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| Song: Uppercut |
| Artist: Tupac ft Outlawz |
| Album: Loyal to the Game |
| Producer: Eminem |
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| Suge Knight: American Nightmare, American Dream |
| Posted by on Tuesday, October 28 2003 |
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Suge Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, the man at the center of the gangsta rap and hip-hop explosion, is a singular combination of showman, businessman, and Godfather, and a natural-born storyteller. In American Nightmare American Dream, he delivers the most candid, unflinching, and thoughtful account of his many lives.
American Nightmare chronicles the inspirational story of Suge Knight's emergence from the ghetto streets of Compton to become one of the most significant and controversial personalities in the music industry. For the first time, Knight publicly addresses such subjects as the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls; his notorious run-ins with music executives and producers; and countless provocative incidents involving former colleagues and friends, including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Vanilla Ice, Berry Gordy, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, and Jennifer Lopez. In harrowing detail, he tells of the five years he spent behind bars-the shock and sadness of arriving at a place that he already knew intimately from stories heard since childhood, and the wisdom gained from being cut off from his former life.
American Nightmare is also the story of a uniquely self-made man. The success of Death Row Records turned him into a multimillionaire who crossed impossible borders. He counted himself a friend of John F. Kennedy, Jr., and paid with hard time for his alleged association with known felons. His style of doing business-"bringing the ghetto into the boardroom"-has inspired admiration and fear in equal measure. Even as some in the music business profess to be afraid of him, he is hailed as a hero in Compton, for giving back to the community. He has instituted programs for single-parent families and children of incarcerated parents. In American Nightmare, he tells young people how terrible prison is, how important it is to get an education, and that there are more ways to get out of the ghetto than by being an athlete or a rapper. Suge Knight wants them to dream about success and then make it happen.
Suge Knight's life story is a contemporary, urban version of the American rags-to-riches saga. It also uniquely illuminates the most important revolution in popular music of the past few decades-the emergence of gangsta rap and hip-hop into the mainstream. With dead-on humor and bracing candor, Suge Knight pays tribute to the hard lessons of his past, and offers a powerful answer to anyone who feels trapped by circumstances beyond their control: the example of a life lived boldly. Release Dates: United Kingdom: 1st November (Hardcover) United States: November 10th
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Source: Penguin Books
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| Thug Angel to be screened on Australian TV |
| Posted by on Monday, October 27 2003 |
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The Tupac documentary Thug Angel will be shown on Australian television on Friday November 7th at 10PM on the SBS channel. The documentary produced by Quincey Jones III is regarded by most as the best documentary about Tupac to date. It's a must for all Australian fans to check out if you haven't already picked up the extremely popular DVD.
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Source: Frenzie
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| Andre 3000 gives it up for 'Pac |
| Posted by on Monday, October 27 2003 |
In the October '03 issue of Vibe magazine Andre 3000 of Outkast mentioned Tupac when discussing rap artists that go into movies.
Andre 3000: "I see a lot of people that go from hip hop to film. And they get roles, but I don't know if it's believable. I think Mos Def is good though. He's one of my idols, actually. Him and Tupac..."
In the November '03 issue of XXL Andre 3000 of Outkast mentioned Tupac when discussing his album.
Andre 3000: "Well pretty much whenever I'm saying something, it's usually something I'm going through. And I know that if I'm going through it, a million other people are going through it. And I think that's rare. I think that's what a Rock Star is, really-somebody who'll sacrifice for the people, for the common man. He says things that the regular person on the street can't say, or don't know how to say. That's how I feel about Tupac-he just said shit that people on the street was feeling. Honestly, Tupac and Kurt Cobain, those were the last rock stars."
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Source: Infinity, from forum.hitemup.com
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| MTV to air Ressurection Special |
| Posted by on Monday, October 27 2003 |
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With the impending release of "Tupac: Resurrection," which hits theaters November 14, MTV presents two shows: "Tupac: Influences" and " 'Tupac: Resurrection' Soundtrack Special," which premiere on MTV October 30 beginning at 11 p.m. ET.
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Source: Mtv News
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| Snoop says Tupac saved his love life |
| Posted by on Monday, October 27 2003 |
Snoop Dogg recently told Lauren Lazin, the director of Tupac: Resurrection, that besides improving his working ethic which has helped him throughout the years, Tupac also saved his love life.
