
Tupac Shakur
The Authorized Biography
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Narrated by:
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Jamal Joseph
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Staci Robinson
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By:
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Staci Robinson
About this listen
The authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a “touching, empathetic portrait” (The New York Times) of his life and powerful legacy, including 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 influential 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 unfolds 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, undying message as it continues to touch and inspire us today.
©2023 Staci Robinson (P)2023 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“A must-see for [Tupac] fans [with] loads of colorful details about his life . . . The author is at her best in her descriptions of Shakur’s ambitions, intense work ethic, and dislike of authority . . . as well as his family life. . . . This authorized biography of Shakur is intimate and personal.” —Kirkus Reivews
“[A] riveting account . . . Robinson [sets] out a faithful and detailed portrait of an artist dedicated to helping ‘others achieve freedom from oppression.’ Enriched by invaluable excerpts from the rapper’s notebooks and sketch pads, this will have hip-hop devotees enthralled.” —Publishers Weekly
“Tupac Shakur is a touching, empathetic portrait of a friend. Even familiar stories achieve new intimacy at closer range. And small moments help clarify longstanding narratives, coloring in the outlines of this well-known tale of the actor-rapper-activist who died at 25 . . . [I]t astutely chronicles his life as a microcosm of the ongoing Black American struggle . . . Robinson spends [the book’s] pages advocating not only for Tupac’s integrity, but for the spirit of Black resistance he embodied . . . At its best, the book feels like a plea to re-examine the world that made Tupac Shakur so angry.” —The New York Times
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Story
The Notorious B.I.G. was one of the most charismatic and talented artists of the 1990s. Born Christopher Wallace and raised in Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Biggie lived an almost archetypal rap life. Biggie released his first record, Ready to Die, in 1994, when he was only 22. Less than three years later, he was killed just days before the planned release of his second record Life After Death. Journalist Justin Tinsley’s It Was All a Dream is a fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend.
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By Far the Best Biggie Bio I've Read
- By Jeremy on 06-05-22
By: Justin Tinsley
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The Marathon Don't Stop
- The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle
- By: Rob Kenner
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson
- Length: 12 hrs
- Unabridged
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For Nipsey Hussle, “The Marathon” was more than a mixtape title or the name of a clothing store; it was a way of life, a metaphor for the relentless pursuit of excellence and the willpower required to overcome adversity day after day. Hussle was determined to win the race to success on his own terms, and he wanted to see his whole community in the winner’s circle with him.
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Proflic
- By Norris on 08-27-21
By: Rob Kenner
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E.A.R.L.
- The Autobiography of DMX
- By: DMX
- Narrated by: Beresford Bennett
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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His real name was Earl Simmons. As a child, he placed higher on tests than his fellow students and liked to spend mornings with his mother and sisters playing games and making pancakes. But for young Earl - a boy growing up on the streets of Yonkers, New York - that kind of childhood didn’t last long. Beatings, abuse, and neglect very soon had him moving on to other things, like robbing, stealing, drugs, and, eventually, jail. Along the way, however, he found a talent and a passion for rhyme.
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Not a good listen
- By Ty on 03-24-22
By: DMX
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BMF
- The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family
- By: Mara Shalhoup
- Narrated by: L. Steven Taylor
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In the early 1990s, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and his brother, Terry "Southwest T", rose up from the slums of Detroit to build one of the largest cocaine empires in American history: the Black Mafia Family. They socialized with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, did business with New York's king of bling Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo, and built allegiances with rap superstars Young Jeezy and Fabolous. Yet even as BMF was attracting celebrity attention, its crew members struck fear in a city.
