.
Cultural icon Tupac Shakur was then taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada hospital after being shot several times in a drive-by on a Las Vegas strip on September 7, 1996, and was under a medically induced coma for six days before dying from internal bleeding on September 13, 1996.
After several failed attempts by doctors to revive 2Pac, his mother Afeni Shakur requested for his life support machine to be turned off. What were the events that transpired the days before the September 7th shooting that caused his early demise and why has the mystery of his death never been solved? These are the questions that remain 19 years later. Chris Carroll, a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant, told Vegas Seven Magazine in an interview last year that we may never know;
“Shakur’s murder is still considered an unsolved homicide and an unsolved homicide case is technically never closed. But nothing more is ever going to happen with it.“
After all the documentaries that have been put out pertaining to Pac’s death, most fans attempt to put the clues together and create their own hypothesis yet without hard evidence it’s still just an educated guess as to what really happened the night of September 7, 1996.
The only real evidence police have are the witness accounts from Outlaw member E.D.I Mean, who claimed to have seen all four men in the vehicle and Yaki Kadafi, who was involved in a scuffle with officers two days following the shooting after they pulled over a driver he was with and he protested. Officers did not try to locate Kadafi, who was later gunned down in Irving, NJ two months after the shooting.
Compton investigators assembled mug shots of several gang members, which included Orlando Anderson, the Crip that Tupac attacked in the MGM Grand lobby hours before the shooting. Anderson is the suspect said to have fired the fatal shots that killed Pac. Las Vegas police later discounted Anderson as a suspect and interviewed him only once. He was later killed in an unrelated gang shooting.
‘Pac’s killer has yet to be found or even suspected, but the fight to bring his killer(s) to justice icontinual and highly publicized, which will hopefully bring the truth about his untimely death to light.
On this date in 1996, Tupac Shakur, who’s just left the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon fight at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, was gunned down in Suge Knight’s BMW while at a stop light at East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. He was shot four times, with two of the .40 caliber shots landing in his chest. Shakur would succumb to his injuries six days later. He was only 25 years old.
What were the events that transpired the days before the September 7th shooting that caused his early demise and why has the mystery of his death never been solved? These are the questions that remain a quarter century later. Chris Carroll, a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant, told Vegas Seven Magazine in an interview in 2014 that we may never know;
The only real evidence police have are the witness accounts from Outlaw members E.D.I Mean, who claimed to have seen all four men in the vehicle and Yaki Kadafi, who was involved in a scuffle with officers two days following the shooting after they pulled over a driver he was with and he protested. Officers did not try to locate Kadafi, who was later gunned down in the PJs in Irving, NJ two months after the shooting.
Compton investigators assembled mug shots of several gang members, which included Orlando Anderson, the Crip that Tupac attacked in the MGM Grand lobby hours before the shooting. Anderson is the suspect said to have fired the fatal shots that killed Pac. Las Vegas police later discounted Anderson as a suspect and interviewed him only once. He was later killed in an unrelated gang shooting.
Las Vegas homicide Sergeant Kevin Manning said detectives called his lawyer to set up a meeting with a witness, so that the pictures could be reviewed, but according to Manning the calls were not returned. E.D.I. Mean and Frank Alexander, Pac’s body guard, told The Los Angeles Times in early 1997 that they had never been asked by the Las Vegas police to view photos of possible suspects in the case despite having seen the shooting and the faces of the men in the car from which shots were fired at Pac and Suge Knight. Alexander reported seeing the face of the suspect that shot Shakur but he was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in his home in Murrieta, CA on April 28, 2013. It’s being reported that it was suicide and there haven’t been any further updates about Big Frank’s death and who killed him. To this day, Las Vegas police dispute the witness accounts of what they reported to the officers the night of the shooting.
Early this month, it was revealed that Duane “Keefe D” Davis will now face charges related to the death of Tupac Shakur after years of claiming he was directly involved, but avoided prosecution with a immunity deal. It seems 2023 is the expiration date of that said deal.
When reports surfaced that Keefe D was being looked at as the main suspect in Tupac’s unsolved murder, it became huge news. Since 1996, there has been plenty of speculation over who took the rap superstar’s life, but no arrests. After authorities announced Keefe D was facing imminent charges, there was buzz the case would finally come to an end.
Sixty-year-old Keefe D has deep ties to the late rap legend Eazy-E and the South Side Compton Crips. Everybody wanted to know more about the man. Who is he? What is his connection to Tupac? Here’s a deeper look into Keefe D and his relation to the Tupac murder investigation.
Keefe D said he first met Diddy in 1991 when Puff was working on an Usher video. Keefe let them use some of his cars for the shoot, with Usher damaging one when dancing on it. Diddy covered the cost, which seemed like a friendly gesture at the time. However, Keefe would see that things aren’t always what they seem.
