Afeni Shakur Davis, mother of late rap legend Tupac Shakur who was the subject of one of his most iconic songs and who oversaw his posthumous legacy, has died. She was 69 years old.
Marin County deputies responded to Shakur’s home in Sausalito, California, Monday night after she suffered a possible cardiac arrest, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday morning. She was taken to a local hospital and died just before 10:30pm.
Shakur, born Alice Faye Williams, changed her name when she moved to New York City and joined the Black Panther movement. She and other party members were arrested in 1969 and charged with conspiracy to bomb multiple, busy city landmarks. In May 1971, she was acquitted on all charges after she represented herself in court — and she gave birth to Tupac just one month later.
She was the subject of his 1995 song “Dear Mama,” in which Tupac detailed his childhood struggles and respect for his mother.
“There’s no way I can pay you back/But the plan is to show you that I understand/You are appreciated,” he rapped.
After her son’s 1996 shooting death, Shakur took over the late rapper’s estate, which reportedly earns about $900,000 each year.
Dina LaPolt, a California attorney who handled Tupac Shakur’s estate for nearly 10 years, fought back tears as she described Shakur, who inspired the lawyer to open up her own firm in 2001.
“She’s an advocate. She’s an activist. She taught me never to compromise your values — to always fight for what you believe in,” she told the Daily News.
LaPolt oversaw the legal work behind 11 posthumously released albums while she represented the estate between 2001 and 2010. The lawyer developed a close professional relationship with Shakur, who LaPolt described as “one of the smartest people I’ve ever worked with,” citing how the Black Panther represented herself in court. The activist mother also influenced LaPolt’s personal life, she said.
“I met her when I was 91 days sober. Now I’m 18 years sober,” she said. “She was very, very instrumental in my life. I carry her with me to this day.”
Earlier this year, Shakur filed for divorce from her husband of 12 years, Gust Davis, and was allegedly in a legal battle over the fortune, TMZ reported. Davis demanded half of the monthly $20,000 Shakur took home every month.
In 2014, Shakur co-produced “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” a Broadway jukebox musical featuring her son’s works. A movie about Tupac’s life, “All Eyez on Me,” is set for release in November, with Danai Gurira cast as Shakur. Shakur served as an executive producer for the film.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will lead the investigation to determine the cause and manner of Shakur’s death.
– NY Daily News
