On March 8th, 1995, 2Pac Shakur, arguably the World' s greatest Rapper, arrived at the Clinton Correctional facility in Dannemora, New York, secured in shackles. Tupac walked with his eyes looking forward and his head hung low through the same hardened steel gates of the hundred- and fifty-year-old prison that men such as “ Lucky” Luciano and John Gotti had passed through before him. Little has been written or said about Tupac Shakur' s time inside one of America' s most notorious prisons. He remained incarcerated for seven months until his unlikely release on bail on October 12th of the same year.Tupac Behind Bars is a glimpse inside the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee' s tumultuous time in Dannemora. It marked an important period in his life, one during which he got married, met his self-professed biological father, and signed a deal with Death Row Records on a handwritten contract.

UPDATED 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Offering an intimate and indispensable window onto the gifted and impassioned, yet vulnerable and uncertain human behind the hip-hop legend of Tupac Shakur, this collection of original poems, letters, and conversations from his time spent incarcerated in 1995 reveals the artist and activist as never seen before. With a new introduction and closing note from Angela Ardis, as well as a foreword by writer, activist, and television personality Kevin Powell In 1995, one year before Tupac Shakur was shot dead in Las Vegas, he was jailed for two months inside New York City’s notorious Rikers Island. While there, he received a letter from a stranger—Angela Ardis, acting on a casual bet with her friends. She included her photo and phone number . . . and soon found herself answering a call from Tupac himself. Remarkably, their near-daily contact grew into a complex kinship of souls that neither could define—and touched both in unexpected ways. Alive in letters and original poems—some available nowhere else—Tupac’s ever-relevant heart beats within these pages. Playful, sensual, and serious, he gives insightful observations on music, prison, and life’s uncertainties—and his dreams for a future that would soon be tragically cut short. In this moving, one-of-a-kind tribute, generations of fans can experience a profound connection to the mind and unbroken spirit of a passionate, unpredictable musical icon.

"Got Your Back is "BACK!" YES, by the Author himself FRANK ALEXANDER...purchase my book written by me Frank Alexander, and get with your purchase a personal message from me along with my hand written autograph when U buy the paper back collector's cover edition of TUPAC and Myself on the cover! **With your return postage of $7.95 Calif Residents, $10.90 East Coast Residents and $18.55 International Orders, Priced by USP Service w/Delivery Conformation. Send me your book and I'll send it right back 2U! Don't be fooled, make sure it's my link U click on when going to amazon.com! After you receive your book send it to me by clicking on this link...http://www.frank-alexander.com "Once again, You'll will get in return a personal message by me and your book autographed! Also FREE TUPAC'S Last Album Makaveli Cover Poster "FREE" with your Paper Back Purchase of "Got Your Back!" A Proceed from your purchase of Got Your Back goes to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation!

This biographical memoir takes an in-depth look into the life of Mutah Beale, formerly known as Napoleon of the legendary Outlawz rap group who was affiliated with the late Tupac Shakur. It examines his life starting from birth after the murder of his parents and growing up in an unforgiving environment where he encountered insurmountable obstacles at a young age. Becoming intimately acquainted with Tupac Shakur, Napoleon rises to stardom as a member of rap's most recognizable groups only to suffer tragedy after tragedy. He becomes embroiled in one of hip hop's fiercest rivalries, trying to navigate life at the height of the East Coast vs. West Coast saga. Throughout the turmoil and tumult, Mutah looks for guidance and ultimately finds his inner peace when he accepts Islam. His life is a vivid walking example of the complexity of America as the book examines timely issues that plague American society such as police brutality, mental health, gang politics/violence, and spirituality. Life is ЯAW features intriguing stories involving hip hop's most recognizable legends including The Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube, Nas, Fat Joe, Kurupt and many others. The book presents an authentic, well-documented narrative that includes over 150 research sources and features exclusive interviews from countless friends, family members and industry icons such as Steve Lobel, Young Noble (Outlawz), Storm (Outlawz), H-Ryda (Outlawz), Wack Deuce (Outlawz), Trey Lane, Gonzoe, and many more. The book will undoubtedly serve as an important relic for hip hop history and culture. A powerfully meaningful foreword from Professor Awad Ibrahim (with an insightful and comprehensive Afterword by Dr. Othman Barnawi) sets the stage to prepare for the incredible journey of the life of Mutah Beale. With reflection and introspection, Life is ЯAW is sure to change your perspective on life forever.

Williams, the cofounder of the Crips gang and a nominee for both the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature, became an anti-gang crusader before he was executed in December 2005. In this work he debunked urban myths about prison life and challenged young people to choose the right path. Selected for the Young Adult Library Services Association's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults list.

