Shakur’s $3.5 million Deаth Row contract was napkin-signed.
Tupac Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas months before his deаth.
Tupac and “Suge” Knight. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty
While at Clinton Correctional Facility in New York, Shakur signed with Marion “Suge” Knight’s Deаth Row Records in September 1995.
Robinson claims the contract was drafted in the jail visiting room.
The three-album deal gave Shakur $1 million, a car, annual expenses, and legal fees, says Robinson.
Interscope’s distribution arrangement with Deаth Row included paying Shakur’s $1.4 million bail, which he was intended to repay with royalties.
Big Syke, of the Outlawz, was next to Shakur when he signed the pact, and he told Robinson he was wary of the deal’s wording.
“He signed a napkin,” Syke claims.
Shakur wаnted to publish a cookbook.
Shakur wаnted to write cookbooks. New/Reuters Pool
Shakur had ambitious intentions beyond music before his 1996 deаth
Robinson said Shakur’s “to-do list” included launching a record company, forming a youth softball league for impoverished neighborhoods, and producing a video game.
Shakur also planned to start a phone line for American youngsters to contact for help with “bullying, financial aid, domestic abuse, mentаl health, transportation, or any problems they were afraid to discuss with family and friends,” writes Robinson.
His cookbook was maybe his most surprising plan.
Robinson says Shakur wаnted the book to be a “collection of recipes” from rap artists’ mothers and grandmothers. He would give the money to charity.
Shakur considered suiciԀe.
A photograph of Tupac Shakur was taken at Club Amazon in New York on July 23, 1993.
The 1994 New York аttаck that shot Shakur five times led to serious depression.
Shakur was found by his family with “a shotgun in one hand,” and a revolver in the other, while living with actor Jasmine Guy, Robison writes.
Afeni, Shakur’s mother, stopped him from committing himself, but the next day he pleaded for help.
“He wаnted them to drive to the woods, where he would share one last blunt with Yaki, Mutah, Katari, and Malcolm,” Robinson says. “They would leave him with his shotgun. Tupac remarked, ‘Don’t allow them touch my body when it happens. Don’t touch my body. You seize my body.”
Shakur appreciated Gabriel’s music.
On June 13, 1986, British pop and rock musician Peter Gabriel performs at Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.
In 1986, British artist Peter Gabriel plays in Rosemont, Illinois. Paul Natkin/Getty
Teenager Shakur has varied music tastes.
Robinson said Shakur and his high school friend John Cole spent “most nights and weekends” at Cole’s residence smoking weeԀ and listening to music.
“They listened to music for hours, artists ranging from Metallica and the Cocteau Twins to Tracy Chapman and Sinéad O’Connor,” says Robinson.
Robinson learns that Cole and Shakur loved Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up” during the time.
“The song expressed the dreams that we were headed towards,” Cole adds.
Shakur recorded a song for Mike Tyson the day before his murԀer.
Rapper Tupac Shakur (1971–1996) (left) and boxer Mike Tyson converse in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1996.
Mike Tyson with Tupac in 1996. Getty/Nitro
Mike Tyson asked Shakur to write his entrance music for his 1996 figҺt against Bruce Seldon.
Shakur did that in a Los Angeles studio on September 6, the day before the figҺt.
Shakur wrote and recorded “Let’s Get It On.” in 20 minutes, according to studio engineer Scott Gutierrez.
“I’ll be back Sunday,” Shakur informed Gutierrez.
He never would, as Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting the night after attending Tyson’s bout at the MGM.
Get help if you or someone you know is depressed or has considered suiciԀe. The US SuiciԀe & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, confidential support for persons in distress, best practices for professionals, and preventive and crisis resources. Call or text 988. Text “HOME” to 741741 for Crisis Text Line assistance. The International Association for SuiciԀe Prevention provides materials outside the US.