A new documentary about the life of slain U.S. hip-hop legend Tupac Amaru Shakur is in the works.
The documentary, which is yet to be titled, will be made by Steve McQueen, the award-winning director of the movie “12 Years a Slave,” reports the Huffington Post.
Shakur Estate Spokesman Tom Whaley issued a statement Tuesday, saying McQueen has been commissioned to direct the project. Whaley described it as a fully authorized documentary about the life and times of the late-rapper-actor.
The documentary, which will be executive produced by Gloria Cox, Tupac’s aunt and sister to the rapper’s late-mother Afeni Shakur, is meant to deliver a firsthand account on the life of the “All Eyez on Me” singer from those who knew him intimately.
“Our goal has always been to tell the true story, which has never been done before in such a complete way,” Cox says. “My sister always said to me, ‘We are not in the business of defending Tupac. Our job is to allow him to be seen in the most complete way, so his actions, his choices, and his words will allow him to speak for himself. I believe this film will do exactly that.”
British-born McQueen said he was delighted to be working on a project of such importance, “I am extremely moved and excited to be exploring the life and times of this legendary artist.
“I attended NYU film school in 1993 and can remember the unfolding hip-hop world and mine overlapping with Tupac’s through a mutual friend in a small way. Few, if any, shined brighter than Tupac Shakur. I look forward to working closely with his family to tell the unvarnished story of this talented man.”
McQueen’s 2013 film “12 Years a Slave,” a historical drama adaptation of a slave’s memoir, earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Film, a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture in addition to an Academy Award for Best Picture, making him the first Black filmmaker to win the award.
Although he had a relatively brief career of about five years, Tupac is one of the most popular artists in history and considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, selling over 75 million records worldwide.
Watch Tupac’s iconic “Dear Mama” here:
Tupac’s music was heavy with themes dealing with gang violence, racism, police brutality, and poverty —all of which he encountered in his childhood growing up in an East Harlem neighborhood in New York City.
Watch Tupac’s “Only God Can Judge Me” here:
Tupac died on September 13, 1996, due to bullet wounds he suffered when he was shot a week earlier as he made his way from a boxing event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