Snoop Dogg: "What people don't know is that Tupac really kept me and my wife together. There came a point in time where I just felt like I didn't need to be in a relationship. It was becoming a headache to me, and all these girls wanted to be with me. I was like, "Fuck that, I can have any bitch that I want." We was flying back from Belize with a gang of the homies from Death Row. The homies was like, "Yeah man, fuck that bitch! My baby momma ain't shit." They was tellin' me about how their relationships were. Then Pac just was like, "Man, fuck that! That's your son's mother. You love her. She's the only one that's gonna love you." The shit he was sayin', it was real.
It was sounding crazy comin' from him because he didn't have no relationship like that. For him to tell me that, the sh-- really stuck in my heart. When I got home me and my son's mother pieced it back together. We worked it out and eventually got married. I gave him a lot of credit for that because I didn't have no direction. I didn't have nobody to talk to and I was young and I didn't really know. His advice stood out more than the negative advice did... He helped me with my wife, which meant more than any of the music or movie shit he could've helped me with"
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Source: MTV.com
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| Man questioned in connection with Stretch's murder |
| Posted by on Saturday, October 25 2003 |
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A jailhouse stoolie who told cops he knows who killed hip hop icon Jam Master Jay is himself being eyed in the 1995 murder of a rap producer. Last week, Ronald (Tinard) Washington, 30, was questioned about the unsolved slaying of Randy (Big Stretch) Walker - who was Tupac Shakur's best friend, sources said. Walker was slain in a drive-by shooting in Queens on Nov. 30, 1995. The interview, conducted by the NYPD cold case squad at the Nassau County Correctional Facility, where Washington is being held on armed robbery charges, is part of a massive federal probe into violence in the hip hop industry, sources said. Washington is also a suspect in the unsolved murder of Run-DMC deejay Jason Mizell, better known as Jam Master Jay, who was slain in his Jamaica, Queens, studio last Oct. 30, sources said. "Of course I didn't do it," Washington told The News yesterday in a phone call from jail. "For years, people have been saying, 'Tinard did this, Tinard did that.' Now my name is coming up for killing Stretch? It's ridiculous." Walker was shot twice in the back by three men who pulled up alongside his green minivan at 112th Ave. and 209th St. in Queens Village while he was driving. His minivan smashed into a tree and hit a parked car before flipping over. At the time of his death, Walker was a member of the rap group Live Squad, which had peaked with a hit single, "Heartless/Murderahh." He also worked with Shakur, helping him produce two gold records. Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas in 1996. Walker's mother, Lucilda, lambasted the rap industry yesterday for promoting the violence that left her son dead, and her granddaughter, Moneysha, without a father. "If I think about it, I fall apart," she said, as her voice began to shake. "It's almost eight years. That's a long time for someone who committed a murder to be on the streets. "I really don't know what the cause is for so many young people to lose their lives in the music world. I don't know what is wrong with these people," she said. But Washington said he told police the shooting stemmed from "a beef" between men from Springfield Blvd. - where Walker lived - and a group from another block of Hollis Ave. That neighborhood, regarded as a rap epicenter where hit artists such as 50 Cent and Ja Rule were reared, has been the scene of many rap-related murders, including two this year. "The worst of everything back then, I got blamed for because of my reputation," Washington said. "I've been in jail on and off all my life. I didn't do it. In fact, when Stretch got killed, I left town because I knew they would think it was me."
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Source: New York Daily News
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| Tupac mentioned in Scary Movie 3 |
| Posted by on Saturday, October 25 2003 |
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In the new film Scary Movie 3, rapper Ja Rule plays the roll of the President of the United States' head of security. There is a scene in the movie where Ja Rule pauses and listens into his security headset saying "I hear something." After listening harder his character announces "It's Tupac!" to which the President, played by Leslie Nielsen, proclaims that "this shit is bangin" and starts singing 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me".
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Source: Big E, TheTruth34
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| Afeni talks to Launch |
| Posted by on Friday, October 24 2003 |
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The following article comes from a short interview Launch conducted with Afeni Shakur. Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, is busy making the rounds promoting the upcoming documentary on her murdered son's life, Tupac: Resurrection, which will hit theaters on November 14. Shakur oversaw the entire project and served as its executive producer. Recently when LAUNCH spoke with Shakur, she explained why it was important for her to have her deceased son narrate the documentary. Shakur said: "We actually wanted to make it possible for him to be able to speak and not feel as though death had robbed him of his opportunity to be before the world. So you know for us, it's like, Tupac would have wanted this, so we got to do this." A soundtrack for Tupac: Resurrection will be released on November 4. The set will include three new songs, "Running (Dying To Live)" featuring Notorious B.I.G., "One Day At A Time" featuring Outlawz, and 'Ghost' which features Eminem. When LAUNCH spoke to Shakur, she said that one of her favorite songs from the soundtrack is the last track, "Realest Killers" featuring 50 Cent. Shakur explained why: "It's the one with 50 Cent. I'm sorry I hope it's not a bad thing for me to say it. I know people got like, 'Whatever,' but you know I like really like it when he says (Laughing)... I love it when he says, 'Until Makaveli returns, all eyes on me.' I love it. I love it. (Laughing) I absolutely...I love it. I love it. I love it."
