Tupac Shakur Legacy

by Jamal Joseph

An illustrated & interactive biography of the remarkable Tupac Shakur, this book features rare family photos, reproductions of song lyrics, poems, memorabilia, & personal papers. It includes approximately 20 removable facsimiles & an hour-long CD.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published August 29, 2006

About the author

Jamal Joseph is a writer, director, producer, poet, activist, and educator. Joseph was a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. He was prosecuted as one of the Panther 21. Joseph earned his BA from the University of Kansas while at Leavenworth. He is a full professor and former chair of Columbia University’s Graduate Film Division and the artistic director of the New Heritage Theatre Group in Harlem. He is the author of a biography on Tupac Shakur, Tupac Shakur Legacy and his own autobiography, Panther Baby.

Reviews

[Amy Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tupac Shakur Legacy is a biography of Tupac Shakur, a notorious rapper and actor in the 1990s. The book opens with a brief history of Tupac’s mother. She was very involved in the Black Panthers in Harlem and was actually imprisoned because of her involvement when she was pregnant with Tupac. Because of her involvement in the Black Panthers, at a time when there was heightened suspicion about the group, it was hard for her to keep employment. Thus, Tupac grew up in some of the meanest neighborhoods in Harlem and Baltimore. He learned the stark realities of gangster life in ghettos from a very early age, but he believed that he would make something of his life, and somehow overcome much of the discrimination and strife the African American population faced in the United States. The book highlights his rise to fame, the deadly wars between the East and West rappers, and the Bloods and Cribs. It describes in detail all of the criminal allegations that were brought against Shakur, including civil cases related to his lyrics. It also describes incidents where he was shot, his time in prison, and his eventually fatal shooting. Despite all of the harsh realities of Shakur’s life, this book’s tone is overall very hopeful. Shakur was an amazing artist, and his poetry is uplifting and soulful. This book is incredibly readable, and it helps to have all the pictures of Tupac, from childhood through his days of stardom.

I would recommend this to older junior high students and high school students, especially those that are interested in rap. I also think that this would be a good choice for a student needing to do a class biography

[Robert Geer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff! Has actual lifelike writings inserted in the book. Pretty neat seeing Tupac's most famous writings on a scrappy old piece of notebook paper.

[Tupac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it, this book is about of the life of tupac shakur, I couldn´t put it down, i finished it in an afternoon

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIX WORD REVIEW: Sucked back in to extraordinary life.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Jay-Z's Decoded, this is an art piece and an explanation of a cultural movement that has forever changed and help mould rap & hip-hop into the mainstream powerhouse it is today. Again, this is a lot more history of an individual (that being Tupac Aramu Shakur) and his struggle to gain fame/attention and a way of living in a city/place with little morale at a time of political malevolence on the African-american community.

Can I relate? Yes, its the hustle, its the sheer will-power that he exudes that inspires anyone and everyone that was raised like me, with nothing but work ethic and the hunger to not be impoverished.

[Gabrielle]

Hip Hop is a medium to teach students to examine and critique history, culture and social issues. This creative biography explores Tupac's life as it shaped him into an iconic unique figure. This book could be used to introduce primary sources. It includes photos, journal entries, poetry, a cd and other innovatively inserted documents. Students will love reading Tupac's story and and unearthing his personal writings.

[jeremy bradner · Rating 3 out of 5]

my brother ben has this...my other bro got it for him kind of for a joke but it's actually a pretty unique book. it's funny. everything tupac ever did...his drivers licenses, copies of songs he hand wrote...all these personal pictures. it's very voyeuristic into a dead guys life. weird and hilarious. that this guy from inner city LA has a cult following.

[Ms. Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/16/08
WOW! This book has an awesome layout. There are lots of cool inserts you can pull out and read. Tupac had a very interesting life and this book makes me want to read even more about him. Word!

[Chary · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!!! The format of this book is crazy cool! I'm glad I have his one in my collection! Whether you're a fan or not, you'll appreciate the man for his TRUE talents beyond his exterior...dead or alive.

[Safiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a pop-up book for anybody who loves tupac. there are hundreds of meticulously reproduced documents that belonged to him; his journals, drawings, lyrics and more. nothing short of a revelation in the classroom, really great to have on a coffee table at home.

[Elke · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can't think of a better book or way to teach kids what primary sources look like. this book is one of the best books ever made.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is filled wih lifelike reproductions of things like tupacs journal, grocery lists, a program from the first play he was in in grade school ect... for mega tupac fans only!

[Taija]

2008 top ten quick picks for reluctant young adult readers

[DEV 6OAT · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD.I CAN RELATE TO THIS BOOK.THERE WERE PAPERS THAT TUPAC WROTE HIM SELF.EVERYONE WHO LIFE IS HARD SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

[Barry Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

TUPAC SHAKUR was one of the greatest people in the rap industry, and also in society. TUPAC is truly missed by all and we would love for another tupac in the world.

[Shante · Rating 5 out of 5]

For die-hard Tupac fans!

[Trissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer typical biography format over this scrapbook style.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Of The Most Beautiful Books!

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Man. Is. A. Born. Genius. I. Love. All. His. Music. Doris

[Sean Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is interesting how the knobody truly knows what happend to tupac but I didn't like the way it was wrote

[Thea Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the idea of seeing all he wrote and all the cool things

[S. Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I FRIGGIN' LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEED THIS BOOK! I FOUND THIS BOOK & A FEW COPIES STUPIDLY PLACED IN THE $5 BARGIN BIN AT BORDERS BOOKSTORE NEARLY 14 YEARS AGO & BOUGHT IT & FIVE OTHER COPIES OF IT TO GIFT ALL OF MY SIBLINGS WHO ARE PAC FANATICS!
IN THE BOOK THERE ARE TONS OF IMAGES/PHOTOS OF PAC FROM HIS CHILDHHO TO HIS TEEN YEARS & A FEW OF HE & FRIEND A THEN- UNKNOWN JADA PINKETT, PLUS LOTS OF OTHER AMAZING PICS ALONG WITH A CD WHERE PAC IS BEING INTERVIEWED ABOUT HIS LIFE, TIME IN JAIL AS WELL AS OTHER INTRIGUING FACTS ABOUT HIMSELF!
I CHERISH THIS BOOK WHICH USED TO SIT ON MY COFFEE TABLE UNTIL A MAINTENANCE STAFF TRIED TO'BORROW' IT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! IT COST HIM HIS JOB WITH THE STINNK I MADE ABOUT HIS THIEVING ASS!
SINCE THEN THE BOOK SITS IN MY PERSONAL LIBRARY ON A SPECIAL TUPAC/PRINCE/ARETHA/MICHAEL/WHITNEY TRIBUTE BOOKSHELF!
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET THIS BOOK, BUT ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A TUPAC SHAKUR FAN THE MAN, THE MUSIC THE MOVIES- THE AMAZEMENT OF JUST BEING PAC!

[Jazzy Rae ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tupac's life is beautifully told by those that love him most. His legacy is honored through this impactful book.