The full-length feature film biography Tupac: Resurrection tells revolutionary rapper Tupac Shakur’s story in his own words, in his own voice. “Tupac: Resurrection – Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture” (Amaru/Interscope Records), released November 11, 2003, tells his story in his own recordings.
Four of the tracks are previously unreleased, including the first single, “Runnin’ (Dying To Live),” which features verses from both Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. The song is produced by Eminem and samples “Dying To Live,” a 1971 album cut from blues-rocker Edgar Winter. Eminem notes: “I got sent a bunch of Tupac a cappellas and went crazy with them. ‘Runnin” has a chorus by Edgar Winter, and as he’s singing it, you’ll hear Tupac coming in, then Biggie comes in. It’s kinda like they’re just talking about each other and the whole drama that was going on. Basically what I was trying to do with it was take people back to the time when that beef was happening … now everyone looks back and realizes how ridiculous it was in the first place, especially since they started out as friends.”
Eminem is featured with the Outlawz on the debut of 2Pac’s “One Day At A Time” and also produced 2Pac’s haunting and never-before-issued “Ghosts”. Another newly-created posthumous recording is “The Realist Killaz,” with 2Pac now joined by one of rap’s newest stars, 50 Cent.
Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother, who executive produced both the film and the album, says: “The fact that such stars as Eminem and 50 Cent wanted to be part of this project testifies to Tupac’s significance and influence. It was important too that Tupac come together with Biggie again, important for fans of both men, important for the healing process, important for the future. “Resurrection” represents truth, which is often painful, but it also represents hope, which is something Tupac always had.”
The soundtrack for Tupac: Resurrection also includes nine previously released recordings which span 2Pac’s career, from the first cut on which he was featured, Digital Underground’s “Same Song” from their 1991 “This Is An EP Release,” to “Starin’ At The World Through My Rearview” which was finally released in 2001 from his Makaveli incarnation in the year before his tragic murder in 1996.
Also heard are “Rebel Of The Underground” from his 1991 debut album “2Pacalypse Now,” “Holler If Ya Hear Me” from 1993’s “Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…,” “Bury Me A G” and “Str8 Ballin'” from Thug Life’s 1994 album “Volume 1,” “Death Around The Corner” from 1995’s “Me Against The World,” “Panther Power” from 1997’s “Legends” collection and “Secretz Of War” from the 1999 2Pac/Outlawz release “Still I Rise.”
Paramount Pictures Presents An MTV Films/Amaru Entertainment, Inc. Production Tupac: Resurrection on November 14, 2003.
