Tupac’s Vision: The Formation of Makaveli Records

Tupac’s Vision: The Formation of Makaveli Records

Tupac’s music career began under Digital Underground before he signed with **Interscope Records** in the early 1990s. While he found success with albums like *2Pacalypse Now* and *Me Against the World*, legal troubles and financial issues left him feeling exploited by the industry. His biggest career move came in 1995, when **Suge Knight** and **Death Row Records** bailed him out of prison in exchange for signing a three-album contract.  

Under Death Row, Tupac released *All Eyez on Me* (1996), a massive commercial success. However, by mid-1996, he grew wary of Death Row’s leadership, particularly Suge Knight. Rumors of financial mismanagement, missing royalties, and growing tensions within the label led Tupac to make plans for his own independent empire.  

#### **The Birth of Makaveli Records**  

While still under contract with Death Row, Tupac quietly began forming **Makaveli Records**, named after the Italian strategist Niccolò Machiavelli, whose works inspired his *Makaveli* alias. His goal was to break away from Death Row and establish an artist-friendly label focused on socially conscious rap, activism, and financial independence.  

Tupac envisioned Makaveli Records as more than just a music label. He wanted it to be part of **Euthanasia Records**, a larger entertainment company that would include film projects, clothing lines, and community outreach programs. He also planned to sign artists he believed in, including Outlawz, his close group of protégés.  

#### **Tupac’s Death and Makaveli’s Fate**  

Unfortunately, Tupac’s life was cut short on September 13, 1996, before Makaveli Records could fully launch. His posthumous album, *The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory*, was released under Death Row but carried the **Makaveli** name, hinting at the new direction he was pursuing.  

Though Tupac never got to see his label flourish, his vision of independence and empowerment inspired future artists to take control of their own careers, making him a pioneer in more ways than just music.