Federal Bureau of Investigation

Home , Death Row Records, Orlando Anderson, Outlawz, Ruthless Records, Suge Knight, Tim Dog

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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS

SUBJECT: TUPAC SHAKUR FEDERALOF BUREAU INVESTICQION

FOIPA

DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET

Serial Description " COVER SHEET O1/03/1997

Total Deleted Page s! " 28

~ Page Duplicate -| Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate -I Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate -: Page Duplicate ~ Page Duplicate 4-: Page Duplicate ~ Page b7C ~ Page b7C FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS

SUBJECTT O Tupap _S11:;kyr___ ii I _

FILE NUMBER __ 266A-OLA-2Q1_8Q74 VI-IQ!______

SECTION NUMBER: _ ,7 _1_ _ _ _

FEDERAL BUREAUOF INVESTIGATION 2/3:/1995!

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 01/03/1997 4/{oz FBIHeadquarters Attn: NSD, CTBranch, DTS,DTOU From! Los Angeles NSD~6 ApprovedI By:I Drafted By: mpbh}I92'I'I'M' Case ID #= 266A-LA-2o1so7,¬3

- ECEASED!;I _ ERIC WRIGHT,AKA EAZY~EVICTIM DECEASED!; WC AOTDTDEATH THREATS 00; LOS ANGELES

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

synopsis: Status of investigation and request for extension to PI.

Previous Title: | _| ET AL; TUPAC SHAKURVICTIM DECEASED!; EAZY-EVICTIM DECEASED!; ACT-DT-DEATH THREATS; O02 LOS ANGELE$

Preliminary Inquiry Initiated: 10/1'7/1996, set to expire 01/17/1995.

Enclosures: One original and five copies of a Letterhead Memorandum, dated 01/O3/1997.

Details: Title marked changed to reflect the true name of EAZY-E.

Enclosed for the Bureau are one original and five copies of a Letterhead Memorandum, dated O1/03/1997, which contains the current status of captioned matter.

b2 b7D b7C ALL llroammonuonulm I anus rs UNOLABSIFID oATzJ§Lm m@ at $353E? ~ To: FBI Headquarters From: Los Angeles Re: 266ALA~201807, 01/03/1997

b7D b

Several leads remain outstanding at Los Angeles regarding captioned matter. Los Angeles anticipates several interviews of witnesses and victims. Several LAFO files need to f be reviewedfor backgroundinformation onE::::::khereinhe is blc7C referenced, to include the following files:

12-61-0 26-66697 87-473 92-6836 179-914 183-1734

b3 b7C

b7C b7D

It is requested that this Preliminary Investigation be extended thirty days as a result of pending investigation.

ARMD AND'DANGEROUS

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TRANSMIT VIA: PRECEDENCE: CLASSIFICATION: ii Tbkqpe E] Immediate CI TOP SECRET U Priority SECRET DATE: L/LH/1? IX! Routme CONFIDENTIAL UNCLAS E F T 0 PAGE L or E 1 UNCLAS

FM DIRECTOR FBI

TO FBI LOS ANGELEX bbA~LA-E0160?!/ROUTINE/

BT b"/C

UNCLAS

CITE: //D51Il// .921 -_ /V, SUBJECT: N 1 I? ET AL; TUPAC JSHAKUR - VICTIN

DECEASEDH ERIC 9292IRIGHT~| AKA EAZY-EVICTIN DECEASEDH AOT-DT-

DEATH THREATS? O0: LOS ANGELES-

REFERENCE LOS ANGELES EC DATED 11/3/I7.

PRELININARY INQUIRY PI! INITIATED LU/L?/I71 TO EXPIRE ON

1|/1|?/T71 EXTENDED TO E/lb/J7.

PI IS EXTENDED FOR A 30-DAY PERIOD TO ALLOU ADDITIONAL TIME FOR L08 ANGELES T0 DETERMINE wnhuza suaazcw |:|AN» owns ARE

ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN FURTHERANCE OF THEIR SOCIAL

AND/OR POLITICAL GOALS. DURING THIS INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD-| LOX

5_>92 /-' .,'"-r.'.4~I/I ~"-L3 $3 * E A E I *******¥' FOR COMM CENTER usz ONLY ******* W NOTE: Copy Designati Are On The Last Page Of This Teletype!!!

Approved By _ ,_ ,_L__, _ MRI/JUL 3 O7/ ISN Transmitted JAN 3 1% I997 ALL xnroaurxml oolrnnua HIHIII I8 UNCLASSIFIID A @m_1.~.s==;:92:,[email protected]§.P c~rs 0-93A Rev.ouzs/91! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION COMWHHHCATKHTNH%SAGEFURh[

PAGE E UNCLAS

ANGELES SHOULD ATTEMPT To DETERMINE UHETHER THE EXTORTIONATE ACTIVITY BEING CONDUCTED BE mo OTHERS IS To PROVIDEme

FINANCIAL BACKING FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION oa IS ONLY FOR PERSONAL

FINANCIAL GAIN.

IF LOS ANGELES DESIRES FURTHER EXTENSION OF THIS PI A REQUEST FOR SUEH EXTENSION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED T0 THE DOMESTIC

TERRORISM OPERATIONS UNIT1 FBIH01 PRIOR TO THE E/lb/I? EXPIRATION

DATE.

//// 0»93B Rev.01/2s/91! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ' FEDERAL BUREAU OF lNVES'l'IGA'I'lON COMMUNICATION MESSAGE FORM

PAGE 3

!,d?.!11_N 15 lflél IJLF- ?|92L

NOTE! THIS TELETYPE AUTHORIZES A 3UDAY EXTENSION OF CAPTIONED PI- THIS IS THE FIRST EXTENSION OF THIS PI. 92 Draftegi av: @=+;,jg _Room/TL n: 1.1m]. Phon_e,No=__:-I COPY DESI6NATIONS= rw L - MR. b7

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TRANSMIT VIA: . PRECEDENCE: CLASSIFICATION: Teletype E1 Immediate TOP sncmvr Priority SECRET DATE-= 3/1-V *7 [3 Routine CONFIDENTIAL UNCLAS 1: F T 0 PAGE 1. OF 2 UNCLAS

FH DIRECTOR FBI by.

T0 FBI L08 ANGELES ET=bA~LA-BULBS?!/PRIORITY/

UNCLAS

CITE: A //D5+]|//

0 / SUBJECT: I |ET AL-'92 TUPAC SHAKUR - VICTIN 7 J DECEASED!% ERIC URIGHT1 AKA EAZY-E - VICTIM DECEASED!% AOT~DT-

DEATH THREATS% 00: L08 ANGELES.

REFERENCE L08 ANGELES EC DATED E/LE/5?.

PRELIMINARY INQUIRY PI! INITIATED LU/1?/R51 T0 EXPIRE ON

E/LE/371 EXTENDED T0 3/16/17-

PI IS EXTENDED FOR THIRTY DAYS T0 ALLOW TIME FOR L08 ANGELES T0 RECEIVE RESPONSES T0 0UTSTANDING LEADS AND T0 DETERMINE WHETHER THE EXTORTIONATE ACTIVITIES OF SUBJECT ARE IN FLTRTHERANCE

,1 0 aw 1»/9 - 2.0/XD7»//7

II: I 7 I E E IE I ' I E I néastn FOR VCOMM CII;N'fEREU51§C usazsz !NLy

NOTE: Copy Designations re On The Last Page Of This Teletype!!! 13713 Approved By _ _ _ MRI/JUL ISN Trmmilie cZ9'7§Z__._f§B I 8 I997-ALL zlroalurron Oonrgmm , HIHIII IS INCL-A8$ITI@ vm-1-J9_.§J_- ' _ n 0-93A Rev.oms/91! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL.BUREAIIOFINVEFUCMJTON CONHHHUCATUMWNESSAGEFORMI

PAGE E UNCLAS

OF THE SOCIAL AND/OR POLITICAL GOALS OF THE JEUISH DEFENSE

LEAGUE.

IF LOS ANGELES DESIRES A FURTHER EXTENSION OF THIS PI1 A

REQUEST FOR SUCH EXTENSION MUST REACH THE DOMESTIC TERRORISM

OPERATIONS UNIT1 FBIHQ1 PRIOR TO THE 3/L8/R? EXPIRATION DATE.

//// 0-93B Rev.01/25/91! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION COMMUNICATION MESSAGE FORM

PAGE 3

ADI_N_I§TRAT,'[_Y§ NOTE/TIC_KL._EK_ COUNT?

NOTE: THIS TELETYPE AUTHORIZES A 3D-DAY EXTENSION OF CAPTIONED PI. THIS IS THE SECOND EXTENSION OF THIS PI.

Qy~a§te_d__B3¢; __TJ_61j'.j_g Room/TL n=_ 1,S1,1a1.__ __Pij1o_n,e_No: :| cop? DESIGNATIONS: h"/C

192-NR-

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FBI

TRAYSNIIT VIA! l"l' "YEDENCE: [X] Temypg - E; s,-mediate ASSIFICATION: El Facsimile I1-iority TOPSECRET U U Ru-.:ll'll2 SECRET CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASE F T O UNCLAS nm__3/1'1/9? ,1 L23 ' FMFBI LOS ANGELES 66A~LA~201807!_ P!

To nzascwon FBIIROUTINEI

UNCLAS - b7C CITE: //341o=nsn»6// _

PASS: FBIHQ FOR NSD, CT BRANCH, DT SECTION, DTOU. SUBJECT: I l ETAL; TUPACsaaxun- vxcwzm DECE..%ED!: ERIC WRIGHT, AKA EAZY-E VICTIM DECEASED!; AOI-

P" urn THREATS; oo= nos ANGELES.

REFERENCE BUREAU TT DATED 02/1a/91.

PRELIMINARY INQUIRY PI! INITIATED 10/'17/95,TO EXPIRE! 1 '

"-.6/9'7, EXTENDEDTO 3/18/97. '

FOR INFORMATION OF THE BUREAU, CAPTIONED {~¬A1'TEIR EXPIRED

ON O3/18/97. LOS ANGELES CONDUCTED NO INVESTIGATION WAS

CONDUCTED AFTER THE; EXPIRATION DATE.

ALL IQWQTHI ll! S UNCLASSIFI- B$!I»m.s.-.a.~.u_mwaw.%w I

Approved:_O Jr ______O______Original Iel19::- ______m

Time Received: ______~___ Telpn

MRI/JULIAN DATE:

FOX DATE8: TIME OF ACCEPTANCE: i Q _ ~- 0 s-.1 0 =u¢u¢;».<44»=>:>uI-'.U.J . 92 ! D _ ,1».I ' ,J1111- '15 "._

PAGE 2 yazm, 266A-LA201807, UNCLAS .

LOS ANGELES REQUESTS AN mcwmzsxon TO TI-IE PI mm TO RECENT xnronmrzon concanmmAN mnxrxomvxc-rm mm2v|:| [:3 '1':-rsALLEGATION zmnzmwsssopsmwxmBEHALF on 137C or maaswxsa DEFENSELEAGUE w1-111.12 JDL! smonr1uc|:| mu-o REQUESTS PI mxrmrszon T0 as-r:-mums WI-iE.'1'l-IER ms

mzwonwxomws. mrxvrrzss or suacnzcrr Ana IN runzraazumca or was

SOCIAL AND/OR POLITICAL GOALS OF THE JDL.

BT . I I? 2%/§$ mnawwouunn I nErAnJwunn'or1usrunz ' ; FEDERAL.BUREAU M?D§1GATHHi - ~ _ KWNRCATKHiNEAGEIKHMH TRANSMTPWHA: PRECEDENCE: cLAssuncATunm EH Tea" E] hnmamn [3 ITHPSECRET n Pmy smcnmr BA'lE= V1-/W El Routine connmsmmn UNCLAS E F T 0 PAGE I OF 2 UNCLAS

FM DIRECTOR FBI

T0 FBI LOS ANGELES ELLA-LA-EDIBU?HPRIORITYI

UNCLAS

CITE: //lJ5'lI// SUBJECT:I J lav AL% TUPAC l/SHAKUR - VICTIM 7/ - ~ DE EASED!% ERIC HRIGHTw AKA EAZY-E - VI TIH znscsasznaa AOT-DT-

nzawu runzarsa oo= L08 ANGELES. REFERENCE LOS ANGELES cc vars» 3/1?/1?- b7

PRELIMINARY IuauIRv PI! INITIATED In/I?/Rs. cxrcuncn T0

H/L?/1?.

PI Is zxwzunzn FOR THIRTY nnvs TO ALLOH TIHE FOR Lo: ANGELES

T0 RECEIVE RESPONSES T0 oursrannzus LEADS AND T0 DETERMINE

WHETHER THE EXTORTIONATE ACTIVITIES or suauzcr ARE IN FURTHERANCE

a/,#z¢~/a- /./4 - am/W7 ~ /*/7

I I ' I I I I ¢mn:¬;n-fgi USE ' jj92]LYno-lrau NOTE: Copy Designations Are On The Last Page Of This Teletype!!! Mmunn. Approvedliy__T____442%%§§E%Q§QL/ r______lsn ~55 mm l_'"-* APB 0 2 mg!, mrqannxon oolnuw -- IIIIII I8 UIIGLAISIIID ' '' DA'l'I.-ii-J-I--' " 'I! 0-93A Rev.01/25/91! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAI-BUREAU DNHHTGATHMV COMWHHHCNHONDGEEAGEFDRM

PAGE E UNCLAS

OF THE SOCIAL AND/OR POLITICAL GOALS OF THE JEUISH DEFENSE

LEAGUE. _ -

LOS ANGELES IS REHINDED THAT THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL

EXTENSION OF THIS PI. AT THE END OF THIS INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD1

LOS ANGELES MUST EITHER CONVERT THIS MATTER TO A FULL

INVESTIGATION IF UARRANTED! OR CLOSE THIS INVESTIGATION.

//// o_-933 am. 01/15/91! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERALIHHHHJOFINVESHGATKHJ COMmnHCATRMWh$AGEluud

PAGE 3

AIQINISIKAIIIE NOIE/TI§§LE§ CQQNI:

NOTE: THIS TELETYPE AUTHORIZES A 3D-DAY EXTENSION OF CAPTIONED PI. THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL EXTENSION OF THIS PI. 1LU!.9.!i EH _ ]'_92L£LL1l.9I _ _ _R00lI/TL Ji Ill?!! __ _Ph9n.§* NW |

COPY DESIGNATIONS = b7C

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SJBJECT: N | FT AL; TUPAC JHAKUR ~ VICTIH DECEASED!?ERIC HEIGHT; AKA ElZYE VICTIM lDECEl$EDli ADI-

DTDEATH THREATS? OD! LBS ANGELE$- b7C REFERENCE BUREAU TT DATED 02/18/97. - _

PRELIHINQRY INQUIQY PI! INITIATED 10/17/969 TD EXPIRE UN

2/16/971 EXTENDED TU 3/18/97-

FDR INFORMATION UF THE BUREAU; CIPTIUNED MATTER EXPIRED

UN 03/18/97. LOS ANGELES CONDUCTED MD INVESTIGATION AFTER THE exwlnnvzow oats. .

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PAGE THO DE FBTLA 0006 QNCLAS T LOS ANGEL-ES REQUESTS AN EXTENSION TD THE PI DUE TD RECENT INFORMATION CJNCERNING an Aanxnnu-A_ vxcnn NAHED :|ma ALLEGATIDN InP|.ICATE$ ovsanlus S on BEHALFb/C OF THE JEWISH DEFENSE LEAGUE_lJDL} alrULE EXTORTING: LAFU REQUESTS 9! EXTENSION TU DETERMINE WHETHER THE EKTURTTUVATE QCTIVITIES OF SUBJECT ARE IN FURTHERANCE OF THE

SEJCIAL ANOIOR POLITICAL GUQLS OF THE JDL.

#9006

NNNN 2/31/1995!i - I FEDERAL BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 09/22/1997 To: /FBI Headquarters Attn: NSD, CT BRANCH. DTOU Birmingham Boston Cincinnati Dallas Indianapolis Las Vegas New York San Diego ' San Francisco Attn: Santa Rosa RA Seattle

FrOm: Los Angeles NSD-6Contact: SA I *===fs=*lilml-=>bh**? BY= Case ID #= '266A-LA-201807 ~ --T" " Title: | _ AOT-DT-DEATH THREATS;' _ OO: LOS ANGELES

Synopsis: Request for subscriber checks. Previous Title:| I I TUPAC SHAKUR - VICTIM DECEASED!; EAZY-E VICTIM DECEASED!; _ bqp AOTDTDEATH THREATS; " .- O0: LOS ANGELES '

Full Field Investigation Instituted: 04/15/1997.

Details: For information of receiving offices, on October 17, 1996, a preliminary inquiry PI! was initiated at Los Angeles Fi a d i o corroborate known sourceorganizedcrime information figure, t-along with a group of unidentified individuals were utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortion attempts targeted towards two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified. '

92" re orted that 92 kb7D I 1 92 - 92 4 | .1 ALL IIIORIATIOI ooummco 92 !_>1*-'1.i':_.l-Q.'.l..'..§.i:...,,;>':uzuum-I xs mvmssrrzm t M ' To: FBI Headquarters From: Los-Angeles R92 266A'LA20l807, 09/22/1997

JDL, and others yet unidentified have been extorting money from 1 other' rap music subjectsstars via death telephonicmaking threats. The schemethreats death involvesthe to r p s ar. Subjects then intercede by, contacting the victim and offering protection for a fee". Source reported that ERIC b7C WRIGHT, also known as EAZY-E, who owned RUTHLESS RECORDS, - Woodland Hills, California was a victim of this extortion scheme prior to dying fromAIDS.Shad also reportedly targeted TUPAC SHAKUR prior to his recent murder in Las Vegas, Nevada. b'}C

|::::| *i§P, III On March27, 1995, fileda civillawsuit against RONALD SWEENEY, Entertainmen ney for the WRIGHT estate. This lawsuit, titled COMPTOWN RECORDS INC, et a1 V. LAW OFFICES RONALD SWEENEY, et al", civil case number BC 124555 was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, California and pertains fferederty rights ase of RUTI-ILESS two letters RECORDS. During the lawsuit,purportedlysignedby ERIC WRIGHT,letters granting deemewereorged part ownership by an expert of RUTHLESSwitness. . Thedvised the results of this lawsuit were classified confi en ia and b'7C receivedrequire a subpoena, approximately which is $1.5 pending. million Itin the iscourt believed settlemen;that |:l E brgc br/C I h I

2 b'.7C

b7D To: FBI Headquaxcers From: Los Angeles Re: 266ALA-201807, 09/22/1997 b7Q b7D from the aforementioned court settlement.

Los Angeles appreciates the assistance of receiving q offices in this matter. l b'~

LEAD S! :

Set Lead 1:

b7C :2/31/199:! "

|FI5I3lEFlI92l.IBIJFIEUKIJ IF:l|U92II55?T1CiIYT1 !ll

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 10/20/1997 T 0:NSD Los Angeles Attn:Attn . 'TC SAg?:iiff::f?f::::] NS

From: Sacramento l ' Contact: IAI I 6/ b7C Approvedi NBy:

7"; Case ID #= 266A-LA-2oieo7

Full Field Investigation Instituted: O4/15/1997

Reference: 266A-LA-201807 Serial 289 b7C Details: A review of current local directories and Sacramento indices wasnegative for telephone It is noted that is handledPacific by Bell Telephone Company, WhlC now requires a subpoena or court order for any published or nonpublished subscriber information, directed to Custodian of Records, Pacific Bell Telephone Company, 2150 Webster Street, Room 735A, Oakland, California 94612.

,, b7C

ix. ALLIINUBILTIOIOUITAIIQD I/92 1-mansoAwznn;$;sY xv uiwusszrxm % FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS SUBJECT__ _T_l_1pacShakur A

FILE NUMBER _ 266A-LA-ZOl?8O'ZI I ___

SECTION NUMBER ,_ O L I I _

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 10/17/1996

To: FBIHQ Attn: NSD, CT Branch, DTS, DTOU

Los Angeles

From: Los Angeles NSD-6 contact:SA

b7C Approved By: Drafted By: mpbheV C _ 12.7.-L "='. , . ....o__.__ . mmmmn @92°" Title: | ET @~~~m mzza. TUPAC SHAKUR-VICTIM DECEASED!; °920k92kou~lpGU QLU EAZY-E-VICTIM nscmsno!; uusow? 3 AOT"DT-DEATK THREATS; oo= LOS ANGELES

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

Synopsis: Request to open a 266A matter regarding death threats and extortion involving rap music stars TUPAC SHAKUR deceased!, EAZY-E deceased!, and other victims yet unidentified. Details: _Oq_2!11/3§, wriggg ' v

was contacte concerning matter captioned: UNSUB S!; BOMBING OF THE AMERICANARAB ANTI~DIsCRIMINATION COMMITTEE ADC! OFFICE, 1905 E. 17TH STREET, SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, 10/ll/85; ALEXANDER MICHEL ODEH-VICTIM DECEASED!; EXPLOSIVE AND INCENDIARY DEVICE: O0: LOS ANGELES 74A-3595!.

ri 1 ' w advised writer hat WC 10711

| and ofhers yet unfHenfif1ed_avebeen ,;1 ,,<,,-L/,~ /101807-~ ' .,

extorting money from various rap music stars via death threats 0 The schemeinvoives[::::]and. other subjects. I making telephonicdeath threats to the rap star ' 0 Subjects then intercede by - 0 1 n - contacting the victim and offering protection for a fee c The victim- . -and their family - are taken to a safe haven", usually a private estate, and are protected by gun-toting body guards associated with the JEWISH DEFENSE LEAGUE JDL! The subjects Convince . the victim. . they have worked a deal out with. the person s! making the death threats and the threats cease The *7-< . . . . . ' b. /K, victim then pays the subjects for the protection services 7 rendered and resume theirnormal lifestyle with no fear of b' further death threats :identified EAZY-E deceased! who reportedly was targeted by subjects for extortion prior to dying from complications associated with AIDS. EAZY-E resided in Van Nu s, Californi

In addition to the aforementioned, on 10/8/96, Det. LAPD! and writer interviewed a Los Angeles source of proven reliability, concerning the ODEH bombing matter. During that interview source corroborated the above information. According source,[:::::]reportedlyto enliststhe servicesof one not further identified thisat time!,whom source escri e as a capper or ambulance chaser, to assist with the 7 extortion scheme. Source stated that[::::]used this same scheme when he would rip off drug dealers. Source stated the monetary amount being extorted is in the $50,000 range.

