EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY ARMAND ASSANTE EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY ARMAND ASSANTE
THE SET UP
When Tupac Shakur was gunned down on September 7th of 1996, he got caught in a collision of cultures where inner city gangs met up with the billion dollar Hip Hop industry.
Shakur was murdered just 11 months after signing a contract with Suge Knight and Death Row Records.
Death Row, the most prominent rap label on the West Coast, was also considered by many in law enforcement, to be a criminal organization.
Knight, who grew up in Compton, had turned the record label into his own Blood Gang fiefdom, adorning his office in blood red decor and surrounding himself with members of the street gang.
It was this world that upon his prison release, would ultimately cost the rap star his life, less than a year later.
We are not here to solve the murder of Tupac Shakur. No matter who pulled the trigger, our thesis is that ‘Pac died due to the “politics of Compton.”
We investigate the cesspool of gangsters, crooked cops, record execs and so-called friends of Tupac Shakur who all played a role in his demise.
~ Tupac Shakur Oct ‘95
“I just signed my soul to the devil”
EPISODES
EPISODE 1.
Tupac Shakur signed his own death warrant on October 4th, 1995, the day he signed his contract in a prison visiting room with Death Row Records. While Tupac had some knowledge of West Coast gang politics from his days in the Bay area, he was clueless as to the politics of Compton. Compton was home to the Crips, Bloods, crooked cops & politicians, and birthplace of Death Row Records. We investigate the gangsters, crooked cops, record execs and friends of Tupac, who all played a role in his demise. Because at the end of the day — Compton killed Tupac.
EPISODE 2.
Our tour of Compton begins by focusing on those whose job it was to Protect & Serve — The Compton PD — but were so crooked that their entire Police department would soon be disbanded from living up to their their reputation for being “the biggest gang in Compton.” There have been whispers for decades about how corrupt Reggie Wright (Junior & Senior) were during their time as police officers, not to mention the drug charges they faced in 2017. We look closer at the alleged relationship between Bloods/Death Row affiliates and CPD.
EPISODE 3.
Tupac Shakur had a lot to learn about how deep the animosity ran between the Bloods & Crips in Compton. Crime sigmificantly worsened with the introduction of crack cocaine. The neighborhood, became a warzone. Gang tensions had escalated into what historian Josh Sides describes as “a brutal guerilla war.” The city became the U.S. murder capital, per capita, with one homicide for every 1,000 residents. Everyone, from police officers to the mayor (yes, former mayor Omar Bradley was a Blood) had some underlying ties to one of the 2 prominent gangs in Compton.
EPISODE 4 part one.
In the early 90’s, through some intimidation tactics by Suge Knight & members of the Bloods, Eazy-E releases Dr. Dre from his contract. After getting $1.5 million in startup money from incarcerated leader of the Bounty Hunter Bloods (Harry-O), Death Row Records is born. Almost immediately, DRR becomes almost its own set of the Bloods, with gang members handling most of security. Dr Dre claims that over 20 homicides were tied to DRR. Death Row has morphed from a record label to a criminal organization and into this cabal walked Tupac Shakur!
EPISODE 5.
Tupac Shakur, already shaken from an attempted robbery in NY & having been mistreated in prison, leaves custody after signing with DRR – he immediately flies to Los Angeles to join Death Row. Shakur, who was born with a chip on his shoulder, now is surrounded by the gangsters in & around Death Row – he feels invincible. Despite having been a neutral observer most of his life when it came to the Bloods & Crips, aligning himself with Suge & Death Row would inevitably change Tupac’s perspective. Tupac Shakur is officially initiated as a MOB Piru Blood!
EPISODE 6.
In the months prior to Shakur’s murder, Death Row & its associated gang members are living/behaving like they’re invincible. From the Mark Anthony Bell incident to pulling weapons at the Soul Train Awards, they are all behaving like they’re untouchable. Suge Knight, on top of the gang members, has now insulated himself mafia-style with crooked cops. We delve into some of the reported acts of violence in and around Can-Am Studios & Death Row’s offices. The last remaining sane artists at Death Row are looking for exit strategies as they see the oncoming train.
EPISODE 4 part two. We shift our focus on Suge Knight’s transformation from athlete to music mogul & leader of his own Bloods gang. In 1995, authorities began investigating Death Row employees in connection with a series of assaults, robberies, and murders in Compton. The victims, in many cases, had had run-ins with Knight. Police suspected that Knight was orchestrating the crimes but could not find sufficient evidence to charge him. We look at the murders of Vence “V” Buchanan, Aaron “Heron” Palmer, William “Chin” Walker, Buntry McDonald, Poochie Fouse and others.
EPISODE 7.
A week or two before the trip to Las Vegas, Tupac fires David Kenner as his attorney & calls for an audit into his finances regarding Death Row. Tupac is allegedly making plans to leave the record label, and is initially not planning on going to Vegas but is convinced by Suge Knight. Bloods gang member Trayvon Lane whispers in Tupac’s ear about Orlando Anderson taking a Death Row chain, leading to the fight. We look at the prevailing theories on the murder. Tupac’s death is also the death knell for Death Row Records.