Tupac Shakur (Lasane Parish Cooks), son of Afeni (Alice Faye Williams), was born in Harlem. But he grew upto become an icon, hip-hop legend, activist, and consummate artist with a worldwide impact. He had a vision that fueled his purpose. And he immersed himself in the talents that would help him fulfill them. AsNPRnotes, “contradictions, complexities and all — he left behind something that has touched generations of people.”
Tupac Shakurdidn’t reach his level of success overnight. He was talented, but even more, he was a student of life. And he used those life experiences as inspiration for his work. His ability to thoroughly pour himself into his craft with abandon solidified him as a meteoric talent on stage and screen. On-screen, he proved himself as an authentic artist with incomparable skill. His most notable film credits includeJuice, Poetic Justice,andJason’s Lyric.And behind the mic, he showed himself as a master lyricist and modern philosopher. Some of his most outstanding hip-hop singles includeKeep Your Head Up,All Eyez on Me, andDear Mama.Dear Mamawas a 1995 selection fromMe Against the World, the third of Tupac’s studio albums.
Dear Mamawas written as a song dedicated to Afeni. It spoke of the adoration and appreciation Tupac had for his mother. It remains an immortal bouquet of the loveliest flowers nurtured through lyricism. Unfortunately, however, Tupac’s life was cut short. He only lived to see 25 preceding his mother in death. Afeni died in 2016 at the age of 69. But their legacies are alive. Here is everything we know aboutDear Mama.
Dear Mama: The Plot
Dear Mamais about the lives and legacies of Tupac and Afeni. FX touts it as a close, upfront, and personal account. This stems from the greater accessibility to exclusive materials, which will contribute to a more accurate narrative of depth. In an interview withDeadline, Hughes confirmed that the first episode sets the stage. After that, the series plunges to conceptual depth. Then, as Hughes further relays to Deadline, “It becomes a musical odyssey and gets into the psychology…” of what is undoubtedly Tupac’s art and what drove him.
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Dear Mamais a five-part series classified as a documentary but defined as a uniquely different offering from typical documentaries. According toFX Networks,“The deeply personal five-part series will defy the conventions of a traditional documentary. Instead, this series is created to be both an informational and educational feature and an experience of sight and sound. And ultimately, it is brought forth as a piece wherein many may discover who Tupac and Afeni were in body, spirit, and soul.”
Dear Mama:The Crew
Both Afeni and Tupac were massive contributors to their communities and the world. And famed director Allen Hughes has chosento honor their legacythrough a series entitledDear Mama.According to an interview withDeadline, Allen Hughes took on the project per the request of the Shakur family and estate. Initially, he had no desire to take on the work for a few reasons. But it blossomed into so much more than the fulfillment of a request. For Hughes, It fulfilled a personal desire. He began to look at the project as an exploration piece, a chance for him to discover the authentic Tupac. Deadline cites that “Hughes wanted to find the meaning in his [Tupac’s]journey.”
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As demonstrated in his earlier works,the true crime filmGood Fellas, the dramaMenace II Society, the action-adventureBook of Eli, and the miniseriesThe Defiant Ones, Allen Hughes showed an incredible gift for story-telling. Thus, it is not hard to see howDear Mamais a must-see, especially for fans of Tupac and Hughes' work.
Release Date
Dear Mamawill premiere on FX on April 21. Two episodes will be available upon release. Subsequent episodes will air every Friday after that at 10:00pm. The series will also be available for streaming on Hulu the day after release.
Everything Else We Know
Hughes’s initially intended to name the seriesOutlawbut later changed it to,Dear Mama.The new title resounded more with the story he wished to frame. This is also confirmed in the conversation Hughes has with Deadline. The documentary’s name, which now aligns with the late artists' song, is a loving tribute.
“When thinking about times we’re in, and what happened with the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v Wade and what it means for women’s rights and human right it’s all civil rights struggle. Afeni and Tupac’s journey together, the titleDear Mamameans to me what they stood for. I wanted the audience to see why this is a timely, eternal struggle where even when you get to the mountaintop, you have to stay vigilant to maintain the wins.”
So for those who want to know more about Tupac and Afeni and the legacies they built, don’t forget to tune in.