I think people should know the real Tupac Shakur - not just thug life, but real life.We were behind the wall together. I watched him battle the conflict raging within him, between the revolutionary he was raised to be and the gangster the streets wanted him to be, between the push of his talent and the pull of his environment.That internal struggle is symbolic of an entire community. And that's why I wrote this book.Now more than ever, our young men and women are caught in a struggle: a struggle against the mismessaging of social media, the disturbing trend of overt sexuality, the lure of violence, the glorification of gang life, the push to conform to something and someone they were never intended to.Behind the Walls with Tupac Shakur, ironically, is more relevant now than ever before. It's an intimate look through the eyes of my friend, the legend, with a powerful message for the future of Black America.

A passionate, critically incisive cultural biography of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur and an examination of the forces that shaped him. In 1996 Tupac Shakur, one of the most talented artists of his time, was murdered by an unknown gunman. Fred L. Johnson and Tayannah Lee McQuillar examine the theories surrounding his death and the story of Tupac's lost legacy in this definitive biography. For millions, Shakur gave voice to their stories, but there was also another side to him, revealed as his life spun out of control, as the whispered warnings from friends went unheeded and the denunciations of critics grew louder. Disturbingly, he sang and wrote about his impending death. When it came, it brought the music industry to its knees and ended an era when American rappers were leaders in using their art to speak the truth to corporate, government, and judicial power.

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "[Tupac] Shakur saw himself as both artist and urban soldier, battling the media, the law, the courts and rival rappers." Tupac overcame poverty to become one of hip-hop's biggest stars. His life, death, and music were all surrounded by controversy. Raised by a single mother and ex-Black Panther in Harlem, Tupac grew up aware of the problems in society around him. His social conscienceand creative talents made him a unique voice in rap music. He starred in several Hollywood films about the challenges of urban life. But Tupac also struggled with drug abuse, served time in prison, and faced extreme violence―including a shooting that took his life. Throughout Tupac Shakur's career, he outraged some and inspired many. He continues to be known as one of the greatest rappers in the history of hip-hop.

Hip hop icons and rap innovators, the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur continue to influence, define, and change the genre years after their deaths. Despite the controversies surrounding the murders of Tupac and Biggie, ultimately it’s their art that remains their biggest legacy. The music of Biggie Smalls and 2Pac has inspired the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and more. The legacies of Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace—a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. —live on. So does their rivalry, one of the greatest in music history. In 2pac vs. Biggie, hip hop experts Jeff Weiss and Evan McGarvey take an entirely new approach to investigation of that rivalry. Rather than focus on the countless conspiracy theories, they study the artist as artists, dissecting the lyrics of their hits (“California Love,” “All Eyez on Me,” “Changes” for 2pac, “Mo Money Mo Problems,” “Hypnotize,” “Big Poppa” for Biggie) and lesser-known works, performance and rhythmic styles, aesthetic appearances and what those meant, rises to power, and of course, their lives after death. The feud between 2pac and Biggie is broken down and looked at from all new angles, bringing to light little-known and surprising sides to each rapper’s persona and inner world. Illustrated throughout with photographs, memorabilia, and artwork inspired by Tupac and Biggie, and with insert “versus” pages dissecting topics such as each artist’s presence in movies, critical reception, and literary influences, this book is a must-have for all rap and hip hop fans.

Acclaimed for his writings on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as his passionate defense of black youth culture, Michael Eric Dyson has emerged as the leading African American intellectual of his generation. Now Dyson turns his attention to one of the most enigmatic figures of the past decade: the slain hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. Five years after his murder, Tupac remains a widely celebrated, deeply loved, and profoundly controversial icon among black youth. Viewed by many as a "black James Dean," he has attained cult status partly due to the posthumous release of several albums, three movies, and a collection of poetry. But Tupac endures primarily because of the devotion of his loyal followers, who have immortalized him through tributes, letters, songs, and celebrations, many in cyberspace. Dyson helps us to understand why a twenty-five-year-old rapper, activist, poet, actor, and alleged sex offender looms even larger in death than he did in life. With his trademark skills of critical thinking and storytelling, Dyson examines Tupac's hold on black youth, assessing the ways in which different elements of his persona-thug, confused prophet, fatherless child-are both vital and destructive. At once deeply personal and sharply analytical, Dyson's book offers a wholly original way of looking at Tupac Shakur that will thrill those who already love the artist and enlighten those who want to understand him. "In the tradition of jazz saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, Dyson riffs with speed, eloquence, bawdy humor, and startling truths that have the effect of hitting you like a Mack truck."-San Francisco Examiner "Such is the genius of Dyson. He flows freely from the profound to the profane, from popular culture to classical literature." -- Washington Postbr Philadelphia Inquirer "Among the young black intellectuals to emerge since the demise of the civil rights movement" -- undoubtedly the most insightful and thought-provoking is Michael Eric Dyson." -- Manning Marable, Director of African American Studies, Columbia University