Writer is familiar with captioned subjects as their names have surfaced in the ODEH investigation and also a case captioned JEWISH DEFENSE LEAGUE; D5/T; OO: L05 ANGELES" IOOA-LA169742-Closed!.

Since two independent sources have reported captioned matter, it is recommended that a 266A matter be opened and I assi ned] LASD! to writer withas Det caseco agents.nd De D :::::]

60 ~ ~-92 92 ._! ._! CPNet.com - Tupac Shakur Page l of 2

To Front Page - College Press Network Shakur a victim of his message

Rapper cannot escape world he idealized

Tupac Shakur: One of the leading gures of gangsta rap. I993 le photo. .B?_K§MwTN_6_E.6I;éET.,..._M..-.._.._.._..a-n.~.-.._..._.._.._.._,.._..._. CPNet Opinion Editor Last Friday, dozens of Tupac Shakur fans gathered outside University Medical Center in Las Vegas to mourn the death of their slain idol.

Mortally wounded during a drive-by shooting near the Vegas strip, Shakur nally met the end he so . vehemently invoked in many of his songs. But in this time of grief and mourning, what was the real impact of his message?

In a society where racial equality has yet to be reached, Shakur simply polarized the opposing sides with his message of hate and intolerance. Instead of using his talents to bring the races together, he did everything imaginable, whether intentional or not, to make peaceful co~existence impossible.

Living in a country where homicide rates are the highest in the world, Shakur blindly promoted the indiscriminate use of guns and violence to make amends. Shakur even became a victim of his own message when he was shot ve times during a 1994 robberyattempt. Although Shakur tried to convey a positive image of women and fatherhood in some of his early songs, whatever credibility he possessed quickly deteriorated when in 1995 he was arrested and sentenced to jail for sexually attacking a 21-year-old woman

Shal

CPNet.com~ Tupac Shakur - Page 2 of 2 saying: "Thisis so,so sad.Sometimes thelure ofviolent cultureis somagnetic that even when one overcomes it with material success, it continues to call." What I would like to know is what the Rev. Jacksonconsiders overcomingviolence. As I recall, Shakurovercame violenceby explicitly endorsing it.Therefore, hecould never haveovercome it. On the contrary, hejust becameanother victim in a hopelessly tragicway of life hehimself helpedadvance. Of course, Shakuris not alone. Hejoins the long list of "dead heroes" who in living have donetheir partto propagatea perilous way of life withoutregard tofuture consequences. Justas JerryGarcia in his promotion of drug use during the 60s and 70s, Shakurwill forever be rememberedfor leadinga generationdown theroad of neglect anddespair. Unfortunately in our world, all the wrong role models attractthe attention of the masses. Whetherthey beathletes orpoliticians, theseindividuals degradethe most basic valuesof integrity and rectitude.To makematters worse,in shamethey are still heralded by their fellow peers. Tragically, thosewho seekto makea positivedifference, simply go overlooked or are suppressedby the powers that be. It is disappointing that 28 years afterhis death, Dr. Martin Luther King's messageof non-violence and assimilation can be supersededby the narrow, intolerant message professedby individuals such as white supremacists,anti-Semite andin this case, Tupac Shakur.

New index of college newspapers online Subscribe to our free CPNews email service Free stuff Posted: September18, 1996.

Oct 18 1996 08:51 AM Q e Q l ' -92!

Zpac PagesNewzletter Edition2 VolumeI Page 1 of 2

Inside The Mind Of 2pac Shakur I MK ix K if I! K7 I I A,LLI]II"¢""F*92","Y" f~ L -...4-L:-.. .'~'...l:an 1 ,___, Disclaimer: Thefollowin is an excerptfrom VibeMagazine. HERE-W W-l°1~15$Il'13 g me.n92n=pn__,ag - aouowa Qu°92'?.'i.q92O92u8l; qm ~92$°*=i Qxszul There was never a beef, only a difference of opinion. My homeboy Suge gave me the best advice that I could ever get from anybody. When people ask him if he'sbeeng with Bad Boy and with Puffy, he'ssays it s like me going to the playground to pick on litle kids. That's like me being mad at my little brother cause he's getting cash now. I'mnot mad at that, I'm just mad at my little brother when he don'trespect me. And when you don't - respect me, I'mspank a that ass. Idon'tgive a fuck how rich you got tn the block I'm your big brother. I'ma break your big ass down. That's myonly point. I feel as though he wrong, he got out of hand. He got seducedby the power-not because he'sevil an person, but because money is evil; ilit's not handled right. If you lose your composure you could do anything.Fear got stronger than love and uiggas did things that they weren'treallysupposed to do. They know in their hearts, that's theirwhy in hell now.They can't sleep. That'swhy they're telling all the reporters and all the people "Why they doing this? They fucking up hip-hop, blah, blah, blah"cause they in hell. They can't makemoney, they can'tanywhere, go theycan'tlook at themselves causethey know the prodigal son has retui-ned.I'malive; the ghost is walking around. And I'm aroundtalking, in jail Ididn'ttalk. Now, everybody who thinks that I disrespected, I love my eastcoast fans. I'm from there. I'm eatingNew York Pizza, I drive New Yorkjeeps but I'm saying let'skeep it real for a second. If you'rehalfthe lover of music that you are, go back and study. Study how Party And Bullshitwas me before I met Biggie. You don'thear my style in his raps. Studyhow after I met Biggie, Ready To Die comes out and his whole stylechanges study. Study why I would be mad when half of the major NewYork rappers or their managers, or their agents or their somebody wasthere when I got shot-and nobody couldn't give me no information. Juststudy that. Study how when Wu-Tang got their chain snatched atsix-six-duece, I not only found who did it but gave them the message thatif they wanted to see the niggas that

Oct18 1996 08:51 AM yo g 10

ZpacPages Newzletter Edition 2 Volume I Page 2 of 2 did it, they could see them. Man to Man, just you and them-no guns, no nothing if you feel like that. That's all I ask for. If you're going to act like a gangster or a "G" or a king of New York, I'm a expect that. And when you don't come through, then Pmgoing to want to crush your empire. And that's what it's time for. for thelatest on

Visit Y_ibeMagazine Qnline and check out the rest of this interview. Its pretty interesting, and denitely check out the video clips of the interview also available on Vibe Magazine Online.

This Page is Webmastered by Gurjeet Litt [email protected]

Oct 18 1996 ~ 08:51 AM " 92 1 1 4

Shakur Hurtin Drive-By Shooting Page 1 of 3

Shakur Hurt in Drive-By Shooting Controversial Rapper Critically Injured After Tyson Fi A-LL IIV'I'.?8R.lE-§£_.gIUll'CQNTILINED B By SharonWaxmcm ' c929292°92'1l W-1:92'9292a92l SpecialThe to WashingtonPost qU92¥92P92-#10 0 AL,5°; Monday, September9 1996;Page D01 'l"""~$92392-vii q92$7__q92 The WashingtonPost

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8-- "Gangsta" rap star Tupac Shakurwas in critical condition in a Las Vegas hospitaltoday afteran assailantpumped fourbullets intohis headand chestduring a drive-by shootingSaturday night. The 25-year-oldrap starwas shotas heand Marion"Suge" Knight,chairman ofDeath Row Records, Shakur'slabel, were on their way to a nightclub about 11:15p.tn. after watching the Mike Tyson-BruceSeldon heavyweighttitle ght at theMGM Grand Hotel, policesaid.

Shakur underwentemergency surgeryfor multiple gunshot woundsand remainedunder heavy policeand privateguard inthe trauma-intensivecare unit,according toa spokesman for University Medical Center.Knight, 31, was hit in the head-by shrapneland wasreleased from the hospital today.

The shootingwas themost seriousin a string of violent incidents involvingthe rap star, who appeared Wednesdayat theMTV VideoMusic Awards,where heand membersof his . entourage gotinto an argument withseveral menin the lobby of New Yorks Radio City Music Hall. Police werecalled to breakit up.

In November 1994, Shakurwas shotve times in the lobby of a New York recording studio when muggersstealing hisjewelry openedre. He hasspent much of the past2 1/2years in court or in custodyon variouscharges. A handsome,swaggering manwith longeyelashes anda penchant for showy jewelry, Shakur has beena prominent symbol for gangsta rapmusic, enthusiasticallyfollowed by teenage fans and longcriticized by adults for its explicitly violent andsexual images.Saturday's incident underscored thelink betweensome rapstars ~ despite their celebritystatus --and the dangerous milieuthat gave rise to their music. .

Oct 18 1996 08:47 AM __ -.. , .. !

Shakur Hurt in Drive-By Shooting Page 2 of 3

In the weekend shooting, Knightwas driving with Shakur in a convoy of IO cars about a quarter-mile from the glittering casinostrip when a white Cadillac with four people inside pulled up alongside their black BMW and a passenger opened re. Local media reports said dozens of witnesses looked on in horror.

Police said they had begun an investigation into the shooting but had no suspects yet. "Drive-by shootings are not milmown here, but they usually occur between rival gang members whose reasons are for retaliation for other shootings," said Las Vegas Police Lt. Marc Maston. "I can't tell you the motivation behind this."

But he said police were optimistic they would nd the assailants. "This particular incident apparently had several witnesses. If they are credible, with good information, this should be solvable."

Spokesman for Death Row Records could not be reached for comment as to possible motives for the shooting. Shakur said earlier this year that he believed the 1994 robbery-shooting was a setup, fueling speculation in the hip-hop industry that rivalry between East Coast and West Coast rap labels may have taken a violent turn.

Shakur himself has had many run-ins with the law in recent years. In June, the singer faced a l20day sentence for probation violations stemming from offenses including assault and battery and a 1994 sexual abuse conviction in New York. He had been allowed to remain free on $1.4 million bail -- paid by Death Row Records -- pending his appeal.

Shakur served ll months in prison for his involvement in the attack on a 21 -year-old woman in a New York hotel room. He had been convicted in Los Angeles of assault and battery on a music video producer and for carrying a loaded, concealed weapon, and was scheduled for sentencing this week on the weapons charge. But in the world of rap, Shakur's convictions seemed only to enhance his status. His fourth solo album, "All Eyez on Me," a two-volume, 27-track recording featuring guest turns by fellow rappers_$_r3oopAIQoggy Dogg, l§appin' 4;'l_"ay and__Method Man, debuted earlier this year and has sold more than 5 million copies. His previous album, MeAgainst the World, had the dubious distinction of being the rst album to reach No. 1 while its singer was in prison.

Shakur also starred opposite Janet Jackson in the 1993 movie "Poetic Justice" and has been working on another lm, "Gridlock." In interviews earlier this year, Shakur had said he was tired of living up to his outlaw image, one he had chronicled in a tattoo on his chest that pronounced "Thug Life. "

"l lived Thug Life," he said. "It was stupid . . . it's suicidal."

But the rapper also said that he expected he would die violently. In July, Shakur told the British newspaper the Observer: "It's going to happen. All the [black people] who change the world die in violence. They don't get to die like regular ways. {Expletives] come take their lives."

Oct 18 1996 0g;47 AM Q Qt 1

Shakur Hurtin Drive-ByShooting Page 3 of 3 @CAPTION: TupacShakur inNew Yorkat the MTV VideoMusic Awards,three days before the attack.

@CAPTION: RapperTupac Shakur,shown herelast week,took fourbullets inthe headand chest ina drive-byshooting Saturdaynight in Las Vegas.

Backto the tog

Oct 18 1996 08:47 AM 1 _ 3 ~ J Tupac and the Fall on the Road to Calvary Page I of 4 T upac and the Fall on the Road to Calvary

By Jordan Pelaez F 7 77777 ' T77" 7 The rst time l entered the gallery in The Prado where Raphael's The Fall on the Road to Calvary ca.15 l 7! hangs, I simply stared at this monstrous ten foot high, eight foot wide canvas, and let the tears ow for ten minutes. If the friendI l I was with hadn't snapped me out of it, I might still be in Al.-... in WW ,,,. Madrid. - I parenting 3=tu°92§LZ.*' mg. 1 n

I knew those looks well. They were the looks, I thought that rst time, that passed between my wife and my daughter as the latter lay dying of cancer. But further viewings brought me to a different understanding. My own face once bore one of those looks, and so does the face of every mother, and every child, who faces an untimely death.

So when I got the news that Tupac Shakur had died of his drive-by wounds, I thought instantly of his mother. Given the life of distress that Tupac and his mother lived, how many times had they shared such glances, held them, broken them off only because the pain of sustaining such moments of intensity is nally too much for any heart to bear?

The other day on the AOL discussion group The Velvet Rope, some fool mocked the idea that Tupac could be compared in any way to John Lennon. But Tupac and Lennon and Elvis at least had this in common: The rst, perhaps greatest, love of their life was their mother. And this is no small thing, because all of them made some of their most important music because of it: Lennon's "Julia," the early Elvis ballads that are clearly directed at his mom catchthe end of his second lm, Loving You!, and Tupads "Dear Mama."

Oct 18 1996 08:48 AM O O s Cl Tupac and the Fallon theRoad toCalvary Page 2 of 4

Of course,thafs not the only comparison, oreven necessarilythe mostimportant onethat could bemade between Tupac and thegreat rockrebels. Fools are reluctant toadmit Tupacto full equality in this matter, becausethat would mean admittingother things.For instance,that Tupac equaledthe greatsin theemotional intensityand rhythmicpower ofhis records.Or that themajority ofTupacs songswere uplifting,positive, respectfulof women,and concerned withencouraging young black men notto commitcrime, which he generally portrayed asa foolish and uglything evenwhen it'sseductive orunavoidable. wouldIt require admittingthat Tupacwas sentto prisonfor acrime that white rock starshave committed, andcontinue to commit, with absoluteimpunity. It would require acknowledging that althoughTupac did once shoot twomen, itwas inself-defense; theywere off-duty Georgia copswho haddrawn downon himin theafter-midnight streetsof Atlanta. It would require recognizingthat Tupacis not the only rock starwith unsavoryassociates.

But refusingto allow Tupac to enter thelists of rock's greatsfallen isthe leastof the sins fools makewhen talkingabout them.These fools,who includejust about every writer I've read onthe subject,spend alltheir time avoiding asimple truth: Tupac wasnot a murderer; he gotmurdered. Hewasnot the criminal this time; he was thevictim of a shooting.But of course, if you tell the storythat way,you cantcome outand say,as themedia from Newsweek toThe VillageVoice havedone, thatthis thuggishyoung niggergot what's coming tohim. _

On thatbasis, sodid Jesus,who preferredthe companyof whores,thieves, taxcheats from the governmentend!, andother miscreants.Not that Tupac wasanything like Jesus. Butthose Bible storiesexist to try to teachus notabout Jesusso muchas aboutforgiveness and compassion. Whatcases likeTupac's over prove, and over again,is thatwe livein atime and a place where theconcept offorgiveness doesnot exist. Our societyisn't about forgiveness, it's aboutvengeance--which, it'stempting tosay, isone reasonit turns out so much artlike Tupac's,so andlittle like Raphael's. i Z in i i i But that wouldn'ta terribly be accurate thingto say, either. Inthe rst place, Raphael'ssociety isour society--the hideousAmerican culturallandscape of today grew straightup outof theculture that l produced the Renaissance,and the colonialism that i brought Tupac's ancestorsand my own to America. And while it may be truethat Raphael'sworld valued harmonyand orderfar more than ours,that's mostly trueof its artistic productions--formost people, who hadno accessto art at all, the Renaissance worldwas amiserably impoverished l and dangerous placeto dwell.

It may be true,as JohnBerger putsit in his new book, Titian:Nymph andShepherd Prestel, $24.50!, that"our century[is]...always searchingfor rageand wisdom,rather thanharmony." But it is not the declineof belief in God or theholy RomanCatholic churchor the clinical application ofthe artisticvalues ofthe Renaissancethat hasmade itso. It is rather theway we haveallowed theother side-~thecolonizing, predatory,"nature redin tooth and claw"

Oct l8 1996 08:48 AM 0 0 w T! Tupac andthe Fallon theRoad toCalvary Page 3 qf4 side--to dominate.In the society thatworships notGod orJesus butthe freemarket, competition and"the sanctityof the contract," compassionand forgivenesshave beenerased. When wasthe lasttime youoffered acold cupof waterto thesick orvisited theimprisoned?

But no artist is bound entirely by the prejudicesof his time. Greatartists transcendour everyday pettiness.There isno excusefor the Tupac lyricsthat demeanother people, and in portraying violencewith so much explicitnessthat it became forsome sadsouls allegedly attractive, heplayed a dangerous game.Great art,we havebeen reassured,escapes the small-minded bigotryof its time. Maybenot always.If we looked atThe Fall on the Road to Calvary theway the art of Tupac andother rapperformers isusually seen,Jesus andMary would not be thecentral gures. For standingjust aboveJesus inthe picture,closer toits center andwith a more directly active rolein the proceedings, isa large muscular man.His head isturned tothe right,where a mountedRoman ofcerwaves papers at him; thisis surely Simonthe Cyrene,the manwho accordingto the gospels wasordered tohelp Jesus carry thecross afterhe stumbled.Simon is represented here,however, inanother umnistakable way:Raphael drewthis Libyan Jew, aloneamong thecompany, witha huge hooked nose,which in his time wasa way of saying "Hymietown." Judgedthe way our society judgesrap--by caricature,not context-TheFall on the Roadto Calvary is antisernitic.

According to Luke 3:28-31!, the womenlooking on weptwhen Jesus stumbled, and hefound the I energy tospeak tothem. "Daughtersof Jerusalem,"1 Luke hashim say, "weep notfor me,but weepfor l yourselves, andfor your children. Forbehold the days arecoming in the which they shallsay, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never . bare, andthe papswhich nevergave suck.Then shall theybegin to say tothe mountains,Fall onus; and tothe hills,Cover us."' , If I do notquite believethat wehave reachedthose i days,Tupac is one ofthe reasons.With allmy heart,I wishthat hehad hadthe timeto grow in wisdom and maturity;that hecould have avoided thelethal situationsinto which he continued to fall. But I have seen his video for l Ain'tMad At Cha" and I know that he had come muchfurther alongthe paththan thosewho treathim as if he were themurderer.

That videohas mostlybeen describedin terms of its sensational openingmoments, inwhich T upacis shot in the chest anddies, "just like in reality"; and inevitably, in terms of the dead musical celebritiesthat Tupac then encountersin heaven.But thosedetails havenothing todo with what the video is about,nor is it surprising that folks would rathertalk about anything else, including trivia. Becausethe truetopic of "I Ain'tMad At Cha" isprecisely compassion and forgiveness. In thevideo, Tupacforgives everyone-~thebrothers knownand unknownwho couldnot stay the course,his partnersin ThugLife, themother aboutwhom hismusic oftenexpressed such deep but conicted emotionbut whostayed besidehim thatlook undoubtedlyupon herface! that longweek inthe hospital,those whocondemned himfrom thestart andalong the way.

Oct 18 i996 08:48 AM 92 .. , ! f Tupac andthe Fallon theRoad toCalvary Page 4 of 4 He alsoprays forother ghettoyouth tohave a better chance--anda happier result. Thevideo's nal images tell the true story.The friendwho waswith Tupacwhen hewas shotdresses up, visits hisfriend's then grave, goes home, wherehe hugs mother, wifeand babygirl. Fadeto a black screen,on which is written: Dedicated toMutula Shakurand GeronimoPratt. Tupac's fathers. Inthe end,the sonforgives hisfathers, whichis asclose asI could imagine anyone coming in this life to reachinga kind of emotionalmaturity. Wewill not be permittedto knowwhat kindof grownman ormature artistTupac Shakur might havebecome. Thosewho donot thinkthis isa tragedy, or believethat whathe had done tohim isonly whathe haddone toothers, missthe pointfar, farmore thanthose ofus who, all along, forgavehim his sins becauseof his talent © CopyrightI996. The Unofficial DeathRow HQ.All RightsReserved

Oct 18 1996 08:48 AM 0 Q 4 , t '3

2pac PagesNewzletter Edition2 Volume1 Page 1 of2 2p acNewz ~Hs~..a'".s..ma1ass§@m*a " °9292m.LwEmmQL_B queues- * ""* -""" "r"" * " * ******* u$q Meow °9292Sa=-it Tupac Shakur has lined up his next acting gig. The rapper will co-star opposite Tim Roth in the dark comedy "Gridlock." Actor Vondie Curtis Hall wrote the script and will direct. The movie is about two druggies who want to go straight, but can'tget into any rehab centers. They are framed for the murder of a drug dealer andthen the police comeafter them aswell as the real murderers. Tupac has also completed the script for an up coming movie called "Live to Tell", he will also be staring in this one.

