During a captivating interview with Delray Richardson on The Art of Dialogue, Billy Garland, the biological father of the iconic rapper 2Pac, delved into a thought-provoking discussion about his beliefs surrounding his son's untimely demise.
According to Garland, he firmly contends that the U.S. government played a sinister role in orchestrating 2Pac's murder in 1996. Shockingly, he revealed that his son was being closely monitored by federal authorities during his time in Las Vegas, where the tragic incident took place.
Throughout the interview, Garland delved into the infamous altercation between 2Pac and Orlando Anderson, which unfolded in the lobby of the MGM Grand following the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon match—the very same night that 2Pac's life was abruptly cut short. Expressing regret, Garland shared his conviction that his son should have never engaged in that physical confrontation.
Garland went on to disclose that he was aware of Orlando Anderson's uncle, Duane "Keefe D" Davis, confessing to the government about his presence at the scene when Anderson allegedly shot and killed 2Pac. However, Garland firmly believes that the true culprits behind his son's tragic fate were not Orlando Anderson or his associates. Instead, he places the blame squarely on the government, pointing out that Keefe was granted a favorable deal, suggesting a possible collaboration between him and the authorities.
“Well, I think the key question there is the government,” Garland said. “The government gave him the deal. [2Pac] was being tailed by the government the night of his assassination. He was being tailed by the government [at] Quad Studio—that’s a known fact. So I don’t know this guy Keefe, I don’t know. Maybe he had to say that to get out of some issue, I don’t know. I just know it looked like a setup to me. Somebody told this guy to stand there with the Death Row thing and it pursued to what we had, but I don’t think [Orlando Anderson] had anything to do with the death of my son. … Not at all.”
Reflecting on the puzzling circumstances surrounding 2Pac's death, Garland expressed his doubts about the authenticity of Keefe's confession. He openly questioned whether Keefe's words were merely an attempt to extricate himself from legal troubles, emphasizing that he personally perceived the entire situation as an elaborate setup.
Garland shared his suspicion that someone instructed Keefe to be present with the Death Row insignia, ultimately leading to the tragic outcome that unfolded that fateful night. As a result, he adamantly asserts that Orlando Anderson was not involved in his son's untimely demise in any way.
In an additional snippet from his conversation with The Art of Dialogue, released just last week, Garland candidly recounted his initial reaction upon hearing his late son's poignant 1995 track, "Dear Mama." He admitted that he experienced a mixture of emotions, initially feeling upset as he yearned to reconnect with his son.
“At first, I was upset,” Garland said. “Because I’m trying to see you. But then it hit me. For one, I ain’t dead and so you really didn’t know me. Because if you would have known me, you would have known that that I wasn’t dead. So I knew there that someone had lied to him from that point. So later on when I found out that someone did lie to him, that song made perfectly good sense. I understood it totally.”
However, as he contemplated the lyrics further, he realized that the song's creation stemmed from a place of misinformation. Understanding that someone had lied to 2Pac about his existence, Garland found solace in comprehending the underlying motivations behind the heartfelt song.
Through these intriguing revelations, Billy Garland sheds light on the deep complexities and lingering uncertainties surrounding 2Pac's tragic passing. His unwavering belief in a government conspiracy prompts us to question the truth behind one of the most captivating mysteries in the history of hip-hop.