Year 200326 items
News 2003
26 news items from 2003, in chronological order, each with a source.
January 2003
- Federal Investigators Examine a Link to the Quad Studio RobberyAccording to the New York Post, the shooting of Tupac at Quad Studio was among the cases federal investigators probing Murder Inc. examined.
- "Tupac: Resurrection" Screens for the First Time at the Sundance FestivalBarely finished editing, already on screen: On January 22, 2003, Sundance screened Lauren Lazin's Tupac documentary for the first time.
April 2003
- Afeni Shakur Establishes a Scholarship in Her Mother's Name10,000 dollars for Robeson Community College: In April 2003, Afeni Shakur set up a scholarship named after Tupac's grandmother Rosa Bell Williams.
- Eminem and 50 Cent Attack Ja Rule on Tupac's "Hail Mary"In April 2003, DJ Kay Slay debuted a freestyle by Eminem and 50 Cent against Ja Rule on Tupac's "Hail Mary," accusing Ja Rule of copying Tupac.
- Harvard Dedicates a Symposium to Tupac: "All Eyez on Me"Gramsci, Machiavelli, and the legend of living on: On April 17, 2003, researchers at Harvard spent a day discussing Tupac Shakur.
- "Biggie & Tupac" Comes to DVD, Nick Broomfield Takes Fan QuestionsOn April 29, 2003, "Biggie & Tupac" came to DVD in the US. That evening, director Nick Broomfield took questions at a New York record store.
June 2003
August 2003
- "The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur": University in Seattle Offers a Tupac CourseIn fall 2003, the University of Washington offered a course reading Tupac alongside Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, and Frantz Fanon. About 20 enrolled.
- XXL Announces Tupac Issue Featuring Afeni Shakur on the CoverIn August 2003, XXL editor-in-chief Elliott Wilson announced a second Tupac issue, with Afeni Shakur on the cover and an exclusive interview.
- Death Row Announces the Remix Album "Nu-Mixx Klazzics"Ten familiar songs with new beats: In August 2003, Death Row announced a remix album of Tupac's recordings, bypassing Interscope.
- Tupac's Hummer Is Auctioned, His Own Clothing Line Is AnnouncedBids over 700,000 dollars for Tupac's 1996 Hummer and plans for a clothing line: August 2003 was about Tupac's value seven years after his death.
September 2003
- Seven Years Without Charges: AllHipHop Interviews Prosecutor and Lead Investigator in Las VegasAround Tupac's seventh death anniversary in September 2003, DA David Roger and Kevin Manning explained to AllHipHop why no charges were filed.
- Yaki Kadafi's Mother Speaks About Her Son's DeathIn September 2003, Yaasmyn Fula, mother of Outlawz member Yaki Kadafi, spoke to AllHipHop about her son's death and Tupac's political roots.
- Mixtape "2Pac: Rap Phenomenon II" with New Verses from Jadakiss to Alicia KeysDJ Vlad, Dirty Harry and Green Lantern had stars like Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes and Alicia Keys record new parts for a Tupac tribute mixtape.
- Eminem Builds a Song with Tupac and BiggieIn September 2003, MTV News reported Eminem produced the first "Tupac: Resurrection" soundtrack single, with verses by Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.
October 2003
- Former Bad Boy President Levels Allegations Against Sean Combs in LawsuitIn October 2003, Kirk Burrows linked Sean Combs to Tupac's death in a civil lawsuit. Combs' attorney called the claims far-fetched.
- TV Spot Featuring Unseen Tupac Footage Promotes 'Nu-Mixx Klazzics'A commercial showed Tupac talking about his life. The footage came from photographer Ken Nahoum and was filmed before 1996.
- Tupac's Hummer Goes Under the Hammer on eBay AgainThe highest bid in August was one million dollars, but the bidder did not pay. In October 2003, the owner offered Tupac's Hummer once again.
- Investigators Examine New Lead in Randy "Stretch" Walker CaseAccording to AllHipHop, a Jam Master Jay suspect also came under scrutiny in the case of Tupac's former associate Stretch.
November 2003
- Hollywood Premiere of "Tupac: Resurrection" at the Cinerama DomeFilm studio meets hip-hop: On November 4, 2003, Hollywood premiered "Tupac: Resurrection," with Afeni Shakur and Stevie Wonder among the guests.
- Afeni Shakur Screens "Tupac: Resurrection" in LumbertonAhead of the nationwide release, Afeni Shakur hosted a special screening in the town where her family's history in the US began.
- Letters from Prison: Dafina Buys 'Inside a Thug's Heart'In November 2003, Publishers Weekly reported that Kensington bought a book of Tupac's letters and poems to Angela Ardis for Dafina, due May 2004.
- "Tupac: Resurrection" Opens in US Theaters801 theaters, around 4.6 million dollars on opening weekend: On November 14, 2003, Lauren Lazin's Tupac documentary arrived in American theaters.
- "Soundtrack to \"Resurrection\" Debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200""430,000 copies sold in the first week: The soundtrack to \"Tupac: Resurrection\" landed only behind Jay-Z in November 2003."
December 2003
- 2003 Review: Tupac's Estate Earns More Than Bob Marley's According to ForbesTwelve million dollars in a year, plans for Broadway, fashion and an arts center: Rolling Stone reviewed Tupac's estate in December 2003.
- Platinum for "Resurrection", "Runnin'" Reaches the Top 20 of the Hot 100Just over a month after its release, the RIAA certified the soundtrack to "Tupac: Resurrection" platinum on December 16, 2003.