Year 199628 items
News 1996
28 news items from 1996, in chronological order, each with a source.
January 1996
February 1996
- "All Eyez on Me" Debuts at No. 1 With 566,000 Copies SoldMore than the next five albums combined: Tupac's double album sold 566,000 copies in its first week and reached No. 1 in February 1996.
- MCA Buys Into Interscope, Tupac's Album Distributed by PolyGram200 million dollars for half of Interscope, but not for every song: Why MCA left Tupac's new album to a competitor in February 1996.
March 1996
- Dr. Dre Leaves Death Row and Founds His Own Label18 million albums sold, then the split: in March 1996, Dr. Dre left the label he co-founded with Suge Knight. Tupac stayed with Knight.
- Soul Train Awards: Award for 'Me Against the World', Tension with Bad BoyBest Rap Album ahead of Coolio: At the Soul Train Music Awards in March 1996, Tupac won. On the sidelines, his people and Biggie's camp clashed.
April 1996
July 1996
September 1996
- Shots in Las Vegas: Tupac Critically Injured After the Tyson FightA white Cadillac alongside the black BMW: On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot and critically injured near the Las Vegas Strip.
- "Nobody Is Telling Us Anything": Las Vegas Police Complain About SilenceHundreds of witnesses at the intersection, hardly any statements: Three days after Tupac was shot, investigators lamented his circle's silence.
- Tupac Shakur Dies Six Days After the Shooting4:03 p.m. at University Medical Center: On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur died at 25. Radio stations in Los Angeles immediately played his songs.
- Sold Out: Fans Empty the Shelves of Tupac's RecordsTower Records on Sunset Boulevard, stores in Crenshaw and Baldwin Hills: A day after Tupac's death, his albums were sold out across Los Angeles.
- Two Dead in Compton: Police Probe Link to Tupac and Dismiss ItThree hours before Tupac's death, two young men died in Compton from gunfire. Rumors spoke of retaliation, police found no connection.
- Suge Knight Breaks His Silence, but Not on the Sequence of Events"I would give up Death Row": On September 18, 1996, Suge Knight spoke publicly for the first time on Tupac's death. He said nothing about the shots.
- Five Days After His Death: MTV Airs the Video for "I Ain't Mad at Cha"Gunshots, an ambulance, a heaven with Redd Foxx: On September 18, 1996, the video for "I Ain't Mad at Cha" debuted on MTV. Many saw a premonition.
- "Day of Atonement": Rappers and Nation of Islam Gather in HarlemNine days after Tupac's death, the Nation of Islam called rappers to Harlem to make peace. The invitation list also included The Notorious B.I.G.
- Report: FBI Investigates Death Row RecordsGang ties, drug trafficking, money laundering: in late September 1996, it emerged that the FBI was probing Tupac's label before the shooting.
- Las Vegas Police Ask the Public for InformationThree lawyers at a single interview, no reward from the family: In late September 1996, Las Vegas police appealed to potential witnesses.
October 1996
- Raid in Compton: Orlando Anderson Arrested and ReleasedOver 300 officers, 23 arrests: In an October 2, 1996 Compton raid, the man from the MGM brawl was also caught. He was not charged.
- Missed Drug Tests: Suge Knight Sent to JailBelt, tie, credit cards to his lawyer, then off to a cell: On October 22, 1996, a Los Angeles judge sent Death Row head Suge Knight to jail.
November 1996
- Midnight Sale: "The Don Killuminati" by Makaveli Is ReleasedTwo hours in line for the last album: On November 5, 1996, "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" was released, recorded under the name Makaveli.
- Yaki Kadafi Shot Dead in New JerseyHe was in the car behind Tupac and the only witness who might have identified the shooter: on November 10, 1996, Yafeu Fula died at age 19.
- 664,000 in One Week: "The Don Killuminati" Debuts at No. 1Only Metallica had a stronger start in 1996: Tupac's posthumous album ousted the Beatles from the top in November, his third No. 1 in 20 months.
- 16.6 Million Dollars: Default Judgment Against Tupac's EstateIn 1993, a stray bullet struck a concert attendee. Because no one appeared for the estate, a judge awarded her 16.6 million dollars.
- MGM Video in Court: Suge Knight's Probation RevokedA hotel video, a victim exonerating him, and a judge seeing kicks: On November 26, 1996, a court revoked Suge Knight's probation.
December 1996
- Snoop Doggy Dogg in Vibe: "We Were Like Brothers"In Vibe's December 1996/January 1997 issue, Snoop Doggy Dogg spoke at length for the first time about Tupac's death and the burden he faced.
- Afeni Shakur Sues Death Row Over Tupac MerchandiseAn order form in the 'All Eyez on Me' booklet and unlicensed shirts: In December 1996, Tupac's mother took his label to court for the first time.
- 60 Million in Revenue, 4.9 Million in Debt: Tupac's Account at Death RowOne of the year's top-selling artists yet in the red: In December 1996, it emerged what Tupac owed his label according to its own accounting.
- Hostage Crisis in Lima: The Name Tupac Amaru in the HeadlinesA rebel group in Peru bore the same name as the dead rapper. In December 1996, the Los Angeles Times explained what connects both to an Inca.