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Tupac Shakur was a magnetic individual. Through his music, his acting, his words, and his spirit, he touched the lives of millions. Even after his tragic death on September 13, 1996 in Las Vegas, his legacy still lives on. His life has been well documented through autobiographies, series specials, and especially books. Plenty of authors have documented his rise to fame and his illustrious hip-hop career. XXL has compiled a list of 14 books that you can get on Amazon right now. Along with each book is the description, take a look.

 

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The Rose that Grew from Concrete

by Tupac Shakur

"Tupac Shakur's most intimate and honest thoughts were uncovered only after his death with the instant classic The Rose That Grew from Concrete.
For the first time in paperback, this collection of deeply personal poetry is a mirror into the legendary artist's enigmatic world and its many contradictions. Written in his own hand from the time he was nineteen, these seventy-two poems embrace his spirit, his energy —and his ultimate message of hope."

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Tupac Shakur: The Life and Times of an American Icon

by Tayannah Lee McQuillar

"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."

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Tupac

by Jacob Hoye (Narrator) , Karolyn Ali (Narrator)

"A stunningly designed, richly illustrated companion to the Academy Award-nominated documentary film, Tupac: Resurrection brings unprecedented clarity and soulful intimacy to the life and work of the late Tupac Shakur.

In many ways the autobiography he never got to write, Tupac: Resurrection features the artist in his own words, letters, and poems. They are showcased here, along with dozens of never-before-seen photographs, lyrics, screenplay ideas, and other personal effects. Capturing as never before the unrivaled passion and intense candor that made him one of America's bestselling solo recording artists of all time, Tupac: Resurrection stands as an indelible testament to Tupac's astonishing cultural legacy."

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Tupac Shakur Legacy

by Jamal Joseph

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Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations by the Detective Who Solved Both Cases

by Greg Kading

"Two of the most notorious unsolved cases in the annals of American crime, the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls have been the subject of exhaustive investigations, relentless speculation and a tangled web of rampant rumors, crackpot conspiracies and dark secrets. Now, for the first time, the truth behind these sensational cases is laid bare in Murder Rap, a raw and riveting account of how a dedicated and driven police detective spearheaded the task force that finally exposed the shocking facts behind the deaths of these two rap music icons. Told by Greg Kading, a much-decorated LAPD detective assigned to solve the homicides, Murder Rap unravels a twisted tale of music, money, and murder, finally answering the question of who killed Biggie and Tupac and why. With access to never-before-seen material, including the confessions of those directly involved in the killings, Kading’s spellbinding saga takes readers directly inside the four-year cold case investigation, introduces a cast of unforgettable characters and provides compelling new evidence for its explosive conclusions. A torn-from-the-headlines true crime blockbuster, the scathing revelations of Murder Rap are sure to make headlines all their own."

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Holler If You Hear Me

by Michael Eric Dyson

"With a new preface by the author. Ten years after his murder, Tupac Shakur is even more loved, contested, and celebrated than he was in life. His posthumously released albums, poetry, and motion pictures have catapulted him into the upper echelon of American cultural icons. In Holler If You Hear Me, “hip-hop intellectual” Michael Eric Dyson, acclaimed author of the bestselling Is Bill Cosby Right?, offers a wholly original way of looking at Tupac that will thrill those who already love the artist and enlighten those who want to understand him."

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Thru My Eyes: Thoughts on Tupac Amaru Shakur in Pictures and Words

by Gobi

"Nine years after his death, Tupac Shakur's allure is stronger than ever. With more than a quarter of a million copies of his poetry book sold to date; countless Internet sites; the Tupac Amaru Centre in Georgia, USA; university courses dedicated to his poetry and new hit recordings, it's clear that interest in this complex and fascinating artist is still growing. "Thru My Eyes" is a collection of fifty photographs of Tupac, many never seen before by the public. Gathered from the last year of Tupac's life (1995-1996), these are revealing and poignant images that show him pulling away from the dark forces that influenced his life and developing into a mature artist. With text written by Gobi, Tupac's former music video director/producer, business partner and friend, "Thru My Eyes" provides an in-depth look at a frequently misunderstood performer and also reveals the lighter more playful side of Tupac. There are photographs presenting him as a lover of life and sex symbol; photographs of Tupac in frivolous mood, dressed as Rick James; photographs of him playing joyfully with his kids. And of course there are images depicting Tupac working at his crafts - acting and rapping - imbuing every task with the dedication and determination that defined his life."

