Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Drake Share Memories of Tupac

It's hard to believe that 15 years has elapsed since the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Noted as one of the father's of West Coast hip-hop, his influence can still be felt today, as fans continue to purchase his posthumous releases, making him the most successful deceased rapper in the game. He straddled the line between intelligent thug with heartfelt songs like 'Brenda's Got A Baby' and 'Dear Mama,' and unapologetic lyrical villain by way of the Notorious B.I.G diss record 'Hit Em Up.'

While his music touched the masses, Tupac's death came as the biggest shock to West Coast rap lovers who had been involuntary thrust into a bi-coastal beef lead by the rapper himself. At just 25, he succumbed to wounds sustained after being shot on Sept. 7, 1996, while leaving a boxing match at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel, dying six days later. Having been a victim of gunfire a few years earlier, during a studio raid in New York City -- of which he blamed Biggie and Diddy for officiating -- the public saw him as an untouchable figure of sorts, likening him to the rose that grew from the concrete, a metaphor he often used in describing his struggle. Yet behind 2Pac the rapper was Tupac Amaru Shakur, the man.

In honor of the anniversary of his death (Sept. 13), The Boombox caught up with some of hip-hop's biggest names to discuss the esteemed MC's impact on their own lives. Some knew him personally while others admired him through his music. Check out what they had to say about the late, great Tupac Shakur.