Back in April Zpac was sentencedto 120 days for violating his parole, he was to start serving this sentence on June 7/96 but the judge granted him an extention until Tupac has nished production on an upcoming movie. Tupac is appealing this sentence, and the word right now is that he should win. Zpac will you please stay out of jail!!!

Last Month 2pac appeared in court to face Illegal weapon charges and instead of the Judge giving Tupac jail time, he ordered Zpac to put on a benefit concertin Californiafor underprivillaged youths.

AsI had stated lastmonth in IQ ZpacPagesN ewzletteglpac has nished making two videos, "2 of Americaz ost an e , and How Do U Want It". Well, 2pac is also making a video for his new track called "Hit Em Up", which is not avaliable on his new album So, y'allbe on the lookout for that.

NEW ALBUM, Zpac will be releasing a new album. The material on this newalbum will be similarto "Me Against theWorld". A release datehas not been set yet.

Within the month, there will be anOfcial 2pac Homepage comingup on the net,I will post theaddress assoon as I recieve it. On the Ofcial 2pac Homepage youwill be able to purchase thosehard to nd singles andother merchandise, aswell askept upto date with 2pac'sfuture projects.

Oct 18 1996 08:48 AM .-'-92. ! _i I

Zpac PagesNewzleer Edition2 Volume1 *_ ' Page 2of 2 . 92____,...... ,_ '~ ThisPage is Webmastered b'{GurjeetLitt [email protected] "--~.._ _ ,-

Oct 181996 08:48 AM v I I i ' 5!

Zpac PagesNewzletter Edition2 Volmne1 Page 1 of 2 The New 2pac Track c

There was someconcern from some ofyou that I was being hypocritical because I praised the 2Pac record that attacks bad boy while at the same time I've been advocating peace...I wanted to clarify a couple of points... First and foremost..I'm denitelyforpeace.. If there is anyway I can help facilitate that.. I would and will do that.. One of the things I would most likely not do is play the song on my radio show without a briefcommentary before and after.... What I rst thought about hit u up wasits ferocity.. It was a straight up dis song... and in the context of throwingdown and being com petetive on wax..I likeed it on that level.. Up untilnow people have been beating around the bush.by using fancy metaphorsand similes and saying something but not saying nothing..ie LALA.. The 2Pac song reminded me 0LTim.. .. and my rst thoughts werewillTim Dog come back I with a resp0nse...after I printed the message..Iremembered that he did..but it was weak... So really I guess I just liked thedirectness of the song and considering whatwas said some of the remarkswerein line... ie Mobb Deep _ a week after 2Pachad beenshot weredown inwashingtonn<:6ii'si'ga"""'" making jokes about it.. They kept saying theyknew who shot Pac...So they got stepped too...Because if it'sBiggie/Zpac a thing..why is Mobb Deep enetring the arena..? Chino..who I like alot, alsospoke.. In one of hisrhymes he spoke about getting bent over in jail like2Pac.. There was a rumor going around that said he got pumped in jail..Again why jump in?..So Pac called them outon record..Now atthis juncturein the game oneof two things will happen..either thisdissing onwaxwill continue..orfools willsit downand talk and work it all out..ortheyll do like Luke and Dre did make dis records so they all make money.. I will admit..Pac went a bit too far by talking about Biggie's wife..Butas a straight up dis record which we have always had in hip hop..I found the song funny... I think at this point in time.. the wars will cease..... and soon these records will retire and be viewed the way we look at Me Shan and KRS-One...old battle records.. And if folks recall there was an awful lot of tension between BDP and the Juice Crew back then..

Davey D M1,, n~n3'onMA'r10192IUONTAINED http://www.daveyd.comDATE9215W B HEREIN _e gybaazQuwuug §§%§ sq on 18 1996 Qusou, <3 °92 92s'2_1.92os;49 AM l s ', Q

Zpac Pages Newzletter Edition 2 Volume 1 Page 2 of 2 What are your comments, do you think Zpac is justied in making this track? And for all of y'allthat have heard this track Hit Em Up", What do you think? Is it on point?

This Page is Webmastered by Gurjeet Litt yu108654@,yorku.ca

QC! I8 1996 08:49 AM . ~v to Eazy-E "TheHip-Hop Thugster" Page 1of 2

Sunrise Z 963 ' Sunset1995 ____ This pageis dedicated in thememoYy'<¬Ei'ie Wright R.I.P!! "Eazy-E" I IIII I I * I~ I I I I I I I II I II I I I<;I' __i 1" II_I_I_*: i II I cameEric "Eazy-E"to theblacks Wright gotthe insituration whole theAmericanU.S.A plusthe restinof the comunitythemiddleworld towake the up ofwhenUnder 80's. itT his alias,Eazy-E, hestarted a record comapny, -RuthlessRecords-, withhelp of moneythat he hadcollected asa smallthief and drug-dealer, andcreated thegangsta-rap, a part of hip hop thathad millionsof headlines worldwide. 31years old,he died,only 2 months after that he fund out that he had AIDS.

He wasborn in Compton ina middle-class familyin 1963,he losthis grip in the teenages and becamea criminal, the lifeas a small gangsta didn'thave the plans forthe futurethat Eazy-E were dreamingi-of,-_~so-after "cemtéateathe schoo-l,~ he started in themusic buisnes. Together wiih__I_'c"e-Cube,Dr.Dre,MC Ren and D_JYella, 1986he puttcdtogether of theone most controversialrap~groupever, N.W.A Niggaz WithAttitudes!. Whentheir "Boyzn the Hood" startedto conquerthe lists in USA, they puttedCompton andLos Angeleson the rap-map. Withfat basesand heavyfunk, Boyz n'Hood the soonbecame thenational-song of hip hop.Everybody thatwere livingin theso calledprojects" suddenlyhad somethingthat was their,a songwith lyrics that showedthe hardreallity that got -the"white America" to tripp. That wasjust the begining. WithN.W.A, RuhtlessRecords gota dream start and1989 the album Straight outta Compton, that wasa real classic wereout. Thefans selebrated.With soungs likeFuck thePolice andGangsta, Gangstamade theFBI andthe LAPDto shake teeth andthe politicansstarted toshow interestsin hip hop butnot in a positive way. The gangsta rapalso splittedinto two camps betwenthose whothought N.W.Ajust descrined things asthey wereand thosewho thoughtthat hip-hophad aresponsibilty totake andno encurige andglorify that violence thatwas aboutto stranglethe Latin Americans andthe black people.

In the middle of that Eazy saw howhis life work wasfailing apart. Ice-Cube left first, then to be followedby Dr.Dre that started Deth_I§g!y_Recordstogether withSuge Knight,with artists likeSnoop Doggy Doggp Tha Dogg Poundtatttong others.was It hardfor Eazy-E when Dr. Dre left Ruthless Recdrdsr--Dr:"Dre were the inventor of the West Coast sound and Eazy, thatactually didn'tdo so much on the records suddenlybecame a second-part-gure on the rap-stage.Plus thatthe oldmembers sueeach other,and ifthat wasn'tenough, theycame out with solo albumswere theydidn't for back anything just to diss eachother,Eazy-E eaven publicat picturesof Dr. Dre ineye-liner andlipstick on his second soloalbum, It'son Dr.Dre! 187 um Killa 1993. Eavendogh it wasn'tEazy-E easy, continiudeon his way, hard-headed hestuck to his visionsand hisgangsta mentality.His recordswasn't sellin'as Au. nt't~c:-it/mrtoitCON'1AJ1l'ED Oct 181996 HEREIN 1'3 UKCLASSIFgag - Qt! 03349 AM mTE°929292ot'2.L 3 ° "1 ' <>.92~.> i.§£§??.anew .2 er iv Eazy-E "TheHip-Hop Thugster" Page2 of 2 good anymore,but 1994,he gotinto contactwith thegroup BoneThugs n'Harmony" from Cleveland. Eazy-Ehad nosefor talents,and Ruhthlessonce again had a groupthat could sell millions of records.

Just then,fate strokewith all it's power.Eazy-E's buring self lifestyle demanded it'stribute. A cold showedup tobe ainamation ofthe lungs,may seemslike a piece of cake,but notin this case.AIDS the doctors conrmedand twomonths laterhe wasdead. Aer ll 523 days on theearth, EricWright died the 26thMars 1995,in a hospital bed, withonly his family at his side.The gangstapionee Eazy-Edidn't becameno victim of a bullet, it wasAIDS, amuch bigger threatto thehumanity thanthe gangstas. R.I.Pi PERSONSHAS SHOWED THAT ARN'TYOU FOROGTEN! This pagemight be good, butit ain'tthe official, so checkOut TheReal OneOut!

Some Lyrics , Just TahLet Ya know Str8 off tha streetz ofmuthaphul-akin Compton!Wut would U do Str8off tha streetz of muthaphukkin' Compton!Exxtra specialthankz Its on Dr.Dre! l87um killa! 4 tha E video verision! Yella - One moe niggato go! Phat Link l .

Egy-E Homepage Ea_zy-E Memorial Page Ruthless Records Official Site Ofcial Eazy-E Homepage Bone Thugs n' Harmony Dead Celebrities _ Dead CelebritiesEazy-E pagg Another Eazy-Epage Kxayzids Homepage Send your comments [email protected]

[ OtherUsers |E] This serviceis providedby ConceptSystemdesign AB The materialon thispage arethe responsibilityof its author, notConcept SystemdesignAB.

Oct 18 1996 ;49 AM Q! DEAD CELEBRITIES:EAZY-E ERICWRIGHT! Page 1 of 1

We-E _ Eric Wright! 1963-1995 .

Eric Wrightwas bomin Compton,California toa middle-class family in1963. As a teenager, Ericmuch had troublefor with thehopethe law,Eric but hefound school nis::i thatlife in as a small-time became1986 andgangsta as didn't teamedgive he him Eazy-E with Ice-Cube, Dre,.MCDr. Remand J Yel orming one ofthe mostcontroversial groups rap in history,N. WA.ND?!/.:»t;'put on thegangmap withtheir hitalbum Boyzn the Hood, and gaveLos Angeles/Comptonrap credibility in the rap scene.

Eazy-E's RuthlessRecords, startedwith money he collectedas asmall-time thief and drug dealer, foundits rst hit with Boyz nthe Hood,but thatwas justthe beginning.Straight Outta Comptonwas RuthlessRecords nextrelease, andit proved as big a hit as Boyzand just as controversial.Songs likeFuck thePolice andGangsta, Gangstarubbed policeand politicians thewrong wayand gaverap abad namein non-rap circles. Thisonly proveda challenge toEazy, whothought thathip-hop hada responsibilityto shedlight on the violence that Latin and African Americans wereliving with every day.

At this time, N. W./1. started tofall apart.Ice-Cube wasthe rst to leave,planning a solo-career, and Dr. Dre wasn'tfar behind. Dre went on to start Death Row Records, and the animosity between Eazys Ruthless Records and D_re's RowDeath had begun. Lawsuits between N.W.A.'s membersand public battles betweenthe nowestranged rappersmade more headlines thenthe artiststhemselves. Eazy-E'ssecond soloalbum It'son Dr. Dre! ]87um Killa, releasedin 1993, was adirect attack onDr. Dre and thepublic lost interest asthe original vision of Eazyswork waslost. Eazy gotback ontrack when,in 1994,Ruthless Recordssigned Clevelandrapyartists Bone Thugs nHarmony. As Eazy wasclimbing back onto hisfeet, he was diagnosedwith the AIDS virus. Two monthslater, onMarch 26, 1995, EricWright, betterknown asEazy-E, was dead. Eazy-E biographyedited fromthe Eazy-E:The Hip-HopThugster page. With specialthanks toNils Hagmark

Oct 18 1996 08:49 AM 0, ..o 2pac Pages Newzletter Edition 2 Volume 1 Page 1 of 3

Fresh Out Of Jail

Street Heat representatives met up with Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas during November 1995. Pac and tha Dogg Pound performed after the Holyeld-Bowe ght at Club 662. Everybody was there...incIuding ,Rappin' 4-Tay, Tha Alkaholiks, Pepa, and the posse down with Pac and tha Dogg Pound. On the day of the show we caughtup with Pac and kicked it for awhile. '

We were in the back of the club in owner Suge Knight's ofce. Suge, you may know, is the owner ofDeath Row Records. Suge and Death Row now handle Pac'scareer and Pac spent the month of November in the studio runnin through the nal touches of his double album.

So, Pac, a lot of people want to know, since Death Row Records put up your bail money, is that why you left Interscope? '

"It didn't have nothing to do with the money," said Pac. "It had nothing to do with the bail. I was already, um, I hollered at Suge before the bail situation when I was still an imnate in the correctional facility and I was looking at like serving three years, I called Suge and said, yo, I want to be with the Row. I want you to manage me because I'm in jail--and no one is handling my bizniz while I'm injail, nobody's putting it down like I want to put it down. I knew he's a man that would put things down. I trust him, his word, you know, um. I really couldn't trust nobody in bizniz no more, °929292°921§- so I c ose him <%ou»9292u=92l you know?" ALL rrannnrINFORMATION rs onenessCONTAINED f>'~g-HQ °'° °9292<92ko55Ci°92 is "2_u,92 Wasn't it during the time that Interscope was rumored to be leaving Warners and all that?

"Yeah, that was another factor," replied Tupac. "Because I was like, 'Dang,they don't care aboutus. I mean, it's not Interscope's fault, but they really don't owe us anything and at any minute we could be you know, alone without a contract aer you put all your heart on the line, your music on the line, you went out there and gave all your talent up and all of a sudden, it's not good enough any more and they'll kick you off. So I was like, by going to Death Row, it's like two superpowers joining up. You know, it would be similar to the US and England teamin up against anybody, youknow what I mean? So I felt it was likejoining two super powers. And if rap music was going to have to ght for its right to be uncensored, then this was the team for me to get on, to wage that battle."

Did jail change your perspective on the world?

"Yeah...Doing eleven months of maximum security penitentiary time for a crime you didn't

Oct l8 I996 08:49 AM 2pac PagesNewzletter Edition2 Volume1 Page 2 of 3

commit would definitely makeyou a little bitter," said Tupac."But I'mtrying not to be bitter. I'm totrying letthat bemy ambition.Now Imvery ambitious.This yearwill marka new ground forTupae whereI'm relentless.There's boundaries. no I'mnot looking at nostop signs. I'mgoing full speed ahead.I'm planningon touching everything withmy nameon it, and there'sa lot of stuff with my nameon it, so I'mout there. S0 I got with the Row, that's move numberone, I wrote a movie, that'smove numbertwo. Did the doublealbum -- 1at's never been done before -- that'smove number three. Got the divorce, that's move number four. And now it'sjust about standing bymy grind,stay up onmy music,stay outof trouble."

Tupac has often said that the media have misrepresented him.What is the real Tupac Shakur like?

"I-Ie'shuman a beingwith all sides," repliedPac. "Multi~faceted,ups anddowns. Goodsand bads. Mistakes.Everything, youknow. All they wantto show is one side, which is distorted. That'sdistorted a view.S0 what I said was true.If they would showthe goodthings and the bad things,I would have nocomplaints, andit would even makethem look better. Whenyou 'show just medoing all this badstuff, then people gonnajust start thinking like wait a minute, this dude can'tdoing be all this badstuff. I mean, come on. They don't nothingshow else. S0 it's reallyhelpin' cause me, it'smaking it look one-sidedand untrue.But the thing that bothers me isthat it'sjust not across theboard. Theydo thisto rappersor yotmg black males --inner city people. You know, they do that to us butthey don'tdo that for everybodyelse. Butthat bothers me,but I'mnot gonna harp on everythingthat's unfair,cause life is unfair. Nobody said it'sgonna be easyor fair. I'meven notgonna trip off it. I'mjust gonnapush forward. When Istop, I stop. When thewheels fall off, the wheelsfall off. But until then I'mgonna put the foot to the metal." t < t Tupac has already starred in a number of movies including "Above the Rim" and "Poetic Justice." So weasked what his future acting projects are.

"I just wrote a movie called "Live To Tell." We talking aboutdoing a movie now, me and

Snoop, thatPooh isworking on, and everythingelse isbefore me.I haven'teven started I looking into that, but it's goingdown. "

Tupac talked about his upcoming double album, the rst by a hip-hop star.

"The lastalbum wasone sideof Tupac," he said."And it'sthe other side, youknow what I J mean?I did what I had to do with "Me Against the World" as faras lettin'people knowthat rappers thinkand wefeel andwe care.I did that. Now it'stime for me to just get into the music. This album is more like about unrestricted.I'm rying not to tell a message. I'm just getting alot of frustrations out from being injail for elevenmonths. Andjust speaking my mind, talking about thingsthat I seeand just groovin', havingfun. They likemore upbeat tracks thanthis. My last albumwas kinda sad and down.This oneis like way high. There's

Oct 18 1996 08:49 AM _ P sq P P 1 Zpac PagesNewzletter Edition2 VolumeI Page 3 of 3

only two slow songson there." Street Heat gives propsGeorge Pryceand GregHoward ofDeath RowRecords forgetting us with Tupac.

Street Heat Homepage

This Page is Webmasteredby Gurjeet Litt [email protected]

Oct 18 1996 08;49 AM - >.-

t ! ~ 92

lap star Tupac Shakur is gunned down againthis time in Las Vegas

v 1 I i i I I 92

Though Shaluir renounced the 1hu¢li!e" In 1995. violence caught up with the rlooer and producer linlghl aboveleft. in Las Vegas last hnttlryl near the Vega! Strip right!. _ 'I II z -Q.-_ uh!" 92__' 'J:=-1.5:!" -e _ .. .1;-:1-a-.- " .;-ii,-'3.-¢.,,§3;_."" 0 ONE CAN saw THAT TUPAC Row Records label, stopped for a light ~ . -~.:s;="é ~-5-*»I"'§~ift".°i=TIa.~"7'=<':;::?"=:»s-.1 3 Shakur hasn't experienced near the Strip while riding in Knight'syq; =~"-., 3- 1 t'?*.¬_s;=1.;.» !'-!t:.l:f"-;;¢j<;.Lf; 3-,4.-. »_ 2 =i_ 1"- 4 :.., -'-V. §.~ ~ *@.. - i..-. - - .-1». »» rsthand the gangsta life he black BMW 750. A late-model white t*L~_.,.'_,-;_ 1."-'lif-'1>;;'-. Q ,, e» -,,.,,..'-. " '..- 3'-is-.~.,. ....MH ' raps about. Two years ago, Cadillac pulledup alongside them. and V wtizrzetiirlzae-241:.»he while awaiting the verdict and his someone unleashed a hail oi bullets -.-W ~i¢¢?,;§r.¢--'-- =n?a'. x - »=a*~.'-.4-= eventual imprisonment on rape into the passenger side of Knight's car ;,~:.*.;.¢,- 3 -w ,. as yT*=~.;~,-.55; »-;<.§,-==.»:'-' ». .3-.1; /we --~>s;:-:- l ii» .".=-M. Bi-'-,..A - ¢5§'*% . §~;5;'_:f'>92,~".};.,.-_£}_§;t|".3'i~' charges. he was beaten, robbed and before speeding away. knit?- ' "*"*<2 'vf't"t"" -""'"->itv'- ~- shot ve times outside a Manhattan The 31-year-old record executive ,_~¢ar;.'-. '_1:. . . _ ',_ -- ,. f ~". .0. 1.7- . W-M-?:l::'92"'-";':§;-_-4*t"t.~-",>?'»;.i" '..?I§=_».":r-.-,;'-.'.;'= recording studio. Shaker. now 25. sur- suffered only minor injuries. but . ';, $"?'l" .- - - -w_-:7 . . ..-.-,. 1",.",I »-- " ..,; ,1 3-.. ms £1 ., , _' 1;=7,,,,_:_;_t'§.'..¥'-"s'~, ..e;-"$11,435; vived the attackand even bragged Shakur was severely wounded in his -:?»i;- - '--, _.-. kn '3-iii-.92*¢i_./,_ .0-I -. -it "'1 . .P' about it on his latest album. this year'schest. pelvis and hands. He was taken All Eye: an Me "veshots and they to Las Vegass University Medical At midweek he remained in critical still couldn't kill me"!. Last week in Center, where doctors performed condition. and his prognosis was Las Vegas. after he attended a Mike three emergency surgeries to repair guarded. But there was no doubt about Tyson ght. danger came calling again. internal injuries and to remove his the support the singer, whose All Eye: At 11:15 pm. on Sept. 7. Shakur and right lung. Four days later. Shakur was has sold more than 5 million copies, Marion Suge" pronouncedShoog! still bleeding internally as doctors was receiving from other black Knight, the head of Shakur's Death searched frantically for the source. celebrities. his family and friends. In ma/as PEOPLE T5

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'o9292°->'2}l l I _ f8l_-.L0§_Alj§Q[§ i i i9!!/AN > llSU!lIl>ra L an image he hasto Y Thislrllldylull hmbmrheart, keep upto sell up nlnle inducer Bradllrevoyol Shaltur records." H78a Ion SatvrdaylgblliulnFdruaryl. friend lhouf Shaina": gangsta pose. Butat the Sept.4 MTV Awards, Shaltur Milli, Iilb $0000 DOES! DogglMIT! came tohlmn with fellow reaperNos.

