Afeni Shakur Appoints Former Head Of Warner Bros. Records To Protect Tupac’s Legacy

Afeni Shakur guarded Tupac’s music and financial legacy in life and took precise measures to keep her efforts ongoing after her death. Afeni, who was a philanthropist and activist, died last week at the age of 69 from a suspected heart attack. As the New York Daily News reports, she was a Black Panther who overcame drug addiction and “inspired the work of her rap icon son.” Tupac was gunned down in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. He died from his injuries six days later.

Read the Shakur’s official statement regarding Afeni’s death below.

STATEMENT FROM THE SHAKUR FAMILY AND THE ESTATE OF TUPAC SHAKUR REGARDING AFENI SHAKUR pic.twitter.com/WBJkjRchNP

— 2Pac.com (@2pac) May 3, 2016

Afeni set up a trust to control all of Tupac’s music rights, and a rep for his estate tells TMZ that she named Tom Whalley — former head of Warner Bros. Records — as executor of Tupac’s lucrative catalog. The estimated $900,000 that Pac’s estate earns annually will go to select charities and family members. Mother Shakur also ensured that her son’s money won’t be tied up in divorce court, as her estranged husband, Gust Davis, is not mentioned in the trust.

Tupac’s mother also took extraordinary steps to protect his estate from any legal battles. As TMZ points out, Afeni was repped by the same attorney who also worked with Prince years ago. Unlike the late music icon, Afeni didn’t mind the headache of paperwork, and she listened to advisors. Prince was the exact opposite.

Pac’s biological dad, Billy Garland, issued a statement to the Daily News after her passing. “Her contributions to this world will always be remembered. We weren’t really active in each other’s lives, but the pain is magnified when it’s the mother of your child.”

After his son’s death, Garland took Afeni to court to battle over an inheritance claim. A judge denied his case in 1997 because he contributed little to the Pac’s upbringing. Despite their legal drama, Garland recalled Shakur as a strong woman.

“We had a lot of legal issues that got blown out of proportion, and I regret that,” he told The News. “It’s just a shock that she’s gone. I hope she’ll be at peace.”

“Mother taught me 3 things; respect, knowledge & the search for knowledge is eternal, and not be quiet.” pic.twitter.com/X43y3eMdpp

— 2Pac.com (@2pac) May 8, 2016

Afeni was born Alice Faye Williams but changed her name when she moved to New York City and joined the Black Panther movement. On May 5, the party’s National Alumni Association released a touching statement on Shakur.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our sister Afeni Shakur. Afeni was a sister, mentor, comrade and leader within the New York chapter of the Black Panther Party. As the section leader of the Harlem branch, Afeni was the one who personally welcomed many of us into the party. As the communications secretary, she was one of the highest ranking members on the East Coast and her leadership was the reason many young women joined. Afeni had a deep and profound love for the community and a passion for the people that made her a dynamic organizer and dedicated activist. She embodied the spirit of what it meant to be a Black Panther, waking up at 5AM to cook for the free breakfast program, coordinating the day to day office duties and personally being in the field. Afeni’s organizing laid the seeds for a legacy we still bear witness to today.

Remembering Afeni Shakur, with @lolaogunnaike and @TheJasmineGuy – https://t.co/RrnN1e8x0H #AMJoy

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) May 8, 2016

In their statement, the party also praised her activism and philanthropy.

After the Black Panther Party, Afeni continued her work in the community as a paralegal helping save hundreds of families from eviction and criminal convictions. We send our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Sekyiwa, Jean and the entire Shakur family. We ask that young people everywhere continue Afeni’s legacy by lifting up her name and continuing to organize in their communities wherever they see injustice. We Love you dear sister Afeni. Long live your revolutionary spirit!

Afeni Shakur is survived by her sister, Gloria, and a daughter, Sekyiwa Shakur – Pac’s half-sister. Tupac’s 1995 hit single Dear Mama is the nearest thing hip-hop has to a Mother’s Day anthem.

[Photo by Ron Harris/AP Images]