Remembering 2Pac: #2Pac #TupacShakur Tupac Amaru Shakur was an American rapper and actor who rose from poverty in Harlem to become a best-selling artist. Known for his raw lyrics about ghetto life, Shakur is considered one of the most influential rappers and music artists of the 20th century. He sold more than 75 million records worldwide, including 37.5 million albums in the US, making him the second best-selling hip-hop artist in history.