Y His not the bad personevery- one thllh he la," says ex-wile Keisha Mania,who stood byShaltur as he recoveredtron: a 1994 shooting tive isreputed tohave tiesto the lbolmv.New Inl rm Bloods streetgang. Clul. For Shakur,who oncestudied the- ater atthe BaltimoreSchool forthe artist managerJoan Hyler,stresses Arts and drew praisefor his sensitivity that the singer wasnot toblame forthe and socialconsciousness, shooting the shooting. Justbecause he'shad prob- comes ata time when heis free on $1.4 lems inthe past, is it fair to condemn million bail posted by Knight!, while him?" Hylerasks. "He'sextremy tal- appealing hisrape convictionand mak- ented andbright. I just ho n dis- inga concertedeffort tokeep two ca- tance himselffrom his ." Shakur's ex-wife KeishaMor ' , with whom he reers ontrack. Shakur,who starredin l992's]uicewith and Janet Jackson in remainson g rms, says, He'san I993s Hxticjuslirc,recently returned entertainer ta gangster. Asa per- to makingmovies. Hislatest, Gridlock, son. Tu is verymisunderstood." a dark comedy costarringPulp Fic!|'on's in fa t the shooting itselfseems Tim Roth,is dueout in February.And equally difcultto fathom. Las Vegas just theweek beforehe was shot. police. whosay theyhave no leads. Shakur wrappedGang Related.in which complained theythat werereceiving he playsa corrupt cop. He wasa great little cooperationfrom anyonein spirit onthe set,positive uplifting,"and Shakur'scamp, even though there says Gangproducer BradKrevoy. were about10 carsfull ofbodyguards Considering whatyou heardabout and friendswith Knight.'l"hey're him, thatwas allin hispast." telling usthey didn'tsee anything and What effectthe shootingmight don't know anything," Lassays Vegas have onShakur's asa per-future Metropolitan PoliceSgt. KevinMan- former remainsto beseen. Theques- ning. He adds thatpolice haveconclud- tion lastweek was.Would hesurvive? addition histo mother.Afeni Shakur,a ed theshootings arenot relatedto a While hecontinues battleto forhis shouting matchShakur gotinto with life, thoseclose tothe rapper remain founding memberof the Black Pan- an unidentiedman duringthe Tyson thers, theunconscious Shakurwas vis- ght. Theashy-dressing, 315-lb.hopeful theyas keepup theirvigil. itedby the Rev. JesseJackson, rapper My prayersare withhim," saysex- Knight. whoreportedly boastedthat wife Morris."Hes survivor,a andl Hammer andactress JasmineGuy. whorivals hadcontracts outon hislife, was would sayonly thatTupac's is family knowhe will pull through." still dodgingpolice daysafter theinci- 1 c.92|.92'|XB tlitilt grateful forthe public'ssupport." No dent. Althoughhis companyhas one elseclose toShakur wouldcom- - |t.92m;rs|t.92||.sronu Las in Vegas. amasseda fortune estimated atover ment onthe shooting,but onefriend, rm! ;l'.92.92r.Fl-'in Los A ngeles and $100 million,the Compton.Calif., na- llllll0l92'lIin sr92l:||i'n92MawYork Cily 76 5123195People » C . o T upacsdeath: A gangsta omen? By BniceHaring l Clan. $885 the rap USA TODAY ; waochword d distrib- utori. most ly traded. A record from slainrapper Illpac They will censor ttle more Shaltur, TheDon Kilitmtimti The from album artwork to whatever 7-Day Theory,B out today, butre- they saylyrically justto avoid pres- cord executlves.managers andart- sure fromthe outside,he says. ism,say theganpta rap style be But ultimately. the ue is no- helped popularueIS no longer the likely everto vanish completely. force thatit oncewas I honatty wish that it would The majorplayers in the teud that has dividedthe gngsta rap world $0!-orvy says tn? m hopingbeen-. maybe is."that formostotthapm yearMa|-ion people will think twice about the "Suge" Knight.head oi Shakurs re types oflyric: that they're choosing cord company.Death Row.and Bad to usenow. But to anyit's going to Boy Entertainment head Sean change, especially overnight. l Combs -- were already ex- pandingtheir artsilc scope belore wouldbhalttzltloCh ty. mnmgerno." orI LL say Sbakur diedoi gunshotwounds Sepi- CoolJ and head otviolatorRecords. I3. seeking new horizons beyond admits corporatedoors may be elm- gritty talesor urban mayhem lng, llonly tonewcomers. But an industry thathas already "lthinkltwillmakeltharderlt made millionsfrom page rap isnt you'renew-up-and-coming the gang- exactly racingaway from the style. sta rap label and you're "Vimto with hugesale still expected from breakin the door rightnow, you're the 2Paealbum and an upcoming going tomeet resistance." one fromSnoop DoggyDog Rusell Simmons.whose DelJam l think the record companythat Reconb is one of raps leadingla- 2Pac'sisprobably on eatingitup be- bels. says no one should expect cause nowhe's probablyeven selling much changebecause ofShakur. more recorth. says rockerlairrle Jlml Hendrixdied oian 0.D.Did B. of Manhole,a former rapper lor the rockn roll world forgetits pre Eazy-E's RutnlesRecortht "lt'sa occupation withdnig? Simmora sad thingto say.But its like when 1 asks. Real lite inspire art. it re- Kurt Cobaindied." ny. hisdeath wilhave onthe tunuaoi tfartgsntrati lleets thereality that people! live. Knight hassaid little about Death mw orthat theylnternallze;siTliey Row's futurein the wake of tlte Shakur Knight. whowas withSbakur whenhe spitittnckoutthroughtheirrn cor slaying. ADeath Rowspokesman declinedwas shot.is currentlyunder arrst tor pa- painting orplays orpoetry." requests tor interviews. as did Death role violations The 3i-year-oldhas been Chuck D oi Public Enemy saysll any Row's distributors,MCA Music Entertain- accused ina tederal racketeeringsuit oi change comespost-Shakur. recordcompa- ment andlnterscope Records. visiting Ruthiem Records with baseball nies particularly black musicdivisions Heavy D,the rappertumed headof Up- bats tosettle a busln dispute. - needtotakegreaterinterstindireco town Entertainmentalso saysthere won'tBut DeathRow {hugeits lltsttong ing young artists, much as the National be awbolaale nah away from thegenre. yond gangstarap summer with Basketball Amociationotters its rookie "At the end oi the day, lrom a mains artist DannyBoy. whoquickly droppedall counseling standpoint, it'sall about money." the charts.and soonplans torelease anal- You could say whateveryou want to Sales oigangta rap albulm have de- bum by pop rapper Hammer. Suchsate sayinnsongbutwhenitcoma downto clined trom their early '90s peak a material may become more common- whetherornotyougetthrown outotaho trend mirroredby theoverall llatsal in sllacethe in future,some executivespre-tel, tight backstage, or get arrmed in other the musicindustry. Still.2Pac'sAll on Eye:'¢t. . states, thatneeds tobe checked."he says. l Me. whichtopped theBillboard 200earlier Steve Rlfklnd. prsident of-Loud Re became whatit doesis itsheds abad light this year.was stillNo. 20alter 36 weeks. cords,a label whose actsinclude Wu~'langand ashadow onthe an iorm." Bad B0ys Combsdenies feudingwith DeathRow 92 Sean "hilly" Combs wants lem withTupac ora problem a lucrativejoint venture with orlglnal stylists IS posing , to clear the air between his with SugeKnight 0|problem Arista Records;hes opening from thescene. Bad Boy Entertainment. with Death Row, aproblem his ownrstaurant in Manhat- "I think there aredlderent loaders oi the East Coast with anybodyin theindustry. tan, Justin's,devoted tosoul types of hard-core rap or school oi rap. and the Wat lo rmatter. that and Caribbeanfood; andhis ganpm rap."he says. There Coast'sRow Dmth Records The only thing I'veheard debut album as an artist is are the thing that are real. I think people havea mis- s the records that you'vedue outin January.with con- attectlng people'slivs. and conception thatrst ol all we heard. I'venever been ap- tributiom from most of his then peoplethat areinst say- were in a teud," he says "l proached onany other level Bad Boyroster. don'tthink you can be in a ing anything that sounds besides that.So it was more Reecting onhis tortuous, hard-core orsounds darkand teud withsomebody ifthere's hype thananythins" Combs agrees that some disnml l think some oi not two people arguing l Combs isbranching outin gangta rap - particularly those thing may beon their mean, I'venever hada prob- a big way. I-lehas justsigned that madeby initiatorsot the way out."

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NAME! SHAKUR / TUPAC / _m______/ __ SEX M RACE M DOB~YR _m

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EI10~PARTIAL EVENT NAME INQUIRY JDS CRITERIAI LAST SHAKUR FIRST TUPAC MIDDLE SUF SEXM RACE DUB YR STAT CODE DEPT/RD DATES FROM: BEAT! RD 20239 20882EVENT# 20989030213756 20643 030809429 030928694PDT

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SUBJECT W Tgpac Shakur, R,

FILE NUMBER 2§6A-LA-201807 ,

SECTION NUMBER ,2

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION " ./1 1 U.S. Department of Justice Q! Federal Bureauof lnvesngauon

1 R=P'¥~P'=a§=[1 1 Rf; 1 O0 0Wil shire Blvd . File No. AAED LosAnge le s , CA 9 0 240 °929292°92'L'Z.q DA; "°" _ - *2! 9[5nuary 1997 3, <=92<>92-9292.92-I4°925ouq=Q'|m:i <=g;._u, we °92b w-92to-92 III ET AL TUPAC SHAKUR - VICTIM DECEASED!; ERIC WRIGHT, AKA EAZY-E - VICTIM DECEASED!; ACT OF TERRORISM DOMESTIC TERRORISM - DEATH THREATS OFFICE OF ORIGIN: LOS ANGELES

All informants mentioned herein have provided reliable I information in the past. _

Date Investigative Summary Prepared: January 3, 1997.

On October 17, 1996, a preliminary inquiry PI! was b7C initiatedinformation at Los Angeles that|_h Field Office to FFJ corroborateknown a source organized crime I " figure, along wit a group of unfaenti ied individuals are utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortion attempts targeted towards two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified_

b7D and oEhersyet un1dent1t1ed'ha D73 arious rap music stars via death threats. The scheme involves G and other subjects making telephonic death threats to the offeringrap star. protection Subjects then for a "fee1:::::£ireported intercede b contacting thethat ERIC victimWRIGHT, and also known as EAZYE, who owned RUTHLESS RECORDS, Woodland Hills, California was a victim of this extortion scheme prior to dying from AIDS.t:::::]hadalso reportedlytargeted TUPACSHAKUR prior to his recent murder in Las Veqas, Nevada.

II ~

~-"44/"' ¢1<:>/rz»7--.4/-~ 3?; Following ERIC WRIGHTs death ued for 50% ownershi oq@ beRUTHLESS able RECORDS.to provide gurther detailsregardingZ would tutthat she was not available for interview until mid-January, 1997. On March27, 1995,G filed a civil lawsuit against RONALD SWEENEY, Entertainment Attorney for the WRIGHT estate. This lawsuit is titled.'COMPTOWN RECORDS INC, et al V. LAW OFFICES RONALD SWEENEY, et al", civil case number BC 124555 was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, California b7C pertainslawsuiméoffered to roperty rights as evidence of RUTHLESS twoletters RECORDS. purportedly During thesigned Efffiiif.by ERIC WRIGHT,The letters granting:were part deemedforged ownershipan expert of RUTHLESSby witness. advised the results of this lawsuit were classified con 1 ential" and require a subpoena, which is pending. filed alawsuit againstQ in b-~»'l earl 199Y 9 a e in 9 a ade tele P honic death t rea s to her and her family after ERIC WRIGHT died. These records have not yet been reviewed at Los Angeles.

b7C

Los Angeles Field Office is currently compiling the court transcripts and related documents mentioned in the above r . . . .

I 5 Investigatorsare awaitin9 the resultsof several records checks and anticipate several interviews of witnesses and victims in this matter. In addition investigators continue to review FBIfiles as they relateto: including the copyright matter.

Investigation continuing at Los Angeles. b7c T ~.! .. K

Hos Augelcs diimes

My COMPAY TOWN

THE B|Z_ / CHUCK PHILIPS and ALAN ABRAHAMSON RapperLeaves Tangled tr Financial, Legal Legacy Slain rap star Tupac Shakur sold more The dispute illustrates how recording than $60 million worth of albums this year artists contracts are skewed in favor of alone, making him one of the top-selling record companies. Even if Shakur had domestic artists. Yet, at the time of his recorded additional albums, he wouldlikely death, the rapper owed his record company have remained in debt for years to come, $4.9 million, Shakurs attorney says. sources said. Shakuz-s mother-who last week won a Tupac wasone of the most successful court battle forcing Death Row Records artists in the music business and yet and two other companies to stop selling somehow, on the day he di . he had unauthorized Tupac merchandisebe- absolutely nothing to show or it," said lieves Death Row shortchanged her son out New York attorney Ri ' ' of loyalty payments and has hired an who along with Atem is co-admin- auditor to conduct an independent ac- istrator of the ps s te."We believe counting of the rap label's books. that Death Row wi eld royalty pay- The allegations stem from an unusual ments from Tupac d tailed to deliver handwritten three-page contract drafted many of the adv promised under his I and signed while Shakur was in prison in contract." I 1995. _ - lleuesee'1HEB1Z,IW I

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'DEC 2 A I996

_|_;_Ll_i_$,ANGELES, Z Z _ iii: -,_L O O THEBIZ: Rapper Shakurs Tangled Legacy Continued from ht _, . _ _ _~ charge before Knight showed "P A reprcscnmlive for Death Bow with a promise tobsil him out , denied that the P¢i!'$ to have invoices for jewelry, furniture. se- to straighten this mess out." Fisch- curity and limo service, sources mother, Fischbein, lnterscope co- been represented by Kenner. W110 said. founder J lmmy Iovine and a group bein said. Nothing would have also was the attorney for Knight In addition, Shakur ran up more of attorneys. Death Row owner happened if it wasn't for him. and Death Row at the time. than $2 million in advances tor Marion Suge" Knight was in' ' at Death Row never even came to the Fiachbein accuses oi Kenner of recording and video costs-which, the time on a probation viol tion table to havea discussion." having a conict of interest when he according to standard industry and could not attend the m ting. Shakur's mother has also cast drafted the contract and gave advice practice, must be recouped by the Death Row attorney ' doubt on the validity oi the record- to Shalmr about signing it. Ken- record company before his account was also not present. ing contract that Death Row struck ner-who was fired by Shakur can turn a prot, Death Row During the meeting. ln rscope'swith her son on Sept. 16, 1995. about three eeks before the rapper sources said. attorneys also pledged an addi- Unlike a standard recording died- ariyconfiictoi interest. Nevertheless, when Shalrui-'8tional $2 million in advances to be agreement, typically thick and insisting t Shakur was repre- mother threatened in October to paid before April and helped nego- laced with dozens ct complicatedsented the time by attorney terms and conditions, Shakurs l letree could not 'l sue Death Row and bar the release tiate an upgrade in the royalty rate . _-~1 oi her son's posthumous "Makav cit from12% to 18%! Paid to her son pact with Death Row is hand-writ» be for comment Monday. The Don Killuminati album, tor past releases. ten and just three pages long. It's unclear whether Shakurs- Death Rnws distributor Intersoope Fischbein insists that InterscopeShah ur signed the agreement, mot would seek to have the Records worked out a deal to pay attorneys forgave about 50% ot the Fischbein suggests. because he written contract disavowed. an immediate $3-million nonre- $4.9-million debt-a point with was unhappy and had been incar- But Wchbein said Death Row has fundable advance to Shakui-s es- which Death Row adamantly dis- cerated for months on a sex abuse yet to provide the necessary books that would allow the estate to conduct an independent audit - .. s 1 Q, rQ | l I

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. ' _ .- -q, ~---.1.»-.--i'£r£:.am -_-0 I. -1- - . . BIZ= . . __.Vv ,3 _ f _ V__"____'§ . Continued from D1. - -. .Z't .: ~ 1 . -= -,.~u |'l 1"-*-'2-..i._7 "charge before Knigh_t showed-up A representative for Death Row 1-_'""with a'pron_1ise to bail him"o_ui.=-_- - denied thatthe company has'mis-. Taped was one of _themos't succe§§iuL§_i;jtlsfts§ln.-_thi§fi ""1"l'his.'contract"ls not.like any handled Shakm-'s account, blaming A music buslnessand yet somehdw;__oii'-theiday he a -_other__agreement I've ever__seer_'r in the '_:_'apper's ' debts on his own "-my life. Fischbein said.'lts noth- extravagant spending habits. dled,'he had _ah_'solutely .nothln_'g_to' show'for;;ltj.} 3*? f ing but toiletpaper! ~ " ; In the year preceding his slay- We believe thafbeatli Row withheld royalty paymentsThe agreement, which _ grants ing, Death Row had advanced -Death Row the right to release as Shakur large sums of cash to buy from-Tupac and failed to deliver many oi the advancesmany as four albums, spells out a several cars for himself and a " . P promised under his contract. ' series of advance payments prohi- t . _- - . --P I _ '-.- _ house for his motheriunds that .~ RICHARD nscnasm _ *_ ~ " ised to -Shalgur-many of which the rapper was required to pay '-Fischhein alleges the rapper never back, Death Row sources said. V Altomey and co-administrator of the rap star's estate 2 - received. - Shakur also charged to the com- =,, I Fischbein also "complains that pany lease-payments for three Shakur did not have proper repre- residences as well as a slew of sentation when he signed the lavish bills. including a $300,000 tate,liischbeinsaidi '. ' ' if 3gT¬Q5- ' U ~ ~.- ' agreement. According to Fisch- tab at the Peninsula Hotel and The papers were drawn up at a It was Jimmy lovine who took bein, the rapper-_ appears to have hundreds of thousands of doilarsin Nov. 1' meeting between Shaltursthe lead in getting-the ball rolling been represented by Ke_nner, who also was the attorney for Knight invoicesforjewelry,furniture,se_- mother, Pischhein, Interscope co- to straighten this mess out," Fisch- curity and limo service, sources founder Jimmy lovine anda group and Death Row at the time. ' said. ' bein said. "Nothing would have Fischbein accuses of Kenner of of attorneys. Death =Row - owner happened if it wasn't 'for ~h1m. ln addition, Shakur ran up more having a conict of interest when he Marion "Surge" Knight was in jail at Death Row nevereven came to the than "$2 million in advances for drafted the contract and gave advice table tc have a discussion? . . "' the time on a probation violation to Shakur about it. Ken- recording and video costs-which, Shakurs_ mother has also cast according to standard industry and could not attend the ameeting. her-_-who was fired by Shakur practice. must be recouped by the Death Row attorney David Kenner dohht on the validity of_i:hereodrd-about tin-ee weeks bdfore the rapper record company before his account was also not present. - . _- ing contract that Death Bow struck died-denied any conict, of iniermt, can~_turn_4 a_ profit, Death Row During the meeting, Interscope'swith her son on Sept._'l6. 1995. - insisting that Shakur was repre- sources said attorneys also pledged an addi- _Unlike ; a._.standard - recording sented at the time by attorney 1/ Nevertheless, when Shakur'stional $2 mlllioh in advances to be agreement, typically thick and Charles Ogletree. Ogletree could not mother threatened in October to paid before pril and helped nego- laced hviui dozefu$'o£ciiu'1p1icated:hereachediorconunentMonday._ _ sue Death Row and bar the release tiate alnaupéade in the royalty rateternis and conditi'ons.'.Sh'aktirs'. It's unclear whether Shakur's of her son's posthumous lllakavelh from'12% to 18%! paid to her son pact with Death Row is hand-writ, mother would seek to have the l The Don Killuminati" album. forpastreleases. 1-: . .". . 'ten and -just ~ long. handwritten contract disavowed. Death Row's distributor Inter-scope Fischbein insists that Interscope Shakur signed the agreement, But Fisehbein said Death Row has Records worked out a7deal to pay attorneys forgave about'50% of the Fischhein -suggests, ;l_>ec'ause_ he _yet to provide the necessary books 1 an immediate $3-million nonre- $4.9-million debt-a point with Wis. smart #1-_92

t rv-850 6 Rev.s-a-at i Q2 Pi 92 i

i MountCpplng In Space Below! V __ Indicatepage, name oi __ V . . _'l'l-IE _ BIZ ".1 /Cl-lUCl_ PHILlPSandALANABRAHAMSON §§},,,;m newspaper,Ue. , city ~ "W4and slale.!|_OS J . PAGE1;! L05 ANGELES, CA ;Ra pper Leaves Ta ngled

1 1 I 1 t Legacy ¢~»;¢@~@s 'Slain rap star 'lupac Shakur sold more Classmcahon; than $60 million worth of Submitting Oice: -alone. making him one of the top-selling The d_isputeill_ustrabes how recording domestic artists. Yet, at the time of his art1'sts4_contracts areskewed in favor of - death. the rapper owed his record company}record, companies. Even if Shakur had $4.9 millipn,Shakurs attorneylsays. ' 'f'u_"recorded additional albums, he would likely L08 ANGELESiWWW Shaktu-'s -mother--who last week wona have remained in debt for years to come, ~.3Isoiii-ms said. ~ ' Indexing: court battle forcing Death Row Records.,' and two-other companies to stop selling Tupac was one of the most successful unauthorized Tupac merchandise-be- artists in the music businessand yet lleves Death Row shortchanged her son out somehow, on the day he died. he had of royalty payments and has hired an absolutely nothing to show for it, said auditor to conduct -an independent_ ac-, New York attorney Richard Fischbein, counting of the rap label's hooks. who along with Afeni Shakur is eo-admin- The allegations stem from an unusual istrator of the rap star's estate. We believe handwritten three-page contract drafted that Death Row withheld royalty pay- and signed while Shakur was in prison in ments from Tupac and failed to deliver 1995. rnany of the advances promised under his contract." ' I Plcasesee'1'HE BlZ,D7

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FBI/DOJ .3604-1.4! - '> ~/ X3/J 7 -- iii. * 0 0», l2Bln995! =

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 02/12/1997

To: FBI Headquarters Attn: NSD, CT Branch, DTS, DTOU

From: Los Angeles NSD6 ApprovedI:Izv Bw Drafted BY: ALL rr71'-cw-.-*_@.'rI"t~:-I £9 " b7- 5"- C F Case#'I 'ID 66ALA201807 92 Tim-= ET AL °l=9292u92-92 <9292 TUPAC SHAKUR-VICTIM DECEASED!; Iquq9 I911 ERIC WRIGHT,AKA EAZYEVICTIM DECEASED!; qI!929292,92_,[_a AOT-DT-DEATH THREATS 00; LOS ANGELES

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

Synopsis: Status of investigation and request for extension of PI.

