Tupac Shakur Honored With Street Name In Baltimore Nearly 30 Years After His Death

Nearly three decades after his tragic death, Tupac Shakur is once again being celebrated — this time in the city that helped shape him into a rap icon.

On Friday, officials in Baltimore officially renamed a portion of Greenmount Avenue as “Tupac Shakur Way,” honoring the legendary rapper’s deep connection to the city where he spent much of his teenage years before rising to worldwide fame.

The emotional ceremony took place near Tupac’s former childhood home, where he lived with his mother and sister after moving from New York to Baltimore in 1984. The event featured rap performances, spoken-word tributes, community celebrations, and the unveiling of both the new street sign and a peace pole dedicated to unity and healing.

Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, attended the ceremony and delivered an emotional message to the community, urging residents to protect and support young people facing hardship.

“I’m begging the community to allow this park to be a place of safety and refuge,” she said during the dedication. “When children are in pain, or in need, or running from danger, any adult around should offer protection.”

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also spoke passionately about Tupac’s legacy, calling Baltimore the place where the rap icon truly found his voice as an artist.

According to Scott, Tupac wrote some of his earliest material in local parks, won his first rap competition at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and performed one of his first concerts at the Cherry Hill Recreation Center long before becoming one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.

“Baltimore is where Tupac really became a rapper,” Scott said. “We have to continue to walk in his honor and legacy because he fought for his people and wanted us to be better for each other.”

The mayor also reflected emotionally on Tupac’s death in 1996, recalling how devastating the loss felt for young Black Americans at the time.

“It felt like a gut punch,” Scott said. “We cried in school for days. It felt like our voice had been taken away.”

The tribute comes as the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation continues its national initiative of planting peace poles in cities across America to create safe spaces and promote community healing.

The celebration extended beyond the ceremony itself. The Baltimore Orioles honored Tupac during Friday’s game by giving fans special Tupac Shakur bobbleheads, while his sister threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

During his years in Baltimore, Tupac attended Roland Park Middle School, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, and later the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he studied acting, poetry, ballet, and jazz. It was there that he formed a close friendship with actress Jada Pinkett Smith — a bond that remained strong throughout his life.

Although Tupac was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September 1996 at just 25 years old, his influence on music, culture, and activism continues to grow with every generation.

From classic songs like “Dear Mama,” “California Love,” “Changes,” and “Hit ’Em Up,” to iconic films such as “Juice,” “Poetic Justice,” and “Above The Rim,” Tupac’s voice remains one of the most powerful and unforgettable in hip-hop history.

Now, with “Tupac Shakur Way” officially added to Baltimore’s streets, the city is making sure the legacy of one of rap’s greatest icons will never be forgotten.