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Source: Launch
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| Tupac #8 on Forbes dead-celebrity earnings for 2003 |
| Posted by on Friday, October 24 2003 |
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Forbes.com has released their third annual list of Top Earning Dead Celebrities. The top 10 for 2003 are: 01. Elvis $40 Million
02. Charles Schulz $32 Million
03. J.R.R. Tolkien $22 Million
04. John Lennon $19 Million
05. George Harrison $16 Million
06. Dr. Seuss $16 Million
07. Dale Earnhardt $16 Million
08. Tupac Shakur $12 Million
09. Bob Marley $9 Million
10. Marilyn Monroe $8 Million
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Source: Dante
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| A new Tupac course titled "The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur" |
| Posted by on Monday, October 20 2003 |
Sun Tzu. Christopher Marlowe. Niccolo Machiavelli. Frantz Fanon. What do these men have in common?
Few could imagine the common thread among these four thinkers and philosophers to be modern-day gangster rapper Tupac Shakur and his lyrics. A new class at the UW, however, emphasizes just that.
The course, titled The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur, is taught through the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) program by Georgia Roberts, an English graduate student.
Despite the name, students are not given a 10-week course on hip-hop and rap. Rather, the aim of the course is to analyze the men in history who Tupac idolized and admired, according to Roberts.
The idea is to begin with common ground, the lyrics of Tupac Shakur, and to dissect them as pieces of poetry with references to other famous literary works.
“I want students to think of what Tupac was thinking when he wrote those lyrics,” said Roberts. “What are the universal themes? The students should get involved in his lyrics and see if there are themes in the books they will read that match the lyrics.”
Hip-hop, and gangster rap specifically, has been heavily criticized by prominent political figures for its emphasis on violent behavior.
Tipper Gore organized the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) in the ‘80s as a response to the expletive lyrics in modern-day music. According to MTV Music News, she has since apologized to those affected by PMRC.
In 2000, the Federal Trade Commission released a report that claimed the entertainment industry was repeatedly targeting minors, and advised the industry to establish codes prohibiting marketing to children, increase compliance at the retail level and educate parents about warning labels.
Locally, the Seattle Times reported in 2000 that Mayor Paul Schell blamed a shooting in Pioneer Square on hip-hop music.
Tupac did his own part in sparking controversy while music was being criticized for its influences on society.
Tupac’s violent image and lyrics contrast drastically with the reflective Tupac, who wrote songs about young girls being impregnated and not losing faith when times were hard.
Tupac himself was affected by the violence his music and lifestyle implied. In 1996 he died after being shot five times. Tupac’s unsolved murder and the aggressive rivalry between him and rapper Notorious BIG left an image in many people’s minds of both Tupac and his rap as violent, valueless music, an idea Roberts disagrees with.
That impression is precisely what Roberts’ class aims to change.
“Hip-hop is no joke. It’s a force and it’s a movement,” said Roberts. “I want students to realize that [Tupac] was in conversation with some of the greatest literature of our time. Just because he’s a hip-hop artist, [this] shouldn’t be belittled.”
Much of today’s hip-hop has been colonized by corporate America, according to Roberts, but there are elements within hip-hop that are fundamental to a political agenda.
Tupac’s lyrics included references to Tzu, Marlowe, Machiavelli and Fanon, and he attempted to be thematic about expressing his views on society. Of great fascination to Roberts is Tupac’s discussion of an alternative nation called “Thug Nation” in his lyrics.
A third-year graduate student, Roberts discovered the idea of teaching this course while at UC-Berkeley completing her undergraduate degree. At Berkeley there is a course on linking hip-hop music and literature.
While her focus of study is 19th-century American literature, Roberts is extremely interested in masculinity studies. Tupac’s lyrics provide insight for Roberts on connections between masculinity and American identity.
