Year 199726 items
News 1997
26 news items from 1997, in chronological order, each with a source.
January 1997
- "No Direct Evidence, No Witness": Las Vegas Investigation StallsFour months after the shooting, Las Vegas police believed they knew who had fired. They could prove nothing, and their last hope was dead.
- American Music Award: Tupac Posthumously Voted Favorite Rap ArtistBrandy accepted the award: Four months after his death, Tupac won the American Music Award as favorite rap and hip-hop artist on January 27, 1997.
- "Gridlock'd" Opens: Praise for Tupac, No. 1 for the SoundtrackCritics praised him, in theaters the film stayed small: On January 29, 1997, "Gridlock'd" with Tupac and Tim Roth opened. The soundtrack hit No. 1.
February 1997
- Three Suspects, No Witnesses: Afeni Shakur Attacks Las Vegas PolicePolice named Orlando Anderson as a suspect for the first time. Tupac's mother accused them of never genuinely wanting to solve her son's murder.
- Snoop Doggy Dogg and Puffy Combs Declare the East-West Feud OverAt a sitcom taping, Death Row and Bad Boy stood side by side: In February 1997, Snoop and Puffy called on fans to let the dispute rest.
- Two Witnesses from Tupac's Convoy: Police Reportedly Never Followed UpA bodyguard and a rapper from the car behind Tupac said they saw the attackers. When police questioned them in March, it led nowhere.
- Nine Years in Prison for Suge Knight"I don't trust you": Because of the MGM Grand brawl, a judge sent Death Row founder Suge Knight to prison for nine years on February 28, 1997.
March 1997
- The Notorious B.I.G. Shot Dead in Los Angeles, Six Months After TupacAnother rapper, another drive-by shooting: Christopher Wallace died on March 9, 1997. The press immediately drew comparisons to Las Vegas.
- "Time": Investigators Suspect Crips Behind Both Rapper KillingsA week after Biggie's death, Time magazine reported that police suspected Crips members in both cases. This was not confirmed.
- Over "Against All Odds": Jacques Agnant Sues Tupac's Estate200 million dollars over one verse: In March 1997, Tupac's co-defendant from New York sued, claiming he was depicted as a snitch in a song.
- Snoop Doggy Dogg: Tupac Taught Me to Be a WorkaholicWhy another album so soon? In March 1997, Snoop Doggy Dogg told MTV News that he picked up his work pace from Tupac.
April 1997
- Summit in Chicago: Rappers Pledge Peace at Farrakhan's InvitationFollowing the murders of Tupac and Biggie, Louis Farrakhan invited rappers to Chicago. On April 3, 1997, they pledged to forgive old insults.
- Afeni Shakur Sues Death Row and Seeks to Secure 152 RecordingsA contract from a cell, a 7.1 million dollar counterclaim, 152 unreleased songs: In April 1997, the dispute over Tupac's estate escalated.
June 1997
July 1997
- "The Takedown of Tupac": The New Yorker on Tupac's Path to Death RowVisits to Dannemora, a three-page handwritten contract: Connie Bruck reconstructed in The New Yorker how Tupac signed with Suge Knight in 1995.
- Grand Jury Examines the Origins of Death RowDid the seed money come from convicted drug dealers? In July 1997, the Justice Department convened a grand jury into the origins of Tupac's last label.
August 1997
- C. DeLores Tucker Sues Tupac's Estate for Ten Million DollarsThe best-known critic of gangsta rap felt defamed by lines on "All Eyez on Me". In late July 1997, she filed suit against the estate.
- Death Row Seeks New Distributor, Interscope Under PressureThe boss in prison, a federal probe, a nervous parent company: in August 1997, it became known that Death Row and Interscope might part ways.
September 1997
- One Year Later: Investigation at a Standstill, Dispute Over an Autopsy PhotoOn the first anniversary, Cathy Scott's book on the murder appeared, featuring a coroner's photo. Police cited a standstill and sought the leak.
- Orlando Anderson Sues Tupac's Estate Over MGM Grand BeatingOne year after the hotel brawl, the man police named as a suspect sued Tupac's estate, Death Row, and Suge Knight.
- Afeni Shakur Files Civil Lawsuit Against Orlando AndersonWhat police failed to resolve, a civil suit was meant to clarify: on September 12, 1997, Tupac's mother sued Orlando Anderson. He denied everything.
- "Static": An Early Oakland Recording Set for ReleaseRecorded in Oakland in 1991 with Digital Underground's Chopmaster J: in September 1997, MTV announced an early, political Tupac bonus track.
October 1997
- "Gang Related": Tupac's Last Film Hits TheatersTwo corrupt cops played by Tupac and Jim Belushi: On October 8, 1997, his last film opened. The soundtrack reached number 2 on the album charts.
- Afeni Shakur Founds Amaru and Brings Tupac's Archive to JiveTen albums of unreleased songs and her own label: in late October 1997, Tupac's mother presented Amaru. It was distributed by Jive Records.