On this day, in 1996, Tupac Shakur released his fourth LP, All Eyez On Me. The landmark double-album got recorded in two weeks after Death Row Records posted Tupac’s 1.4 million dollar bail after being convicted of sexual assault. The album would go on to be both a critical and commercial success. In addition to debuting atop the charts, like his previous album, Me Against the World, it was also very profitable. As a result of it being a double-disc release, the album brought in $10 million in revenue in just seven days. In that respect, it was the second most successful album ever at that time, trailing only behind The Beatles Anthology.

The album spawned numerous hit singles, including “California Love,” “I Ain’t Mad at Cha,” “How Do You Want It,” and “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.” In addition to numerous classic deep cuts, those would help the album go on to sell over 10 million copies and become one of rap’s all-time best sellers.

Tragically, this would be the last album Pac would release in his lifetime. Exactly seven months later, he would pass away from gunshot wounds received six days earlier after a Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In an interview with The Independent, R&B singer Jon B (who collaborated with Pac on the song, “Are U Still Down”) said it best:

“It was 2Pac’s golden era. As a people, we crawl, we walk, and then we run.  All Eyez On Me is 2Pac running at full capacity.”