As one of the most highly regarded rappers of all time, Tupac Shakur has one of the most recognizable names in hip hop and for that matter all of music. Tupac: Resurrection is the MTV Studios-produced version of the life story of Tupac, detailing the inspirations, trials and tribulations that molded the man into the star he became.
Comprised of unreleased home videos, movie clips, and countless TV clips, Tupac: Resurrection is able to show the side of Tupac only a select few knew. From the rapper answering political questions in his living room about the social injustices of the world, to the rapper dancing ballet (yes, you read that correctly: ballet) at the Baltimore School of Performing Arts, the film is full of proof that Tupac was not your typical gangsta. This tribute was even written in collaboration with Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, in order to gain access to as many unique Tupac experiences as possible. At first I thought this would make for a jerky, discontinuous film. The film, however, is fluid as water.
Born in Brooklyn in 1971, Tupac tells of a life of poverty in his childhood. Soon moving to Baltimore in 1986, the famously strong-willed rapper goes to the Baltimore School of Performing Arts, where he forms a foundation for his future. Tupac even lived on Greenmount, which should sound familiar to any Hopkins student! The rapper moves to California soon after, in 1988, and in 1990, Digital Underground gives Tupac the break he needs in the music world and a star is truly born. From jail time, to street brawls in casinos all on tape, Tupac: Resurrection vividly goes where no other film has gone before, dissecting the entire life of the super star Tupac Shakur.
The amazing sound track is carefully presented, with songs in arranged in order based on creation date and lyrical content. This creates a rich background for the main character's narration to punctuate. Stylistically, I was expecting a boring documentary and was astonished to be served a cinematic diamond in the rough. In this rare case, a movie and its soundtrack become one.
Told in the words of Tupac himself, Tupac: Resurrection is a way for anyone to virtually sit down and have a conversation with the legend himself. You may not be able to ask questions personally, but all questions are answered at some point. I give Tupac: Resurrection 85 out of a possible 100. For 90 minutes Tupac comes back to life.
