To get more of the inside story, Philips interviewed several members of the Los Angeles street gangs The Bloods and The Crips. Here is a little of what his first article revealed (the second installment will be published on Sat, Sept 7th): 

The trouble reportedly started when Southside Crips member Orlando Anderson beat up and robbed one of Shakur’s bodyguards. Shakur and his entourage were reportedly linked to the rival Los Angeles gang The Bloods. To avenge the beating of his bodyguard, members of Shakur’s entourage beat up Anderson outside the Mike Tyson fight in the lobby of the MGM grand hotel in Los Vegas on September 7th, 1996. Then all hell broke loose. 

After being beaten by members of Shakur’s entourage, Anderson reportedly called Shakur’s biggest rival, rapper Notorious B.I.G. who offered Anderson and his fellow Crips members $1 million dollars and also provide the gun that would be used to kill Shakur. 

Shortly afterwards, Shakur and Death Row Records headman, Marion "Suge" Knight were cruising in a BMW down the Las Vegas strip when a Cadillac pulled up next to them and began shooting at the BMW, killing Shakur and slightly injuring Knight. 

Rumors have surrounded this incident for years. Some speculated that it was in fact Suge Knight who ordered the hit since Shakur was reportedly planning to leave his Death Row Records. This new report from Chuck Philips, puts and end to that rumor and suggest that the man behind the hit was rival Notorious B.I.G. who was himself murdered in March of 1997, in what some believe was retaliation for Shakur’s murder.  

The man who reportedly started the chain of events, Orlando Anderson was himself murdered in “a gang related” killing that Police claimed was unrelated but rap circle conspiracy theorist speculate was in fact a police hit. 

And they say there is too much violence on TV. 

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