I thought about writing HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #9: Tupac Shakur but few day ago I watched this movie so I decided to write a movie review instead. All people know who Tupac was. Even those who don't have anything with the world of hip hop. That makes Tupac a legend in history of music. He did more than just influenced young rappers or represented his ghetto, he brought the real message, he spoke about people and rights, about police brutality over his people and about hopeless young people on the streets.
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s
TUPAC SHAKUR/2Pac
When I saw that this movie actually exists, I was more than surprised.
I saw the movie about Biggie 7-8 yeas ago, it was great movie with Jamal Woolard as Notorious BIG. The same actor comes as Biggie also in "All Eyez on Me".
"All Eyez on Me" is about Pac's life from his mother pregnancy till the day he died at the age of 25. He was born in New Yor in family of activists for human rights of African American people. His mother was Afeni Shakur, a member of Black Panther Party. His stepfather was Mutulu Shakur, one of the leaders of the same party. So Tupac was raised to be very sensitive about social injustice. His family and his ideals were the inspiration for his rhymes. His family moved a lot as they were constantly watched by FBI, so he went to high school in Baltimore and then he had to move to Oakland, California.
He had talents for many different directions in art, he was a stage actor during his high school and one of his best friends was Jada Pinkett (later Smith).
However, he joined an alternative hip hop group Digital Underground from Oakland. His first manager was Altron. He made his debut solo album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991 and it was released by Interscope Records with great hit "Brenda's Got a Baby".
His second studio album was "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z." was released in 1003 for Interscope Records and I know each song by heart.
After that, he was accused for sexual assault.
And next year he was shot 5 times and robbed in the ground floor of Quad Studio Records building. After that, while he was in prison, he accused Notorious BIG for that, because he was in the studio at the same time recording his album. That made Suge Knight, a former bodyguard and the CEO of DeathRow Records to offer Tupac a contract and a lot of money in order to start the war with East Coast rappers. As Tupac was in prison at the time, and he had financial misunderstandings with Interscope Records, he accepted Suge Knight's offer. While Tupac was behind the bars, his third album from 1995 "Me Against the World" made huge success with hits "Temptations", "Dear Mama" and "So Many Tears".
His first singe for DeathRow Records was "California Love" On Dr. Dre's beat in 1995, immediately when he got out of the prison.
The first album for DeathRow was "All Eyez on Me", the first double CD hip hop album.
The album had so many great hits that I have to be careful if I want to list some. Actually, the whole album is amazing. "All Bout U", "Skandalouz", "How Do U Want It", "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted", "Life Goes On", "What'z Ya Phone #", "Picture Me Rollin'" and my favorite "Tradin' War Stories".
He recorded so many material for other albums that were used in posthumous albums after he was killed/ I must mention his acting career, he had roles in really great movies and if he was alive today, he would probably be damn good actor. The movie ends with his death i Vegas, everybody knows that, so this is not a spoiler.
I decided not to write about his posthumous albums, I left that for another post!
Check also:
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #1 - Onyx
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #2 - Notorious BIG
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #3 - Cypress Hill
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #4 - Dr. Dre
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #5 - Wu-Tang Clan
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #6 - Big Pun
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #7 - Gang Starr
HIP HOP LEGENDS OF 90s #8 - The Roots
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