Tupac Amaru Shakur is widely regarded as one of the best rappers of all time, and one of the most influential artists in modern music history. His lasting impact on hip-hop was further cemented this past December, when it was announced that Pac would join the pantheon of other greats in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s easy to see why these accolades are warranted when you take a moment to understand how the man has transformed his genre into a dominant cultural force. Despite having been tragically slain more than twenty years ago, the emcee’s legacy continues to maintain a constant relevancy which has spurred numerous critiques, conspiracy theories, and even a fricken hologram at Coachella in 2012.
With all of this in mind, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to hear that a Tupac biopic will soon release in theatres worldwide. Directed by relative newcomer, Benny Bloom, the film will star The Walking Dead‘s Danai Gurira and Laura Cohen, Vampire Diaries‘ Kat Graham, and Demetrius Shipp Jr. in the titular role. This will be the first major part for Shipp Jr., who himself is fairly new to the movie game. One thing audience’s simply cannot deny, however, is the actor’s striking resemblance to Makaveli.
The film is aptly titled, All Eyez on Me, and is set to hit screens on June 16. Producers are likely hoping that the flick will be as successful as recent hip-hop biopic, 2015’s Straight Outta Compton. The aforementioned movie was both a surprise critical darling and box-office juggernaut. Fans will have to wait and judge All Eyez on Me when it drops later this summer, but the footage we’ve seen is giving us hope that it’ll be a must-watch.
You can stream the trailer for All Eyez on Me below, via YouTube.
