A natural ability to appeal to hedonists and revolutionaries alike, combined with charismatic star power and unapologetic threat, made 2Pac one of the most fascinating and successful rappers of the '90s. These qualities, along with his oft-imitated but never replicated flow, have made him an enduring influence on hip-hop decades after his tragic death. 2Pac emerged in 1991 as an ancillary member of Digital Underground, appearing on the group's Top Ten R&B/hip-hop single "Same Song," and by the end of the year earned a reputation as a firebrand with his acclaimed solo debut, 2Pacalypse Now. This was followed at the top of 1992 with a star-making performance in the crime thriller Juice, his first of many major acting roles. In only a few more years, 2Pac racked up a slew of varied Top 20 pop hits, from "I Get Around" and "Keep Ya Head Up" to "Dear Mama" and the chart-topping "California Love," and put together a concurrent streak of platinum full-lengths, namely Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993), Me Against the World (1995), and All Eyez on Me (1996). Even considering the turbulent life he led, his murder in September 1996 came as a shock. 2Pac's legacy has grown exponentially with help from over a half-dozen Top Ten posthumous releases, a greater number of documentaries, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.