Tupac Shakur: A Rose That Grew From Concrete

On this day in 1996, Tupac Shakur died from gunshot wounds he suffered six days prior in Las Vegas. Since then, his legend has only grown; nine posthumous albums were released, selling millions, and he's now regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Before all that, though, his big break came when he worked as a backup dancer and roadie for Oakland-based alternative rap group Digital Underground

Altogether, Tupac's 15 studio albums have sold more than 75 million copies, making him the second highest-selling rap artist of all time behind Eminem. At least 10 of his albums went platinum, with 1998's 'Greatest Hits' moving nearly 5 million copies alone

Tupac and Biggie would eventually become major rivals, and the centerpieces of the East-West coast feud that would dominate hip hop in the mid-1990s. But before that, the two were friends and sometimes collaborators. Here, the two pose for the camera before a 1993 show. The two would perform a legendary freestyle at Madison Square Garden one year later

In late 1995, Tupac signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records, after Knight posted Tupac's $1.4 million bail. Snoop Dogg,a fellow Death Row rapper at the time, can be seen hanging with 'Pac at the 1996 VMAs

Nine Tupac albums and two feature films were released after his death, including No. 1 albums 'Until the End of Time' and 'Loyal to the Game'

'Yo! MTV Raps' host Ed Lover poses with 2Pac backstage at the 1996 VMAs

Despite being one of the most popular (and best-selling) rappers, Tupac only had three top ten singles. In 1995, "California Love," "How Do You Want It?" and "Dear Mama" broke the top ten, with "California Love" and "How Do You Want It?" hitting number one. The posthumous single "Changes" hit number nine in 1998

Tupac hanging out with Public Enemy's Chuck D circa 1993

Tupac took this amazing picture with KISS in 1996 at the awards show

Tupac attends the 7th Annual Soul Train awards with actress Rosie Perez. The two were never romantically involved, but were good friends up until Tupac's death

Tupac co-starred in the 1996 drama 'Bullet' with Mickey Rourke (pictured, left), Adrien Brody and Donnie Wahlberg. He also starred in 'Poetic Justice,' 'Above the Rim,' 'Gridlock'd' and a star-making turn in 'Juice'

Tupac and a friend partying at the 'Red Rock West' premiere in April 1994

Tupac regularly ranks among the highest-earning dead celebrities, with more than $4 million earned in 2011 alone

Suge Knight, Tupac, MC Hammer and Snoop Dogg pose before the 1996 AMAs

June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996