Afeni Shakur, Tupac's Mother, Dead at 69

Afeni Shakur, the political activist, philanthropist, former Black Panther, and mother of late rapper Tupac, died last night in California, TMZ and the Marin County Sheriff report. After reports of a possible cardiac arrest at her home in Sausalto, she was transported to hospital, where she passed away, the sheriff said. She was 69.

Born Alice Faye Williams, Afeni Shakur changed her name after moving to New York, where she joined the Black Panthers. Tupac sampled her voice on his tribute song, "Dear Mama." After Tupac's death in 1996, she became the head of his estate and founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which provides art programs for young people. In 2014, Shakur co-produced Broadway musical Holler If Ya Hear Me starring Saul Williams. She also greenlit the forthcoming Tupac biopic, All Eyez on Me, in which she will be played by Danai Gurira.

via Jazz Monroe