Mopreme Shakur | |
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Birth name | Maurice Williams |
Also known as | Komani, Wycked, Mocedes, Mopreme |
Born | 1969 (age 47–48) New York City, New York, United States |
Genres | Hip hop, Gangsta rap |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 1990–present |
Associated acts | 2Pac, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Outlawz, Thug Life, DJ King Assassin, Bishop Lamont, Big Syke, Macadoshis, Rappin' 4-Tay |
Website | MopremeShakur |
Maurice Williams (born 1969), better known by his stage name Mopreme Shakur, originally known as Wycked, is an American rapper. He was a member of the hip-hop group Thug Life and is the older step-brother of Tupac Shakur. He was also a member of The Outlawz (under the name Komani), but later dropped out because of a financial disagreement with Death Row Records.
Mopreme's first recorded appearance, under the alias Mocedes, was on Tony Toni Toné's hit single "Feels Good" in the year 1990. His first collaboration with his step brother was on the single and video "Papaz Song", from the 1993 album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. under the name 'Wycked'. In 1993 Mopreme and his step-brother Tupac formed the group Thug Life with friends Big Syke, Macadoshis and Rated R. On September 26, 1994 the group released the only Album Thug Life: Volume 1 which went Gold. Mopreme has been credited as a writer for many significant tracks on this album. He was an original member of both his Thug Life group, as well as a premier member of Outlawz. Mopreme, as well as Big Syke dropped out of the group, but contrary to rumors, was never signed to Death Row Records. He was interviewed in the documentary Biggie & Tupac.
Mopreme recently released the mixtape "Assassin & Mopreme Shakur Present: Black & Brown Pride" as a prelude to his album, which was released in early 2007.
Mopreme was featured on the soundtrack for the feature film Intoxicating, starring Kirk Harris, John Savage and Eric Roberts.
In June 2008, Mopreme revealed that he had signed on as a consulting producer for the BET series, American Gangster, titled "Mutulu Shakur and The Republic of New Afrika." The show will feature his incarcerated father, Mutulu Shakur, a proponent of the Republic of New Afrika in the 1960s and '70s and member of the neo-Marxist/black nationalist group Black Liberation Army. Mopreme provided insight, direction, subject matter for interviews, and acted as a liaison between the show and his father.