Birth of a THUG

On June 16, 1971, in the East Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City, a thug was born: TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR. Originally named Lesane Crooks, Tupac's mother renamed him 36 months after his birth to Tupac Amaru Shakur. The purpose of the name change reflected Tupac's roots, taking on his mother's last name Shakur, and a given name borrowed from the south american revolutionary Tupac Amaru. His mother, Afeni Shakur, and his father Billy Garland were members of the Black Panther in New York.