Last winter Roberts taught a focus group on 19th-century author Henry James. In spring, she taught the history of hip-hop. For Roberts, there is no shame in combining personal preferences, such as hip-hop music, with academic study.
“As a graduate student, I’m still learning and still a student. It’s cool to study something you’re interested in,” she said. “People have tons of interests, and [by seeing] the connections they share through music or politics, you can learn a bunch of different things. This is the type of teaching that CHID supports.”
Roberts plans to continue this unique teaching style in her career as a professor.
While the focus of the course is on the lyrics of Tupac Shakur, it is heavily reading-based, and students will read many of the classical literary texts that Tupac refers to in his lyrics.
Students of the course have been forewarned to have a general idea of the history of hip-hop, which dates back to the early 1970s. Being familiar with Tupac’s work is also a bonus, because each week students are asked to bring in pieces of his lyrics that relate to the authors they are reading.
Roberts hopes that this course, which is only taught as a focus group, will eventually become a permanent class at the UW. While there was room for 25 in the classroom, more than 150 students e-mailed Roberts and asked her for an add code, even after knowing that the class included heavy reading.
“If I can show that this is not just a fluff class for students and that we can learn from this common interest we share in hip-hop, I think there is a chance that it can become a class.”
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Source: UW News
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| Technology helps Tupac speak from the grave |
| Posted by on Monday, October 20 2003 |
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This following post comes from an article by FoxNews which it explains that by using old media they can enable dead artists to "speak" from the after life. In "Tupac: Resurrection," set for release Nov. 14, filmmakers took audio and videotape that the hip-hop artist recorded of himself to make a documentary that is literally told by Shakur in his own words and gives the impression that he is speaking from the afterworld. "Tupac was always very self-critical — he was always looking at his life almost from the outside," said Preston Holmes, one of the documentary's producers. "There was a wealth of material available of him thinking about his own life, dreams and desires."
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Source: Fox News
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| Chris Rock talks about Pac's murder |
| Posted by on Saturday, October 18 2003 |
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Chris Rock got a standing ovation just by walking out on the Palace Theatre stage before a sold-out audience Wednesday night. People knew they were in for a solid comedy show, and Rock more than delivered as he kicked off his 26-city Black Ambition Tour in Cleveland - his first tour in four years. During his hour and 40 minutes onstage, Rock was never off pace. He went into a riff on how it's obvious the U.S. government hates rappers - their killings go unpunished. "You wanna get away with murder? Just kill a rapper. Tupac Shakur gets shot on the Las Vegas strip, after a Mike Tyson fight." You couldn't ask for more witnesses, he said. "But there are no suspects, no clues!"
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Source: Clevland
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| Yaki Kadafi's grandmother passes on; Rest In Peace |
| Posted by on Saturday, October 18 2003 |
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HitEmUp.com would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Vivian Smith who passed away last Tuesday. Vivian was the late Yaki Kadafi's grandmother. She battled with lung cancer and passed away at home surrounded by family. Our condolences go out to her daughter Yaasmyn Fula and the rest of the family. Vivian is in a better place now, surrounded by more loving family including Yaki. Rest In Peace Vivian Smith You may leave your condolences on the official Yaki Kadafi forum by clicking here.
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| Tupac mentioned on "Celebrity Jeopardy" |
| Posted by on Friday, October 17 2003 |
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Tupac was mentioned tonight on the Late Show with Jay Leno. During the skit, Celebrity Jeopardy, Gilbert Gottfried selected the category "50 Cent", to which he replied "Who is a popular rap artist." After Jay responded that it was incorrect, Gilbert looked up and screamed, "Thanks a lot Tupac!"
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| Tupac's secret letters |
| Posted by on Tuesday, October 14 2003 |
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This article comes from the NewYork Dailys gossip section. A collection of his private writings and photographs released this month offers fans an unprecedented insight into the hip-hop genius. But "Tupac: Resurrection" also raises fresh questions. In a 1995 letter written from prison to fellow artist Souljah, Shakur writes of two romantic interests in his life. "Woman 'A' is from the streets," he writes. "Woman 'B' on the other hand is famous, rich and able to assist me financially, loving, senuos[sic] and very sexual ...however she's bisexual and so into her career that we don't have much time together." Shakur had a number of high-profile romances. He dated, among others, Jada Pinkett, who later married Will Smith, and he was engaged to Quincy Jones' daughter, Kidada. And he married Keisha Morris. Shakur notes, "Since men are born totally inept sexually we only learn how 2 please a woman from pleasing a woman so as rotten as it seems practice makes perfect." He also writes that he communicated with Mike Tyson while both were in prison. And, "When I was in jail they had a story on the news that Madonna was coming to visit me. The guards let me take an extra shower because they thought she was coming." A documentary, also called "Tupac: Resurrection," is set for release next month.
