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Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography
The first and only estate-authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a moving exploration of his life and powerful legacy, fully illustrated with photos, mementos, handwritten poetry, musings, and more
Artist, poet, actor, revolutionary, legend
Tupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of all time. More than a quarter of a century after his tragic death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, he continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated, and prolific figures in modern history. Drawing on exclusive access to Tupac’s private notebooks, letters, and uncensored conversations with those who loved and knew him best, this estate-authorized biography paints the fullest and most intimate picture to date of the young man who became a legend for generations to come.
In Tupac Shakur, author and screenwriter Staci Robinson—who knew Tupac from their shared circle of high school friends in Marin City, California, and who was entrusted by his mother, Afeni Shakur, to share his story—unravels the myths and unpacks the complexities that have shadowed Tupac’s existence. Decades in the making, this book pulls back the curtain to reveal a powerful story of a life defined by politics and art—a man driven by equal parts brilliance and impulsiveness, steeped in the rich intellectual tradition of Black empowerment, and unafraid to utter raw truths about race in America.
It is a story of a mother and son bound together by a love for each other and for their people, and the relationship that endured through their darkest times. It is a political story that begins in the whirlwind of the 1960s civil rights movement, and through a young artist’s awakening to rage and purpose in the ’90s era of Rodney King. It is a story of dizzying success and its devastating consequences. And, of course, it is the story of Tupac’s music, his timeless message that will never die as it continues to touch and inspire us today.
Artist, poet, actor, revolutionary, legend
Tupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of all time. More than a quarter of a century after his tragic death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, he continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated, and prolific figures in modern history. Drawing on exclusive access to Tupac’s private notebooks, letters, and uncensored conversations with those who loved and knew him best, this estate-authorized biography paints the fullest and most intimate picture to date of the young man who became a legend for generations to come.
In Tupac Shakur, author and screenwriter Staci Robinson—who knew Tupac from their shared circle of high school friends in Marin City, California, and who was entrusted by his mother, Afeni Shakur, to share his story—unravels the myths and unpacks the complexities that have shadowed Tupac’s existence. Decades in the making, this book pulls back the curtain to reveal a powerful story of a life defined by politics and art—a man driven by equal parts brilliance and impulsiveness, steeped in the rich intellectual tradition of Black empowerment, and unafraid to utter raw truths about race in America.
It is a story of a mother and son bound together by a love for each other and for their people, and the relationship that endured through their darkest times. It is a political story that begins in the whirlwind of the 1960s civil rights movement, and through a young artist’s awakening to rage and purpose in the ’90s era of Rodney King. It is a story of dizzying success and its devastating consequences. And, of course, it is the story of Tupac’s music, his timeless message that will never die as it continues to touch and inspire us today.
691 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2023
319 people are currently reading
9871 people want to read
About the author
Staci Robinson
3 books51 followersStaci Robinson is an author and screenwriter. Her previous projects and collaborations include the compilation Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy, the novel Interceptions, the film The Bounce Back, and the FX documentary series Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur. Robinson graduated from UCLA with a degree in history. She currently lives with her family in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
February 27, 2024
4.5 Stars!
My Top 10 Tupac Songs
1. California Love
2. Hail Mary
3. Dear Mama
4. Hit Em Up
5. I Get Around
6. I Ain't Mad At Cha
7. To Live and Die in LA
8. How Do You Want It
9. Brenda's Got A Baby
10 Thug Passion
Honorable Mentions
1. Changes
2. Keep Ya Head Up
Tupac died when I was a kid. I had heard of him but he really wasn't on my radar musically. I was into Tevin Campbell and Brandy. But even at my young age I knew that Tupac's murder was a big deal and it became even bigger 6 months later when Biggie was murdered. I wouldn't get into Rap music until around 1998 but even then I was into Master P and Puff Daddy. It wouldn't be until my teenage years that Tupac would really interest me. I've said it before but I'm not into conscious or political Rap. I'm a political person but I like my Rap to be ignorant and fun. My mom was actually the person who told me I should listen to Tupac, she said he had party hits and political hits. Tupac is a great gateway into Rap. I have since fallen madly in love with Pac. I listen to him on the regular. But Pac wasn't just a Rapper, he was a Actor as well. Juice, Above the Rim and one of my favorite movies Poetic Justice. Tupac was ahead of his time. We truly didn't deserve him.
