2Pac was not scared to speak his mind. It's part of what made him a legend. His fearlessness and resilience is also what kept the late Tupac Shakur atop the Billboard charts from the beginning of his career in 1992 until long after his death in 1996 at 25. From his first solo debut "Brenda's Got a Baby," to his first and only R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1, "How Do U Want It," featuring K-Ci & JoJo, to his enduring string of posthumous releases, 2Pac continues to reign the charts 15 years after his death.
In commemoration of 2Pac on the 15th anniversary of his passing, check out the icon's top 15 singles as ranked by peak position on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Photos: 2Pac and His Famous Friends | Two Unreleased Tupac Tracks: Listen
15. "Still Ballin'"
Peak Position: 31
Peak Date: 4/12/03
Weeks On Chart: 23
While still hypnotized with Tupac's first posthumous single, "Thugz Mansion," Interscope, Amaru Entertainment and Death Row released the second single off "Better Dayz." Part two of "Str8 Ballin'," "Still Ballin'" featuring Trick Daddy, peaked at No. 31 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
14. "Brenda's Got a Baby"
Peak Position: 23
Peak Date: 5/9/92
Weeks On Chart: 14
The rapper with a rough-around-the-edges demeanor surprised the world when debuting onto the charts with his first single, a poetic work at that. Pac' penned the R&B/Hip-Hop No. 23 hit after reading a newspaper article of a 12-year-old girl who got pregnant from her cousin and threw the baby in the trash because she didn't want her parents to know about the birth.
The popularity of "Brenda's Got a Baby" made way for other hip-hop songs touching on the struggles of young black females, such as Ludacris' "Runaway Love."
13. "Until the End of Time"
Peak Position: 21
Peak Date: 5/12/01
Weeks On Chart: 20
For "Until the End of Time," Suge Knight and Pac's mom, Afeni Shakur, dug up unreleased material for the fourth posthumous studio album and visuals to coincide. The eponymous single features a sample of Mister Mister's "Broken Wings" and the lead singer, Richard Page. The fourth single of the album peaked at 21 on the chart.
12. "So Many Tears"
Peak Position: 21
Peak Date: 8/19/95
Weeks On Chart:18
One thing we could depend on Tupac for is his honesty, especially when he rhymed of his harsh upbringing. "Back in elementary, I thrived on misery/ Left me alone I grew up amongst a dyin' breed/ Inside my mind couldn't find a place to rest/ Until I got that Thug Life tatted on my chest," Pac raps. "So Many Tears," off his third studio album, "Me Against the World," peaked at No. 21 on the chart.
11. "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto"
Peak Position: 14
Peak Date: 1/3/98
Weeks On Chart: 20
If it hadn't sunk in already, Tupac's death was cemented in the hearts and minds of many when the first posthumous single was released in late 1997. It was clear "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" and its visuals, from a first-person perspective, struck a chord with fans because it peaked at No. 14 on R&B/HipHop Songs.
NEXT PAGE: A Collaboration With Biggie Hits No. 11
