Tupac’s Mother Afeni Shakur Awarded Settlement Against Suge Knight

By Dione M. Davis

According to the Wall Street Journal, the long awaited battle has been victorious for Afeni Shakur, the mother of legendary deceased rapper Tupac Shakur. Marion “Suge” Knight, the duplicitous character behind Death Row Records filed bankruptcy in 2006 and the case has lingered since. Ms. Shakur requested $2.2 million that she stated was owed to her son’s estate. That will never repay her for Tupac’s precious life, but she certainly deserves at least that much. Amongst unauthorized use of Tupac’s songs and licensing, Ms. Shakur also demanded amounts for attorneys’ fees and lost profits. Earlier this month a judge ruled in her favor granting a payout of $668,121.76.

Tupac has remained with us through his music and spirit making it difficult to reflect on his untimely death in 1996. I often think about what he would have to say about the state of Hip-Hop today or how he would have continued to shape, mold and inspire the youth as he did in his 25 years on this earth. I would put my money on the fact that he was in the process of moving away from music to explore acting, another passion of his. The reality is the demons Tupac ran away from in movies were the ones after him in real life. What I wouldn’t give to see him in Baby Boy, the role created with him in mind.

Dear Mama Shakur, we are with you supporting your fight. I still feel very deeply for your loss and the loss of Sybrina Fulton as well as the countless mothers and sons whose names go unmentioned. We should all be activists in our communities mobilizing to stop senseless violence and injustice. If you would like to help keep Tupac’s dream alive visit www.tasf.org