Preliminary Inquiry Initiated: 10/17/1996, extended to expire O2/16/1997 .

Enclosures: One original and five copies of a Letterhead Memorandum, dated O2/05/1997.

Enclosed for the Bureau are one original and five copies of a Letterhead Memorandum, dated 02/05/1997, which contains the current status of captionedmatter. by

b7C

Several leads rema' outstandin at Los An eles regarding captioned matter. b7D w 1C may assist in identifying ssociates. T e civil case file has not been located at the Superior Court, Los Angeles. In addition, the LAFO copyright matter which was closed in 1995 has not been D C located for review purposes. Searches are on for both case files

/17/1997, Case Agent met with Detective LOS ANGELES POLICE DE ' 'strative Vice

Unit, who as an informant-- -' whoknows 9 m: k in thenext The weekstwo informant hasconcerningfffff to meet with pg@é#_;#-QQQU7-/é Case Agent SEARCHED __W INDEXED ___ . stamuzzn i Fnrn 5? s l 0! To: FBI Headquarters From: Los Angeles Re: 266ALA20l807 ~

It is anticipated that investigation during the next thirty activitydays willbeing conducted resolve by the issue ofthers whether is the to extortionateb7cprovide ' financial backing for their r aniza lOI1 or is only for personal financial gain.

It is requested that this Preliminary Investigation be extended another thirty days as a result of outstanding leads.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS O

2 U.S. Department of Justice

:""%:'"'*-1 Fedenn Bureau oflnvesgaon

In Reply,Please Refer to ]_]_QQ[! Wilshire Blvd _

File No.ALL 5-mmc____,Am_,,92., l£a.i92»'a.L1-JL. u'..'CATWAHIED Los Angeles, CA90024 §,*b1§mE3Qm§§:Lm§@ms3"c mu 12, 1997 |@J February '-Net->L¢ ?% ET AL TUPAC SHAKUR - VICTIM DECEASED!; b"_7Q ERIC WRIGHT, AKA EAZYE VICTIM DECEASED!; ACT OF TERRORISM DOMESTIC TERRORISM DEATH THREATS OFFICE OF ORIGIN: LOS ANGELES b'}7C

All informants mentioned herein have provided reliable information in the past.

Date Investigative Summary Prepared: February 5, 1997.

On October 17, 1996, a preliminary inquiry PI! was initiated at Los Angeles Field Office to corroborate source i information thaq Ia known organized crime figure, along wit a group o uni enti ied individuals are utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortion attempts targeted towards two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified.

and others yet unidentified have been extorting money rom Qandvarious rap other subjects music stars via making death threats. telephonic Thedeath scheme threats involvesto the b2b"/B offeringrap s ar protection Subjects thenfor a fee intercede g;;;Eeportedby contacting thethatERIC victimWRIGHT, and b7c also known as EAZYE, who owned R SS RECORDS, Woodland Hills, California, was a victim of this extortion scheme prior to dying fromAIDS. ?had also reportedlytargeted TUPACSHAKUR prior to his recen murder in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I0"/C

1b7C '~ P»

Following ERIC WRIGHTs death, ued for 50% ownership of b7¢ RUTHLESS RECORDS. oula be able to provide further details regarding ut that she was not available for interview until midJanuary, 1997. On March2'7, 199S,Zfiled a civil lawsuit against RONALD SWEENEY, Entertainment Attorney for the WRIGHT estate. This lawsuit is titled COMPTOWN RECORDS INC, et al V. LAW OFFICES RONALD SWEENEY, et al", civil case number BC 124555 was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, California a>75 pertains erty rights of RUTHLESS RECORDS. During the bylawsuit, ERICWRIGHT, ffered a grantingce twoownership letters artpurportedlyRUTHLESS of signed [;:::;;ladvisedRECORDS. The letters thewereresults eemed ofthis forged lawsuit by anwere classified exp ert witness. con i ential and require a subpoena, which is pending. fileda lawsuit againstp in1379 early 199 a eging t a made telephonic death t reats to her and her family afte IGHT died. These records have not yet been reviewed at Los Angeles as they have reportedly been misfiled at the Superior Court, Los Angeles. |:1 b7 '1 92.! ll__'l !

Los Angeles Fiefa Office is currently compiling the F court transcripts and related documents mentioned ' court cases for review rior to the interview of 1 ing e resu ts of several b7 C recor s checks.

b7C

b7D InvesE1gaEion conE1nuing at Los Angeles. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS

SUBJECT Tupacz Shakur f

FILE NUMBER 266A-LA;201807 I

SECTION NUMBER 4 S

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION I r

FEDERAL BUREAUOF INVESTIGATION

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 04/15/1997

To: FBIHQ Attn: NSD, CT Branch, DTS, DTOU

92 | /26$/Angeles I From: Los Angeles NSD6

Approved By: ALL INFORMAIICN COH'IAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED mu NED Q ° oL929292u Case ID #: 266A-LA201807 Pending! °929292qi2 lqwgqq Title: I l 92L>92-92bu_L, mean: ET-KL; TUPAC SHAKURVICTIM DECEASED!; EAZY-EVICTIM DECEASED!; AOT-DT-DEATH THREATS; 0O: LOS ANGELES

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

Synopsis: Request Field SSA authorization to open a Full Field Investigation. lcontaingDetails: Reference criminal historg1and Los Angeles EC, datedassociates criminal 04/03/1997 which of b7

On 10/17/1996, a Preliminary Inquiry PI! was initiated at Los 1 ' ' corroborate source ' ' known a ' i figure,information along that! Ia wi a group of unfaen 1 ied individuals org are nizedcr me b7g utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortionate activity targeted towards two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified. - I b7C b7D I éd 44 °""57'/7:. $1§=°»1%E% {Bl-LOS!APR2 Z I997 W i _ lEs___1 I 1 1 To: FBIHQ From: Los Angeles Re: 266A-LA-201807, April 15, 1997

: and others yetunidentified have been extorting money from various ra music stars via death threats. The scheme toinvolves the rap star. ther Subjects subjects then intercede making by contacting telephonic death the ' threijjé victim and offering protection for a "fee". ERIC WRIGHT, also known as EAZY-E, who owned RUTHLESS RECORDS, Woodland Hills, California was a victim of this extortion scheme prior to dying from AIDS. o reportedly targeted TUPACSHAKUR prior to SI-IAKUR'srecent murder in Las Vegas, Nevada.

b7C ! F 73 |:| ' Ii]

_ On March 27, 1995, : filed a civil lawsuit against 92 RONALD SWEENEY, Entertainment Attorney for the WRIGHT estate. This lawsuit is titled COMPTOWN RECORDS INC, et al-vs. LAW OFFICES RONALD SWEENEY, et al", Civil case number BC 124555. b"iC This case was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, California and pertains to property rights of RUTHLESS RECORDS. During the lawsuit, Eoffered as evidence tw letters purportedly signedby ERIC WRIGHT, grantingpart ownership witness.of RUTHLE REadvised RDS. The letters the casewas were deemed settled out forged byof court an expert and the results of were classified confidential by the judge. I !1a 'a lawsuit ed against b7c E in early 1996 a eging t at ade telephonicdeath threats to her and her family after ERIC WRIGHT died.

l':'_| |:| Ii! b/C J

Re:To: FBIHQ 266ALA-201807, From: Los April Angeles 15,1997 I " l:| W ' b7C

b"/C |:|

E: 1b7 :3 A C7 On 04/11/1997, investigators were prov a _' civil court complaint, dated 0_3-'/11/1996, entitled f an individual, WATERSIDE _CAN'IINAINC a California orpora ion, bin; MISSION BAY RESTAURANT and C15 INC., a California Co oration Plaintiffs vs '=' ind1viHua1s;'F.M.L.PHASE REKLTY,§C.; A ASSOgATES,ONE D VE P192QENT,___IlimitedC. , California pa corporations,' Does 1 through BELM PARK50, 2 inc sive, Defendants. is believed to be the

The civil complaint alleges that on Friday, 0'7/28/1995, at approximatel l_Q:O0 p.m., several individuals 'forcibly entered ' ' a business ereidentified as and two unidentified subjects referred to as ,_ uwsma #1.and UNSUB#2. UNSUB#1 is believed to be: WC who claimed to represent . Durin the #2inci ent, stated UNSUBhe represented brand #1 ed and weaponRUT é UNSUB CORDS.at Afterthe threat physical to his and patrons psychologicaand left the intimidation, business e occupied. onsidered The complaint further alleges that :had committed and caused to be committed the same acts against RUTHLESS RECORDS. Following

asked:the Dontakeover ofgnightclub you know who I on am? 07/28/1995, I'mwith e f. reportedly J .92

To: FBIHQ From: Los Angeles Re: 266A-LA201807, April 15, 1997

DYC It hassince beenlearned thatg:::::Ldroppedthe lawsuit against: and the other defen ants ased on fear and 1 intimidation. - I FBI recordschecks the of defendantsingcivib-VIC lawsuit reveal the following: 92

I FOIMSreferences! in Ehe toilowing files: bq I 1 HQ 192-1866 Hobbs Act - Commercial Institutions! LA 192B290 Hobbs Act - Commercial Institutions! i NK 1OOA57409 Domestic Security - JDL related case! 1 NK 174A¢276o-1 JDL related case! NY 183G-3546 RICO! l / FOIMEreferences; iin I the following 1 ee: b7C ! NY 281A192451 OC/DI! NY 281A20l963

in the following case: I FOIMSreferences b'° n

SA 245C34965Hl OCDE!

which FOIMS references in the following case:

LA 179B-914 ECT!

FOIMS refe .

LA 2a1A-1o2e32 001! bqg :|

1 . - 0 . - é

To: FBIHQ From: Los Angeles Re: 266ALA-201807,April 15, 1.997 Lqc ' H i 1 in FOIMS,unknownidentical. if I '_" "" 1 Further checksregarding theabove individualswill be I necessary to fully identify them. ,

Investigators are currently compiling the court transcripts and related documents mentioned in the above court arecases for awaitingreview and the results analysisof for several leadrecords potential. checksto Investigators include bin: b7D

Based on the extortionate activity presented herein, and other criminal activity yet unidentified, it is recommended that a Full Field Investigation be initiated in this matter. There appears to be a reasonable indication thatsas been conducting extortionate/criminal activity for some time and will 5 continue to do so as long as he is successful and not held _p , criminally liable. Los Angeles sources believe :to be b"c acting in concert with or on behalf of the JDL and its 5 associates.

It is anticipated a Full Field Investigation will ; identify whether the extortionate activity is being perpetrated on behalf MS et al, for personal gain and/or on behalf of l the JDL. - ARMEDmm mmcsnous 1°76

- ,_....._...__.ii_. ____._____~.__di_.____.___i_J l2f3l/199$! l " FEDERAL BUREAU OF lNVESTlGAT|ON

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 04/21/1997

T0: Los Angeles , b7C From: Los Angeles NSD-6

Approved By:

Drafted By: mpbh

Case ID #= , 66A-LA-201807 LA as-sea sue A'!7§/ Title: I IET AL 1 TUPAC SHAKUR - VICTIM DECEASED! EAZYE - VICTIM DECEASED! AOT - or - DEATH THREATS oo= LOS ANGELES ll

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

Synopsis: Request for authorization of mail cover.

Full Field Investigation Instituted: 04/15/1997. I Details: On October 17, 1996, a preliminary inquiry PI! was initiated informationat that Los ' 1known ' corroborate organized source crime figure, along with a group of unidentified individuals are P utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortion attempts targeted towards two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified. 5

b7C I b7D an 0 ers ye uni n ie av rom vari us ra music stars via death threats. The scheme involves other nd subjects making telephonic death threats victim to the and rap offeringstar. Subjects protection then for intercede b a fee. breported contacting the that ERIC WRIGHT, also known as EAZY-E, who owned RUTHLESS RECORDS, Woodland'Hills, California, was a victim of this extortion scheme prior to dying from AIDS. :had also reportedly targeted TUPAC SHAKUR prior to his recent murder in Las Vegas, Nevada. Aynnm§§{g§§§§%%§é&£uQ£££J Ann! ~»¢:-¢4'i:/?@7'1¥o7smnmm *"Wm-- mm.mun <=m392

gag! b?B 1 r______1b7DI ---------- -'- - 1 RUTHLESS RECORDS. The civil lawsuit is titled "COMPTOWN RECORDS INC et al V. LAW OFFICES RONALD SWEENEY, et al, civil case number BC 124555 and was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los b7C l Angeles, California. During the lawsuit,:offered as evidence two letters purportedly signed by ERIC WRIGHT, granting Ii part ownership of RUTHLESS RECORDS. The letters were originaldeemed letters. advisedby forgedeierjart witness. theG results could of thisproduce lawsuitno were classified con i ential" and require a subpoena, which is pending.

ddition, _ led a lawsuit K-"C against in early 1996 a leging t at made telephonic death threats to her and her family after ERIC WRIGHT died. i civil courtOncomplaint, 04/11/1997, dated 03/11/1996, investigators were entitled provided a co of a an individual, WATERSIDE CANTINA, INC., a California Corporation, MISSION BAX RESTAURANT and CLUB ' ' ' W % Plaintiffs, vs. bC

individuals; R.M.L. REALTY, INC.; PHASE ONE DEVELOPMENT, INC., California corporations, BELMONT PARK ASSOCIATES, a limited partnership, and Does 1 through 50, . inclusive Defendants.

The civil complaint alleges that on Friday, 07/28/1995 at approximately 10 O0 p m , forcibly entered a business owned and o erated These individuals were identified b"II =1F and two unidentified subjects ref r UB #1, and UNSUB represent#2. UNSUB#1 is< believed Durinbe e to inciho ent, SUB claimed#1 to brandishe a concea e wea on SUB #2 stated he represented ORDS After physical and psychologica intimi ation,::onsidered the threat to his patrons and left the business he occupied The complaint further alleges :l committed and caused to be committed the same acts against RUTHLESS RECORDS Following the

2 la 1

' |:l I

:11

IIII

b7C |:':| [II

|:|

The focus of the requested mail cover includes the following individuals: !

1 i

It is requested the mail cover include first and second class mail and last for a period of thirty days commencing on the date the request is received by the District Postal Inspector in Charge, located in Pasadena, California.

To the best of my knowledge, the name and address of an attorney who represents the mail cover subject is unknown. If, during the period of the mail cover, the name and address of an attorney retained by the mail cover subject becomes known to the case agent, such information will be promptly furnished.

Mail cover subject is allegedly in violation of the following U.S. laws: -

1! Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1951 Punishable by fine or imprisonment not more than twenty years or both; and

2! Title 21, U.S. Code, Section 841 and 846. ?unishable depending on quantity and type of narcotics.

No subject of this mail cover is presently under indictment or formally charged with any violation of criminal law. Should any subject be indicted or formally charged during the period of the mail cover, the postal inspector will be

3 I

' W. . ' promptly»advised Bo the mail cover may be immediately canceled. I

It is understood the results of the mail cover, PS Form 2009, are the property of the U.S. Postal Service and its use is ! limited to law enforcement agencies. The results can be retained . in the case agens office as an investigative tool for a period a of 60 days and then returned to the following address: E |____i__.| W Postal Inspector ISOSG Mail Cover Section P.O. BOX 9000 South San Francisco, CA 94083-900

It is recommended that a mail cover request be authorized to enhance captioned investigation.

Investigation continuing at Los Angeles. i 1

.92 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS

SUBJECT Tupac Shakm; I W

FILE NUMBER 266A-LA-201807

SECTION NUMBER _ 6 I

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION _____:_.a_-1

FD-3506-8-81! RSV. "I 5...._O _¢/J II 92 92 lo

Indicate page,name of newspaper. cltyand state.! _ _ _ 7 Il51oun_i CllpplngrlnBelow} Space _ 92 41 _, Q~ 23:38; LP, vfLi.5

Title:

Character: or Classication: Submitting OlcezLA

. lndexins , , ..a5 mmetseraasmmQuad ta<~<»W*'80 l ~ r .qQSo¢$l@ °teuuq

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Man Namedas Suspectin Death of Shakur Sues theRappers Estate

I Courts: Orlando Anderson It is unusual for gang disputes to end up in civil lawsuits, but Anderson's actionis sayshe was assaulted theby star particularly surprising because it could and othersin a Las Vegas hotel. subject him to renewed scrutiny in connec- tion with Shakur's death. hours before fatal shooting. Shakur, oneof the brightest starsin rap and a budding actor, was fatally wounded By CHUCKPHILIPS just off the Las Vegas Strip by gunfire TIMES HAFFWRITER wbileriding in a car driven by Death Row founder Marion Suge" Knight. Ever since, A reputed Los Angeles gang member there has been widespread speculation once named by-police as a suspecl..in the about the relationship betweenthe killing murderoi Tupac Shakur hasfiled a lawsuit and the MGM altercation. against theslain rap star's estate-a-year The. suit, filed late Monday in Los and aday afterShakur wasgunned down. Angeles Superior Court. also names Death Orlando Anderson'slawsuit contends Row andKnight asdefendants, andalleges I v t t _ fe that he was assaultedby the rapper and that Anderson suffered physical injuries ," kw. fr, severalDeath Row Records employeesin and severe emotional and mental distress. the lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Representatives forShakur's estateand Vegas just hours _before Shakur Was Death Row declined comment Tuesday. Rapper TupacShakur wasgunned down gunned down.No arrestshave been made. Please SI-IAFKUB,see inB3 Las Vegas ln September 1996. ,______,,__ ...... _.....i.-.-.._.it .. i t -.., ...... _i[lo_ . .. _. ._- 'l+. ._ - - .. . -. i.As-clues ..- ..__...-...... <_ - - --~

Pei/no.1 FD-350 Rev.so-s1! ,.. O . ..~ ' . _ J Indicatepage, name of newspaper, city and state.!

MountClipping in Spacer Below!