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Source: New York Daily News
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| Vote to see Tupac on SNL! |
| Posted by on Tuesday, October 14 2003 |
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For the fans who didn't get the chance to see Tupac's performance at Saturday Night Live here is your chance! Comedy Centeral will be holding the 50 Greatest SNL Episodes shown in a marathon on Wednesday the 24th of December at 11 AM. To vote for Tupac and the Tom Arnold show click this link and scroll down until you see "FEB 17 199 -EP.930" http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_sho...=15&r=861133466
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Source: Infamous Josedy
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| Tupac's Hummer for sale again |
| Posted by on Monday, October 13 2003 |
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Tupac Shakur's Hummer will once again be placed for sale on Ebay.com, after 95,000 people bid on the Hummer in August. Bidding reached $1,000,000, but the winner of the auction did not honor his bid, thus placing the Hummer back up for sale. "They weren't serious about completing it," the owner of the Hummer told AllHipHop.com. "I offered it to the next bidder and they weren't serious either, I don't know why people bid and then not be serious about purchasing." The current owner of the souped up SUV won the vehicle from BET in a contest titled "Picture Me Rollin'." The near mint condition H1 Hummer has been in storage since Shakur was shot and killed in 1996 and has only 5,465 original miles. The vehicle also features a 6.5 Liter Turbo Diesel engine, 12 Disc Clarion CD Changer, GPS Navigation System, PA system with three different sirens, full motion spotlight, 12,000 lb. winch, diamond plate bumpers, and beige leather interior with burlwood trim. Also included in the auction are several personal items found in the Hummer, including an invitation for Tupac to a Labor Day Party at the Opium Den in Miami dated September 1 st, 1996, his hand towel, a cassette tape holder, and a hand-drawn map on a piece of cardboard. The owner said photos and official ownership papers are available to the lucky winner of the auction. Proceeds from the auction will go to an educational fund for the current owner's two children. Bidding starts at $500,000 with no reserve and will end Thursday, November 20th.
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Source: AllHipHop.com
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| New Tupac photos in November Vibe |
| Posted by on Monday, October 13 2003 |
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The November issue of Vibe Magazine features several never before seen photos of Tupac Shakur, along with an interview with his mother, Afeni Shakur. Afeni discusses future projects such as the Tupac: Resurrection movie.
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| Iraqi town nicknamed after Tupac |
| Posted by on Monday, October 13 2003 |
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Here is part of an article that appeared on GNN.TV. "The Americans refer to Albu Hishma as "Tupac," after the slain rapper Tupac Shakur. "On our maps this place is called Albu Shakur, so we just went with Tupac," said Specialist Brad Lewis. It is doubtful whether anyone in Albu Hishma has ever heard of Tupac Shakur - American pop culture is not high on people's minds here. Albu Hishma is one of many villages in this area where U.S. troops come under attack on a regular basis."
Click here to read the full article.
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Source: tyro2003 on forum.hitemup.com
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| Tupac in the 2004 Guiness Book of World Records |
| Posted by on Sunday, October 12 2003 |
Tupac is listed in the 2004 Guiness Book of World Records as the most succesful rap-artist of all time.
Rap-legend 2Pac (original name Tupac Amaru Shakur) sold more than 33,5 Million CD's worldwide. Surprisingly he's had more hits after his death (which was on September 13th 1996), especially through his hit-albums THE 7 DAY THEORY and UNTIL THE END OF TIME.
It is of interest to note that the 33.5 million sales figure is wrong and out of date. Tupac has sold more than that in the United States alone. Furthermore if the official sales figures were updated for his older albums the figures would be much higher still. Tupac's All Eyez On Me, which was released in 1996, has officially been certified 9x Platnium for years now, and if the figure is ever updated it will be certified Diamond (10x Platnium and more).
