2012 Coachella Festival: 2Pac's Back

A hip hop legend made his return — sorta.

Tupac - The Poetic Justice soundtrack would be incomplete without some input from the movie's leading man himself, Tupac Shakur. The "California Love" rapper lent his talents in the form of "Definition of a Thug N---a," which became one of the soundtrack's standouts. Since his passing in 1996, Tupac has had everyone wondering if he's really gone. His holographic appearance during Snoop Dogg's set at the 2012 Coachella Festival didn't help quell the speculation.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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2Pac's Back - Dr. Dre brought out a laundry list of surprise guests for his historic set at Coachella, including one former Death Row artist who returned from the grave. Tupac, in the form of a hologram, performed "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerika'z Most Wanted" on day three of Coachella.(Photo: Winter/Getty Images) 

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

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California Love - Dr. Dre's closing performance of the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts festival was made epic by surprise appearances from Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Kurupt, Warren G, Snoop Dogg and the late 2Pac, who appeared via hologram technology.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella

Nuttin' but a Gangsta Party - Snoop Dogg joined the life-like hologram of 2Pac on stage for Pac's 1996 hit "2 of Amerika'z Most Wanted" during Dr. Dre's set.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Nuttin' but a Gangsta Party - Snoop Dogg joined the life-like hologram of 2Pac on stage for Pac's 1996 hit "2 of Amerika'z Most Wanted" during Dr. Dre's set.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Black Girl Rock - Rih Rih joined Harlem's A$AP Rocky and the mob on stage during their set on day two of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.(Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)

Photo By Photo: John Shearer/WireImage

A$AP Rocky - With last year's LiveLoveA$AP mixtape topping best-of lists and leading to a coveted opening spot on Drake's Club Paradise tour, this Harlem rapper was a no-brainer nomination for Best New Artist.   (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Harlem World - A$AP Rocky and the rest of the A$AP mob brought out Rihanna and Usher during their performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.(Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images) 

Photo By Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella

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It's the 212 - Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, rookie rapper Azealia Banks cried throughout her Coachella debut on day two. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

"Berzerk" - Def Jam co-founder and producer Rick Rubin takes Eminem back to the '80s with this skillfully basic guitar riff and drum pattern. For his part Em keeps the intensity up rhyming, "We're gonna rock this house until we knock it down / So turn the volume loud." It's Em's standard single combining humor with his uncanny lyricism and wordplay. (Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic)

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The Eminem Show - Another one of Dre's surprise guests at the Coachella finale, Eminem performed "I Need a Doctor," a dub-step remix of "Forgot About Dre" and "Til I Collapse."(Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic)

Photo By C Flanigan/FilmMagic

Compton's Own - Kendrick Lamar teamed with mentor Dr. Dre for the first ever performance of their collaborative effort, the Scoop DeVille-produced "The Recipe," live on stage during night three of Coachella.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Compton's Own - Kendrick Lamar teamed with mentor Dr. Dre for the first ever performance of their collaborative effort, the Scoop DeVille-produced "The Recipe," live on stage during night three of Coachella.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Warren G - What would a present-day Soul Train event be without some hip hop? Warren G reps for the genre with his signature West Coast swag. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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G-Funk Revival - A partial 213 reunion was staged when Warren G joined Snoop on stage with Kurupt for a performance of "Ain't No Fun." During the performance, big screens projected photos of the old crew, including Nate Dogg as well as members of Tha Dogg Pound(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

Ain't No Fun - Tha Dogg Pound group member Kurupt performs "Ain't No Fun" with 213 members Snoop Dogg and Warren G on night three of Coachella.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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Ain't No Fun - Tha Dogg Pound group member Kurupt performs "Ain't No Fun" with 213 members Snoop Dogg and Warren G on night three of Coachella.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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Nothing but a G Thang - Dr. Dre ended his historic closing set with Snoop Dogg, performing "What's My Name?" and "Still D.R.E.," before thanking the audience for supporting them throughout the years.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Nothing but a G Thang - Dr. Dre ended his historic closing set with Snoop Dogg, performing "What's My Name?" and "Still D.R.E.," before thanking the audience for supporting them throughout the years.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Young, Wild and Free  - Young rapper Wiz Khalifa joined Snoop Dogg on stage for their "Young, Wild and Free" at Coachella. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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Young, Wild and Free  - Young rapper Wiz Khalifa joined Snoop Dogg on stage for their "Young, Wild and Free" at Coachella. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

50 Cent - Back in 2005, after his sophomore album — which was supposed to be released on February 15 — was delayed to March, 50 Cent cut down its title from The St. Valentine's Day Massacre to The Massacre. In 2007, he shortened another album name to Curtis, from Curtis S.S.K., which stood for either SoundScan Killer, Southside King or Shoot, Stab, Kill. He should've used these much more appropriate initials instead: SMH. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella)

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G-Unit! - Queens MC 50 Cent gave a surprise performance of many of his early classics like "Wanksta," "P.I.M.P." and "In Da Club." (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Frank Ocean  - As a man who rocked hip hop and R&B as much with his personal bravery as he did with his breakout album, Channel Orange, Frank Ocean's debut snags an Album of the Year nod. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Thinking About You - Despite some delay due to technical difficulties, Frank Ocean's opening night performance at Coachella went off without a hitch. He performed "Voodoo," "Thinking About You," "Swim Good" and his latest "Whip Appeal."(Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Kidding Around - Rapper, comedian and writer Donald Glover, known by fans of his music as Childish Gambino, brought out Kendrick Lamar during his set which included performances of his songs "Heartbeat" and Bonfire."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Kidding Around - Rapper, comedian and writer Donald Glover, known by fans of his music as Childish Gambino, brought out Kendrick Lamar during his set which included performances of his songs "Heartbeat" and Bonfire."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Odd Future - Tyler, The Creator and fellow Odd Future crew member Frank Ocean chest bump during their high energy Coachella performance on April 13 in Indio, California.(Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

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Odd Future - Tyler, The Creator and fellow Odd Future crew member Frank Ocean chest bump during their high energy Coachella performance on April 13 in Indio, California.(Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

50 Conquers Coachella - Long known for his explosive live performances, 50 took over the Coachella festival earlier this year when Snoop invited him onstage to perform "What Up Gangsta," "P.I.M.P." and "In Da Club."  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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P.I.M.P. Reunion - 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg during the finale of the Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival on April 15.(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Nothing but the Beat - David Guetta brought out Usher for his Saturday night set at Coachella. Usher performed "Without You," his collaboration featured on Guetta's Nothing but the Beat. (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)

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Nothing but the Beat - David Guetta brought out Usher for his Saturday night set at Coachella. Usher performed "Without You," his collaboration featured on Guetta's Nothing but the Beat. (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)