Many unauthorized video titles have been released about the life of rap superstar Tupac Shakur. Tupac: Resurrection is the only one to be both executive produced by his mother, former Black Panther Afeni Shakur, and benefit from access to the MTV archives. The documentary is the feature-length debut for director Lauren Lazin, who has created several highly rated programs for both MTV and PBS.

Using voice-overs, interviews, and other vocal tracks recorded by the late artist himself, the film explores his life, music, and death from fatal gunshot wounds in 1996. Includes rare footage, home movies, private photographs, and excerpts from his personal poetry, journals, and letters.

During the making of the film, MTV reached out to his fan base by requesting submissions of Tupac memorabilia to be used in the film. C’mon America 2003 features 13 live performances from eight-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow. The set includes more than two hours of footage, including the No. 1 hit “All I Wanna Do” and the Top 10 hits “Everyday Is a Winding Road,” “Leaving Las Vegas,” and “If It Makes You Happy”. (Barnes & Noble)

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Title aside, we’ll never see the likes of Tupac Shakur again. The late rap superstar was a complex, contradictory figure and, throughout the course of this riveting documentary, it’s as if he’s back in our world again. Produced by his mother, former Black Panther Afeni Shakur, Tupac Resurrection isn’t so much “biased” as it’s subjective.

In the MTV film, accompanied by a book and soundtrack, director Lauren Lazin looks at Tupac’s short, full life from beginning to end and doesn’t avoid the dark times–the arrests, the shootings–but she does tend to emphasize the positive over the negative. More to the point, the narration comes from Tupac himself, smoothly edited from countless interviews, so we’re constantly getting his take on events.

He’s more thoughtful and articulate than his detractors might expect (despite the profanity), but the contradictions remain, making this essential viewing for even the most casual of fans. Courtesy of old audio interviews and soundbytes, Tupac tells the story of his life in a way that few others could. From his birth as the son of a Black Panther to his final days in Vegas, Pac goes into detail on it all.

Though commentary on his fatal shooting is clearly actually that of his first shooting at a New York recording studio, there are still some very eerie moments here. He talks about his days on Death Row Records in the past tense even though he was there until the day he died, he predicts his own downfall many times, and speaks candidly on a number of subjects that will really surprise you. (Amazon)