Staci Robinson was asked to write this book by Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother. It took many years and lots of stops and starts but the project was eventually completed. Unfortunately Afeni passed away before the book was complete but I think she would be very happy with how it turned out. This book made Tupac a man who has been dead for nearly 30 years and who is larger than life, it made him feel real and human. The myth of Tupac has at times made Tupac feel like a character when he was just a normal down to earth man who wanted to change the world for Black people. I often forget just how young Pac was, he was only 25 when he died. As someone who is now much much older than 25, it blows my mind just how much he accomplished in such a short time. Tupac was still a kid and I can't wrap my mind around that. Tupac's career only lasted 5 years!
How is that possible?
Tupac dropped legendary albums, acted in multiple classic movies, changed how rappers dressed, talked and acted and was making changes in politics in just 5 years!
Alot of people say they wish Pac was still alive today but I tend to agree with his mother Afeni. She thought that he was only meant to be here for a short time and he died when his work complete. She is quoted at the end of this book "I do believe that Tupac lived 25 perfect years. And I'm quite satisfied and proud of every day of his life"
As I said earlier this book really made Tupac a real person for me. He loved his family and cooking, in fact he was working on writing a cook book before he died. He was filled with manic energy and he had a hell of a temper but he was intensely loyal to his family and friends. He made a lot of mistakes but he was also a kid. He never got to live long enough to change some of his more reckless habits. I also loved getting to know Afeni better. This woman was a revolutionary and an amazing woman. I need to read more about her because she was more interesting than even her son.
A must read for music lovers and people who just enjoy reading about fascinating people.
My Top 10 Tupac Songs
1. California Love
2. Hail Mary
3. Dear Mama
4. Hit Em Up
5. I Get Around
6. I Ain't Mad At Cha
7. To Live and Die in LA
8. How Do You Want It
9. Brenda's Got A Baby
10 Thug Passion
Honorable Mentions
1. Changes
2. Keep Ya Head Up
Tupac died when I was a kid. I had heard of him but he really wasn't on my radar musically. I was into Tevin Campbell and Brandy. But even at my young age I knew that Tupac's murder was a big deal and it became even bigger 6 months later when Biggie was murdered. I wouldn't get into Rap music until around 1998 but even then I was into Master P and Puff Daddy. It wouldn't be until my teenage years that Tupac would really interest me. I've said it before but I'm not into conscious or political Rap. I'm a political person but I like my Rap to be ignorant and fun. My mom was actually the person who told me I should listen to Tupac, she said he had party hits and political hits. Tupac is a great gateway into Rap. I have since fallen madly in love with Pac. I listen to him on the regular. But Pac wasn't just a Rapper, he was a Actor as well. Juice, Above the Rim and one of my favorite movies Poetic Justice. Tupac was ahead of his time. We truly didn't deserve him.
Staci Robinson was asked to write this book by Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother. It took many years and lots of stops and starts but the project was eventually completed. Unfortunately Afeni passed away before the book was complete but I think she would be very happy with how it turned out. This book made Tupac a man who has been dead for nearly 30 years and who is larger than life, it made him feel real and human. The myth of Tupac has at times made Tupac feel like a character when he was just a normal down to earth man who wanted to change the world for Black people. I often forget just how young Pac was, he was only 25 when he died. As someone who is now much much older than 25, it blows my mind just how much he accomplished in such a short time. Tupac was still a kid and I can't wrap my mind around that. Tupac's career only lasted 5 years!
How is that possible?
Tupac dropped legendary albums, acted in multiple classic movies, changed how rappers dressed, talked and acted and was making changes in politics in just 5 years!
Alot of people say they wish Pac was still alive today but I tend to agree with his mother Afeni. She thought that he was only meant to be here for a short time and he died when his work complete. She is quoted at the end of this book "I do believe that Tupac lived 25 perfect years. And I'm quite satisfied and proud of every day of his life"
As I said earlier this book really made Tupac a real person for me. He loved his family and cooking, in fact he was working on writing a cook book before he died. He was filled with manic energy and he had a hell of a temper but he was intensely loyal to his family and friends. He made a lot of mistakes but he was also a kid. He never got to live long enough to change some of his more reckless habits. I also loved getting to know Afeni better. This woman was a revolutionary and an amazing woman. I need to read more about her because she was more interesting than even her son.
A must read for music lovers and people who just enjoy reading about fascinating people.
March 17, 2025
I didn’t know much about this young man until reading this book. Have a deep respect for him now and want to download all his music and listen to them at once. He was brilliant and profound. Feels like he and Bruce Lee died too tragically young. If J Edgar Hoover had still been alive, I might’ve considered a conspiracy theory into his death (like I do with Malcolm X). Tupac had so much to say! Very sad he’s gone. Would’ve loved to see how much change his voice could’ve affected even more than it already does with his existing songs. Hope he's still singing in the afterlife with Bob Marley.
