All Eyez On Me

All Eyez On Me is the first feature length biopic made about 90s hip-hop icon Tupac “2pac” Shakur. Tupac’s life was tragically cut short when he was murdered at the age of 25 in a drive by shooting whilst visiting Las Vegas in 1996. Tupac’s murder is unsolved to this day as the film reveals in the end credits, however this is not a film about his murder but a story about the life of a very charismatic figure who achieved so much in a short period of time.

All Eyez On Me reveals Tupac’s upbringing in New York, growing up with his Black Panther mother Afeni Shakur, then moving to Los Angeles where he became the biggest hip-hop artist of his generation and the trails and tribulations that came with his success. The film also looks at his 18 month prison sentence for alleged rape and then being bailed out for three million dollars by the infamous Suge Knight in exchange for signing to his Death Row Records label. Tupac’s relationship with Notorious B.I.G is also explored and reveals how their feud became hostile towards the end of Tupac’s life.

Actor Demetrius Shipp Jr. plays Tupac to perfection right down to the rappers looks and mannerism and director Benny Boom dramatises Tupac’s life to great effect. It’s more apparent than ever that the 90s hip-hop era is being re-introduced to a new generation of hip-hop fans especially in screen culture exemplified by the success of the 2015 N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.

All Eyez On Me is a must see for any Tupac fans or anyone who loves music biopics.

★★★★

Reviewed by Daniel Jaramillo.