Makaveli Reckoning

September 7th, 1996

What’s up! My name is Parrish and I’m from Los Angeles. I just walked in to MGM in Las Vegas with my best friends Carlo and Garland. We’re here to see highly anticipated Mike Tyson/Bruce Seldon boxing match and let me tell you, it’s about to be an event.

So me and the fellas walk into MGM arena and it is packed. There’s a lot of famous people here. I saw Omar Epps, Marlon Wayans, Leon and I think I even saw Roseanne Barr. Yeah, everybody is on the scene, crispy and clean and ready to watch iron Mike take Bruce’s head off. But wait, who is this I see walking into the arena?

Everybody’s head is turning in the direction this person is walking in. Now they’re starting to go crazy as whoever it is makes their way to the crowd. No! It can’t be, but is. I can see him peering through the crowd with an army that can only be described as Deathrow. It’s Makaveli the Don himself, Tupac Shakur. My favorite rapper is here in attendance and he’s coming this way. This crazy. Pac is moving through the crowd with Suge and the whole M.O.B. and it’s like everything is moving in slow motion.

Everyone is in awe of Pac and it’s almost like he’s in awe everyone else. He’s literally talking to everybody, laughing, giving hugs and shaking hands. Even my crew notices. “Yo there go Pac” Garland begins. “And he’s coming this way” Carlo adds. All of us are big Pac fans and we really didn’t expect to see him at the fight tonight. Now he’s coming my way. It’d be dope if he said what’s up.

“Yo what up Pac?” I call out as he walks past me. To my surprise he actually acknowledges me and speaks back. “Yo what up lil homies?” Pac starts as he embraces me daps me up with a handshake. “You ready for the fight tonight?” Pac asks me. “Ye-yeah” I say in a startstruck voice. I can’t believe it. I’m actually talking to Tupac, my favorite rapper. “What’s your name?” Pac asked me. “I’m Parrish” I responded with a chuckle.

“Enjoy the fight Parrish” Pac said as he and the rest of Deathrow made their way to the ring side. “ Yo Pac just hollered at you” Carlo said to me with shock. Me and friends made our way to the ring side seats where we sat next to Pac in close range. He was excited for the fight like everyone else. The bell goes off and the fight begins. Tyson and Seldon squabble for all of what seemed like 30 seconds before Tyson knocked Seldon out and the fight was over.

“Dang that was quick” Garland said with amazement as everyone in the crowd cheered. I saw Pac run up to Tyson after the fight and gave him a big congratulatory hug afterwards. After the fight me and the homies were walking around arena just hanging out. From the corner of my eye I see Pac coming with a group of people. He had a very focused look on his face. It’s like he was on a mission. Maybe a short 30 feet away I saw a young cat in a jersey with a small fro in Pac’s path.

Pac walked up to the dude with a group of Deathrow goons in tow and punched the guy in the face knocking him to the ground. As the man fell down Pac and the rest of the mob punched and kicked the dude repeatedly. They were jumping him. Even Suge Knight was in on it. Chaos erupted as the crowd caught on to what was happening. As the fight dispersed and everyone fled me and the homies watched in shock. “Yo what was that about?” Carlo asked. “Hell if I know” Garland. I had a feeling something bad was gonna happen later.

Me and the crew left the MGM afterwards and hopped in our car so we could head to club 662 on the other side of Vegas. We heard Pac was gonna be there so we knew it was gonna be a crazy night. Interestingly enough, we were driving behind Pac’s Deathrow entourage. When we stopped at the light we heard a few girls a couple cars away yelling at Pac in excitement from the car he was in with Suge. Sounds like they wanted to know where he was going.

Before I could fully comprehend what they were saying I saw a hand reach out from the driver side of a car next to Pac and Suge’s. The hand had a gun in it. Out of nowhere the gun started firing shots into Suge and PAC’s car. “GET DOWN! GET DOWN!” Carlo screamed as we all ducked. Screams erupted as the shots stopped and the car drove away. When the shooter car drove away one of the cars with Pac and Suge sped off after it and I could hear gunshots in the distance.

Within minutes an ambulance and police were all over the spot. My heart was racing. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. They shot Pac and it probably had something to do with that fight at the MGM. They carried Pac away in the ambulance and within less than an hour the new was all over what had just happened.

September 13th 1996, 4:45p.m.

Back home in LA six days later me and the crew were sitting around talking about what happened when the news came on the radio. “Tupac Shakur has been pronounced dead at the age of 25 years old”. I couldn’t believe it, Garland and Carlo were just as shocked in silence. My hero who inspired me with all of his lyrics and experiences about life was dead and I watched it happened. I was hurting inside. I knew from that day forward everything was gonna change and Hip Hop would never be the same again.

“I hope they bury me and send me to my rest

Headlines reading, "Murdered to death", my last breath

Take a look, picture a crook on his last stand

Motherfuckers don't understand, if I die tonight” - Tupac Shakur (If I Die Tonight).