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Source: Incredible D on forum.hitemup.com
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| Puffy speaks out about the rumours |
| Posted by on Saturday, October 11 2003 |
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“IT’S THE NEWEST con game in town - shake down and blackmail someone with a high profile. It’s so ridiculous, it’s crazy,” Combs told the New York Post. “This is the most crazy of all the stories I’ve heard. If I was involved in something like this, I would be somewhere else, behind bars.” In the story, which broke last week, Kirk Burrowes implicated Combs in the murder of Tupac Shakur and the 1995 slaying of Suge Knight’s bodyguard in a $25 million suit. In a Manhattan federal court, Burrowes accused Combs of cheating him out of millions and threatening to beat him with a bat. Furthermore, he said his managerial relationship with Mary J. Blige was damaged from Combs interference. In the legal documents, Burrowes said Bad Boy was designed “to gain power, recognition, fame and financial gain through acts and threats involving murder, mayhem and extortion via the enterprise.” Combs, who is admittedly protective of his public image, said the charges are disruptive to everything he does.
“A lie like this turns your whole life upside-down. And it really hurts,” he continued. ”[The charges get] in the newspapers, but when it gets thrown out [of court], you don’t see anything.” “Well, we’re definitely going to sue for slander.” Nevertheless and despite the hurt, the mogul said he was going to battle this latest case as he has other recent suits against him. “I’m a fighter, and people are going to see the truth. I respect the law. But the point is that the law makes these con games legal.” Ben Brafman, Combs’ lawyer concurred, “What I find most extraordinary about Sean is his ability to remain focused on his work and his charities despite these baseless lawsuits that could crush the ordinary person who does not possess his spirit and determination.”
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Source: MsnBc
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| Afeni Touched by Hip-Hop Support |
| Posted by on Friday, October 10 2003 |
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Afeni Shakur, the mother of rapper Tupac Shakur, says she's touched the hip-hop community continues to be supportive, seven years after her son's death. "I always feel like I get special treatment. I never felt that I couldn't ask anyone for anything," Shakur told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. "I respect them, I have a lot of respect for them. I like them. They're nice to me, and they're good to my son." Shakur created Amaru Entertainment-Amaru Records after her son was shot to death in 1996, and the company has put together albums of his unreleased work. She's also an executive producer of a film documentary on his life, "Tupac: Resurrection," and oversaw a book of the same name, which will be published later this month. The movie will be released in November. Shakur says she's relied on help from rappers including Dr. Dre and Eminem to help keep her son's name, and music, alive. "I'm conscious of the fact that I'm 56 trying to do my son's work," she said. "I don't know that we would have been able to keep an ethical, quality project without the hip-hop community caring almost as much as me." On Sunday, The Source Youth Foundation will honor Shakur for her charitable work, including the creation of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation Inc., which encourages children in the arts. The awards dinner in Miami, to be hosted by Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton, will also honor LL Cool J, Nelly, boxer Roy Jones Jr. and dancer Crazy Legs. Shakur says receiving the award is bittersweet, because it reminds her that her son isn't around. "Who knows what would have happened (had he lived)?" she said. "I'm sad that he can't see how much people appreciate his work. I think he would have been pleased. I think he would be pleased to know how much people appreciate his mom, too."
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Source: Miami News
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| Tupac #9 music artist of all-time on Access Hollywood |
| Posted by on Thursday, October 9 2003 |
 Access Hollywood aired a segment last night, counting down who they considered the top 10 music artists of all-time. I was surprised to see that Tupac was ranked #9, as I'd become accustomed to him not getting the mainstream recognition he deserves. Labelled the modern day "Marvin Gaye," the short segment barely scratched the surface of his accomplishments but showed video footage, including clips from "California Love," "I Get Around," "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," and "I Ain't Mad Atcha," a brief interview clip, and showed artists speaking on Tupac's influence. This list may not be completely accurate, but if memory serves correctly it was: 10. Sting
09. Tupac
08. James Brown
07. Tina Turner
06. Bob Dylan
05. Frank Sinatra
04. Elton John
03. Madonna
02. Michael Jackson
01. Elvis Presley
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Source: Corisa B., AlboKid
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| Tracklisting for Tupac: The Resurrection |
| Posted by on Thursday, October 9 2003 |
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 The following is the tracklisting for the upcoming soundtrack Tupac: The Resurrection.
