Was Tupac only a solo artist? Did Tupac do anything to further rap? These may only seem as two minor general questions, but these are the key questions to unlocking more history about Tupac for the layman who only knows Tupac as a rap soloist. Let’s begin with the first question – Was Tupac only a solo artist? No. As a matter of fact, Pac in 8th grade began with the alias MC New York and formed a group with Ace Roker and DJ Plain Terror called Born Busy. This is the first known group Tupac developed.

Later after this in 1986 Pac formed a group called ‘2 from the Crew’ with another rapper; a rap group for the teens that lived in the ‘Jungle of Marline City’. This was the same time Tupac developed the title ‘Thug Life’ because people in his neighborhood called them Thugs. They rapped songs such as ‘Let’s get it On’ and ‘Lifestyles of the Poor and Homeless’, which were about there social perspective of a young black male growing up in the ghetto. From this, Pac and Randy “Stretch” Walker formed the duo ‘Thug Life’.

After this foot setting for Pac, he met Leila Steiberg in San Francisco. She became his friend. Pac met Ray Luv through Leila which allowed them to form a group Called ‘Strictly Dope’. Pac and ray developed several songs and were released on the CD 1 in 21. Leila later introduced him to the manager of Digital Underground, Atron Gregory. Through this introduction Pac joined Digital Underground at the youthful age of 18. this group was formed by Shock G and Chapmaster J ad possessed 7 members in total. However, Pac only filled a roady position first and then later was heard o a song ‘Same Song’ – this is an E P release.

The Formation Of The Outlawz

While incarcerated, Tupac came up with the idea of developing a new group, which he expressed his boy YOUNG Hollywood would start searching for members. The group began with Pac, K. Dog, Young Hollywood, Big Malcolm and Mutah. Hollywood began with Washington who he old Pac a story about. The story goes; Big Malcolm and K. Dog went to visit Washington in Montclair, New Jersey. During this time they were robbed of their, which later they told Washington who sought out the thieves and returned their stolen possessions. Pac agreed for Washington to become a member. However, Washington didn’t believe Hollywood until Yaasmyn Fula advocated it. After this they had a meeting with Tupac, but before any formal introduction between Pac and Washington were expressed. Tupac immediately asked Washington to freestyle before any arrangements. Later Tupac’s brother Mopreme Shakur and Tyruss “Big Syke” Himes from Thug Life joined the group.

The Naming Of The Alias

Tupac named each member an alias of a political figure of history and political enemies of America. Big Malcolm was E.D.I. after Ugandian president Idi Amin, Big Sykes was Moozalny after Italian president Benito Mussolin, K. Dog was Kastro after Cuban president Fidel Castro, Mopreme’s was Komani after Iranian Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, Mutah was Napoleon after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Washington was Hussein fatal which later became Fatal Hussein after Iraq president Saddam Hussein and Hollywood was Kadafi after Lybian colonel Muammer Al-Quadaafi. Tupac named himself Makaveli The Don after Italian philosopher Niccol Machiavelli.

Now after this one last name was need; a name for the group. The first name Pac called the group was Lil Hois but fatal who was old as Pac didn’t want people to refer to him as a lil homie so he suggested Outlaws Immortalz which Pac agreed with.

On February 16th 1996, the album All Eyes On Me was released. The group appeared on Songs “When We Ride”. “All about U”, “Trading War Stories”, “Thug Passion, “Picture Me Rollin”, “Check Out Time”, “All Eyes on Me” and “Run Tha Streets”. After the release Komani and Moozaliny left the group for unknown reasons and later female rapper Donna “Storm” Hunter joined the group and changed it’s name from Outlaws Immortalz to Outlaws; which stood for Operating Under Thug Laws as Warriors. The Outlaws later appeared n Pac’s video for “Hit Em Up”. Kadafi and Fatal got their friend, Rufus “Young Noble” Cooper to join.

The Outcome Of The Outlawz After Tupac’s Death

September 17h 1996 – Tupac was shot four times in drive by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pac was carried to University Medical Center where he died a week later. The car behind Tupac’s at the time of the shooting contain E.D.I. who stated he could not identify the shooter and Kadafi moved back to New Jersey with the rest of the Outlaws, except Fatal who moved back to California. A few months later, Kadafi was killed on November 10, 1996. The killer was unknown until September 2000 when Napoleon relinquished in the source that his cousin Roddy killed him. Roddy claimed it was an accident. Based on his statement no one believed him except Napoleon. And Fatal rejected this belief.

Before the death of Pac, he warned them not to sign any contracts with Death Row. This they ignored and went ahead with. The Outlaws had a dry season between 1997 and 1999 because they did nothing of their own but managed to be on soundtracks for various artists albums and compilations i.e. “Still Ballin’” remix, Yukmouth’s first video of his first single- Everday.March17th 1998 and his debut LP In the Line of Fire on March 31st . after this a former Kausion member named Gonzoe joined the Outlaws but left within three moths due to a beef with other members of the group.

Outlawz Back To Business

In contingents of business the Outlaws was in their beginning process of fallen down steps as a deal between Death Row Records and Rap-A-Lot Records were seeming being worked out; for them to be signed to Rap-A-Lot Records’ album New Surrenda which was the album advertised in the Source. However, the group changed their minds at the last minute and didn’t sign as a solo artist.

The Outlaws album ‘Still I Rise’ was released December 21st 1999 which Pac appeared in 14 out of 15 songs which Fatal himself removed from song she originally was in. This parked a beef. This first single was “Baby don’t Cry (Keep Yah Head Up)”, but the album suffered in sales because Suge Knight ordered Interscope Records not to promote the album because the Outlaws refused to sign with Suge Publishing. However the CD went double platinum. Later the Outlaws filed a 4.5 million dollar lawsuit for breach of contract, unfair business practice, intentional interference with prospective economic advantages, rackeering and other against Death Row Records, Interscope Records, Suge Knight Films and Suge Publishing. The Outlaws won the lawsuit. Hey then left Death Row Records and decided to commence on their own record label. This they stated in February 2000 on Live from LA radio.

The first artists they signed were Noble’s step-daughter Baby Girle, Dirty Bert, Napoleon’s little brother Hell Raza and Lil’ D. Boyside Entertainment found out about this through rapper Spice 1 which they contracted the Outlaws and signed a distribution deal. The Outlaws second LP “Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us was released in November 7 2000. The album debut at 9th position on Billboard independent album charts and became the best selling independent album of 2000. The first and second singles were Black Rain and Thug Wit Me.

Later in 2001 the Outlaws obtained a new member “New Child from Harlem’. It is said that Pac wanted a rapper from New York to join where he was looking for a rapper from New York prior to his death. Fatal felt New Child was what Pac would have wanted. During this year Napoleon made his film debut in Thug Life also starring Lady of Rage and Willie D. In October 2001, Big Syke’s label, Ride on Um Records group released Thug Law Chapter 1, a collaboration album between Outlaws and Thug Life.

The Outlaws left Boyside Entertainment Distribution because they believed their company was too small and later signed a deal with KOCH Records. In November 6th the Outlaws released their third LP, Novakane. It debut at the 100th position on the Billboard 200 and third on the Billboard independent album charts. The first single and video went worldwide featuring Tupac and T-Low. Later the LP featured a diss song to Fatal. This feud between fatal and Outlaws had now become public in 2001, which Fatal expressed why he was upset at the group because he felt that they were not there when Pac needed them and because they forgave Roddy for killing Kadafi which he believes was not an accident. He also questioned their loyalty and judgment became before Tupac died he told them he didn’t want them to sign to Death Row but they still did.