Next September will mark 30 years since hip-hop superstar 2Pac – real name Tupac Shakur – was murdered. Sadly, he died at the age of 25, and more years have now passed since his death than he spent alive, and what he accomplished in just a quarter-century is nothing short of astounding.
Decades later, 2Pac remains one of rap music’s most important pioneers and most respected figures. He typically appears on at least one or two Billboard charts, as Americans continue to not only consume his work, but in some ways, discover the music he left behind.
“Hit ’Em Up” Becomes a Surprise Hit for 2Pac
2Pac charts a new hit in America this week, though the song itself has been out for many years. The hip-hop star debuts on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart this frame, as “Hit ’Em Up,” which credits both the celebrated performer and the group Outlawz, opens at No. 6 on the list of the top-selling rap-only cuts in the U.S.
2Pac Joins Ice Spice Among Chart Debuts
2Pac and the Outlawz score one of only two launches on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart this time around. Grammy-nominated talent Ice Spice, joined by Tokischa, debuts “Thootie” at No. 4. Separating the two new arrivals is 50 Cent’s “In Da Club,” which reaches its all-time high of No. 5 as the generation-defining cut rebounds and becomes a bestseller again.
“Hit ’Em Up” Adds to 2Pac’s Posthumous Success
As “Hit ’Em Up” debuts, 2Pac posthumously collects his sixth appearance on the Rap Digital Song Sales ranking. All half-dozen of his wins have arrived on the tally years after his passing, as platforms like iTunes and Amazon, which power the roster, weren’t introduced until the internet became far more common across the nation.
“California Love” Stands Out 2Pac’s Biggest Hit
“Hit ’Em Up” now ranks as 2Pac’s second-highest-peaking hit ever on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart. The tune comes in behind only “California Love,” which also credits Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, and which climbed as high as No. 5 back in 2022, more than a decade after it debuted on the list.
“Hit ’Em Up” replaces “How Do U Want It,” a collaboration between 2Pac and K-Ci & JoJo, as his second-highest-peaking smash. That more famous cut lifted to No. 7 in the first tracking frame of 2025.
Which 2Pac Songs Have Reached the Top 10
2Pac has racked up a total of four top 10s on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart. The tally only features 10 spaces these days, but back when it was longer, another two tracks – “Dear Mama” and “Hail Mary” – also placed for a short time. In addition to “California Love,” “Hit ’Em Up,” and “How Do U Want It,” “Changes” also spent time inside the uppermost region, as it settled at No. 10.
“Hit ’Em Up” Remains an All-Time Diss Track
“Hit ’Em Up” was never released as a single by 2Pac, but rap aficionados and longtime fans of the superstar are familiar with the composition, as it is regarded by many as one of the best diss tracks in hip-hop history. The cut was aimed directly at The Notorious B.I.G. and was first released in 1996 as the B-side to “How Do U Want It,” one of 2Pac’s most celebrated songs. “Hit ’Em Up” would turn out to be one of 2Pac’s last piece of music shared with the public, as he was killed only a few months later.
2Pac’s Greatest Hits Surges Alongside “Hit ‘Em Up”
As “Hit ’Em Up” becomes something of a surprise hit – due at least in part to its use in a number of pieces of media that have gone viral in the past several weeks – 2Pac’s Greatest Hits surges on the Billboard charts. The compilation, one of the most successful in American history, returns to both the Top Rap Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tallies, finding its way to Nos. 19 and 30, respectively, after failing to appear on either roster last frame.
2Pac’s Greatest Hits also surges up the Billboard 200, the ranking of the most consumed albums in America. Last time around, the set landed at No. 191, and this frame it rockets north 80 spots.
Luminate reports that in the most recent tracking period, the compilation moved 12,500 equivalent units. That figure is up 36% from the frame prior, when it shifted just under 9,200 between sales and streaming activity.
SOURCE: forbes.com