I will be analyzing this using Basham's definition of Conspiracy. Though it is vague it brings up a point that is typically left vague and unsaid but understood.
"A “conspiracy theory” is an explanation of important events that hypothesizes the intentional deception and manipulation of those involved in, affected by, or witnessing these events. While there is no contradiction in the phrase “conspiracies of goodness,” these deceptions and manipulations are usually thought to express nefarious, even insanely evil, purposes."
First, we look at if Tupac and therefore the event of his death is considered "important". He acted in some movies and because he had actually studied acting beforehand he was good at it. He changed the meaning of Thug and Thug Life from "a violent person, especially a criminal" into "a man who triumphs over systemic and societal obstacles." The new use of the word Thug took off afterward. He was the first person to release a pre-prison album and has set the standard for those types of albums ever since. He "dropped the first hip-hop double CD" and other big-name rappers and hip-hop artists followed suit. He convinced many people that he was still alive or that he had faked his own death. People claim he called himself Makaveli to allude Niccolo Machiavelli and hint at the fact that he had faked his own death. And he had recorded a lot of material, much of which was still released after his death. Using this information it is safe to say that Tupac was a very influential man, not just in the rap and hip-hop community but in the black community as well. He also stirred a feud between east coast and west coast rap. I would conclude, therefore, that both he and his death were important.
Was there and intentional deception and manipulation of people? If we assume that Tupac planned to deceive people about his death or even about faking his death then we can say that he did deceive and manipulate people.
Was the act or reason of Tupac faking his death nefarious? No, I cant imagine some sinister plan or reason for Tupac to fake his death. Some people say it was to get away from his past and all the people he had antagonized but that reason isn't evil.
So this Conspiracy Theory failed the last necessary but not sufficient condition. Because of this, I choose to say that Tupac being alive and faking his own death is not a Conspiracy Theory.
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