Tupac Shakur died at birth.
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( [ ˈtuːpɑːk_ʃəˈkʊər ] ; born Lesane Parish Crooks ; June 16 , 1971September 13 , 1996 ) , also known by his stage names 2Pac , Makaveli , and Pac , was an American rapper , record producer , actor , and poet . On April 7 , 2017 , Shakur was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Shakur began his career as a roadie , backup dancer , and MC for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground , eventually branching off as a solo artist . On September 7 , 1996 , Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas , Nevada . He was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada , where he died six days later .