Afeni Shakur, mother of rap legend Tupac, dies

Posted: 9:14 AM, May 03, 2016
Updated: 2016-05-03 10:29:54-04
Afeni Shakur, mother of rap legend Tupac, dies

Afeni Shakur, mother of the late rap star Tupac Shakur, has died. She was 69 years old.

The Marin County, California, Sheriff's Department confirmed her death on Twitter. No details were provided.

Born Alice Faye Williams, Shakur changed her name as an adult when she became a political activist and joined the Black Panther movement. She was pregnant with Tupac in 1971 and incarcerated while she and other Panthers faced conspiracy charges that were later dismissed.

Shakur was an inspiration for her son's music and oversaw his music catalog and legacy after his death.

Tupac Shakur died in 1996 at age 25, the victim of a drive-by shooting. The murder remains unsolved.