Tupac’s Stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, Passes Away After Battling Blood Cancer

Mutulu Shakur, the stepfather of Tupac, has recently died following a prolonged struggle with a rare and untreatable type of blood cancer.

On Friday, activist Kamau Franklin took to Twitter to announce the passing of Shakur, disclosing that he had passed away on Thursday night at the age of 72.

“Mutulu Shakur passed away last night,” Franklin wrote. “New Afrikan movement veteran, member of the Black Liberation Army, stepfather of Tupac Shakur. He spent 36 years behind bars as a political prisoner/prisoner of war. Rise in Power. Free Em All.”

Additionally, veteran Hip Hop journalist and author Dream Hampton, who extensively covered Tupac’s life and career, paid a tribute to Shakur on the social media app.

“Rest in power to Dr Mutulu Shakur, who when his comrade was captured by the state, went inside, and liberated her,” she said. “Those of us who knew Mutulu, know never lost that audacious spirit.”

In 1981, Shakur faced conviction on racketeering conspiracy charges related to his participation in the robbery of a Brink’s armored truck, resulting in the deaths of a guard and two police officers. He acknowledged his involvement, expressed remorse, and later faced another conviction for aiding his sister, Assata Shakur, who is Tupac’s activist godmother, in her escape from prison in 1979. During his incarceration, Shakur received his initial blood cancer diagnosis in July 2022. At the time of his diagnosis, doctors estimated that Shakur, had up to six months to live.

BREAKING NEWS: Mutulu Shakur passed away last night. New Afrikan movement veteran, member of the Black Liberation Army, stepfather of Tupac Shakur. He spent 36 years behind bars as a political prisoner/prisoner of war. Rise in Power. Free Em All @BlackPowerMedi1 pic.twitter.com/csUkWbHuOf

— Kamau Franklin (@kamaufranklin) July 7, 2023