Despite All Rumors: Tupac Is Dead

Original: “Despite Rumors, Tupac Is Still Dead” · MTV News · John Norris · January 3, 1997

Barely four months after Tupac’s death, MTV receives dozens of emails a day from fans convinced he is still alive, “dozens a day.” Reporter John Norris tackles the theory in a television segment. Like many conspiracy theories of the 1990s, he says, “Tupac lives” began on the internet.

Makaveli, the Number 7, and Doubts About the Night of the Crime

Norris gathers the arguments of the believers: Tupac was constantly preoccupied with his own death in his lyrics. His posthumous album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory was released under the name Makaveli, after Machiavelli, who some claim recommended faking one’s own death. The booklet reads “Exit: 2pac, Enter: Makaveli,” and the cover depicts him crucified.

Even Suge Knight, in a clip, interprets the number 7 and the 13th as “real deep.” Added to this are doubts about the night of the crime: allegedly no witnesses, no Cadillac ever found, no bulletproof vest, a swift cremation without a memorial service.

Fingerprints, Witnesses, and a Death Certificate

Then the counter-reckoning: police have interviewed over 20 witnesses and believe they know the culprit. There is an autopsy performed on a body identified by fingerprints, a death certificate on file with Clark County, and a Las Vegas funeral home confirming its services.

Snoop Doggy Dogg gets the last word: people should let Tupac rest in peace, and let the rumor rest right along with him. Just like with Elvis, people simply don’t want to let go.

The Rumors Persisted for Decades

Norris was right, yet the speculation persisted for decades. Even an autopsy photo that Cathy Scott published in her 1997 book failed to put an end to them. Every posthumous album, every new video provided fresh material.

The segment circulates under a title taken from the first sentence of the transcript; the original title is “Despite Rumors, Tupac Is Still Dead.”

Certainty in Court: The 2026 Murder Trial

At the latest, the 2026 murder trial settled the question in court: the Las Vegas jury saw photos from the autopsy, a medical examiner described the injuries, and Duane “Keffe D” Davis was found guilty of the murder of Tupac Shakur on August 31, 2026 (not final, as of October 2026).