September 30, 2023
This authorized biography is an ode to Tupac's career and soul. It doesn't leave out the mistakes he's made nor does it minimize the risks and inventive attitude it took to get to stardom. I don't read a lot of celebrity memoirs but this was a must have.
Staci Robinson first met Tupac when he was seventeen years old. Later she was on his list of writers he wanted to work with in the future before he was murdered. Despite her somewhat modest writing report card (according to her, she self-disparages in the preface about her B grade student record and her writing genre being primarily romantic comedies), Afeni Shakur saw the integrity and commitment when she entrusted her son's story with her. If Robinson hadn't written anything spectacular before, she has achieved an A+ for this one. Kudos to her for this excellent biography, the effort paid off.
The research is incredible. The level of dedication to capturing the spirit of an artist through everyone who knew him is clear in the detail. Staci Robinson has left no stone left unturned, interviewing everyone from his closest friends and family to his childhood acquaintances, mentors, and educators. It honours the intellectual side of Tupac.
Intensity and focus are two words used to describe Tupac towards the end of this biography that fit the bill best for me. He is single-minded in his future, as sure of his fame as he is of his premature death by violence. At times his intense nature leads to reactionary violence and defensive attitudes but his self-possessed soul comes through in the end after retrospection.
He was also pragmatic about the world and its future, including his life expectancy. He was honest when something was his fault, adamant when he believed he was being set up or wrongfully accused. He demanded mutual honour and respect from his friends and associates, cutting people out when they betrayed or disappointed him. He had a code of ethics that was paramount to his image and his message. Absolutely he was controversial, often due to media frenzy and misunderstandings of his philosophy and his goals, but sometimes because of his brash attitude. Staci balances the depiction of his demeanor, not excusing it but also not writing him off for it. She shows his complexity.
Man, there are many surprises in here. From Tupac's love of Les Miserables (like MAJOR love, I had no idea) to his relentlessness, there's a lot about him that isn't necessarily apparent from the outside. He seems like a carefree partier who loved the "thug life" and celebrated often. Staci Robinson reveals so much through the memories of his closest confidants. His sensitive side, his nerdy interests, his acts of service to the community in small ways. Robinson shed light on this personal side to the star. It gave his characterization so much depth and humility. This was a chance to get to know him the way his loved ones did, before and beyond the tough public image.
Most of all, I saw a dreamer whose ambitions and expectations were imaginative and ardent. And he did it. So many firsts in his multi-disciplined career. I was compelled to google photos of Versace outfits, childhood friends, events he attended with his entourage, and of course watch many iconic music videos. The albums were the soundtrack to my reading experience. It was a deep dive into his life and legacy and his voice, his words encircled it.
It comes out in a month and I hope that it'll be a popular one that illuminates for so many the massive footprint he had on the rap genre and the wider music industry. Afeni was right to entrust her precious son's biography to Staci Robinson.
content warnings:
Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Death, Drug abuse, Racism, Violence, Classism, and Drug use
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Cursing, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Staci Robinson first met Tupac when he was seventeen years old. Later she was on his list of writers he wanted to work with in the future before he was murdered. Despite her somewhat modest writing report card (according to her, she self-disparages in the preface about her B grade student record and her writing genre being primarily romantic comedies), Afeni Shakur saw the integrity and commitment when she entrusted her son's story with her. If Robinson hadn't written anything spectacular before, she has achieved an A+ for this one. Kudos to her for this excellent biography, the effort paid off.
The research is incredible. The level of dedication to capturing the spirit of an artist through everyone who knew him is clear in the detail. Staci Robinson has left no stone left unturned, interviewing everyone from his closest friends and family to his childhood acquaintances, mentors, and educators. It honours the intellectual side of Tupac.
Intensity and focus are two words used to describe Tupac towards the end of this biography that fit the bill best for me. He is single-minded in his future, as sure of his fame as he is of his premature death by violence. At times his intense nature leads to reactionary violence and defensive attitudes but his self-possessed soul comes through in the end after retrospection.
He was also pragmatic about the world and its future, including his life expectancy. He was honest when something was his fault, adamant when he believed he was being set up or wrongfully accused. He demanded mutual honour and respect from his friends and associates, cutting people out when they betrayed or disappointed him. He had a code of ethics that was paramount to his image and his message. Absolutely he was controversial, often due to media frenzy and misunderstandings of his philosophy and his goals, but sometimes because of his brash attitude. Staci balances the depiction of his demeanor, not excusing it but also not writing him off for it. She shows his complexity.
