Tupac shooter confesses, Erykah Badu celebrates Tupac's would be 40th birthday

Dexter Isaac has confessed to shooting famed rapper Tupac Shakur in November of 1994, which took place inside Manhattan's Quad Studios. The shooting occurred two years before Tupac's untimely death.

Yesterday, Isaac gave an apologetic announcement on the eve of what would have been Tupac's 40th birthday, stating, In 1994, James [Jimmy Henchman] Rosemond hired me [for $2,500] to rob Tupac at the Quad studio, plus all the jewelry I took. I still have as proof the chain that we took that night in the robbery.

The robbery turned into Tupac reportedly being shot five times.

Isaac was put in prison in 1998 for crimes unrelated to the Tupac shooting. He was sentenced to life for murder, robbery, fraud and witness intimidation charges. He openly confessed his involvement in the Tupac shooting in a statement.

Isaac said: I want to apologize to his [Tupac's] family and for the mistake I did for that sucker [James Rosemond], Dexter Isaac told AllHipHop.com from prison. I am trying to clean it up to give [Tupac and Biggie's] mothers some closure.

AllHipHop.com reports that 'Dexter Isaac said that he decided to confess to the robbery to prove Rosemond's involvement, in addition to clearing his conscience for his role in the robbery.'

Jimmy [James Rosemond], I say to you: said Isaac to AllHipHop.com, I have kept your secrets for years. Now I would like to clear up a few things, because the statute of limitations is over, and no one can be charged, and I'm just plain tired of listening to your lies.

Rosemond's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, has since told the Daily Mail that Isaac's accusation of Rosemond's involvement is a flat out lie. Lichtman also stated, that Isaac is not claiming this 17 years later to clear his conscience. He's doing it because he's told anybody who will listen he doesn't want to die in prison. He has kids and wants to work off his sentence. He can't be trusted.

The shooting, which occurred on November 30 was only the beginning of what became a deadly feud between Tupac and Notorious B.I.G., both of whom were murdered. Neither murder has been solved.

The case of Sean Diddy Combs & Notorious B.I.G.

In a 2008, Los Angeles Times journalist Chuck Philips alleged that producer and rapper Sean Diddy Combs and rapper Notorious B.I.G. knew about the ambush, but that they did not know there would be a shooting. His reports for such allegations reportedly came from FBI reports and other sources.

Since the report, the Los Angeles Times has retracted their statements, and states that Combs did not have knowledge of the attacks.

Combs has repeatedly denied any involvement. He stated that the story was 'a lie,' and that it was 'beyond ridiculous and completely false.' He also said that B.I.G had no knowledge of the ambush.

Since the LATimes retractment, there has been no speculation as to whether Combs or B.I.G. knew of the ambush, and Isaac's recent statment did not mention either of the two.

Tupac's 40th birthday celebration

In other related Tupac news, today would be the 'California Love' rapper's 40th birthday. And although he was murdered 15 years ago, his music still lives on today.

Tupac has has a strong influence on rap music, and therefore, tonight Erykah Badu and other artists are honoring his birthday at the Symphony Hall-Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

The concert will benefit the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. Badu will headline the concert, with additional performances from jazz great Roy Ayers, Bun B, 8BallMJG, Too Short and others.

We're celebrating Tupac's birthday, which I thought was very nice, said Ayers to AccessAtlanta.com. He [Tupac] sampled my music in the past, as many rappers and hip-hoppers have done.

Watch Tupac's 'Life Goes On'