2Pac/Tupac Shakur

Even though he was taken from us far too soon, 2Pac accomplished more by the age of 25 than most rappers will ever manage. Born and bred in NYC and transplanted to California, he spoke truth to power as an icon of socially conscious hip-hop. On “Changes” he tallied the trials of everyday ghetto life while envisioning a better world, over the rippling piano riffs of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is.” Not only did he honor his mother with the 1995 smash “Dear Mama,” but he also took a stand against hip-hop misogyny by sending a shout-out to all women on “Keep Ya Head Up.” Of course, 2Pac was all about those slow-rollin’, ballin’-’til-ya-drop G-funk grooves, too, and with Zapp’s Roger Troutman helping to funk things up and Dr. Dre filling the party prescription, he let it all hang out on “California Love.”

In Next Steps, learn how the legend of 2pac lives on long past his death.

When 2Pac was gunned down in 1996, the plug was suddenly, shockingly pulled on one of the most promising careers in hip-hop. But the world just didn’t want to let him go. He became as successful in death as he was in life, with posthumous collaborations giving new rearview glimpses into his world. ’Pac and Elton John might seem an unlikely pairing, but the U.K. pop king’s overdubbed additions to “Ghetto Gospel” bring the perfect bittersweet touch to 2Pac’s tale of tough times. The late MC himself had founded Outlawz in 1995, and three years after his passing, they unleashed a street-level salute to their fallen comrade, sharing the spotlight with him on “Still I Rise.” But back in 1994, heading up his side-project Thug Life, 2Pac asked, “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” — likely never realizing the answer was “forever.”

Encounter the many faces of 2Pac in Deep Cuts, from tough-talking revolutionary to tender street poet.

Like all great artists, 2Pac was a complicated character — he was a vital voice for positive change, but he was too street-savvy to shy away from the harsh realities that seemed to be constantly closing in on him. As early as his debut album, he stared straight down the barrel of African-American rage on “Violent” while unerringly identifying his own awesome arsenal: “My words are weapons.” “Words of Wisdom” sprinkles sleek, jazzy licks over 2Pac’s now-or-never demand for the essentials: respect, education, and the building of a nation. But on “Last Wordz,” the one-off supergroup of ’Pac, Ice Cube, and Ice-T constituted the fiercest frontline ever, spitting razor-sharp rhymes in the face of American hypocrisy over hard-as-concrete beats.

Not only was 2Pac hip-hop royalty, but he was also a king of contradictions — a New York native who became a West Coast icon, a gangsta-leaning tough guy who embraced positive social change, and a star who stacked up a towering legacy in just six short years. As both one of the most influential and biggest-selling rappers of all time, he built a legend that will never be overshadowed. But between his official albums, guest appearances, side-projects, and posthumous collections, navigating your way through his awe-inspiring output can feel like trying to paint a mural at night with a flashlight. Don’t sweat it — we’ve assembled the ultimate 2Pac tour by touching on all of the hip-hop hero’s multiple musical personalities. From 2Pac the poet penning stories of the streets to the G-funkin’ party-starter bumpin’ to Dr. Dre’s beats, we’d like to introduce you to the many moods and modes contained within the man.