In a heartfelt tribute to a rap icon, a section of MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland, California, was renamed Tupac Shakur Way on November 3, nearly three decades after his tragic passing.
This act of remembrance unfolded during a touching ceremony attended by Shakur’s family members, as well as Oakland’s MC Hammer. Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, expressed her emotions to the crowd, emphasizing the importance of keeping his spirit alive.
The event featured testimonials from MC Hammer, who fondly remembered his time with Shakur in his final months, hailing him as “the greatest rapper ever.” Other luminaries of the hip-hop scene, including Shakur’s collaborator Money-B and Oakland legend Too Short, also shared their memories.
Tupac Shakur, born in New York and raised in various places, made Oakland his home in the early 1990s, claiming the city as his own. City Councilwoman Carroll Fife, the driving force behind the street renaming, emphasized how Oakland played a pivotal role in shaping Shakur’s life and career.
This dedication came just a day after a former Southern California street gang leader pleaded not guilty to charges related to Shakur’s murder in Las Vegas. Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis is the only living person connected to the vehicle from which the fatal shots were fired. This development marked the first-ever criminal charge in Shakur’s case, which has remained largely untouched by his family, as his sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, touched on the tragedy of his passing in her closing remarks.
In renaming this street, Oakland ensures that Tupac Shakur’s memory continues to live on in the hearts of his fans and in the streets he once walked.
Tupac Shakur's music career began in Oakland, Calif. with the group Digital Underground — and now the city has named a street after the rap star, who died in 1996. Sway Calloway led the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/PJlDrW2aHZ
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) November 3, 2023