01. Ghost
02. One Day At A Time (Feat. Eminem & Tha Outlawz)
03. Death Around Tha Corner
04. Secretz Of War
05. Runnin' (Feat. Biggie Smalls)
06. Holler If Ya' Hear Me
07. Starin' At Tha World Through My Rear View
08. Bury Me a G
09. Same Song
10. Panther Power
11. Str8 Ballin'
12. Rebel Of Tha Underground
13. Tha Realist Killaz (Feat. 50 cent)
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Source: TeRoar
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| Puffys Lawyers Speak Out |
| Posted by on Saturday, October 4 2003 |
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High-powered lawyers for Sean "P. Diddy" Combs lashed out at his former business partner yesterday, claiming he was blackmailing the rap mogul by implicating him in two murders. Kirk Burrowes, the godfather of one of Combs' sons and an ex-president of his rap conglomerate Bad Boy Entertainment, makes a series of shocking allegations as part of a $25 million legal suit against the high-living rapper. It includes claims Combs and his rap conglomerate were behind the slayings of Suge Knight's bodyguard Jai "Big Jake" Hassan in 1995 and top performer Tupac Shakur in 1996. Combs' lawyer Benjamin Brafman said Combs would not be "blackmailed into submission" by a "former disgruntled employee" looking for money. He said the claims were "completely baseless" and had already been investigated by law-enforcement authorities. Burrowes' lawyer John Bostany, who clashed with Brafman in a brief but heated exchange after a court hearing yesterday, claimed his client was "concerned for his safety." He said Combs' legal team was "trying to escape answering for [Combs'] corrupt acts by making technical arguments."
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Source: New York Post
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| Ex-President of Bad Boy states Puffy hired hit on Tupac |
| Posted by on Friday, October 3 2003 |
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Kirk Burrowes, ex-president of Bad Boy Entertainment, is making explosive claims in new court papers which implicate Sean 'P Diddy' Combs in the 1995 murder of Suge Knight's bodyguard and accuse his conglomerate of ordering the hit on Tupac Shakur. In legal filings obtained by The New York Post, Burrowes claims the mogul set up an "enterprise" of thuggish associates "to gain power, recognition, fame and financial gain through acts and threats involving murder, mayhem and extortion via the enterprise." Burrowes, godfather to Diddy's son, Justin, makes the extraordinary claims as part of a $25 million suit in Manhattan federal court. The disgruntled label exec says he enjoyed a "very close, family-like relationship" with Combs before their relationship erupted. This past June, he filed the legal action, claiming Diddy cheated him out of $25 million, threatened him with a baseball bat and undermined his management deal with rap diva Mary J. Blige. "With the consent, approval and ratification of the [Bad Boy] enterprise, Suge Knight's chief bodyguard "Big Jake" was murdered in 1995," Burrowes says in a sworn legal statement. Allegedly, the bodyguard was killed soon after Combs' "advance man" got into an "East Coast-West Coast bashing contest" at an Atlanta party. A local deputy sheriff, who was later killed in a "mysterious car accident," identified Combs' "advance man" - a convicted felon named Anthony Jones - as the shooter, claims Burrowes. Burrowes also accuses Bad Boy Entertainment of hiring the shooter who killed Tupac. Burrowes did not offer more detail on this in his sworn 37-page statement. Burrowes lawyer John Bostany will argue in court today for Burrowes' new claims of violence to be admitted to the case. "My client appears to be the victim of a corrupt group that 'thugs its way through it' and I am here to help him get justice," Bostany said yesterday. Additionally, Burrowes accuses Combs of the champagne-bottle attack on April 15, 1999 against Universal Records exec Steve Stoute - an attack Diddy admitted to and apologized for. Burrowes continues naming Roy Reid and Dante Dixon, alleged members of Diddy's "enterprise" were directed by Combs to threaten, harass and stalk John Bentley, a songwriter and owner of Calidelphia Records. Combs lawyer Benjamin Brafman said yesterday Burrowes' claims are "entirely baseless" and "without merit."
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Source: SOHH.com
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| Tupac’s “Library Rap” from 1986 to appear on upcoming project |
| Posted by on Thursday, October 2 2003 |
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We obtained this information from the woman who organised the event, Deborah Taylor this will be the first time most people have heard of this event although it was touched on briefly in the book "Back In The Day" In 1986 the Pratt Library in Baltimore planned to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and devised a rap contest for teens 13-18, to appeal to the youth. Teens were asked to submit their raps in writing, from which the best would be selected for performing at two semi-final programs. The rap was to be about the library and the importance of reading, and was to portray a positive message with no profanity. The sessions were judged by personalities from a local radio station. Since Baltimore was a bit of an eastside-westside city, that’s how the performances were divided. Tupac and his friends, who called themselves the Eastside Crew, were victorious at the eastside semi-final and moved to the final, which was scheduled to be held at a large library in the center of the city. Tupac’s group won the final in front of a packed crowd. The judges stated, “it wasn’t the best rhyme, but when Tupac performed, he exploded, you couldn't take your eyes off of him”. The grand prize was $100.00. The program was a huge success, but many at the library really didn't think much more about it. That was until a few years later, when Tupac achieved some fame. After his death, library administration took the rap and put it in the vault, along with original work by Phillis Wheatley and others. They were advised that because we had only his signature on the application (not a parent or guardian) they could not circulate even copies of what he wrote. MTV however, recently got permission from his mother's lawyer to allow the library administration to let them see it for an upcoming project. It’s possible that the upcoming project they reference is “The Resurrection” book which will accompany the soon to be released biography.