The Murder Of Tupac
Tupac Shakur and Marion Suge Knight (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
On September 7, 1997, Tupac was in Las Vegas with Suge Knight and some of his Death Row associates. One of the guys pointed out Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, a Southside Compton Crip, and accused Anderson of trying to rob him. Orlando just happened to be the nephew of Keefe D. As the story goes, Tupac ran up on Orlando, and a whole melee ensued.
Hours later, Suge drove to another spot with Tupac as his passenger. Before they could arrive, a car pulled up next to them and opened fire. Tupac was hit four times and ended up dying six days later on September 13. The hip-hop world was left shocked and in mourning. Everybody wondered who could have killed the rap legend.
The Keefe D Connection
Plenty of conspiracies spun the block as the streets began talking and the investigation heated up. Orlando and Keefe D’s names were soon brought into the mix, with many pointing fingers at Orlando as the shooter. He continuously denied his involvement. Even after Orlando died in a gang-related shootout in 1998, numerous documentaries, witnesses, and police investigations have named Orlando as the main suspect. Since Orlando was gone, the focus often turned to Keefe. Multiple times, he put himself in that position.
The Keefe D Admission
In a 2018 interview, Keefe admitted he was in the backseat of the car when Tupac was shot. He boasted he was the one who handed the gun to the shooter. While he wouldn’t name the shooter, he acknowledged he was “the only one alive” who knew what happened that night. Keefe claimed he was speaking out because he had cancer and wanted the truth to be told.
Eventually, according to The Daily Mail, Keefe D named Orlando as the shooter “during a taped conversation under immunity.” He said he first tried to give the gun to another guy in the car, Dre Smith. After Dre refused, Keefe gave it to Orlando, who “popped the dudes.” Further, around this time, there were reports that an arrest was “imminent,” but that didn’t happen. The authorities said they were still investigating Tupac’s death, which remained an open case. The whodunit continued.
New Keefe D Investigation
In 2023, everything changed. Reggie Wright Jr., the former head of security at Death Row Records, predicted there would be some movement in the case. He told Bomb1st, “Let’s put it this way, I bet Keefe D [has] been having the runs for the last two weeks.” He added, “Because yeah, they are knocking on doors and there’s some activity.” Keefe said it wasn’t true and claimed, “This dude obsessed with me … He need to leave me the f*ck alone.”
Reggie ended up being right. On July 17, 2023, the police executed a search on a Henderson, Nevada property connected to Keefe. They looked for any evidence connected to Tupac’s murder. According to police, they found several bullets that would undergo forensic testing to match those found in Tupac’s body and on the scene. Police also gathered photos, computers, and more.
The home turned out to be that of Keefe D’s ex-wife. He admitted that murder-related evidence was located at the residence. While authorities collected various items, they said they would present the evidence to a grand jury. They warned it could take months before the jury came back with a decision.
Diddy-Keefe D Connection
Shortly afterward, Keefe explained that his connection to Diddy landed him in the investigation’s crosshairs. Keefe said he regretted ever meeting Diddy. “If I wouldn’t have ever met him, I wouldn’t have ever been involved in this bullsh*t. I would’ve never met the brother.” He also accused Diddy of playing him and Suge. He said, “Because he pitted us against each other, which was kinda smart. We’re Crips and Suge was Bloods.”
Pressing Forward
The bullets police collected from Keefe D’s residence didn’t match the ones found at Tupac’s murder scene. However, that didn’t mean he was off the hook. Authorities said some evidence showed “individuals who might have been connected to people directly or indirectly involved in the drive-by shooting.”
Sources told The Daily Mail that prosecutors expected “this matter to become a criminal case imminently.” Detectives said, “Keefe has gloated so much about this that he has effectively talked himself into huge legal trouble.” Some of the biggest evidence against him was truly his own words.
Many are hopeful that Keefe D will go to trial to put to rest one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries in modern history. Reports have surfaced that Suge Knight might testify if he goes to trial. Although there have been so many twists and turns in this 27-year case, there is hope it could end. The grand jury is expected to come back with a decision by the end of September.
In a recent interview on The Art Of Dialogue podcast, rapper and brother to late Hip Hop icon Tupac Shakur, Mopreme Shakur, talked about how he managed to land the rap feature on Tony Toni Toné’s smash single “Feels Good”, which was originally supposed to feature then superstar MC Hammer. From there, Shakur delved into how his little brother almost landed a role in Star Wars because of his close relationship with Samuel L. Jackson.
In previous rumors about the relationship between the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, it was suspected that the Brooklyn favorite was to be recruited into ‘Pac’s “Thug Life” conglomerate and Tupac’s brother Mopreme confirmed it in a conversation with AllHipHop.
When speaking of the relationship between the two, the elder Shakur said, “Before things fell apart, Pac was a uniter. We knew we were from New York. We knew we were from the East Coast. And Pac liked to work with the best talent around. So, there was a period, there was a time when we was all cool.” He went on to say, “There was a time when Pac wanted Biggie to be part of the East Coast faction of Thug Life ‘cause we was kicking it with each other anyway. Pac wasn’t just a hater just to be hating. He liked [Biggie].”