Man, there are many surprises in here. From Tupac's love of Les Miserables (like MAJOR love, I had no idea) to his relentlessness, there's a lot about him that isn't necessarily apparent from the outside. He seems like a carefree partier who loved the "thug life" and celebrated often. Staci Robinson reveals so much through the memories of his closest confidants. His sensitive side, his nerdy interests, his acts of service to the community in small ways. Robinson shed light on this personal side to the star. It gave his characterization so much depth and humility. This was a chance to get to know him the way his loved ones did, before and beyond the tough public image.
Most of all, I saw a dreamer whose ambitions and expectations were imaginative and ardent. And he did it. So many firsts in his multi-disciplined career. I was compelled to google photos of Versace outfits, childhood friends, events he attended with his entourage, and of course watch many iconic music videos. The albums were the soundtrack to my reading experience. It was a deep dive into his life and legacy and his voice, his words encircled it.
It comes out in a month and I hope that it'll be a popular one that illuminates for so many the massive footprint he had on the rap genre and the wider music industry. Afeni was right to entrust her precious son's biography to Staci Robinson.
content warnings:
Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Death, Drug abuse, Racism, Violence, Classism, and Drug use
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Cursing, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
August 2, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. Having never listened to Tupac's music or watched any of the films he had starred in, I picked up this book with no prior knowledge of him. His family certainly made the right decision when choosing Robinson to tell the story of his short but meaningful life. I can now understand the deep impact he had on people, and can only imagine the type of change he could have made if he had been given more years to live.
February 14, 2024
I only read about one biography/memoir a year since I am not that into them, but I definitely loved this one. I knew Tupac was an icon but did not know much about him, but this book was so wonderfully laid out and did a great job of illustrating Tupac's complex and controversial personhood in a way where you feel like you truly know him and his struggle.
Separately his undying love for Les Mis and his coercing everyone in his life to listen and understand it of course hit a personal chord. The stars really are just like us
Separately his undying love for Les Mis and his coercing everyone in his life to listen and understand it of course hit a personal chord. The stars really are just like us
September 30, 2023
Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography by Staci Robinson is an emotionally charged story that superbly chronicles the life and death of the late, great, Tupac Shakur. I went into this book with minimal expectations. I’ve read other biographies about Tupac. Each were mediocre at best. I didn’t think this one would be much different. But to my surprise, it far exceeded my expectations.
What separates this book from the rest is the captivating narrative that not only details what Tupac did in his life, but more importantly, it explains why he did it. Robinson offers a glimpse inside Tupac’s inner workings, putting his good, his bad, and his ugly on full display.
She also does an amazing job of capturing the relationship between Tupac and his mother Afeni Shakur. Robinson delicately blends Afeni and Tupac’s lives together creating a heartwarming tapestry that allows for a much deeper understanding of the foundation on which Tupac stood.
It was the little details within this story that took my appreciation for this book to a higher level. For instance, I was able to relate to how the 70’s movie 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦 left a lasting impression on Tupac. I smiled at the idea of Pac having New Edition posters on his bedroom wall as a kid. Visualizing the “thug life” rapper spitting out the shells of his favorite snack, sunflower seeds, took me back to my own childhood. I reveled in the idea of Pac in the kitchen, cooking a banging pot of gumbo. And it broke my heart reading about the never ending instability of his childhood. Details such as these aided in creating a well-rounded picture of the man, not just the artist.
Reading Tupac’s story from birth to death was compelling. Because this is an authorized biography, there’s a lot of quotes from his family and friends which made the narrative very personal. Touching. Profound. And at times, down right sad.
Tupac believed the Shakur name was cursed. And as a result, he told many people he would die young. I wonder if his untimely death was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
After reading about Pac’s life in its totality, I believe his main objective was to protect the poor, weak, and disenfranchised. He was kinda like a ghetto vigilante. A hood equalizer. When Tupac had physical altercations, most times it was to protect someone else. He wanted to defend those that either didn’t, couldn’t, or wouldn’t defend themselves. But to us, it looked as if he was merely living the “thug life” that was proudly tattooed across his abdomen.
This biography also exposes some of Pac’s contradictions. For example, Tupac spoke negatively of interracial relationships, calling out people such a Quincy Jones for only marrying white women. Yet, Tupac dated white women himself, including pop icon Madonna. Then, he retracted his comments about Quincy Jones after finding himself attracted to Quincy’s biracial daughter. Another example of his contradictions could be seen when it came to violence. Tupac despised black-on-black crime. As a teen, he even organized peace rallies. Yet, as an adult Pac was often the aggressor in fights with other black men. There seemed to be a disconnect between his ideologies, and his actions.
I believe Tupac was extremely misunderstood. I only wish he could have lived long enough to carry out his plan. Sadly, the world will never know exactly what we missed.