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Good listen
- By Lamont on 04-20-20
By: Mara Shalhoup
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The Killing of Tupac Shakur
- By: Cathy Scott
- Narrated by: Elise Black
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Poet, movie star, revolutionary - Tupac Amaru Shakur was the most popular rapper in the world. No one symbolized the violence at the heart of gangsta rap more than Tupac, and he ultimately fell victim to that violence, gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas at the age of 25. This raw, no-holds-barred account discloses new information about the unsolved murder of Tupac: the failed investigation, the rap wars, the killing of Biggie Smalls, the Bloods-Crips connection, and the many possible motives leading to the murder that rocked the music world.
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Dead of alive, Tupac lives on.
- By Maria Becker on 10-11-18
By: Cathy Scott
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Not Afraid
- The Evolution of Eminem
- By: Anthony Bozza
- Narrated by: Peter Vellios
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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In 1999, a former dishwasher from Detroit named Marshall Bruce Mathers III became the most controversial and polarizing musical artist in the world. He was an outlier, a white artist creating viable art in a black medium, telling stories with such verbal dexterity, nimble wit, and shocking honesty that his music and persona resonated universally. In short, Eminem changed the landscape of pop culture as we knew it. In 2006, at the height of his fame and one of the biggest-selling artists in music history, Eminem all but disappeared.
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Boring
- By Heath R. on 12-03-19
By: Anthony Bozza
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Whatever You Say I Am
- The Life and Times of Eminem
- By: Anthony Bozza
- Narrated by: Josh Hamilton
- Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
- Abridged
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On assignment for his first cover story for Rolling Stone, the very first national cover story on Eminem, Anthony Bozza met a young blond kid, a rapper who would soon take the country by storm. But back in 1999, Eminem was just beginning to make waves among suburban white teenagers as his first single, “My Name Is,” went into heavy rotation on MTV. Who could have predicted that in a mere two years, Eminem would become the most reviled and controversial hip-hop figure ever? Or that twelve months after that, Eminem would sit firmly at the pinnacle of American celebrity.
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Not really all about Em
- By cosand on 09-20-11
By: Anthony Bozza
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From Staircase to Stage
- The Story of Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan
- By: Raekwon, Anthony Bozza
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson, Raekwon
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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There are rappers who everyone loves and there are rappers who every rapper loves, and Corey Woods, a.k.a. Raekwon the Chef, is one of the few who is both. His versatile flow, natural storytelling, and evocative imagery have inspired legions of fans and a new generation of rappers. Raekwon is one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan, and his voice and cadence are synonymous with the sound that has made the group iconic since 1991.
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A must listen
- By sam on 12-10-21
By: Raekwon, and others
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Sweat the Technique
- Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
- By: Rakim
- Narrated by: Rakim
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The musician and hip-hop legend - hailed as “the greatest MC of all time” and compared to Thelonious Monk - reimagines the writing handbook in this memoir and guide that incorporates the soulful genius, confidence, and creativity of a master artist.
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Solid
- By Troy on 09-27-19
By: Rakim
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The FBI War on Tupac Shakur
- The State Repression of Black Leaders from the Civil Rights Era to the 1990s
- By: John Potash
- Narrated by: Christopher Hampton
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Since the first day after the tragedy was announced, controversy has surrounded the death of rap and cultural icon Tupac Shakur. In this work, preeminent researcher on the topic John Potash puts forward his own theories of the events leading up to and following the murder in this meticulously researched and exhaustive account of the story.
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The depth of the information is what stood out to me and it's correlation to current events.
- By Anonymous User on 04-18-25
By: John Potash
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The Book of Jose
- A Memoir
- By: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
- Narrated by: Fat Joe
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life. This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors.
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INCREDIBLE AND INSPIRATIONAL STORY
- By Anonymous User on 05-26-23
By: Fat Joe, and others
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My Infamous Life
- The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy
- By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, Laura Checkoway
- Narrated by: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with sickle-cell anemia, and much more.
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"P" is forever...
