Not only did this new connotation start with Pac, he also was the one who broadened the term thug beyond criminal. He connected it to how you carry yourself, present yourself, where you're from (from the gutter, etc). He wanted a wider range of ppl beyond criminals identifying with thug label and made big strides in that regard.

Revolutionary version of Pac would have deplored the destruction of ones own community and black owned shops etc, he constantly took issue with people labeling him a criminal while simultaneously labeling himself a thug, because thugs are "all of us who look this way, talk this way, relate to the gutter, etc"

I personally never bought into his redefinition of thug. I grew up with my own concept of the word and I stick to it. I understand his thinking but I don't rearrange my language over it. But obviously many other people followed his vocabulary lead.