Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century, and a prominent political activist for Black America. He is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Some of Shakur's music addressed social injustice, political issues, and the marginalization of African Americans. But his later works explored gangsta rap and violent lyrics.