Changes: An Oral History of Tupac Shakur. Sheldon Pearce. 2021. Simon & Schuster. 288 pages. [Source: Public library.]
How does one approach writing about Tupac Shakur more than 25 years after his death? He’s one of the most well-known hip-hop artists of all time, and is among the most controversial artists, period. Tupac has been the subject of films (documentary and biopic), books, countless articles, and even academic courses. What else is there to possibly bring to the conversation? That’s where Changes: An Oral History of Tupac Shakur comes in.
Changes is not simply another take on Tupac’s life and legacy from someone waxing philosophically about his career and controversies. As Pearce acknowledges, the book seeks to “probe the collective memory” and serve as an “examination of influence.” As such, there’s little in the way of Pearce interpreting and translating the words of people interviewed for the book. Instead, the first-hand accounts of the “chorus” are presented largely as-is, pieced together to present a chronology of Shakur’s life. This group is wide-reaching and intentionally centers voices that have not often been the most sought-after; included are former teachers, business associates, family friends, medical personnel, journalists, and contemporary artists whose insight and reflections form the basis of the book.
The relationships Tupac had with the “chorus” range from people he hadn’t seen in over a decade to those with whom he had closer professional or personal relationships toward the end of his life. As a result, the reader gains a more nuanced image of how he was impacted by well-known events, such as his rape trial and subsequent incarceration, shooting at Quad studios, career on Death Row records, and contention with Bad Boy Records. The accounts vary, and don’t always showcase Tupac in a glowing light. Often, they disclose actions that seemingly confirm the stereotypical “thug” persona he’s often faulted for. But in others, they show a deeply emotional and reflective man with an artistic talent across arts that several argued would have been legendary. Where the press may have painted him as an increasingly hostile or reckless rapper, the Tupac as revealed in private moments was thoughtful, forward-thinking, and generous to a fault. The stories portray Tupac as a complicated and sometimes hypocritical individual, but also as one who was coming into his own artistically and politically, regardless of how apparent it was to the greater public. No matter the impressions one takes away from these accounts, it’s impossible not to gain a deeper understanding of Tupac’s complexity.
A particular aspect of the structure that aids in the storytelling is Pearce’s incorporation of the history of Túpac Amaru II, the late rapper’s namesake. It’s well-known that Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur was a Black Panther; he spoke of this in interviews and his music. However, the significance of his given (not legal) name is lesser known. Amaru was an indigenous Peruvian who led revolts against the Spanish. The revolutionary spirit of Amaru is evident in Shakur. Pearce’s choice to use Amaru’s life to illustrate points along Shakur’s journey demonstrates the similarities among the two, connections not frequently made elsewhere, if at all. The parallels between the two are striking, particularly the near hero-like worship the two maintain after their violent deaths.
Changes isn’t the book to pick up if you’re trying to get the overarching story of Tupac’s life. That’s been done and can be found elsewhere. Instead, Changes is a closer look at the man Tupac was, behind closed doors or out of the camera’s lens. The chorus provides insightful revelations about his upbringing and reaction to his life events, with perspectives that aren’t often highlighted in other sources. The interviews paint a picture of a complicated young man — mere years out of his childhood — who was trying to figure it out but was killed before he had the chance to. It accomplishes what it sets out to do, which is enter into the record
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