His talent was unbounded, a raw force that commanded attention and respect. His death was tragic -- a violent
homage to the power of his voice. His legacy is indomitable -- remaining vibrant and alive.
Here now, newly discovered, are Tupac's most honest and intimate thoughts conveyed through the pure art of poetry
-- a mirror into his enigmatic life and its many contradictions.
Written in his own hand at the age of nineteen, they embrace his spirit, his energy...and his ultimate message of
hope.
Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur
by Michael Eric Dyson
Acclaimed for his writing on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as his passionate defense of black
youth culture, Michael Eric Dyson is known as the "hip-hop intellectual." With his Blackboard best seller Holler
If You Hear Me, Dyson has reached his widest audience to date, bringing to life the hopes and dreams of slain
hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. Viewed by many as a "black James Dean," Tupac has attained cult status since his death
six years ago, partly due to the posthumous release of several albums, three movies, and a collection of poetry.
But Tupac lives on primarily because of the devotion of his loyal followers. Dyson helps us to understand why a
twenty-five-year-old rapper, activist, poet, actor, and alleged sex offender looms even larger in death than he did
in life. With his trademark skills of critical thinking and storytelling, Dyson examines the significance of Tupac
Shakur for black youth, assessing the ways in which different elements of Shakur's persona -- thug, confused prophet,
fatherless child -- are both vital and destructive. Deeply personal and sharply analytical at the same time,
Dyson's book offers a wholly original way of looking at Tupac Shakur that will thrill those who already love the
artist and enlighten those who want to understand him.
Rebel for the Hell of It: The Life of Tupac Shakur
by Armond White
The ever-controversial Shakur offers a great occasion for a close, passionate reading of rap and ghetto culture. White’s
understanding of Tupac’s art will uncork the bottled up rage and confusion that attends the way hip-hop culture is
produced and received. Rebel details each step in Shakur’s development, from his early exposure to racism and political
activism to his move from New York to the West Coast and his innovative work with early hip hop culture and music.
Through connections drawn between Shakur and Public Enemy, Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Sister Souljah,
White examines Shakur’s life as a prism for the hip-hop world. Photographs, a useful chronology of important dates in
the life of Shakur, and an updated discography and filmography of his career as a rapper and actor are included.
The Killing of Tupac Shakur
by Cathy Scott
Tupac Shakur was the most popular and the best selling rap musician of all time. He represented the political, rallying
voice of urban black youth. Tupac pushed his life to the extremes of social convention and he predicted it would end
abruptly -- it was just a matter of when. This account discloses new information about the unsolved murder of Tupac:
the rap wars, the killing of Biggie Smalls and the Blood-Crips connection.
Got Your Back: Protecting Tupac in the World of Gangsta Rap
by Frank Alexander, Heidi Sigmund Cuda
On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas. Millions of fans wept, while many critics claimed
it was the inevitable result of a thugged-out lifestyle. The mystery surrounding the shooting--a suspect has yet to be
named--has increased, and rumors of gang wars, disloyalty, and government conspiracies continue to linger. Only Frank
Alexander, Tupac's bodyguard during the last year of his life, knows the real story.
Got Your Back details the exploits of one of the most famous rappers of all time. The drugs, the women, the violence,
the money--all provided fuel to the fire that was Tupac's life. As his platinum-selling, posthumously released albums
prove, Tupac lives on through his music. Complete with exclusive new interview material with Tupac's mother, Afeni, Got
Your Back provides an insider's view of a life gone awry.
His talent was unbounded, a raw force that commanded attention and respect. His death was tragic -- a violent
homage to the power of his voice. His legacy is indomitable -- remaining vibrant and alive.
Acclaimed for his writing on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as his passionate defense of black
youth culture, Michael Eric Dyson is known as the "hip-hop intellectual." With his Blackboard best seller Holler
If You Hear Me, Dyson has reached his widest audience to date, bringing to life the hopes and dreams of slain
hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. Viewed by many as a "black James Dean," Tupac has attained cult status since his death
six years ago, partly due to the posthumous release of several albums, three movies, and a collection of poetry.
But Tupac lives on primarily because of the devotion of his loyal followers. Dyson helps us to understand why a
twenty-five-year-old rapper, activist, poet, actor, and alleged sex offender looms even larger in death than he did
in life. With his trademark skills of critical thinking and storytelling, Dyson examines the significance of Tupac
Shakur for black youth, assessing the ways in which different elements of Shakur's persona -- thug, confused prophet,
fatherless child -- are both vital and destructive. Deeply personal and sharply analytical at the same time,
Dyson's book offers a wholly original way of looking at Tupac Shakur that will thrill those who already love the
artist and enlighten those who want to understand him.
The ever-controversial Shakur offers a great occasion for a close, passionate reading of rap and ghetto culture. White’s
understanding of Tupac’s art will uncork the bottled up rage and confusion that attends the way hip-hop culture is
produced and received. Rebel details each step in Shakur’s development, from his early exposure to racism and political
activism to his move from New York to the West Coast and his innovative work with early hip hop culture and music.
Through connections drawn between Shakur and Public Enemy, Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Sister Souljah,
White examines Shakur’s life as a prism for the hip-hop world. Photographs, a useful chronology of important dates in
the life of Shakur, and an updated discography and filmography of his career as a rapper and actor are included.
Tupac Shakur was the most popular and the best selling rap musician of all time. He represented the political, rallying
voice of urban black youth. Tupac pushed his life to the extremes of social convention and he predicted it would end
abruptly -- it was just a matter of when. This account discloses new information about the unsolved murder of Tupac:
the rap wars, the killing of Biggie Smalls and the Blood-Crips connection.
On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas. Millions of fans wept, while many critics claimed
it was the inevitable result of a thugged-out lifestyle. The mystery surrounding the shooting--a suspect has yet to be
named--has increased, and rumors of gang wars, disloyalty, and government conspiracies continue to linger. Only Frank
Alexander, Tupac's bodyguard during the last year of his life, knows the real story.