Date: Edition: 1-'}'§siig92ir;siia_Knigh£ had gone to the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon heavy- -;._we_ignt,rig1it_{ai;,im; MGM. On the Death R_0w-afliated -members of

'Conlin_uedtrom'B1_'___way out, Shakuni Knight and sev- the Mob-Piru Bloodsandthe 92- Renee L. Campbell, who _repre.--.. Southside Crips,-of which" Ander- sents"Anderson,. aclinowledgéd'_L;_er_a'i_'I'!e*'ath1 Row employees _il0yees".d!1rinx H sans. 3 victim, 'my client"is the victim,"5 souffle-af month eai-lier'at a Lake- _Campbellsai_d.-1 *---5' 7_ 'model_-Cadillacii-carrying four W°°dlt92.ill- I r . . g i me_n}-th_a't had -pu_l_led' up_ in 'the . Kni ht /was sent -to prison in Accordingto the affidavit," An- February" for a probation. violation next f lane. Shakur - died .si;<,_ days derson w'a.s'seen several daysafter stemming from. his ,ro_le. in'.thelate,i1inaLas'Vegas hospital.- - -Y- Before Shakur died detectives in the shooting wjthla-Gl6ck' .40-,caii- assaullt on Anderson, which was bar handgun-'_-_"t_.he same kind of captured on_ a' hotel -surveillance Las Vegas -and Compton were in- undated with ii flurry of tips from weapon used in theihomicide-and videotape. At a hearing last fall, his cousin was seen driving a white Anderson testified that Knight "did informants contending that Ander- son-.a Lakewood resident who late-model Cadillac-into an auto not participate in the beating but shop in Compton. That same Week, goes by such 'gang_r'nonikers as tried to help stopthe attack. Las Vegas detectives examined a When asked"-whether Anderson.L-ando" and Lane-was respon- sible for Pthe rapper's shooting, box of .40-caliber rounds confis- who ls listed in policeiles as a cated by -Compton police from a n_iember_of the Southside Crips gang according to -a .Compton_ police affidavit prepared Sept 26 to ob- residence where Anderson's cousin iii Compton, had peijured himself on was living. They also conscated the-stand in November, Campbell tainsearch warrants for a pending said her client testied the way -he s=nsrai¢ i _ .' ' . . weapons from a Compton residence _ According to the affidavit, _the of_Anderson's uncle,_-Dwayne Keith didoutoffear for his safety." _» _Kee_fee D? Davis, who sources On the evening of Sept: 7. 1996. ruckusin the MGM lobby was the = ,-.-/"'_''_-"_'._' " V "'-" ' result of gang rivalry between - ;_ ,_said is listed, in police files as a member of the Southside Crips. During an Oct" 2 gang raid ,. _ I l ' ' - . ..-J i ~ I red by shootings after 'S_hak- . Notorious B.LG. who was gunned ' tors that he met Wallace neagly leath, Anderson iwas-"taken,,down March 9 outside of the Peter- two "years before the" rapper was :ustody -on an outstanding sen Automotive Museum in the -slain. sources said. The two were nt stemming from _a slaying Mid-Wilshire district. . introduced by a mutual friend after npton unrelated to_Shakur's"y. in May.-Los Angeies'investiga-'aconcertinAnahéiml " ' 1; ' "A Las Yegas detective who tors seized Davis Chevyvlmpala The friend,_a'drug déa]er_fi-pm ipated in the raid told An'der-from his girlfriend's house in Harlem, broughtllhvls to Wallaeefs hat he was a suspect -in Compton. The two-door sedan -hotel alter theshow and'tol<_! the |rs shooting. according to - .matched .. . the dcscri . P -tion of the car. rapper that he couldpijovide protec- sonfs former attorney, used_inV{allace's'shooting. . .- tion in Los Angel_es_ lor_Wal1aces -Police have not returned the entourage. should lie ever need it, lerson'.was released_'Oct. 4 vehicle. ources say investigatorssources said. Wallaoe'tu;ned_down I bosAnge1_es prosecutors de- interviewed Davis-in Junebut told the.offer,_e:iplaining that his record Y to file charges against" him him that he is not awsuspect in company had already body- a Compton slaying; In Febru- ; Wallace's murder. No arrests have guards,sour_c_essaid. -' ' .3; gas _ Vegas police told; The_-beet_1madeinthe.c_ase1. '- '_ Davis told poiioedhat he also" i-that Anderson was'~stlll'. investigator's have been focusingattended the 1inii;¢h1aosi¢ industry lered a i_n Sh.akur's"_ i on~tbe idea that Wallace's shooting party-at the__Petersen Miisemn_and l ng._ Biitthe investigation re- ~ _ , I--zit .:§tenimed '.'from,a pcmonal disputespoke with =Walla'ce" and .s'ev'eral with _aCon|pton gang member- members of his entot'irag_e less than eallegations against: my cli- possibly the result of an un id an hour before the rapper was shot, 1,,-the affidavit are totally _. .fse;;urity;j_bilI,-soimces. said; Police some-= said "*1 - '-Jo. Ede'§l§?,Campbell one , -.w" that Wallace-.and his, j ~-.~:Da_vis_ could_not b_é.;r_eachedA|for he saythey bald no subsequentr'éco'rd7j.comj5any "chairman, Sean comment "Attorney Faal 'de_nied rt with Anderson;-"But: fthe - $.41ff,l§%921f.f>"I' Combs!. ooen_-..émployedthe-sug'gestiori;that had a '- of ms uncle, Davis. resiirféded - inémljeré of the Southside_Cifips as ziig to do -4wi_th'_.Wal1ac8'§ it inonths later durii1g'~the security-_-an -allegation Combs j - Law enf'1'-cement 'sources_say£-'- igation or the killing .of Shak- [adamant ._ ly... denies:,~'-.,.-. vestlgators have not uncovered y- iislcal rival. Christopher Wai- jDu'rlng {an _ini.erv,iew'7in June evidence uia'mvdusae'§muiaei New York rap star known as --., with;-police;'iI!avis_ told.'investig;a- FBI/D04 '.r.... _ _-~-D.--.~-, -- -...__ -..-.<l- .; -, .. "q>'nne'c:tcd._to ss;ro"s1rysg.vF;'=* FEDERALOF BUREAU INVESTIGQION

FOIPA

DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET

Serial Description " COVER SHEET 02/05/1998

Total Deleted Page s! " 1

Page 3 " b7C, b7D FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS

SUBJECT, Tupac Shakur_ _ _ _ _

FILE NUMBER_ 266A-LA-ZQI 80j

SECTION NUMBERI _7S _

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION i uuunwn FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 02/O5/1998 l To: LosAngeles ~t/ Attn: s From: Los Angeles t//F b7C NSD6 ContacC2 umnon commnmn APPr O d B ve.Y . $§,;m92;g_92;E,__g:I_;§D.r§5&Ll.O§¬£ES|Pl'3 UNQLASSIFIED . Q/ A A q9292<92 Q<9292oZ'>°§1 Drafted| BY _ Q0-9292n92192oe9292gQq9292 CaseID #= 266ALA20l80'7 Pending!'-92k&>U:R 1 Title:N I ETAL; AOT DT DEATH THREATS OO: LOS ANGELES Synopsis: Requestingapproval interviewl to I a reporter for THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE.

Details: For-your information, on October 17, 1996, a b7C preliminaryOffice inquirytocorroborate PI!was source initiatedinformation at Los thatAn eles Field a known organized crime figure,along witha group of uni en ified individuals were utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortion attempts targeting two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified. v

an others yet unidentified have been extorting money from various rap music stars via death threats. The scheme involves: and the other subjects making telephonic death threats to the rap star. Subjects then intercede by contacting the victim and b7C offering protection for a Afeez. Source reported ERIC WRIGHT, b7D also known as EAZY-E and then owner of RUTHLESS RECORDS in Woodland Hills, California, was a victim of this extortion scheme, prior to dying from AIDS. :had also reportedly targeted TUPAC SHAKUR before his recent murder in Las Vegas, Nevada.

b7D I'____l b7C

b7C gamete *5 I Q4, Q9,;,A»9- >92'{{~,O 9 "7 To: Los Angeles From: Los Angeles Re: 266A-LA201807, 02/05/1998

LEAD S!: 1

Set Lead 1:

LOS ANGELES

AT AT LOS ANGELES

Los Ang ' ffice is requesting permission to

telephoneinterview number 12 reporter 536-5400 or 840-3800 TI-IErom viaYORKER telephone NEW or by MAGAZINE, sending a lead to New York Field Office and have that office conduct same regarding the above mentioned information. .Research revealed[:::::hrote an article on TUPAC SHAKURfor THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE in the July 7, 1997, issue.

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is or 0 o ~ ' 4-6 $-¥ fir A REPORTER AT LARGE ;| jl THE TAKEDOWN OF TUPAC Tupar Sbakurwas oneof gangstarap: biggeststars. Butbe gotcaugbt ina collision qfrultures when inner-citygangs metup with the multibillion-d0l1ar'rec0rdindustry. AIL,£E3,§?lF°n,eotrmntno egcownle m;%'§°,,N$8 oaucrt ;| mu ' r 9292 '~9292925§9292I i. .'.' ml . Tugwere gangstersjust outof thepeniten- After Tupasfsmurder, however,things Ii pac Shakurwas shot and tiary. They wouldlook at you, staring began tounravel forKnight. In the J killed inLas Vegaslast an, right throughyou. No words would summer of1992, hehad pulleda gunon 2|" he wasriding in the passenger seatof a have to be said." two rappers,George andStanley Lyn- B.M.W. 750sedan drivenby Marion Intimidation wasSuge Knight'sstock- wood, for using aphone atthe studio. til Suge! Knight,the headof DeathRow in-trade. It is said that he forced a black After beatingone ofthem withthe gun, Records. DeathRow, theleading pur- music executiveat a rival company to he ordered them both down on their Ill veyor ofWest Coastgangsta rap,is a strip inthe men'sroom and then madeknees, threatened to kill them, and musicbusiness phenomenon.The com- him walknaked throughhis company'sforced themto takeoil" theirpants. He pany earned seventy-ve milliondollars oflices. A mammoth, three-hundred- was convictedon assaultcharges andput in revenueslast year.The rst album and-fteen-pound man,Knight hasa on probation.But fouryears later,just Tupac madefor DeathRow, All Eyez substantial criminalrecord, repletewith before Tupacwas killed,Knight took on Me, which wasreleased inearly violent acts. Even when he was on his part inthe beatingofa manin Las Ve- 1996, soldover fivemillion units.Tupac best behavior'-say,dealing with a white gas, andthis puthim inviolation ofhis had madethree earlieralbums, butthey executive atone of the major enter- probation. In February ofthis yearhe had neverreached thestratosphere of tainment companies-menacehung began servinga nine-year sentence and i quintuple platinum."Still, thedays pre- heavy inthe air.One mantold meabout is nowin San Luis Obispostate prison. ceding hismurder wereanything but a negotiation he had in the apparent In addition, hundreds of millions of dol- halcyon forhim. It had becomeincreas- safety ofhis ownofce. Knightwas at- lars' worthof suits have now been led ingly clearthat therewas a steeppenalty tended bya bodyguard, and whenthey against DeathRow thelargest being to payfor havingthrown inwith Suge reacheda difficult point in the deal, the that ofTupac's charging estate, thathe Knight. bodyguard osrentatiouslyleaned for- was defiaudedof overfty million dol- Even forthe roughedgedmusic in- ward andlet his gun, whichwas wom lars, andseeking damagesof a hundred r . dustry, whichhas historicallybeen prone in a holster underhis jacket, slip into and fty million!. Andthere maybe to excess and to connections with crimi- ill view. more tocome. Ateam ofagencies, in- nal elements,Death Rowwas a remark- For a time, the auraof violenceserved cluding theF.B.l., theD.E.A., andthe able place.It was nothing forKnight to Knight well.It grantedhim enormousli- l.R.S., areinvestigating allegationsof hand over a stack of hundred-dollar cense insmall things like keepingother money laundering,links tostreet gangs, ,1 bills toTupac fora weekendsexpenses. executives waitingfor hours,without a drug trafficking,and organizedcrime at 25% Knight'sin oiee LbsAngeles wasdec- murmur ofobjection!and inlarger ones.Death Row. ii orated in red, thecolor of the Bloods, Music andvideo producerswho claimed "I think, Tupac, youbrought down 5| one ofthe city'sprincipal gangs.A guard that DeathRow owedthem moneywere one ofthe mostevil empiresof mytime," gl holding a metal detector stoodat the too frightenedto demandit, or to sue. one of his friends,who grewup in the front door of the Death Row studio. I The potentialfor violencewas alsoa pow- music business,says. Hedid not intend . 1. have not been to one other studio to this errl disincentiveto anyonewho might to romanricizeTupac; thisfriend, like 1! day whereyou haveto be searched be-have consideredtalking tolaw-enforcement many others,acknowledges Tupaethat L fore youget in,a veteranof theL.A. authorities aboutquestionable practices.was famouslysplit betweenwhat hehim- . music businesswho worked withTupac Moreover, diditnot keep him'om selfrefenedtoashis do- good"andhisevil it |. told me.They havea checklist of peo- ing businesswith two of the entertain- sides, andthat it was hisdarker sidethat ple who can goin with guns. Soyou ment industrfscorporate giants.Death seemed haveto gaineddominion during e5 kill have togure, Theseguys haveguns, Row hasbeen Fundedsince itsinception much of his tenure at Death Row, -.92 and it'sa long run to the front door,and by its disnibutor, lnrerscope,which for Nonetheless, thesefriends insist,that $4]. there's atsecurity the'ont that dooryears waspartially ownedby T1me92_lVar-was notthe rea1Tupac.The real 1

$5 chc on Yn_ lio. un, lcir 1nd He- Put yust aok Ve- 'his ' he and ;on. lol- iled .ing rhe io1~ lred I bc in- . the .s of ngs, we at own I me, 43 '< ! " l _ i n-tr New roman. JULY 1, m1 ner cities. And the real Tupac was trying kur, Tupac's mother, was a member of bullet holes in them or cuffs on his to leave Death Row when he was killed. the Black Panther Party. Early in 1971, hands. None." while she was pregnant with Tupac, she The leaders of the black nationalist UWAMY or not, Tupac ShalPanther 21 largely through the efforts of the F.B.l. tattooed across his midr-i'!. While he was were acquitted just a month before Tu- In 1988, Tupac's stepfather, Dr. Mutulu alive, he was censured by politicians and, like pac was bom. He was named for the last Shakur, who had received a degree in otherrappers,waskept 'om Inca chief to be tortured, btutalized, and acupuncture in Canada and used his some concert arenas because promotersmurdered by Spanish conquistadores . . . skills to develop drug-abuse~treatrnent could not insure the evens the threat a warrior, Afeni says. His surname, programs, was sentenced to sixty years in of mayhem from fans. At the same time, Shalrur, is a kind ofclan name taken by prison for conspiring to commit armed however, he was suspected by many in his a loose group of black nationalists in robbery and murder. The crimes he was core ghetto audience of not being cold- New York. accused of included the attempted rob- blooded enough to measure up to his sta- The phrase "Black Power had been bery of a Brinks armored car in 1981, in tus as the archetypal gangsta rapper. like a lullaby when l was a kid, Tupac whichtwo police oicers and a guard These conicting views of Tupac re- recalled in a deposition he gave in 1995 were killed andfor which the Weatlier in a civil suit in which it was chargedUnderground leader Kathy Boudin was > ect, to a degree, racial and social chasms. Rap rns insist that performers be audien-that some of Tupac's lyrics had inu- also convicted!. Mutulu was also found tic representatives of ghetto life: that they enced a young man who murdered a guilty of conspiring to break Tupac's live the life they rap about, that life con- Texas state trooper!. He rememberedaunt, Assata Shakur JoanneChesi- form ro art, so to speak. Raps critics, on that when he was a teen-ager, living in rnard!, our of prison. She had been con- the other hand, are terried that life will Baltimore, we didn't have any lights. l victed in 1977 of murdering a New Jet- conform to art, that the behavior~the used to sit outside by the street lights and sey state trooper, but escaped two years drug dealing and the violencedescribedread the autobiography of Malcolm X. later and ed to Cuba. Tupac's godfa- And it made it so real to me, thatl did.n'tther, Elmer Geronimo!Pratt, is a for- I by rappers will seep into the mainstream culture. The majority of ardent fans and have any lights at home and I was sitting mer Black Panther Parry leader who was consumers of rap are, in fact, middle-classoutside on the benches reading this convicted oflcilling a schoolteacher dur- white youths. Seventyper cent of those book. And it changed me, it moved me. ing a robbery in Santa Monica in 1968. who buy rap records are white.! It is the And then of course my mother had He was imprisoned for twenty-seven fear of a violent, marginalized culture'sbooks by people like . . . Patrice Lu- years. His conviction was reversed a few inuence on susceptible young people tnurnba and Stokely Carmichael, Seize weeks ago on the ground that the gov- that fuels much of the political debate,the Time by Bobby Scale and 'Soledadernment suppressed evidence favorable and this fear is exacerbated by the wide- Brother by George Jackson. And she to him at his trial mostsignicantly that spread adoption of hip-hop style. would tell these stories of things that she the principal witness against him was a I Controversy, of course, has never hurt did or she saw or she was involved with paid police informant!. salm. To the contrary. Tupac understoodthisand it made me feel a part of something. It was a haunting lineage, and Tupac very well, as did the recordcornpany omen- She always raised me to think that I was would frequently invoke the names of tives who stood to prot from his the Black Prince of the revolution. Mutulu, Geronimo, and other political talents, and his notoriety. The more Tupac had indeed become a prisoners in his lyrics. It was like their trouble Tupac got into with the law, Black Prince by the time he was words with my voice," he said. I just the more credibility he gained on killed, but not along the lines continued where they left off. I tried to the street--and the more viable a laid out by the political activists add spark to it, I tried to be the new i rap star he became. The huge - of the sixties. Afeni and her breed, the new generation. I tried to t commercial success of gangsta rap friends were involved in what make them proud of me." But, at the created a peculiarly volatile nexus they perceived as revolutionarysame time, he did not want to be them. between the worlds of inner-city activity for the good of their Their revolution, and in most cases their gangs and the mult;ibi.l.l.ion-dollar community. Tupac and his fel- lives, too, were ashes. ' record industry. Tupac sometimes __/ /<, low gangsta rappers sported said that he thought of his songs as diamond-encrusted gold jewelry, drove IN the Panther 21 trial, Tupac's mother parables, and now it is his own life'hisRolls-Royce Corniches, and vied with defended herself with a withering l joumey into those two worlds, and his one another in displays of gargantuancross-examination of a key prosecution immolation at the point at which they excess. Nevertheless, Tupac did not for- witness, who turned out to be an under- convergedthat seems almost allegoriml.get who his fbrebears were. "In my fam- cover government agent, aer her acquit- ily every black male with the last name tal, this unschooled but intellectually THE world of Sugc Knight and Southof Shakur that ever passed the age of f- power-ll woman was lion-ized Central LosAng92'.les is atafarre- teen has either been killed or put in jail, circles, invited to speak at Harv:iii_lj'and move from the one in which Tupac Tupac said in his deposition. There are Yale, and subsidized in an apartriiiiiit on Shakur grew up, though each, in its own no Shakurs, black male Shalcurs, out New York's Riverside Drive. Tupab and way, romanticized violence. Afeni Sha- right now, free, breathing, without his sister Sekyiwa, who was bom in is s LI. ilu in his ant = in led vas ib- . in ird ner vas nd tc's SI !l"l- er are fa- or- vas M- 68. SHAKEFPFARE muss 9! 49 3 J.» 1975, became small Panther -s 'encelebrities on the radical- chic circuit. Then every- _[_._ "cw thing changed, the political UV tide changed over, Tupac -,2: said in his deposition. "VVe ble .4 went on welfare, we lived in the ghettos of the Bronx, *' - - Ms. hatas Harlem, Manhattan." He Z. ______, 3...

