The singles from Me Against the World reflected the vulnerability and pathos of 2Pac that was often overlooked because of his brazenness. Exasperated by his existential realities, he retreated to the studio to curate his most introspective work up to that time, his landmark album, Me Against the World.

Ultimately, he was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and sentenced to one and a half to four and a half years in prison. A little over a year later, on November 30th, 1994, he was shot five times and robbed at the Quad Recording Studios in New York City. On November 18th, 1993, 2Pac was accused of rape, a charge he vehemently denied. But just as his popularity grew exponentially, he became mired in controversy after controversy. As an actor, he was a movie star on the rise, playing iconic roles in Juice, Poetic Justice, and Above the Rim. Emerging from the Digital Underground camp, 2Pac’s music was filled with prophetic rage, tales of suffering from the inner city, systematic oppression, and a revolutionary ethos reminiscent of his family’s relationship with the Black Panthers. His previous albums, 2pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…, garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success that cemented his place in hip-hop as a force to be reckoned with.

By 1995, Tupac Amaru Shakur, aka 2Pac, had ascended into rarefied air as one of the most compelling personalities in pop culture.

2pac me against the world album