US police have charged the former gang leader with the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, one of the most notorious unsolved murders in hip hop history.

The hip hop legend was shot four times at the age of 25 in Las Vegas. On Friday, authorities charged Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 60, with murder with a deadly weapon.

Police say he planned the deadly attack after his nephew got into a fight with Tupac at a casino.

Davis was arrested near his home in Las Vegas early Friday and will appear in court in a few days. In previous testimonies, he admitted that he was in the car from where he was shot with a gun against the deceased rapper.

In court, prosecutor Marc DiaGiacomo described Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips gang, as the "field commander" who "ordered Shakur's death."

Considered one of the most recognizable names in hip hop, 2Pac's death was followed by several documentaries. He sold more than 75 million records worldwide and topped the charts with hits like "California Love", "All Eyez On Me", "Changes" etc.

In June of this year, his name was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.