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v_ Black Panther Party." Karen Lee. one gave it to his teen-age daughter. She burn that Vice-President Dan Qtayk of his publicists. told me. and at times tOlrl her Father how much she liloed it. said had no place in our society." .e=~¢ ll I he wanted to be." Lee said that he was 92/Vhalley recalls being struck as much by 4,. . I tirtious that his mother's former com- Tupac's looks and by his presence as Ix the deposition Tupac gave in 1995, rades made no move to try to rescue her by his talent. He remembers saying to when he was asked to interpret sev- E. and her children when she became ad- his assistant, Have yo-.1 ever seen eyes eral of the songs on 2pacalypse Now, llJ dicted to drugs. Indeed. when he was liv- like that?" he e92plainedthat it was his practice no ._. ing in Marin Cityiicstirure. with no lnterscopc had positioned itself as introduce a central character through r .. I place to stay hismother and he had something of a maverick in the music whom he could develop a narrative, bk lbught bitterly. and he accused her of ly- business, producing mostly altemativecause he believed that before you can ing to him about her drug use!-it was rock and gangsta rap. which drew on understand what I mean. you have to r.- mainly street people who tried to help the culture of the gangs of South Cen- know howl lived or how the people I'm '7 l him. Man Man CharlesFuller!. a friend tral Los Angeles for its material. Rap talking to live. . . . You don't have to who would later become his road man- was originally an East Coast phenom- agreewith me, but just to understand ager. provided him with a bed. and kept enon. an element of the hip-hop cul- what I'm talking about. Compassion, to a him from becoming a Full-edged drug tore of the nineteen-seventies, which show compassion. He also said that he dealer. also included graiti and break danc- was not advocating violence against the F 92 His tbttunes began to brighten slightly ing. Although hip-hop music broke police but was simply telling stories that in 1990 when he got -.1 job with the rap into the mainstream in 1979 with the described reality For young black men- group Digital Underground. as a road international hit Rappers Delight," and cautionary stories at that. in which manager and dancer. But his real break it was not until the late eighties, with violence against the police often leads came the following year. when he was the emergence of gangsta rap, that it to death or imprisonment. On one crack picked up by Interscope-.1 small oom- showed signs of becoming hugely com- he says. They claim that l'm violent It pany that had just been founded by mercial-especially when it gained a just cuz I rerseto be silent. The song the record producer jimmy Iovine and wide audience of white youths. much on the album that proved to be the the entertainment magnate Ted Field as blues. jazz, and early rock and roll most popular was entitled "Brenda's Got - anheir to the Marshall Field fortune! had. In 1991. Interaeope released Tupac'sa Baby." Tupac said that he had writ- t as a joint venture with Time Wamer. first album. lpacalypse Now," which oen the song after reading a newspapu 5-1 Tom Whalley. who signed Tupac at was replete with militant lyrics de- story about a twelve-year-old girl who lntetscope. had brought in a demo picting violence between young black became impregnated by her cousin and tape Tupac had made. and Ted Field men and the police. This was the al- threw her newbom baby down an in- of . 92 '-92

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:anl IO David Kemter le!wound up at tbe top afane qftbe batter! black labels, Death Raw. t::bicl' -was cqfomtded Dr. Dre. cinerutor. Asked by his lawyer whether could reconcile the conicting senti- did notjoin either gang. He was at bot- he considered the song a political state- ments. he says, I wrote this when I tom an observer and chronicler, pro- I'mment. Tupac said, Yes. . . . When this was seventeen. . . . It's about a charac- l"0nndl_92" utilitarian in his approach to song came out, no male rappers at all ter. somewhat like myself, who just experience and, some thought, people I0 anywhere were talking about problemsgot into the tap business, went from hav- as well. .-ind South Central L.A.- ind that females were having, number one. ing no girls to now there's girls all the which is almost like -.92 foreign country , KO Number two, it talked about sexual time and he's just getting so much sex- within a city. so singular and baroque are : he abuse. it talked about child molestation, ual attention and he's, in his mind, a dy- the gang customs. culture. and laws that the it talked about families taking advan- namo. He's Rudolph Valentino and govern it-was the richest territory hed -hat rage of families, it talked about the Frank Sinatra, he's everybody. . . . He ever seen. ' .'l_' eiscts of poverty, it talked about how inn get anybody he wanted. . . . Im an He could be with this poet, this one person's problems mo a'ect a whole actorandlwasapoet. So l feltlilte . . .1 pimp. this thug-he could suck every- rich community of people. It talked about have to tell the multifaceted nature of thing from each of them and that would ads how the innocent are the ones that get a human being. . . . A man can be sex- be part or him," said Han Man, the hurt. It talked about drugs, the abuseist and compassionate to women at t'riend who moved with him from | L"

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Tl-El92EW92OlKEl92.JUlX7.l997 close to Tupsc since he was a smallboy, was apopleetic. "I said, What have you done?" Tyehimba recalled We tallned 3 aboutit, and it became clear that he did 1 t QI./J; s ittomakesurehenever>rgotthedis- &92/92§_ possessed. never forgot whue he came "Q -461 W . or

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've92 - 11-I251-|oor|ne|~'An.AurA l Crips wouldn't think he was a Blood. Hisbehaviorwasnot rigbehewason lou'l:the edge. But theyjust guredhewas Tupac the Rapper. ow. 5+ l ! meuevvomteniuwzisér

Dr. Shakur . . .were violated by the cowrcrrao program. GOINTELPRO was initiatedby theF.B.I. toneutralize Tyehimba alarmedwas bytherelationships abuse, sodomy,and alsoweapons charges blackactivist leaders as well as certain and warnedTupac tokeep hisdistance. two gunswere foundin thehotel room!, tightwing extremists.!Recently, a de- in I told Tupac therst timel met him, and Agnant'slawyer, Paul Brenner, who velopment unlikenot thatin thecase ofCharles Fullertold Tupac,everyone toldhad representedthe Patrolmen's Benevo- Geronimo Pratt,Mutulu wasgranted him heshould stayaway fromIaoques. lent Associationfor many years, moved permissionle to amotion for a newtrial Tupac ignoredthe warnings.jaoques that his client'sbe case severed from his on the ground thatevidence wasdiscov- had allthis goldand diamondjewelry, two codefendants',on the ground that ered indicating that the government Man Mansays. Hehad money.He had only Tupacand Man Manhad been withheld information that would have a nice H.M.W. He could getyou inany charged withthe weaponsoffenses, and been favorable to his defense. club. Pacwas juststarting tobe known that therefore the indictment was im- In thespring of1994, about six months then, andhe couldn'tget inall theclubs. properly joined.The prosecutordid not after Tupacshot thepolice officersin At- Iacques spentabout four or vethousand oppose themotionsomething that lanta, Mutuluwas movedfrom thepeni- dollars onTupac inthe beginning-heTupac'ssay lawyers ishighly unusual- tentiary Lewisburg,in Pennqivania,to the just overwhelmedhim. Accordingto and thejudge grantedit. super-maximum-security federalprison someone eisewhoknew Agmnt,Madonna Itwas apparentlyafter Agnanfscase was in Marion,Illinois, andfrom thereto the with whomTupac wouldbecome close!severed thatTupac became convinced country'smaximum-security most insti-was oneof Agnantscelebrity friends. that Agnantwas a govemment informer tution, inFlorence, Colorado.In a memo- On November14, 1993,IaoquesAgnant and hadset himup. 'Tupacssuspicions randum writtenin February,1994, the and Tupacwent toNeil's, downtown the were, inevitably,shaped bythe experi- warden Lewisburgof arguedthat MutuluNew Yorkclub. Afriend ofAgna.nt's, ence of his extendedfamily; Jacques needed "thecontrols ofMarion," inpart identied onlyas "Tim,"introduced Tu-didnt smellright tome, saysWatani because ofhis outside contacts andin- pac toa nineteen-year-old woman namedTyehimba, whoconsiders himselfpar- uence overthe youngerblack element."Ayanna Jackson.She expressedher inter- ticularly attunedto the presence under- of Mutuluis convincedthat Tupacbe- est inhim; theydanced together;and shecover agentsbecause hisof long history camea lightning rod afterhe shotthe performed sexoral a in corner of the dancewith the Panthers and what he learned policemenAtlanta. in Thesedisen'an- floor. Theywent tohis hotel,where theyfrom COINTELPROtiles obtainedthrough chisedthe youngblacks who are poor had intercourse.The next day, shecalled the Freedom of Information Act. and hopelesshaveno leader,Mutulu and leftmany messageson his voice mail, One nightin November,1994, during said Theirheroes arecultural andsports saying, amongother things, how much thc trialof Tupacand ManMan, Tupac heroes. Noone-not IesseJackson, not she'd enjoyedhis prowess. Four days was ata clubwith theactor MickeyRourke Ben Chavis,not LouisFarrakhan-has later, onNovember 18th,she returnedto and afriend ofRourke's, Benza, A.]. a asmuch inuenoe with this segment ashis hotelsuite. There,she foundTupac, reporter forthe DailyNews. Tupactold rappers. whenSo Tupacstands toup a Man Man,Agnant, andan unidentiedBenza thathe believedthat Agnanthad white cop,shoots out,it winsthe battle,friend ofAgnanfs. Theyall watchedset himup. A couple of dayslater Benza gets cutfree, andcontinues tosay the television inthe living room, andthen wrote anaccount theof conversation,re- things he'sbeen saying-the decision toshe andTupac wentinto thebedroom; calling thatTupac hadtold himthat destroy hiscredibility clear.is later, the three othermen enteredthe Mike Tysonhad calledhim upfrom room. Whatensued disputed;is Jacksonprison towam himthat Agnanrwasbad N II-IETHERhappenstance by not,claims or thatshe wasforced toperform news." Onthe nightof November30th, about two weeks after the At- oral sexon Tupacwhile Agnant partlywhile thejurywasdeliberating, Tupacwent lanta shootingsomething occurredthat undressed herand grabbedher 'ombe- to a TimesSquare musicstudio rapto for could not have beenbetter de- hind, andthat theythen madeher per- an artist,Little Shawn,who, accordingto signed removero Tupacfrom form oralsex onAgnant's while friendMan Man,had tiesto Agnant.WhenTu- circulation-and that would Tupac heldher. ManMan, pac andhis entourageentered thelobby ultimately leadto his undoing. she acknowledged,did nottouch of the studio, threeblack menfollowed VVhile in New York for the her.! Tupacclaimed thathe leii: them, drewguns, andordered themto lie lming ofthe movieAbove '-1%V the room when the other men down. Tupacreached forhis owngun, the Rim,Tupac hadbeen socializing., =2 -" . entered anddid not witness which heusually worein his waistband, with a Haitian-bom music promoter, - whatever happened. Inany cocked. Themen thenshot Tupac ve Jacques Agnant.Tupac wasplaying thecase, Jacksontestified thatshe leftthe times, grabbedhis goldjewelry, anded part ofa gangster named Birdiei.n the suite intears andthat Ag-nanttold herto Convinced thatthe shootinghad also movie, andhe told friends thatspending calm down,saying thathe wouldhate beena setup, and thatthe shootuswould to seewhat happenedto Mike [Tyson] return tonish thejob, Tupacchecked tirnewithAgnantl1elpedhirninl1ispor-happen Tupac:to thatis, awomancharg- himself outof the hospitala few hours ing himwithsexual assault,which iswhat after surgery,and movedsecretly tothe trayalof Birdiemueh as outwithJackson promptlydid. Shesummoned thehouse ofthe actressjasmineGuy to,re- the gangsin SouthCentral providedhimhotel's oicers,security who called the cuperate. Whenhe retumedtothe court- with materialfor hislyrics. Hesaid thatpolice. Tupac,Man Man,and Agnantfoom, bandagedand ina wheelchai.r,_he he wasstudying]aoques~that]aoques werewas arrested. A,gna.nt's left.! friendwas acquittedof the three sodomycounts Birdie, WataniTyehirnba recalls.But Indictments were handed down on sex- and theweapons chargesbut, inam;a_p-.

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parent compromise verdict, convicted of -as .er- two counts of sexual abusespecirally, forcibly touching Ayanna Jackson's but- my tocks. Bail was set at dtree million dollars, and'I'upacturnedhimse1fi.nandwas .lC l incarcerated. On February 7, 1995, he was sentenced to a term of not less than eh I one and a half to not more than four and l a half years in prison. -mg l A few months after Tupac was sen- PZC tenced, Jacques Agnant's indictment was dismissed, and he pleaded guilty to two irkc misdemeanors. When I asked Melissa Mourges, the assistant district attorney I- a, a who had tried the case against Tupac, why Agnant had been dealt with in such :old a favorable way, she said that Ayanna Jackson was reluctant to go through the had , _-I nza . case again. Jackson had, however, brought a civil suit against Tupac following the .1 _ . p » _ .. _,__ _ . .- _ _ , ,1 ._----- .> . 1 r 56 ! 1 n-|e~ewtomten..u.Y7.|9'9'1 n 4 I Z ___ -f_4§- . : ' _ in ill view ofthe guards. Then l '//I/-u la/K-.9,"-~_* Vi ~. it the guards started saying Tu- pacl Tupacl' in this falsetto voice, putting up their ngers #1 ' O1;;7'7l ,.'-1.-5,3/I with these plastic gloves, waving I l I./7 »i //I - -'4zit . I/I i a r» - them-'It's time! It's time! 2 , /' / -;.-' » 2'41" Why a second rectal search, lg A. when he'd been sitting there in if?» ' plain view with his lawyer, why, I .1? '17-t _ N except to humiliate him?" Yaas- _5,1.,9'-.¢;;'__ _~i - , 2 !9 . / e» -'92 =0- myn Fula, who had knovm him , 1/ ." Q 1 I/;'_ F we ' qt ,_ I ' 0 ' I since he was a baby, and who I ,.,_~_..-.1. _ _-_: ,p_#_ »,_ pp. " I 1 / _,_.'//1&7,-,=_;;2f-._.».~ 4:-~=_92_ -MI I visited him often in prison, re- / ; -¢-v ry .1" 49,,-. ,1 ;'_-;_;,= .'/""l;;-1; --2W .E_4f-;"_q§>E:~___:i '- -=14 / P___ -- ''W!» '&'/44' pm_ . . - '1 _ Z11-..; F--at "ll':'f ' ;/ 97__.1/_',-;-'-1-=, .---;;-2?;. calls, It was a terrible experi- ,-» . /r"',' gr-:52.-,1»-:.li.é3r t..¢.»».,rz&::--1 "4-_ - .=. 1/ ¢ .. . '-.-= -.. A. -. --,-.-.~.-:'.§~'-=,;".'.~"--ence for himto be captive, in " .4. =-~ ' | ~. '/4 ..¢ 14- -,1»: »-. - _, - :_ -s §=- _ u » .e".». t ~-'- -./1; . . . - '0.'i - ' -;=Z""'="-"cl - '~92 .'.;u't '::-,92}92.92 I . ye 1-_-- *- *5 g ~ ,,. - é - ~<: ~@ ,¢.; t .-,.',':.-;' 1:.- eI . ' - '; ahorric situation, with guards "/_l",.¬"¢5;-,: -:- .: t{:i_gg.':~ 1 < .'.".>';R. ~-- ~- ..-. '7; ;.'.'s,_,--;-_n| .-w- .... I ;~ hf 1- -*5-_'-?'-1-,*-ff *-K/1 1;.=¢."-"' __,.-§f:~-.Z._~~,.'-.1;-"-.';". ___...- "' " .- "'5//47§Jt<|.'I-%u:./.';; -~-.~-,-.'/1;-es».-f=:'1;-- threatening to kill him, inmates . s» '4.-_t-.:-2-f',=>/,-'1 ,-.19?-M--'-*1 - t // l If .. ': - -,-;t:r:'-'.l , l - ' .F""1-ztggzt-i;-:3;-§',;<:~~;;:<.-_, L "1 -7"<"-1'.-¢'~>;i-'--."..r~¬".£7,; 11.1, _.=-,_3'~fi;'=;;¢.._":_T:¢I,-~.Z=.-',,- , ',» ' i, "' ' ' " . -= -- '.1,?"--$15.?5'-m:#Li¢*f"'..'92j:_.._1;._-:.92,,,',%4:_,§»,,-, , threatening to kill him. . . . He - r ax? ~ -.'-1' /--Q/!'<-"-..~.; 1 I - -- -.é»':.==".»' ""-T. _-. 4., ,:="-" - ' - F . F , 1/ la _/ __ ,',¢é$¢_¢,..-.:__" __ U-. _.; 5...; ' .-.. , :__, » . . . L-_>_*.,____;V._-:__ ,,:,',_.'_;5_ -r_._ ., . , _ J . __ v___ »¬'L. _ -___ said, l have never had people l V~z-l_$'§'_7-*0 '1 - v- -W E I "52: 1.1,-4.1%" "'7 l=- ' r -% .-, - __ .__,.,¬-¢__ ' _ demean me and disgrace me as l ..- . __ ~92 D92@.. _/. .2-ass.-> , 'air--/, __'92 __ T _ _ .. __-. they have in this " 9 _ ' '15 e - -bI Other factors weighing on KW - Tupac contributed to his anxi- _.._. ety about being in prison. He was the breadwinner for a large "Sam it oevyfacussed. extended family--his mother, F his sister, her baby, his aunt and her family, and more. Iris Crews, one of his attomeys in gave me, I'm not innocent in terms of the school . . . she's nice, she's quiet, she's a the sex-abuse case-who had been leery way I was acting. . . . I'm just as guilty for square, she's a good girl. She's my rst of representing Tupac but became be- not doing nothing as I am for doing and only girliend I ever had in my en- guiled and devoted Hadhe been this things. He accepted blame for not hav- tire life and now she's my wife." foulmourhed, woman-hating kid, 1 ing intervened on behalf of Ayanna_Iack Tupac and Morris talked about mov- wouldn't have done it!tecalled that son. "I knowl feel ashamed-because I ing to Arizona, and what they would one day as he sat in court witha bunch wanted to be accepted and because I name their kids. He started to organiu of young children climbing all over didn't want no harm done to me, I d.idnt his nances, and attempted to settle the him during a recess he had remarked to .1 numerous lawsuits pending against him her, If I don't work, these kids dont .4- say nothing." It In April of199S', while he was still in across the country. But in the forbidding,eat. He'd been deprived of his child- | prison, he married Keisha Morris, whom almost feudal backdrop of the Clinton hood, and then, at twenty, he had twenty he'd been dating for about six months Correctional Facility, his efforts seemedpeople to support, she said. Beyond before he was put in Erninently re- increasingly irrelevant. I-Iis lawyers were that, he had enormous legal fees for cases l» sponsible and levelheaded, she was go- ling appeals in his case, and under those all over the country. After nearly six ing to school and holding down a job; circumstances he could have been al- months in prison, despite the money be- she didn't smoke marijuana; and she lowed to post bail, but the district attor- ing advanced by Interscope, Tupac's :- didn't immediately have sex with him. ney's oice was ghting his right to do so, funds were depleted. Morris told me that on their rst dare and the proceedings dragged on, month they saw a movie, and then Tupac pre- after month. What he had spoken of ini- :DEA'1'I-I ROW RECORDS offered to vailed on her to stay in his hotel room. tially when he was at Rikers Island as solve all Tupac's nancial prob- When she insisted on going to bed rlly prison's gift"of respite and introspec-lems. Death Row had been smrted by dressed, he protested only that "you could tion-now had been overshadowed by Suge Knight and the rap producer take ofF your sneakers. In the depositionthe nightmare of incarceration. Dr. Dre in 1992. Knight was a former he gave in the civil case brought against Dannemora was a hellhole-he had University of Nevada football star who him by the family of the young man who a one-to-four-year sentence, and they had grown up in Compton in South had murdered the Texas state trooper, put him in a maximum-security prison!" Central LA. In the late eighties, he had ,Tupac described his new wife: _Shesone of his lawyers, Stewart says.worked as a bodyguard in the burgeon- twenty-two, she's a Scorpio, she. .'.justLevy recalls that while he ing LA. rap scene, eventually develop- graduated from Iohn ]ay College with a Tupae one day, "Tupac had*ai-ectalihg a friendship with Dre, who was then degree in criminal science, and she'ssearch when he came inoo the visit- a member of the group N.W.A. Knight rakenayearoi she'sgoingtogotolzwing area. Thenwe spentsixhours there persuaded Dre that he was getting

~ . . - . ~ . -Q -.. I A."Y "J-4 , ,. . - : l -.-av. * s a ..-»:.-~'»~.~-»5='-1;-T-"-s.-t. _,»§Iu .» - 7. .1 V n-/ '. - n wasVARNERANDDEATHv s1 0 cheated by his record company and that Row would continue. Then, in the late vestigating possible criminal activities at he should leave. Knight is alleged to spring of1995,'I'une Wamer again came Death Row. Suge Knight has always have threatened Dre's producer with under attack for its involvement in gang- been at pains to portray himself as an in- baseball bats and pipes in order to break sta rap, this time by the joined forcesdependent operator. For example, he his contract. of Wiiam Bennett and C. DeLores boasted that Death Row, u.nl.ike other I The release of Dre's album The Tucker, the chairwoman of the National small companis, owns its masters the Fl Chronic" shortly after Death Row was Political Congress of Black Women. original recordings of the albums!. Since Iv founded helped establish the company as Tucker, pointing to Tupac, Snoop Dogy the long-term value of rap recordings is a major force. By the summer of 1995, it Dogg, and Dr. Dre the latter two at only spcmlative at this point, the own- U. was one of the top reoord companies in Death Row!, all of whom had problemsership of the masters is a matter of ego O the rapmusic world. Suge and Dre re- with the law, declared that Interscope is more than economis, a music exemtive ally were a magical combination, a black a company Time Warner needs to get explained to me, and in the case of entertainment executive who was then at out of business with immediately." Death Row itwas important for the im- one of the big music companies told me. Tupac was too promising an artist for age to say they were black-owned. But They were trusted on the streets. Vi/bite lnterscopc to consider jettisoning-, but in fact Death Rows masters are heavily or black executives, no matter what their there was a compromise solution that mortgaged, and have been used as secu- winking, were not going to be trusted. might make it appear that Interscope was rity againsr loans and advances from Ve're square to them. And Knight was insulated fiom him, and the solution ap- Intezsoope. Indeed, Death Row has been l formidable manager. He never really parently made sense to everyone in- nancially dependent on lntersoope from remed to sleep. He had an instinct with volved-except Tupac. the beginning. I1. eople about what he thought their mar- Suge Knight had wanted Tupac at VVhile Knight clearly had a great deal etability could be. He could motivate Death Row for some time, although he of autonomy, he and Iovine worked to- lre to nish what he started. And he had not been a Tupac supporter at rst. gether closely. It was Jimmy and Suge, idn't take no for an answer. Dre had cs- He was not into the Tupac-artist thing, Iimrny and Suge," someone who knew rntially all the ideas, and Suge the man- a producer who knows Suge says. But them both well told me. since no one J- gcment muscle to get it done." then came his thug notoriety-being wanted to tell Knight anything that "set Death Row owed its start to Inter- called a rapist, getting in brawls. . . . his ise, he said, it was Iovine who dealt ;ope. jimmy lovine and Ted Field had With his problems, he became more at- with Knight. The relationship was very 5 ecided to fund Death Row and distrib- tractive to Suge." Knight had been malt- handson. Promotions and marketing for re its products in 1992, when other ing overtures to Tupac with lnterscope'sDeath Row were handled by an lnte_r- ampanies had shied away. One execu-blessing. A music executive who worked scope employee. If a production company ve at a major studio who had turned with Inrerscope recalls Iovine saying to was making a video for Death Row, its awn the prospective Death Row ven- Knight, Take this kid, take him please.contract might well be with lnterscope. zre told me that he and his colleaguesHe's out of control. You can control him. The closeness between the two com- :lt that "life is too short" to assume the Take him." Watani Tyehimba rememberspanies was underscored by their physical sk that they believed an associationa meeting in 1993 attended by Tupac, proximity. Until last year they were lo- ith Knight might pose. Timmy is com- Knight, Iovine, and himself, at which cated just across the hall from each other ~rtable with gangsters, he can deal with lovine, saying it made sense for Tupac to in a.n oliioe building in Westwood. tern, it doesnt bother him, the execu- workwith Dr. Dre, argued strongly that ve said. He's a street guy himself."he should sign with Death Row. Tye- ON a business owchart, it may have winethe son of a Brooklyn long- himba was surprised, but lovine ex- meant just shifting Tupac from --1oreman, who, many say, aspired to be plained that Interscope and Death Row one box to another, but for Tupac to go- the next David Geffen-wa11ted to make had a unique relationship-suggestingfrom Interscope to Death Row, only a :s his mark fast, and he was impatient with that Dcath Row's gain of Tupac would hallway apart, was to enter a dicrent, the progress of his new business at rst. not mean Interscope's signicant loss. and far more sinister, world. It was So he gambled, and reaped the payoff: The exact nature of that unique re- widely believed that one of the major in- I0 gangsta rap turned out to be a gold mine. lationship" may be of more than aca- vestors in Death Row was a drug dealer D But the disadvantage of being in- demic interest to federal authorities in- named Michael Harry-O!Harris, who volved with Death Row was continuing was sewing time for attempted murder >Y reproaches from social critics and in- as well as drug convictions. He was said censed shareholders. Time Warner had 2 1' to have provided the seed money for Bl succumbed to pressure of that nature Death Row. Knight and Han-is's law- when it disengaged itself 'om Ice-T in I X V 4 yer, David Kenner, who had also be-'4 1993.By early 1995, however, the pro- come the lawyer for Death Row, were tability of gangsta rap seemed to be sp- supposed to be guarding Harris's inter- ping the scales of greed and fear. VVhen A 92 92 ests. There were even tumors that 1-._ 1- 4 _ ,»¥~4-.,_, Time Warner was dismissing raising its oompanywas being used no launder '4 l _ -1:, J ,- stake in Interscope from twenty-ve per -§_,...-__.- money on a continuing basis. More'<:i92'ie|F§; 2.,» 'I; .'5 cent to y per cent, they sought assur- it was said that there were conuactsldliiill ances that the relationship with Death 55'" -§_- Z -%92_- on Knight, and that Harris was uxihappiyii Ii L .. :5? +92u 'vF,¢ IHi-b ' -. 7" its ." 0 ;' . :"4-.'T" -:2= As. ~' < _, .3 . 4; t .1.-1, 92_ - ; - _ f D fr ~ .. _i_.i__-_ -- ..._.._._<__-.¬..-__. ._...... , ___.. _ ._. .. ._._.._ .- -_.... n o w < ~ _ ' ,..,. EM! I

