Hip-hop journalist and political activist Kevin Powell has signed a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster to release a biography on Tupac Shakur.

The book, aptly titled Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography, has already received the OK from Pac's mother, Afeni Shakur.

“Kevin Powell is doing this Tupac Shakur biography with my full blessings," she said in a statement. "I trust him and his history of documenting my son’s life, and I know he will do the book from his heart.”

When talking about his interest in the project, Powell said, “It is an honor to write what will be the definitive biography on the life and times of Tupac Shakur, one of the greatest icons in hip-hop and pop culture history.”

At press time there was no date on the book’s release.

This isn't the only Shakur related project in the works. A documentary film entitled, Uncensored and Uncut: The Lost Prison Tapes, surrounding the fallen rapper's life in prison is set for release on January 26, 2011 and director Antoine Fuqua is working on a biopic about the legendary artist's last day alive. —Amber McKynzie

More From XXL