There’s been at least ten books written about this fallen street soldier. I’ve read five. Of the five, this biography is by far the best! It is phenomenally written and also contains handwritten notes, and letters from Tupac.
Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography, will be in stores October 24th. Mark your calendars. You don’t want to miss this one.
Thanks to Crown publishing for gifting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review! I’m grateful for the journey.
What separates this book from the rest is the captivating narrative that not only details what Tupac did in his life, but more importantly, it explains why he did it. Robinson offers a glimpse inside Tupac’s inner workings, putting his good, his bad, and his ugly on full display.
She also does an amazing job of capturing the relationship between Tupac and his mother Afeni Shakur. Robinson delicately blends Afeni and Tupac’s lives together creating a heartwarming tapestry that allows for a much deeper understanding of the foundation on which Tupac stood.
It was the little details within this story that took my appreciation for this book to a higher level. For instance, I was able to relate to how the 70’s movie 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦 left a lasting impression on Tupac. I smiled at the idea of Pac having New Edition posters on his bedroom wall as a kid. Visualizing the “thug life” rapper spitting out the shells of his favorite snack, sunflower seeds, took me back to my own childhood. I reveled in the idea of Pac in the kitchen, cooking a banging pot of gumbo. And it broke my heart reading about the never ending instability of his childhood. Details such as these aided in creating a well-rounded picture of the man, not just the artist.
Reading Tupac’s story from birth to death was compelling. Because this is an authorized biography, there’s a lot of quotes from his family and friends which made the narrative very personal. Touching. Profound. And at times, down right sad.
Tupac believed the Shakur name was cursed. And as a result, he told many people he would die young. I wonder if his untimely death was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
After reading about Pac’s life in its totality, I believe his main objective was to protect the poor, weak, and disenfranchised. He was kinda like a ghetto vigilante. A hood equalizer. When Tupac had physical altercations, most times it was to protect someone else. He wanted to defend those that either didn’t, couldn’t, or wouldn’t defend themselves. But to us, it looked as if he was merely living the “thug life” that was proudly tattooed across his abdomen.
This biography also exposes some of Pac’s contradictions. For example, Tupac spoke negatively of interracial relationships, calling out people such a Quincy Jones for only marrying white women. Yet, Tupac dated white women himself, including pop icon Madonna. Then, he retracted his comments about Quincy Jones after finding himself attracted to Quincy’s biracial daughter. Another example of his contradictions could be seen when it came to violence. Tupac despised black-on-black crime. As a teen, he even organized peace rallies. Yet, as an adult Pac was often the aggressor in fights with other black men. There seemed to be a disconnect between his ideologies, and his actions.
I believe Tupac was extremely misunderstood. I only wish he could have lived long enough to carry out his plan. Sadly, the world will never know exactly what we missed.
There’s been at least ten books written about this fallen street soldier. I’ve read five. Of the five, this biography is by far the best! It is phenomenally written and also contains handwritten notes, and letters from Tupac.
Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography, will be in stores October 24th. Mark your calendars. You don’t want to miss this one.
Thanks to Crown publishing for gifting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review! I’m grateful for the journey.
January 28, 2024
When am I going to get to a point in my life where I’m dry eyed when I read or hear about Tupac’s murder? Never? K.
May 27, 2024
5 stars
The biography of Tupac was an experience. Growing up I listened to Tupac and other old school rappers, but I never really knew much of their in depth life. I loved reading this to get a better insight on how Tupac’s family and friends viewed him: and outspoke young Black man who was a wonderful artist. He cared so much for my community and always wanted the best for it; especially coming from a family of Panthers.
After reading this, I need to read Assata and Afeni’s autobiography: I feel like the experience would be even greater to view from a much closer relatives lenses.
The biography of Tupac was an experience. Growing up I listened to Tupac and other old school rappers, but I never really knew much of their in depth life. I loved reading this to get a better insight on how Tupac’s family and friends viewed him: and outspoke young Black man who was a wonderful artist. He cared so much for my community and always wanted the best for it; especially coming from a family of Panthers.
After reading this, I need to read Assata and Afeni’s autobiography: I feel like the experience would be even greater to view from a much closer relatives lenses.
December 18, 2023
Poet, activist, actor, musician, icon. I have vivid memories listening to him before he passed. Music was so damned good in the 90s. This biography, authorized by his mom Afeni, was penned by a writer who actually knew him. It’s phenomenal. It’s such a shame his life was so short.
April 2, 2024
Without a doubt a must read for anyone interested in learning more about the man , the myth, and the legend.
Shakespeare, Malcom X, poetry, Van Gogh, Jada, spiral notebooks, Black Panther Party, Les Miserables.
Shakespeare, Malcom X, poetry, Van Gogh, Jada, spiral notebooks, Black Panther Party, Les Miserables.