with Knight's business practices. How they wanted to. It had become not only town; Bad Boy Entertainment C.E.Q. many of these stories had reached lovine attractive but vital to Death Row that Sean Puffy!Combs; the rapper Chris- is not clear. He did, of course, know of Tupacjoin the label One of the com- topher Wallace, known both as Biggie Knight's criminal record and propensitypan!/s biggest stars, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Smalls and as the Notorious B.l.G.; and for brutality when he rst made the deal was facinga murder trial. and itwas n1- others. Theyall denied any involve- with Death Row, and as time went on mored on the street that Dr. Dre was ment.! At rst, Man Man said, Tupac he became aware of the continuing cli- leaving. Drewould indeed leave by early did not believe that Biggie, who had mate of violence that enveloped the oom- 1996.! Death Row could not afford to been a good friend of his, and who had pany. A lawsuit against Death Row and lose both artists. And Knight surely knew come to visit him when he was recuper- Intersoope was led on behalf of a man that Tupac would be more popular than ating from his wounds, had been in- stomped to death at a Death Row party ever alter his prison term, more real volved in any way. B ut when Tupac was in early 1995. to his audience than he had been before. injail he was getting letters from people As for Michael Harriss bankrolling of Even though lnterscope advanced Biggie had something to do with Death Row, Iovine told federal investi- Tupacsix hundred thousand dollars dur- it, he started thinking about it, it got so gators that he had heard a rumor about ing the nine months he was in prison, he out of hand, it grewand once it got it in 1994 or 1995, but it was not until was broke and frustrated. To Tyehimba, that big, publicly, you had to go with it. December, 1995, when Harris threat- there seemed to be an unmistakable Watani Tyehimba, Stewart Levy, and ened to sue the company, claiming that synchrony at work. Interscope would not Charles Ogletree all say they argued vig- he owned half of it, that Iovine took time or could not provide enough funds for orously with Tupac about his decision to rumor seriously. If this was true, then Tupac. And as Knight became a more go to Death Row. Tupac told us, The lovine was strangely insulated, for in L.A. and more importunate suitor, Intersoopetrouble with all of you is, you're too music circles I-latriss role was widely gos- was squeezing us to get us to go to nice, " Levy recalls. Tyehimba told me siped about. Indeed, in the summer of Death Row," Tyehimba says. Knight- that at his last meeting with Tupac at the 1995, months before Harris wrote to Io- accompanied by Death Row's lawyer, prison, Tupac hugged him, wept, and vine about his intentions to sue, the head David Kenner, who had come to play a said, "l know Im selling my soul to the of the Time Warner music division, Mi- major role in the company, far exceed- devil." Kenner drafted a handwritten, chael Fuchs, made an overture to arrange ing specic legal taslcsmade repeatedthree-page agreement for Tupac to sign. a prison meeting with Harris. He was trips to Dannetnora to visit Tupac. Within a week, in a stunning coinci- trying to decide whether the company Knight promised to solve Tupac's most dence, the New York Court of Appeals should yield to the political pressure intractable problems. According to severalgranted him leave to post bail. The about gangsta rap and sell its interest in people close to Tupac, Knight claimed money was provided by Interscope and lnterscope, and he believed that it might that Kenner could cure the legal a division of Time Warner, although well be Harris, not Knight, who could and win permission to post bail. Knight Tupac always gave Suge ill credit.! speak with -authority to Time Warner irther promised that he would put up Knight and Kenner arrived in a pri- about the future direction of Death Row. some portion of the bail and, more im- vate plane and white stretch limousine to The meeting never took place, becauseportant, make Death Row the corporatepick Tupac up. Underscoting the degree Time Warner executives and the board of guarantor for the entirety. Knight swore of porousness between Interscope and directors quickly decided that the com- he would make Tupac a superstar, much Death Row, Tupac was, according to pany should shed its troublesome invest-bigger than he'd been with Intersoope.someone familiar with the negotiation, ment by selling its fty-per-cent stake And he would solve Tupacs nancial given a verbal release from his lnter- back to lnterscope. lnterscope was able worries. He would even buy Afeni a house. scope contract As for Kenner's hand- to exploit that rebuff by turning around lt was a dazzling hand. VVhat was written document, Ogletree, who would and selling the fty-per-cent stake to probably Knight's trump card, however, not see it until much later, says, "It wasn't MCA Music Entertainment Group now was the thing that he, and he alone, a legal contract. . . . It was absurd that known as Universal!, for a profit of roughlycould olfer Tupac-the aura of gangsteranyone with an opportunity to reect a hundred million dollars. power. Even though Tupac had claimed would agree to those terms. Itwas only be- that he had outgrown the gangster pose, cause he was in prison that he signed it. Temnmo as Knight's oifers werehis stay in Danncmora had made him Tupac was saying, My freedom is every- DeathRow was the premier rap feel more vulnerable than ever before. thing. If you can get me my eedom, you label, putting out one multi-platinum He wanted to get out of jail, and he can have access to my artistic product. " record after another!, Tupae had consis-needed a label that could back him, a tently declined to leave Interscope. But friend who visited him in prison that INways large and small, in both art in the summer of 1995, when it seemed summer says. "The street shit had to be and life, Tupac Shalcut instinctively as though his incarceration might con- dealt with, and Suge had power on the pushed past customary boundaries, and tinue indenitelyfor years even, ifhe street." Tupac brooded about being shot when he came out of prison and joined was not allowed to post bail-he was in the Times Square studio and Death Row that impulse was height- more desperate than_he'd ever been. It about what he believed was the setup by ened. He would work the longest was in this bleak moment that Jacques Agnant. He also suspected nineteen-hourstretches, despitezlthe and, apparently, Iovine as wellsaw the who were there in the studio that night: consumption of enormous amounts of opportunity to arrange things the way Andre Harrell, now the head of Mo- alcohol and marijuana!, he would.;pe-

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!n - Pr.1 nut EA.$'l'COASlVE.YTCQ°QTWA-. " CW ISI, .. 6| verbal, it was useil for its mar- the keting possibilities. But it may also have played into a real, not __-->' _____'-Q. hyped, desire for vengeance on _ .1. ere _ 92_'77I _-_¢_~ Knight's part, sinoe he is said to _ _ __ - _,--~§% _ I .4 -_' >$'shave blamed Puffy for a close '-=-5?; _____ i _ _~.--* ;_~_..1¢ .._ l. -1- ' . .,-.5- _;' . in i Friend's murder. The feud moved ' , . Q , And ddr92"l fOf,gl wn , to a new plane at a. Christmas D '-"' '~ - I , bash in 1995, hosted by Death - ---- "' - 1"»: -jourwooJs Cunalatres, are trawl-n9 girls-!. "*5 Fmi_,,,a.» i CS! wiih Plmsloarapheril " - ani Row at the Chateau Le Blane _ i - __. I Q - , F i ac s 1 r mansion, in the Hollywood Hills. 5 _ --0- uc i A record promoter from New -l _ York, Mark Anthony Bell, who i .--L mil I _ ,-:_ " a-- x-_ ;ie's is an associate ofPu.fly Combs, is 1-- *""'_"'_'-' . OH ' said to have been lured upstairs ""l "'*. ~..:i. id to a room Where Knight, Tupac, -_r-'-' U768 and their entourage had been r-' -%-i ,-4-~. '-" drinking. Bell was allegedly tied .---"" en r to a chair, interrogated about M --_- ..|- ' the killing of Suge's friend, and rife, hounded for the address of Puify and and Pu'y's mother. He is alleged to have been beaten with broken tunt champagne bottles, and Knight ;=1 * is said to have urinated into ajat .fat and told Bell to drink from it. ; //all 9292.9292.92 Bell received an estimated six~ e to hundred-thousand-dollar settle- / CA MPAWAMNABEJ. lg=a.~~»l~t~=| "the ment from Death Row, and he declined to press charges. But a friend of Bell's 1She told me that he had reached him in Ja- In February, Tupac had decided to maica about a month after the incident, start his own production company, called i aun- and Bell had said to him, I'm here tilll Euphanasia, and he asked his old friend than Interscope had." But she suggests I heal. They busted me up bad! People Yaasmyn Fula to come to L.A. to run it. that she was not oblivious of the dark .! took r who were with Tupac the last year of his 92 Fula began trying to organize Tupacs side of Knight and Death Row. She told life are not surprised that he would be in- business affairs. We weren't getting me that Tupac had not allowed either volved in something like this. VVhencopies of the nancial accountings," she Syke or Tupac's young cousinsthe withTupac was with Suge," one friend says, Outlawz, who travelled with him and said. "VVe'd ask for them, and they'd withSuge would get him all stirred up, and whom he supported andone of whom, 9292 3}

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we» . '*""i7 ' r -. .-~' i 1' . >. ' ' ' _ -" .' Row has my money, tell them to send _:- , -1. . . ~ . '. . .-. a._;;,.<',+:" -- - - . vi, ' the check. " When the check didn't ..- , te ~*:~--';¢- . ~ -' if, ' : Q; - . . -. -,92,J, . ;:. ,' G 3,1 - - come, Ogletree continued, I would call _*_,,.- - =.'»*--I.-; -- Z1 1 2. -i-;;__ Kenner. He would say, It's in the mail. l. Then, when it never arrived, he would 4 1 COFFEE »~=> »~ KICKIN THE PANT5 say he was sending it FedEx. Then, when it didn't arrive, he would say he'd 4? F°R;v92g;u_YTEA AND SYMPATHY! ,- wire it." Ogletree added, We should have been able to close the deal, but it was never possible. We had to go through the record company. It was as though he had no life except that given to him by 1 Death Row. l By the late spring, Ogleuee says, Tu- pac was careilly plotting his escape. I He had Euphanasia, he had the Out- ,92 lawz, he had his movie dealshe was building something that was all to be part of one entity. . . . He had a strat- -w 4 egy-the idea was to maintain a friendly 1 P j-Q.-'.1-I.~iY.i§='-" relationship with Suge but to separate his business." The precedent of Dr. Dre's 3 _ z . . . 7- ' - 1 ' -/1' -- . .-.¢..'--_ departure from Death Row did not E / / seem especially encouraging. A music- Z i n-CAJ business executive who was iendly with Dre says that Dre left because he was O 4 uncomfortable with Knights business 1 lin which Kenner has consistently denied, 1995 he was, some thought, the prover- practices. Dre abandoned his interest in lI the conict would be even more patent. bial power behind the throne. To many the company in retum for a relatively if It also might explain how he-a white of Tupacs friends, the relationship be- modest nancial settlement, and Inter- crirninaldefense lawyer who in the tween Knighr and Kenner t a familiarscope facilitated the divorce by giving eighties handled some of L.A.'s most pattem: a black gangster who has accesshim a lucrative new contract. Look at high-prole drug, racketeering, and to the streets works in consort with a Dre," Ogletree says. Such a brilliant, l murder cases but had virtually no expe- whiteplayer who is connected to leverscreative musician. He started Death | rience in entertainment law-oould have of power in the world at large. Knight Row, and in order to get out he had to ii emerged at the top of one of the hottest might wear a ring with the initials give up almost everything... . Now, black-music record labels. M.O.B.--Member of Bloods"but what would it take for Tupac, the hot- Kenner's entree, it now seems plain, in their eyes Kenner was the real thing. test star around, whose success was only came through Michael Harris. Paul growing? From a legal standpoint, Palladino, a private investigator who has DAVIDKENNER began to representOgletree said, it was not so diicult, the worked closelywith Kenner for years, Tupac as his entertainment law- contract signed in prison could be chal- told me that back in 1991 or so David A yer and as his lawyer for civil and crimi- ler1ged.Butyouhavetoli92reafterthat.. . . was representing Michael Harris on his nal oases in Califomia, but Tupac asked It was a question of how to walk away appeal, and Harris introduced him to Charles Ogleu-ee to continue to representwith your limbs attached and bodily Suge." In his unled complaint against him as well. Ogletree told me that he re- functions operating. Death Row and Interscope, Harris al- peatedly wrote letters to Death Row, ask- I remember seeing him just before leged that he had had a prison meeting ing to see the contract Tupac had signedhis twenty-fth birthday," Oglettee con- in September, 1991, with Kenner and with Death Row in prison and to nego- tinued. He felt it was a glorious day. He I Knight, to dismiss the terms of his in- tiate a formal contract under more con- never imagined he'd live to be twenty- .1 vestment in what would beoome Death sdonable circumstances; but all his efforts, fivebut there was a sadnms in his eyes, M Row. Harris and Knightwere to be equal he said, were met with silence, diver- because he still had these chains binding partners, he alleged, and Kenner was to sions, and outright misrepresentations."him. This was not where he wanted to set up the corporation and help Knight Ogletree was also handicapped in his be. I said, You can beanythjngyou want 97*, nd n't I all til. ild :n , e'd lld t it igh .he by Fu- .pe. UT was be filt- idly :ate 're's not

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rtess P't.orrnNoAnr_scA|>s if _/' 68 it in Belushi. The night it wrapped, Tupac After the almost nonexistent ght- grazed. Hewould later maintain he had vsly celebrated by taking one of his law- Tyson knocked Seldon out in less than abullet lodged in his head.! At the hos- I yers, Shawn Chapman, to dinner at two minutes-Knight, Tupac, and their pital, Tupac went into emergency sur- ICI- the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. He entourage were on the way out of the gery, where doctors removed one shat- I . ~. 3-Q.

attempt to leave Death Row that led to malpractice and breach of duciary duty, smelling like rosesand not have the his death. Dre had managed to do it, but charging that his purported representa- wild card of Suge and Kenner. A cou- only by relinquishing any claim on tion of Tupac was in hopeless conict ple of months ago, it was reported that Death Row. A music-business veteran with his own interestsinasmuch as Seagtam, the parent of Universal, is eon- who is close to Dre told me that if Kenner, the suit alleges, was both an at- sidering buying, for three hundred and Tupac had left Death Row. . . it would torney for Death Row and an owner of fty million dollars, the half of Inter- have been worse than devastatingit'sit. Several people close to the situation scope that Universal does not already an insult. lt's a publicslap in the face. lt say that the suit is on the verge of being own. This would mean a colossal prot is not tolerable. I've made you and settled, and that Interscope has helped for Iovine and Field. l you're going to leave me? And six to make that possible. To many blacks in the music busi- i92 months alter Dre did it? In another cul- Since Tupacs death, Interscope has ness, the lack of congruency in this par- l ture," he concluded, people sue you." repeatedly sought to mollify Afeni. In ticular morality tale is bitterly familiar. 1 In the last few months, Knight has October, when she found Knight and Suge Knight has retained Milton I been buffeted by one damaging revelation Kcnner unresponsive and she was Grimes, who defended Rodney King, to after another. The Los Angeles Time: threatening to block the release of Tu- represent him in the federal investiga- reported in October that he had given a pac's last album unless she got an ac- tion. Grimes argues that Death Row did recording contract to the daughter of the counting of the money due to him, it not operate in a vacuum._ Their money deputydistrict attorney Lawrence Longo, was jimmy Iovine who met with Afeni came '0m Interscope, and from MCA, who had helped strike his probation deal and her lawyer, Richard Fischbein, and and they-Interscope-were hands- in the assault case, and also that David agreed that Interscope would pay her an on. So if there are going to be indict- Kenner had rented a n.i.neteenthousand- immediate three million dollars with ments, let them take on the industry- dollar-a-month Malibu Colony house moreto come. And it was lnterscope, not just this one black bus iness." from the Longo family and that Knight not Death Row, that underwrote a me- That lnterscope is widely regarded as It had stayed in it. Longo denies any morial service for Tupac in Atlanta in the most successful new label since wrongdoing.! Then, in December, the November. Geffen Records cannot be attributed Los Angeles Time: reported that Steve lnterscope has, in a way, been a solely to its ailiation with Death Row. Cantrock, Death Rows accountant and model of corporate responsibility. In- Interscope has hugely successful rock a principal in the L.A. ofce of Gelfand, deed, in a strictly corporate sense it has groups, including Nine Inch Nails, Rennert 8c Feldman, a division ofCoo done more than was required. Tupac Bush, and the Wallowers, and the pop pets 8:. Lybrand, had signed a document was not o-icially lnterscopes artist, af- groups No Doubt and God's Property. l saying that he stole four and a half mil- ter all. But Interscope executives may But it was Death Row that rescued i lion dollars from Death Row. Cantrock feel a level of responsibility for hav- them from their early doldrums and that was said to have told federal invesugaing pushed Tupac into Suges arms. And delivered one multi-platinum album af- tors that he had been invited to a San there is also a compelling business ratio- ter another. And the legacy of Death Fernando Valley house where Knight, nale for Interseope to do everything pos- Row to lnterscope is a rich one. Death I Kenner, and others were gathered, that sible to quell the skirmishing between Row served an amazing purpose for In- 1 he had been forced to his knees and, Tupac's estate and Death Row. As one terscope, an entertainment executive fearing for his life, signed the handwrit- lawyer close to the situation points out, told me. It helped put them in the ten confession that Kenner had drafted ifA.feni didn't get what she wanted from black-music business. Today, no matter é on the spot. Knightsays that no force Death Row she would surely sue not what happens, they /Ba-ue that. People in l ll0 was involved. Cantroclc denies stealing only Death Row but lnterscope as well, that community feel that they gave a 3 the money.! Canuock, who is in hiding, on the theory that the companies were black man power. They gave a black i has since been forced out by his rm. He so closely related as to have shared ex- man autonomy. They gave a black man has also been reported to have been an posure. Being subject to a legal pro- money. intermediary between Knight and al- cess of discovery on this issue could Iovine and Field did bet on Suge leged organized-crime gures; federal hardly have been an attractive pros- Knight and Dre when other companies investigators have reportedly been exam- pect for lnterscope-particularly in would not. They have justified what ining possible links between Death Row light of the ongoing criminal probe they did by alluding to the First Amend- and organizedcrime families in New of Death Row. ment, and to their belief in giving a York and Chicago. VVhen federal grand chanee to black artists and entrepreneurs jury subpoenas were sent out last Febru- IF Interscopc escapes unscathed in thefrom the street, But Death Row was no ary, they focussed not only on Knight'sfederal probe, Suge Knight's undo- enterprise zone. And anyone who got role but on Kennel-s as well. ing could well prove a boon. Ioint ven- near it could have predicted that there In midApril, Afeni Shalcur led a tures are only as successrl as the opera- would be a price to pay for its cultiva- racketeering suit against Death Row, tors are frugal, an executive close to tion of gangsterismin lyrics, in social Suge Knight, and David Kermer, alleg- lnterscope points out, and at Death conduct, and perhaps in business prac- ing that they were engaged in a con- Row the spending was obscene. If tices as well. . 1 spiracy to steal from Tupac. The suit in- they'can shift the Death Row assets Tupac, of course, paid the heaviest cluded a claim against Kenner for within Interscope, they'll come out price of all. 0 - - .