Tupac Shakur considered a thug when he was alive is now a class act.
Voted on his first year of eligibility, the revered hip-hop icon acknowledged for his acting, writing and performing skills, has become the first ever solo rapper to receive an induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The hip-hop legend was one of only two solo recording artists to make it into the 2016 class of the revered R & R institution.
Along with Joan Baez, Shakur was the only solo act voted by luminares of the music industry to be permanently installed to the prestigious fraternity of creative talents.
In a recording career tragically cut short after just five years, Shakur sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
His “All Eyez On Me” and “Greatest Hits” collection both surpassed sales of 10 million.
He was gunned down in 1996 at the age of 25 but his contribution to the music industry has risen to the status of global legendary.
When asked by Rolling Stone Magazine to name one of the “100 Greatest Artists Of All Time” Rapper 50 Cents said “Every rapper who grew up in the ’90s owes something to Tupac.”
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Some of Tupac’s hits incude: “I Get Around,” “Keep Ya Head Up” (1993) “Dear Mama” (1995) “California Love” (1996) “Changes” (1998)
In a ceremony slated for April 7 at Barclay Center, Shakur will be inducted with Cheap Trick, Electric Light Orchestra, Chicago, Deep Purple, N.W.A. and Steve Miller.
Nile Rodgers will be presented with an Award for Musical Excellence.
Although the Chic group Rodgers is most known for spiraling to fame has been nominated 11 times, once again they were not voted into the Hall.
The 2017 induction ceremony will reward him for his contribution to the industry and mostly for all the hits he collaborated with.
To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2016 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1990.
Ballots were sent to an international voting body of more than 800 artists, historians and members of the music industry.
