The iconic rapper Tupac Shakur died an unfortunate death when an unknown gunman shot him in the chest on September 7, 1996, at a red light at East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Despite being alive for six days after the incident, he ultimately lost the battle and succumbed to his injuries.
The “All About U” singer was returning after watching a Mike Tyson match and was heading to a club. However, very few people know how Tupac and Mike met and how their friendship developed.
In the 1990s, Tyson was at the peak of his fame and influence when he first met Tupac. According to Tyson, the rapper and he first crossed paths in a posh club. At that time, Tupac’s career was just beginning, while Tyson was already well-known. A random man approached Tyson at the club and asked for entrance, and when Tyson allowed it, Tupac and his group of friends came in.
Their friendship deepened when Mike ended up in prison. In an interview with Power 106, Tyson revealed, “I went to prison, and he wrote me a letter. Then he came and saw me. Then he explained to me who he was, I said, ‘I remember you.’… And that’s how we became friends. He kept coming, we talked on the phone, and we really cultivated our relationship.”
In a documentary that aired on ESPN, the former boxer fondly remembered his close friend and said, “He didn’t last long, but the time he did last, every minute, every tenth of a moment was explosive. He’s going to last until the time this Earth comes to an end. I’m glad to be a part of his life and to have known him.”
The tragic demise of Tupac left the fans in shock and heartbreak. His impact on the world of music and culture continues to be felt even today, and his memory lives on through his timeless music and his lasting influence on the hip-hop community.