Late Rapper Tupac Shakur Finally Honored By Hollywood With His Star On Walk of Fame

It’s been a long time coming for Tupac Shakur. The West Coast and international hip-hop icon will finally get his flowers by way of a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.

More than 27 years since the artist’s life was tragically cut short in Las Vegas following a Mike Tyson fight, the Dear Mama rapper's artistry will be celebrated by fans and his peers.

Last week, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced the rapper’s honor in a press release, and today he got his star, more than a week shy of what would have been his 52nd birthday.

Born in New York before moving to California as a youngster, eventually influencing the West Coast scene with his classic songs, Tupac received the Walk of Fame’s 2,758th star.

Fittingly, LA radio legend Big Boy emceed the rapper's ceremony, while director Allen Hughes and writer Jamal Joseph were guest speakers. Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, the icon's sister, accepted the honor on his behalf.

Shakur first came on to the scene with Digital Underground before debuting his very first album, 2Pacalyspe Now. He was known for such songs as Brenda’s Got a Baby, Keep Ya Head Up, Only God Can Judge Me, Smile, Dear Mama, and Changes among many other classics. He also ventured into the movie scene playing in classics such as Juice, Poetic Justice, and Above the Rim.

Along the way of navigating between movies and rap, he was shot five times while in a New York-based recording studio building in November of 1994. He survived that shooting. But in February of 1995 -- a month before Shakur dropped his third studio album, Me Against the World -- he was sent to prison for reportedly sexually abusing a fan, though in interviews he vehemently denied the accusations.

Still, Shakur was a man on a mission in his short time of life, not only recording music and shooting movies but also wanting to unite the West Coast and East Coast music scene, though the mainstream media sensationalized the entire West Coast and East Coast “beef.”

Tragically, Shakur, according to several outlets, was killed in a drive-by shooting following the Mike Tyson fight, which reportedly was retaliation from a fight Tupac was involved in hours earlier in Las Vegas.

Shakur was initially set to receive the Hollywood honor in 2014, but a ceremony date was never set in stone, Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez told the LA Times last week.

“This iconic artist has continued to be part of the zeitgeist for decades after his passing and will continue to be an important cultural figure for many years to come,” Martinez said in the release.” Surely, as one of LA’s own, Tupac’s star will be added to the list of most visited stars.”

The hip-hop icon is the latest rapper to receive a star on the Walk of Fame, as the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored late rapper Nipsey Hussle with his star on what would have been his 37th birthday.

Additionally, Hulu released a five-part documentary series, Dear Mama, which is a docuseries examining the life and legacy of 2Pac and his mother, Afeni Shakur, who was an activist for the Black Panther Party.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony will be live-streamed on the Walk of Fame YouTube page.