CNN – The unsolved murders of iconic rappers Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace, also known as the Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, have remained a haunting part of hip-hop history for almost three decades. These two legends, whose lives and deaths continue to be examined, were beloved and deeply missed by fans around the world. Both were tragically killed in the prime of their careers – Shakur in September 1996 in Las Vegas and Wallace in March 1997 in Los Angeles.
The recent arrest of Duane Keith Davis, a rapper known as “Keffe D,” in connection to Shakur’s death has brought renewed attention to these unsolved cases. Davis, who was recently apprehended for the murder of Shakur, made headlines with his statement that the murder was “the biggest case in Las Vegas history.” However, the impact of Shakur’s death extended far beyond Nevada and seemed to foreshadow Wallace’s fate.
The murders of these two influential rappers, who started as friends and later became rivals, have always been intertwined due to the time period and circumstances. The infamous “East Coast vs. West Coast” rap feud in the 90s further connected their lives, as Shakur believed Wallace had been involved in setting him up to be shot in a Manhattan recording studio in 1994. While Wallace denied any involvement and was never charged, the tension between the two artists grew. Ultimately, both Shakur and Wallace fell victim to fatal drive-by shootings while out partying with others.
Interestingly, there is a connection between the investigations into their deaths. Retired Los Angeles Police Department detective Greg Kading interviewed Davis in 2009 as a person of interest in Wallace’s murder, as Davis had been present at a party shortly before Wallace was shot. In a recent grand jury proceeding, retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police detective Clifford Mogg stated that investigators theorized Shakur’s and Wallace’s murders “were related.” However, he did not reveal the specifics of their theory and testified that Davis was not involved.
Cheo Hodari Coker, a journalist at the time who conducted Wallace’s final interview, spoke about the emotional link between the deaths of Shakur and Wallace. He emphasized that their deaths were deliberate acts, causing immense pain to those who knew them. As fans celebrate their music, Coker believes it’s crucial not to forget the intentional nature of their deaths and the lost potential of their futures. Wallace, for example, spoke of dreams of being a soccer dad in Atlanta and building a home for his family.
With the renewed attention on Shakur’s case, Coker hopes that progress will be made in solving Wallace’s murder as well. The families and loved ones of both rappers have been living in a constant state of grief and pain for decades, longing for justice and closure. As the investigations into these tragic deaths continue, the hip-hop community and fans worldwide wait in anticipation for answers and, ultimately, some measure of justice.