I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.

1971

June 16

Born in New York City by his mother, Afeni Shakur. Afeni was a member of the Black Panther Party, she was pregnant with Tupac while in jail for bombing charges.

1986

Shakur's family moves to Baltimore where Tupac enrolled in the Baltimore School for the Arts. Here Tupac writes his first rap under the name MC New York

1988

June

Tupac's family moves to Marin City, CA. Shortly after, Tupac moves in with a neighbor and starts selling drugs.

August

Mutulu Shakur, Tupac's stepfather, is sentenced to 60 years in prison for his involvement in a 1981 armored-car robbery.

1990

Tupac joins Digital Underground as a roadie/dancer/rapper.

1991

First event

Shakur achieves individual recognition with the album 2Pacalypse Now, which spawned the successful singles Trapped and Brenda's Got A Baby.

Second event

As a member of the Grammy-nominated group Digital Underground he appeared on the track Same Song from This is an EP Release and on the album Sons of the P.

1992

Shakur appeared in the Ernest Dickerson film Juice.

1993

Appeared in John Singleton's release Poetic Justice with Janet Jackson.

1994

First event

Release of Thug Life.

Second event

Appeared in Above the Rim.

November

Shakur's New York sex assault trial opens.

November

Shakur is shot during apparent robbery attempt outside a music studio in New York.

December

One day after being shot, Shakur is convicted of sexually abusing a woman he had invited to his hotel room. He is acquitted of sodomy and weapons charges.

1995

February

Sentenced in New York to 4 years and 6 months in prison for sex abuse.

October

Death Row CEO Suge Knight posts $1.4 million bond for Tupac's release. Tupac signs with Death Row

Third event

Release of Me Against the World which went on to sell more than 3.5 million copies

May

Shakur married his longtime girlfriend, Keisha Morris.