- By Anonymous User on 09-22-19
By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, and others
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The Upcycled Self
- A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are
- By: Tariq Trotter
- Narrated by: Tariq Trotter, Rhett Samuel Price, Allyson Johnson
- Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Today Tariq Trotter—better known as Black Thought—is the platinum-selling, Grammy-winning co-founder of The Roots and one of the most exhilaratingly skillful and profound rappers our culture has ever produced. But his story begins with a tragedy: as a child, Trotter burned down his family’s home. The years that follow are the story of a life snatched from the flames, forged in fire.
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PHENOMENAL !!!!!
- By juliajovone on 12-02-23
By: Tariq Trotter
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Hip-Hop Is History
- By: Questlove, Ben Greenman - contributor
- Narrated by: Questlove
- Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the audiobook features narration and storytelling by Questlove, who expertly weaves together a rich sonic tapestry of hip-hop tales large and small, well-known and obscure. From hearing “Rapper’s Delight” for the first time in 1979 to directing and producing the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop for the 2023 GRAMMYs, Questlove guides listeners through a musical journey brought to life by Questlove himself.
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Well thought out and enlightening
- By Painterpeet on 10-21-24
By: Questlove, and others
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Jay-Z
- Made in America
- By: Michael Eric Dyson, Pharrell - foreword
- Narrated by: Michael Eric Dyson, Nick Cannon
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Jay-Z: Made in America is the fruit of Michael Eric Dyson’s decade of teaching the work of one of the greatest poets this nation has produced, as gifted a wordsmith as Walt Whitman, Robert Frost and Rita Dove. But as a rapper, he’s sometimes not given the credit he deserves for just how great an artist he’s been for so long.
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No Surprises for Fans
- By Tim & Ty on 12-22-19
By: Michael Eric Dyson, and others
What listeners say about Tupac Shakur
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- carl zayas
- 02-24-24
The Biography we’ve been waiting for
Simply put, it was a great book. It celebrates his life instead of analyzing his death. You learn about the man , not just the celebrity. Definitely worth checking out.
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- Cara Taylor
- 02-20-24
Very well done!
I loved the history and activism woven through the story. Excellently told and narrated! Highly recommend!
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- Janice Anene
- 04-15-24
Tupac Shakur
Interesting story. Tupac dealt with a lot, whole a lot, but never wavered. He remained determined to make a difference. Well written.
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- Amazon Customer Keithspirit
- 12-06-23
learned so much about him.
loved it all and thrilled I listened to this wonderful book. I then watched a documentary on this remarkable man. Thank you
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- Krystal
- 03-07-24
Tupac I Miss U
Black men and this world isn’t the same without you, Tupac. Black women need you! ❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️ This authorized novel finally did him SOME justice. I miss you, 2PAC! Real niggas have since died and all that seems to be left are imitation brands that only think they’re authentic. This is the story of the last true Black Power! Rest easy, my angel.
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- Manny
- 03-08-25
Great Details of Tupac's life
I've always been the biggest Pac fan and I love the insight from family and close friends that shows he was a man with flaws but his end goal was to help black people rise above the racism of America. He is truly someone that would have had a impact on today's climate in America.
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- Daniel Dalhouse
- 03-20-25
Sometimes a yes sometimes a no
The book is good for a tv show or documentary but not for listening or reading, it goes through a lot of details that you don’t find relevant and you end up in a parallel story that you find it boring to listen to and becomes like a never ending book. Good narrator though
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- Ryder Redfield
- 11-06-23
Phenomenal
I devoured this. As with anything or anyone… there are so many layers behind what the media portrays. This book shows the depth of an incredible individual and his family.
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- Tenisha Tate
- 01-14-24
Authorized
Beautifully Written! You can tell that this book was written from a place of love and true admiration. It provides a lens into his life that we had not had before. So well done. It’s a must read for so many reasons. A required reading for educators, students, mothers and sons. Such good lessons to take away from the life of Tupac and the women who raised him.
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- Anonymous User
- 02-07-24
Outstanding Read!!
This book does 2Pac’s legacy justice! If you’re a 2Pac fan then this book is a must!! Check it out!
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