Who is Tupac Shakur from The Rose That Grew from Concrete and what is their importance?

Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) was a rapper, civil rights activist, producer, actor, and poet. Born in California, Shakur was raised in New York City in impoverished conditions.

Shakur started out as a roadie for a hip hop group before breaking out with his first album, 2Pacalypse Now. The album immediately caught the attention of critics who both praised and condemned Shakur for his brutally realistic views on poverty, gangs, racism, and drugs. Although there were many that objected to the violent and explicit nature of Shakur's music, the controversy only elevated the rising star's influence. It was Shakur that is credited with taking rap to a new level, adopting the moniker "Gangsta Rap." Shakur remains listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the hip hop artist with the highest number of records sold, a total of more than seventy five million worldwide.