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The Killing of Tupac Shakur

by Cathy Scott

"Who did it and why? Poet, movie star, revolutionary -- Tupac Amaru Shakur was the most popular rapper in the world. No one symbolized the violence at the heart of gangsta rap more than Tupac, and he ultimately fell victim to that violence, gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas at the age of 25. This raw, no-holds-barred account discloses new information, including exclusive photo evidence, about the unsolved murder of Tupac: the failed investigation, the rap wars, the killing of Biggie Smalls, the Bloods-Crips connection, and the many possible motives leading to the murder that rocked the music world."

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How Long Will They Mourn Me?: The Life and Legacy of Tupac Shakur

by Candace Sandy, Dawn Marie Daniels

"“Buried as a g while tha whole world remembers me”

–Tupac Shakur, from “Until the End of Time”

Tupac Shakur was larger than life. A gifted rapper, actor, and poet, he was fearless, prolific, and controversial–and often said that he never expected to live past the age of thirty. He was right. On September 13, 1996, he died of gunshot wounds at age twenty-five. But even ten years after Tupac’s tragic passing, the impact of his life and talent continues to flourish. Lauded as one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, Tupac has sold more than sixty-seven million records worldwide, making him the top-selling rapper ever.

How Long Will They Mourn Me? celebrates Tupac’s unforgettable life–his rise to fame; his tumultuous dark side marked by sex, drugs, and violence; and the indelible legacy he left behind. Although Tupac’s murder remains unsolved, the spirit of this legendary artist is far from forgotten. How long will we mourn him? Fans worldwide will grieve his untimely death for a long time to come."

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The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders: U.S. Intelligence's Murderous Targeting of Tupac, MLK, Malcolm, Panthers, Hendrix, Marley, Rappers and Linked Ethnic Leftists

by John Potash (Author) , Fred Hampton Jr. (Afterword) , Pam Africa with Mumia Abu-Jamal (Foreword)

"The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders contains a wealth of names, dates and events detailing the use of COINTELPRO style tactics by the FBI against a generation of leftist political leaders and leftist musicians. Based on 12 years of research and includes over 1,000 endnotes. Sources include over 100 interviews, FOIA-released CIA and FBI documents, court transcripts, and many mainstream media outlets. Book is 192 pages of main text, 100 pages of endnotes, 8 pages of photos (incl. government/court documents) and some more pages of preface, foreword, afterword, and bios."

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Tupac Shakur - The FBI Files

by Federal Bureau of Investigations

"Tupac Shakur - The FBI Files is a high quality publication of the official records and files of the Federal Buereau of Investigations related to Tupac Shakur. Tupac Amaru Shakur (1971-1996) was an American rap music artist. This release consists of a 1997 investigation into allegations that extortionate death threats had been made against Shakur and another rap artist by a domestic terrorist group."

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Tupac Shakur (Just the Facts Biographies)

by Carrie Golus

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Tupac: A Thug Life

by Kris Ex (Foreword)

"Tupac Shakur’s tragic, untimely death transformed him from notorious gangsta rapper to 20th century icon. Crucial to his cross-cultural appeal is the mass of contradictions that defined his complex personality: the macho rapper who glorified the “thug life”; the erudite and sensitive young man who hoped for a political and spiritual awakening among his peers; the sexually insatiable star who served a prison term for the abuse of a female fan; the prison-born son of a Black Panther who recorded a moving tribute to all women. Divided into five sections, this extensively illustrated book explores Tupac’s troubled childhood in Oakland and his relationship with his mother; his recording career and growing fame; his burgeoning film career, including reviews from all of his major film appearances and a rare selection of stills; his still-unsolved 1996 murder and the welter of conspiracy theories that emerged in the aftermath; and the ever-growing Cult of Tupac: his legacy, posthumous releases, and enduring influence on the rap soundscape."

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Back In The Day: My Life And Times With Tupac Shakur

by Darrin Keith Bastfield

"A legend after a bullet killed him at the age of twenty-five, Tupac Shakur was the most riveting rap musician of his day. Far from being the insolent "gangsta" the press put forth, Shakur was fiercely intelligent, fearless, and determined to make a mark. Darrin Bastfield grew up with him in a rough Baltimore neighborhood. In this vivid memoir, Bastfield reveals Tupac Shakur as the teenager he really was: bound for greatness.In tight, edgy prose, Bastfield recalls seven years of friendship. Shakur, new in town, a skinny thirteen-year-old in shabby clothes, may have looked uncool, but he blew the school away at a talent show, an electrifying performance. It was at the Baltimore School for the Arts, however, where things really started to happen-an encounter with Salt-N-Pepa, the wild night of the 1988 senior prom. Shakur and Bastfield lived through it together, and in this memoir, it all comes alive again."

 

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