- Film And TV
- 07 Aug 19
Commissioned by FX channel, Outlaw will revolve around the legendary rapper and his mother Afeni Shakur's involvement with the Black Panthers Party.
The five-part docu-series will be directed by Allen Hughes, who has a special connection to the hip-hop world and Tupac, since he directed music videos for him as well as NWA.
Hughes also directed the acclaimed 2017 HBO docuseries The Defiant Ones on Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, as well as classic hip-hop films Menace II Society and Dead Presidents.
Outlaw: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur will tell the story of “the most inspiring and dangerous mother-son duo in American history, whose unified message of freedom, equality, persecution and justice are more relevant today than ever," says a press release.
It is part of a second FX documentary series about hip-hop, this time around focusing on behind-the-scenes power brokers figures.
Afeni Shakur first served as a member of the Black Phanters in 1968 when she joined its Bronx chapter. Her passionate activism and love for her community combined with her persistent energy made her become one of the highest-ranking members of the party, who was highly respected.
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In 1971, she gave birth to Tupac after she was acquitted on charges that she was part of a Black Panther plot to bomb public spaces in New-York city.
Her fierce activism was always a great source of inspiration for her son and countless others. Over time, she grew to be considered the mother of the hip-hop generation which emerged in the Nineties as a form of rebellion.
In 1996, Tupac was killed by a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. His mother remained a very involved activist for many years and later became an acclaimed author.
When she passed in 2016 from a heart attack, she was widely praised for the legacy she left behind. The Black Panther party had released a statement to celebrate all the actions she formerly took part in when she was at its forefront: "We Love you dear sister Afeni. Long live your revolutionary spirit! All Power To The People!"
This docu-series is a must-watch to all those willing to discover more about her activism and how she influenced her son as well as the whole hip-hop community.
This comes after late Tupac made headlines again recently, when his prison ID card broke world record after it was sold at auction for $30,000.
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Both the late rapper and his mother made an indelible mark in this world and their memory certainely lives through.