May 3, 2024
i wanted to like this so badly, and i did enjoy reading it, but it was SO BIASED. the author was the most subjective, biased biographer throughout, glorifying so many people regardless of their actions, so it was hard to trust the rest of what she was saying. needed more nuance!
November 17, 2023
Thank you Staci Robinson, thank you for writing this book!
I wish I could give it more stars.
Staci wrote an excellent book covering every aspect of PAC’s life. She didn’t sugarcoat anything and covered both his ups and downs.
Nothing more to say other than-
READ
THIS
BOOK.
I wish I could give it more stars.
Staci wrote an excellent book covering every aspect of PAC’s life. She didn’t sugarcoat anything and covered both his ups and downs.
Nothing more to say other than-
READ
THIS
BOOK.
October 26, 2023
I am now at peace with his story. Namaste🙏🏽
March 26, 2024
spoiler alert: he’s dead
July 4, 2025
Something most people don’t know about me is that Tupac was likely the most influential public figure in developing my worldview. Outside of what I learned in school of MLK, he was the first and strongest voice to expose me to the reality of life in America for Black people and, more broadly, impoverished people. This was a stellar biography of one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented humans in American history. A man who felt and cared deeply, often to his detriment, who used the pain of both his upbringing and the socioeconomic inequities at root of so many societal ills as fuel to act in bringing about a better world. A man whose first thought when learning of any problem in the world was “what can I do personally to make change?” A man who could reach a white kid who grew up privileged like myself with perspectives I never had to face. I only hope I can have a fraction of his drive and courage to speak on the world as it is and the world as it should be
January 31, 2025
Tupac Shakur
Even after all the documentaries, I still learned something new while reading this biography. Full video review on my socials.
Even after all the documentaries, I still learned something new while reading this biography. Full video review on my socials.
September 27, 2025
What can I say other than Tupac is a LEGEND so his biography is nothing short of epic. To learn more about his life, his struggles and accomplishments was such an experience. Even though I knew how it ends, I couldn’t help but get so emotional. We truly lost an amazing artist.
I dare you to read or listen to this audio (great narration) and not listen to his music right after.
I dare you to read or listen to this audio (great narration) and not listen to his music right after.
November 20, 2023
The legendary artist, poet, actor and revolutionary known as Tupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of our time. In a new biography, author and screenwriter Staci Robinson is authorized by estate and with the blessing of Tupac's own mother, Afeni Shakur, to share his story and prove why Tupac continues to inspire us today.
My advance copy of this book is full of highlights from Tupac's backronyms like "Never Ignorant, Getting Goals Accomplished" to his realism of the Shakur name curse to his hard truths of us marching on an anniversary of what we marched 25 years ago. Author Staci Robinson penned a biography with details that I'd never read before and inside knowledge of the man who died far too young.
Not only do I recommend this new release for fans of Tupac, but also fans of biographies, hip hop listeners, old school rap fans, creative artists and especially those with not much knowledge of the often misunderstood Tupac Shakur. It is a celebration of his life. A detailed look into his childhood, family life and decisions made in his meaningful short life.
Afeni Shakur and the estate chose the right person to write this authorized biography because Staci Robinson does not sugarcoat and tells of Tupac as the man he really was—the ups, down, shortcomings and achievements. The book includes photos, handwritten poetry, musings, letters and more. I encourage public libraries to offer Tupac Shakur in their catalog and for independent booksellers to keep it stocked on shelves.
Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography is now available.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
My advance copy of this book is full of highlights from Tupac's backronyms like "Never Ignorant, Getting Goals Accomplished" to his realism of the Shakur name curse to his hard truths of us marching on an anniversary of what we marched 25 years ago. Author Staci Robinson penned a biography with details that I'd never read before and inside knowledge of the man who died far too young.
Not only do I recommend this new release for fans of Tupac, but also fans of biographies, hip hop listeners, old school rap fans, creative artists and especially those with not much knowledge of the often misunderstood Tupac Shakur. It is a celebration of his life. A detailed look into his childhood, family life and decisions made in his meaningful short life.
Afeni Shakur and the estate chose the right person to write this authorized biography because Staci Robinson does not sugarcoat and tells of Tupac as the man he really was—the ups, down, shortcomings and achievements. The book includes photos, handwritten poetry, musings, letters and more. I encourage public libraries to offer Tupac Shakur in their catalog and for independent booksellers to keep it stocked on shelves.
Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography is now available.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
November 15, 2023
The arrival of this book then the confession of his murderer all seemed to be kismet and yet long overdue but I will save that for different site.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the personal, handwritten notes and illustrations by Tupac. I'm a sentimental bird and those things always hit me. I'm old enough to remember exactly where I was when I heard Tupac had been shot so that means I'm old enough to have been blessed to witness the rise of Tupac and the ridiculous manipulation. I didn't learn much from this book but that's not to say that the next generation will not. In fact, they will. It's written to with care and easy to consume. It's not heavily academic and the personal notes add a nice break to what can be a heavy topic.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the personal, handwritten notes and illustrations by Tupac. I'm a sentimental bird and those things always hit me. I'm old enough to remember exactly where I was when I heard Tupac had been shot so that means I'm old enough to have been blessed to witness the rise of Tupac and the ridiculous manipulation. I didn't learn much from this book but that's not to say that the next generation will not. In fact, they will. It's written to with care and easy to consume. It's not heavily academic and the personal notes add a nice break to what can be a heavy topic.
December 21, 2023
Even though I knew how it was gonna end, I kept hoping it would somehow end differently. Then when it didn’t, my heart broke and I was so sad.
Very well written and researched and really showed us the different parts that made up Tupac Shakur.
Very well written and researched and really showed us the different parts that made up Tupac Shakur.
July 8, 2024
This is more Tupac's mom's memoir than anything approaching journalistic objectivity.
July 14, 2024
Tupac Shakur, The Authorised Biography:
I think I was 18 or 19 when I went to the seaside with some friends. We didn't have any place to stay for that night so we ended up staying up all night with some other friends we met there. We also met a guy who couldn't stop talking about 2Pac. I don't remember how he looked like or what his name was, but I do remember the passion in his voice when he was talking about 2Pac's music. I never got it. I wasn't listening to rap or hip-hop music at that time. Only rock. Until I came upon this little book. And I started really listening to his lyrics.
And suddenly, it all made sense. This guy (Tupac) was chaotic, he had a really tough life. He was extremely poor, but he was also very passionate about art (music, acting, poetry). And he never gave up.
This book brings 2Pac back to life. It describes the social and political context of the '80s and '90s, helping the reader understand better his struggles and what he actually wanted to achieve with and through his music. It's balanced, showing the good and the bad. It's personal, but not too personal and also leaves room for you to create your own image of the man and the artist that he was. And the best part were the pictures and the images with his lyrics, letters and journal excerpts. I loved it.
I think I was 18 or 19 when I went to the seaside with some friends. We didn't have any place to stay for that night so we ended up staying up all night with some other friends we met there. We also met a guy who couldn't stop talking about 2Pac. I don't remember how he looked like or what his name was, but I do remember the passion in his voice when he was talking about 2Pac's music. I never got it. I wasn't listening to rap or hip-hop music at that time. Only rock. Until I came upon this little book. And I started really listening to his lyrics.
And suddenly, it all made sense. This guy (Tupac) was chaotic, he had a really tough life. He was extremely poor, but he was also very passionate about art (music, acting, poetry). And he never gave up.
This book brings 2Pac back to life. It describes the social and political context of the '80s and '90s, helping the reader understand better his struggles and what he actually wanted to achieve with and through his music. It's balanced, showing the good and the bad. It's personal, but not too personal and also leaves room for you to create your own image of the man and the artist that he was. And the best part were the pictures and the images with his lyrics, letters and journal excerpts. I loved it.
March 22, 2024
5 stars for sure. Man do I love Tupac!!! His background, his music, his writing, his soul, his genius, his passion, his loyalty, his bloodline. I’ve always been a Tupac fan, especially after watching the Dear Mama documentary, and this book really sealed the deal.
I feel like this is a bold thing for ordinary me to say, but I think Tupac and I would’ve been great friends.
I feel like this is a bold thing for ordinary me to say, but I think Tupac and I would’ve been great friends.
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September 6, 2025ik vond dit boek moeilijk om te lezen en heb er heel lang over gedaan. vooral door de uitdagingen van zijn opgroeiing, met name in een omgeving zo beschadigd door het geweld en gedachtegoed van de slavernij (jim crow, de kkk, etc). het raakte me heel erg, en als lezer heb je geen optie behalve begrijpen waar hij als artiest en persoon vandaan komt. hij wordt beschreven als iemand met veel passie en diepgang, en ondanks alle tragedie is het heel mooi
February 9, 2024
The author is an amazing story teller. She did a great job at telling his story. Hopefully she writes more.
