Today marks the 9^th anniversary of the death of one of hip-hop cultures greatest icons, the west coast rap legend Tupac Amaru Shakur.

Around 11:15 p.m. on September 7^th, 1996, shots rang out at a stop light on Flamingo Road in Las Vegas and hip-hop would never be the same after that second.

That night Tupac and his friend and boss, CEO of Death Row Records Marion ‘Suge’ Knight were targeted for assassination. It is said that 13 shots entered Suge Knight’s BMW, 4 hitting Tupac and a piece of shrapnel hitting Suge in the head.

For the next week the rap icon fought the fight of a true souljah. Finally his mother Afeni felt Tupac had fought enough and life support was removed and Tupac was pronounced dead on September 13^th at 4:03 p.m..

For the last 9 years controversy has surrounded his death. Those responsible for his assassination have never been brought to justice and most likely will never be.

There are many theories about the death of Tupac Shakur. These range from who did it to the alive theories. But these are just theories, and one thing is for sure, we have not been graced with the presents of Tupac Shakur since that final ill fated trip to Las Vegas in 1996.

Tupac has released many albums since his death and there has been much done in his name, mostly spearheaded by his mother Afeni Shakur.

The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain Georgia is the latest in the legacy of Tupac Shakur.

Tupac once said “I didn’t create T.H.U.G.  L.I.F.E., I diagnosed it.” The actions by the government after the hurrican Katrina devastation will only insure the continuation of the circle of T.H.U.G.  L.I.F.E.; as these children remember how they and their parents were treated (or mis treated) during this phase of their life by our government.

Today we can remember Tupac the man. Not only the gangsta rap icon, which has had his name and legacy twisted by the mainstream press; even after his death. But the true man we call Tupac Shakur.

Tupac was a poet, musician, activist, actor, teacher; he was a man many admired and loved. And out of that admiration and love we would like all of you to take a moment to remember Tupac today.

We as a culture lost a leader with Tupac’s passing. Those who look deeper into Tupac, than what the mainstream press ‘feeds’ you about him, will recognize that.

So today remember the man not the mainstream ‘hype and headlines’.

R.I.P. dear Tupac, you are surely missed but you will never be forgotten.

To learn more on the life of Tupac Shakur, please visit www.ThugLifeArmy.com .

To learn more on how you can support the legacy of Tupac Shakur please visit http://www.2paclegacy.com/