MUMBAI: Almost a decade after hip-hop star Tupac Shakur was shot dead, a retired police officer has claimed he was paid a whopping $1.5 million to help the star fake his death.

On 7 September 1996, Shakur or 2Pac as he was known on stage, was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas, Nevada.

But Myers says he now wants the world to know the truth, and from his death bed, reports mirror.co.uk.

"The world needs to know what I did. I am ashamed that I let a price be put on my word and I cannot die without letting the world know," Myers said.

He claims record producer of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, Suge Knight, who is currently in jail awaiting trial for murder, played a big part in helping it happen.

Over 30 people were reportedly paid to help fake his death - including police, medics and various witnesses.

Myers even claims 2Pac paid $50,000 for a body double to be taken to the morgue. It is not the first time there has been theories that he may not have died.

The shocking news he might still be alive comes just months after it was reported a film about his life was due to start filming.