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| Rocker compares himself to 2Pac |
| Posted by on Wednesday, October 1 2003 |
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In a recent interview with the Dallas Observer Rocker Kenna Zemedkun mentioned Tupac, here is the extract from that interview: "...That's really who I am. I stockpiled a lot of songs. I'll have plenty to do another record with. I'm like the 2Pac of rock right now. I have, like, a vault. If for some reason I decide to pull a Makaveli"--the alias under which 2Pac released a posthumous album--"or something, we're going to be selling records for the next 20 years." He laughs again. "That's great. I love that: 'the 2Pac of rock.' "
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| Tupac shown as saint |
| Posted by on Wednesday, October 1 2003 |
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Picture a classic Byzantine icon of the crucified Christ. The savior's body, having been taken down from the cross, is surrounded by his grieving loved ones. Now imagine that scene in the 21st century. Replace the body of Jesus with that of slain gangsta rapper Tupac Shakur, laid out on a car hood, with friends such as Dr. Dre and Suge Knight standing round mourning. Or why not replace the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus with producer-rapper Dr. Dre clutching superstar Eminem? This remix is how artist Tom Sanford paints his hip-hop heroes. Sanford sees the process as analogous to the creation of music -- sample a track, then mix in your style, turning it into something new. Surprisingly, a Tokyo gallerist based in a traditional, Japanese-style wooden house is the promotional driving force behind the 28-year-old painter, who has recently had exhibitions in his native New York at the Momenta Art Gallery and the Grand Gallery in Brooklyn. In the spring of 2001, Tomoya Saito, art director of Massive Saito Tomoya Gallery, near JR Ebisu Station, visited some 400 galleries and museums in New York. "Among the artists whose works I saw during my three-month stay in New York, Tom Sanford was the only one who left an impact on me," said Saito. "His paintings are the new kind of Pop Art I had been waiting for. They use strong colors and are simple and straightforward." Sanford depicts the flashy hip-hop characters in acrylic- and oil-based paints on carefully sanded wood. Logos and patterns for brands such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry, status symbols characteristic of hip-hop, often form the background to the portraits. And the artist makes many of the frames himself, using glittery, bling-bling designs. His most recent work, "50 Cent Icon," shows the rapper -- 50 Cent -- pierced with shot wounds, like a modern-day martyr, against a background of brand-name logos. Sanford's paintings are in stark contrast to the mainstream of post-Warhol contemporary art, says Saito. "Much contemporary art work is predictable," he says. "Such art has also become too conceptual -- frankly, it's difficult to understand." Sanford, who is white, leads a life far removed from the inner-city ghettos that spawned his largely black idols. A university graduate with a degree in economics, he currently works part-time as an art teacher and frame-maker. Some hip-hop lovers might find the union of hip-hop heroes and religious art styles more than a little disturbing. But Sanford is serious about his works, which have evolved over time. Having studied Byzantine art, he initially tried to use the style to depict rock superstars. But, according to Saito, after the shocking deaths of gangsta rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. at the height of America's East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry, Sanford realized that these musicians were modern icons, and should be drawn as such. Not everyone is sympathetic to Sanford's approach. A friend of Saito's, a rock musician who lives in Harlem and was a roommate of the late painter Jean-Michel Basquiat during the 1980s, warned the gallerist that some people might resent the way a white artist such as Sanford depicts hip-hop stars and feels that he is trying to cash in on black celebrity. For Sanford, though, cashing in is the obsession that connects celebrity and established religion. That's why he puts the two together in his art. "In many strands of Christian belief," Sanford writes in his artist's statement, "prosperity can be evidence of piety and favorable standing with God. Like Christianity, gangsta rap has built prosperity into its formal lexicon of acceptable credentials." Or as they'd say in rap: it's all about the "Benjamins" -- money.
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Source: Japanese Times
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