June 11, 2024
A fantastically written estate-authorized biography on the life of Tupac Shakur. Though I've never listened to any of his music or seen his movies, his name was clearly something that came up a lot throughout my childhood. This biography delves into who Tupac was as a person, starting with a contextual understanding of his mom and her involvement in the civil rights movement and how that ultimately impacted how she raised him and how Tupac saw the world. Robinson demonstrates a keen understanding of who the man was behind his rapper persona, and allows the reader to really get to know him. Had circumstances been just a little bit different at different points in his life, Tupac could still be alive and sharing his talents with the world, making a positive difference in his community.
Tupac was a complex person that had hopes and dreams just like anyone else, and while his music has made a large impact in the world, he was a much more layered and deep person that had a lot to offer.
Tupac was a complex person that had hopes and dreams just like anyone else, and while his music has made a large impact in the world, he was a much more layered and deep person that had a lot to offer.
January 15, 2025
When I was a teenager I was a huge Tupac fan. Reading this book brought back some memories and while I read, I listened to his albums again and was astonished how many of the songs and lyrics I still remembered. But also reading about what inspired him to write some songs made me look at the lyrics more closely and interpret them in a way I didn't do as a young girl back in the early 2000s.
This book is well-researched, the author spoke to a lot of people close to Tupac and also knew him personally - and she was actually asked to write the book in agreement with Tupacs mother. Due to that it has insights that other authors wouldn't have, BUT due to that it is also highly biased. I feel like ths is only trying to show Tupac as a good person and even though he changed during his career (noticeable in his behavior and also his lyrics) this is mentioned shortly, but not reflected.
So as a conclusion I recommend this books to ans or people interested in Tupacs life and career but please be aware on how biased this depiction of him is, for me this book is missing a big part of him, that maybe wasn't the loveable family person with high moral standard - but that was also part of him.
This book is well-researched, the author spoke to a lot of people close to Tupac and also knew him personally - and she was actually asked to write the book in agreement with Tupacs mother. Due to that it has insights that other authors wouldn't have, BUT due to that it is also highly biased. I feel like ths is only trying to show Tupac as a good person and even though he changed during his career (noticeable in his behavior and also his lyrics) this is mentioned shortly, but not reflected.
So as a conclusion I recommend this books to ans or people interested in Tupacs life and career but please be aware on how biased this depiction of him is, for me this book is missing a big part of him, that maybe wasn't the loveable family person with high moral standard - but that was also part of him.
January 21, 2024
This was written so beautifully. The details of each event and the descriptions of emotions throughout everything he did was just heart throbbing. He was truly ahead of his age and saw something that most people don’t want to see. It’s amazing how all the events shaped him in such different ways. He truly was an inspiration that could have moved mountains and made such an impact to this society. Seeing all the things he gained and went through explains the decisions he made and the thought process that he had especially having been through so much that paranoia was his biggest challenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the pictures and props that came along with the book, and truly appreciate the insight that Staci was able to tell through those who loved him. I truly believe the good ones die young and considering I’m at the the same age as when he was murdered it’s very eye opening and I hope I can impact the world just as much as he has in the next 25 years.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the pictures and props that came along with the book, and truly appreciate the insight that Staci was able to tell through those who loved him. I truly believe the good ones die young and considering I’m at the the same age as when he was murdered it’s very eye opening and I hope I can impact the world just as much as he has in the next 25 years.
August 28, 2023
Stellar addition to the body of work around Tupac. An accessible bio by a family friend whom Afeni Shakur appointed to the job in the 90s, this take concentrates on what Tupac's family and friends experienced. Accordingly, there's a ton of wonderful stuff about his complex family, his childhood, and his teen years. A MUST BUY for all libraries serving teens.
You know Tupac won Deborah Taylor's library rap contest, right? You know Deborah Taylor loved Tupac so much that she threw a library rap contest for him to win, right? He comes off as a brilliant and excitable kid (who is so broke he only has one pair of jeans and one pair of dress pants) who is ABSOLUTELY READY for any opportunities that come his way. Librarians and teachers, do you know any kids like that? Leave this book lying around so they will find it...
You know Tupac won Deborah Taylor's library rap contest, right? You know Deborah Taylor loved Tupac so much that she threw a library rap contest for him to win, right? He comes off as a brilliant and excitable kid (who is so broke he only has one pair of jeans and one pair of dress pants) who is ABSOLUTELY READY for any opportunities that come his way. Librarians and teachers, do you know any kids like that? Leave this book lying around so they will find it...
December 25, 2023
Well-told and well-written, never a dull passage. But the book ending at the moment of Tupac’s death is strange, and leaves the reader (well me at least) feeling like the book is incomplete. Also, readers beware that the author was Tupac’s friend, so the typical biographer’s distance from their subject is absent. No mention that the gun that killed a six-year old bystander in one of his gun fights was registered to Tupac. Going in knowing the retelling of his story is highly selective, it’s a great read.
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