Keefe D Makes Bid For House Arrest In Tupac Murder Trial

Duane Keith Davis, known as Keefe D, is the murder suspect in rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 fatal shooting. Keefe D's lawyers have made a bid for house arrest for the former gang member ahead of his June trial.

His attorneys -- who have been court-appointed -- claim that due to the 60-year-old's poor health, he is not a threat to the public according to local Las Vegas news outlet KTNV. His attorneys also want to keep the bail low and not exceed $100,000. However, prosecutors "allege in a court filing submitted last week that jail telephone recordings and a list of names provided to Davis' family members show that there are witnesses at risk of harm if Davis was released," the outlet reports.

Shakur was killed on Sept. 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He was sitting inside a black car with Marion "Suge" Knight. Knight, at the time, was the CEO of Death Row Records. On the night of Sept. 7, 1996, police say the two stopped at a red light near the Las Vegas Strip when a white Cadillac pulled up next to them, and gunfire erupted. The "Dear Mama" rapper was shot multiple times. He succumbed to his injuries a week later in a local hospital.

Keefe D is accused of orchestrating the shooting that killed Shakur. He was arrested on September 29 and held without bail since. According to police, he is the only suspect in the case who is still alive. Keefe D pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in November 2023.

Marion "Suge" Knight was also in the car with Tupac the night he was murdered and left with non-life-threatening injuries. Knight is currently in a California prison serving 28 years for a fatal hit-and-run in 2015. The victim was Compton businessman Terry Carter. The murder was unrelated to Tupac's shooting.

Over the years, Davis has admitted that he was in the convertible during the shooting. He confessed his involvement in his 2019 tell-all memoir, Compton Street Legend. In a BET interview, he claimed that his nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, was the one who pulled the trigger from the backseat of the vehicle. The shooting erupted after a casino brawl in which Shakur, Anderson, and others were involved.

Hip-Hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. While the genre is one of the youngest, it is not short on its impact on the culture.

The genre originated in the early '70s in New York in African-American communities in the Bronx. There are several aspects to hip-hop in regard to music making, such as rap, djing, and freestyling. Those created other avenues in the art form, such as breakdancing and graffiti art.

Hip-hop has been in the mainstream in ways that were never thought possible by its early adopters of the craft.

"When we started on this journey decades ago, we were often told, 'No'. No, you won't be able to leave New Jersey. No, if you rap, you can't sing. No, singers can't become actresses. No, actors can't also produce," Queen Latifah said to Entertainment Weekly in a statement as she is set to become the first female rap artist to be celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors.

"To now be recognized amongst so many multi-hyphenates feels unbelievable, not for just me and my team, but for our community. The work the Kennedy Center does is immeasurable so I'm beyond grateful for this recognition."

Throughout this year, hip-hop has been celebrated in performances by some of the greats. At the 2023 BET Awards, there were performances by MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, The Sugarhill Gang, D-Nice, Warren G, Yo-Yo, Trick Daddy, Trina, Uncle Luke, Redman, Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray -- also known as "Def Squad," and more highlighted rap on Culture's Biggest Night.

Earlier this year, Questlove curated a hip-hop tribute at the 2023 Grammy Awards where Missy Elliott, Run DMC, Salt n Pepa, Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, Nelly, GloRilla, Lil Baby, and more took to the stage.

If you have been a fan since the beginning or you've just begun listening, you'll learn more from these projects. Take a look at five documentaries on these hip-hop artists:

Biggie and Tupac is a full-length documentary on the lives and tragedies of the hip-hop greats. Besides footage of Biggie and Tupac, you will also see appearances from Snoop Dogg, Lil Cease, and more. You can stream Biggie and Tupac on Amazon Prime Video.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14867972/

Jay-Z is regarded as one of the best rappers to have touched a mic. The New York native's 2020 documentary titled The Story of Jay-Z shows fans how he got to where he is now. You can stream The Story of Jay-Z on Amazon Prime Video.

Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy takes us back to where it all began for Kanye West: The Southside of Chicago. Kanye West's artistry has impacted hip-hop like no other as his diverse skills in producing and designing put him in a league of his own. You can stream Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix.

Nas: Time Is Illmatic takes a deep dive into Nas' iconic debut album Illmatic. In the New York native's documentary you will also hear accounts from Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes and Pharrell. You can stream Nas: Time Is Illmatic on Peacock.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24514002/

Eminem has had quite a career in hip-hop and this documentary takes a look at many of his accolades. In 2022 he performed at the Super Bowl alongside Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year for his contributions to hip-hop. You can stream Eminem: Count Me In on Amazon Prime Video.