September 4, 2023
Robinson (Interceptions), a screenwriter and longtime friend of Tupac Shakur, traces the hip-hop star’s trials and triumphs in this riveting account. Inspired by his mother’s activism in the Black Panther movement, Tupac internalized a “revolutionary vigilance against a system complicit in keeping Black Americans powerless and poor,” a perspective that inspired the “compelling poetry and lyrics” he “share with the world” as he rocketed to stardom in the early 1990s. Robinson also delves into Tupac’s training as an actor alongside Jada Pinkett at Baltimore’s School for the Arts, and his dreams of writing, producing, and directing documentaries and films. Among other controversies, Robinson details an incident in which the album 2Pacalypse Now (1991) came in for criticism from Vice President Dan Quayle for its anti-police lyrics, causing Tupac to worry “he could no longer express himself in the raw and uncut way he wanted to—without the white man’s approval.” She ends the account in the Las Vegas hospital room where Tupac died in 1996. Avoiding speculation about the circumstances of his unsolved murder, Robinson instead sets out a faithful and detailed portrait of an artist dedicated to helping “others achieve freedom from oppression.” Enriched by invaluable excerpts from the rapper’s notebooks and sketch pads, this will have hip-hop devotees enthralled.
April 1, 2024
Screenwriter and producer Robinson (Interceptions; Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur) met Tupac Shakur while in high school in Marin City, CA; the two stayed in touch until Shakur's death at the age of 25 in 1996. Shakur's mother, activist Afeni Shakur, later provided Robinson with access to Shakur's papers, letters, and notebooks and asked her to write this authorized biography. Robinson conducted a myriad of interviews with those who knew Shakur best and culled his diaries and personal letters to tell this intimate story. Robinson provides a sincere and engaging reading of her introduction, while Jamal Joseph serves as the audiobook's primary narrator. Joseph guides listeners through Shakur's family history with a measured, somber approach, describing the circumstances that led him to pursue the stage, write and record his music, and take on memorable film roles. Joseph's careful retelling of Tupac and Afeni's complicated mother-son relationship provides insight into the forces that empowered Shakur to craft lyrics that would inspire others to resist oppression and speak their truths for decades to come. VERDICT A captivating portrait of a rap icon who inspired artists and activists alike.--Sharon Sherman
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