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.