What the world needs now is — another Tupac book?

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The book proposal was unusual. Jeff Pearlman, an experienced journalist and author, had built a successful career over almost three decades as a sportswriter, with seven books reaching the New York Times bestseller list. He was particularly known for his 2014 book, “Showtime,” which detailed the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers and was later turned into the Emmy-nominated HBO series, “Winning Time.”

When Marc Pearlman pitched a book idea in the summer of 2022 about the life, success, and untimely death of Tupac Shakur, his agent was surprised. Pearlman recalls his agent questioning, “You’re a white writer who usually covers sports – why this?”

Tupac Shakur’s biography, “Only God Can Judge Me,” is a departure for author Pearlman, who usually writes about sports figures. His previous books have covered the careers of athletes like the 1986 New York Mets, Roger Clemens, the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s, Walter Payton, Brett Favre, and Bo Jackson – a very different subject matter than the life of a hip-hop icon.

Tupac Shakur was a remarkably talented rapper, actor, and activist whose life was tragically cut short at age 25 in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. He powerfully voiced the concerns of his generation, yet also embodied the often-troubled world of gangster rap. While Tupac was celebrated for uplifting songs like “Keep Ya Head Up,” which championed women’s strength, he also faced serious legal issues, spending seven months in prison in 1995 after being convicted of sexual abuse in a 1993 case.

Tupac Shakur’s life was full of conflict and change, a stark contrast to the quiet, country upbringing of his biographer, Pearlman, in Mahopac, New York. Pearlman admits it’s unusual for him to be writing Tupac’s story, acknowledging he isn’t part of the hip-hop world. However, he found Tupac compelling, particularly enjoying the song ‘I Get Around’ from the album “Strictly For My…” and believed a comprehensive biography of the rapper hadn’t yet been written.

“Only God Can Judge Me” carefully explores the life of a young artist who, after his death, became a worldwide icon, achieving a similar level of fame as Bob Marley.

Jasmine Pearlman discovered a sensitive side to Tupac during his time at Baltimore School for the Arts (1986-1988). She found 150 previously unseen love letters he wrote to his girlfriend, Mary, a ballet dancer. Mary’s mother discovered the letters tucked away in Nebraska. Pearlman explains that the 15-year-old Tupac wrote poems filled with themes of love, desire, and heartache, and she understands why he attracted so many admirers.

Pearlman spoke with the first emergency responder at the scene of the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur at Quad Studios in Manhattan. This incident, remarkably, was another first for that responder, and it ultimately sparked the intense rivalry between Tupac and his former friend, Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace. Also, the story is true: Tupac did accidentally shoot himself in the groin.

Pearlman dismisses the many conspiracy theories surrounding Tupac Shakur’s death. He states that neither The Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, nor Suge Knight—the head of Death Row Records who signed Shakur after posting his $1.4 million bail—were involved in the murder, according to his findings.

Like so many others, I’ve seen that shocking video from the MGM Grand – it shows Tupac and his crew confronting Orlando Anderson, a guy connected to the Crips. It’s believed Anderson then sought revenge later that night, shooting Tupac while he was in a car. Now, authorities are saying Anderson’s uncle, Keefe D, was the one who orchestrated the whole thing. He’s finally going to trial in February, and honestly, I’m hoping this will finally give us some answers after all these years. This case has been a huge mystery for so long, and it feels like we might finally get some closure.

I spoke with James McDonald, known as ‘Mob James,’ who used to work with Death Row Records. He really seemed to be carrying a lot of pain, and he told me Tupac’s murder was a senseless mistake. He believed Tupac was incredibly talented but got caught up in the ‘Blood’ image that Suge Knight promoted, and that ultimately led to his death.

It’s fair to ask if the world really needs another book about Tupac Shakur. With over 40 books already written about the hip-hop icon – who’s sold around 125 million records and was becoming a promising actor after his breakout role as the intense Bishop in the 1992 film “Juice” – it’s a valid question.

While Pearlman was working on his book, “Only God Can Judge Me,” Tupac’s estate published another biography, “Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography” in 2024. Pearlman acknowledges he dove much deeper into his research than those who had written about Tupac before.

He explains that this Tupac book is unique because it involved interviewing a huge number of people – 650, in fact – and tracking them down across the country. He set out to create something truly comprehensive, and that’s what he achieved.

One of the most striking discoveries in the documentary “Only God Can Judge Me” is the now-adult child featured in Tupac Shakur’s early 1990s song “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” The song was based on a real story – a 1991 New York Daily News article about a 12-year-old girl from Brooklyn who was sexually assaulted by a relative, kept her pregnancy secret, and tragically abandoned her baby in a trash chute.

Ethan Pearlman had a lifelong love for the song. Growing up in 1989, he was unusual for a white student at Mahopac High—he was a hip-hop fan. He discovered a YouTube video where actor Omar Epps talked about the story that inspired Tupac to write the song, and Pearlman became determined to find the baby featured in that story for his book. He contacted genealogist Michele Soulli, who successfully tracked down Davonn Hodge, the now-grown adopted child, in Las Vegas. Surprisingly, Hodge had no idea he was connected to the famous song.

Let me tell you, Michele is a total powerhouse. But the story doesn’t stop there! She actually tracked down Davonn’s mom, Janene, and get this – Janene was in Las Vegas seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers! They connected, and honestly, just thinking about that reunion sends shivers down my spine. It’s a genuinely moving detail in an already incredible story.

Tupac’s memoir, “Only God Can Judge Me,” deeply explores his complex relationship with his mother, Afeni Shakur. A former Black Panther leader who passed away in 2016, Afeni struggled with drug addiction while the family lived in Marin City, California. The book recounts a pivotal moment before Tupac’s rap career took off, when he was offered the chance to lead a civil rights youth group in Atlanta. However, the $300 sent for his plane ticket disappeared – his mother had spent it on crack cocaine.

I anticipate some readers might question my approach, wondering why I’m focusing on the difficult parts of Afeni Shakur’s life. They might ask, ‘Who am I to do that?’ However, researching her story has actually given me a more heroic view of her. Seeing her struggles and how she overcame them is inspiring. Afeni lived a remarkable life, and I believe she deserves to be recognized in history books.

Pearlman hopes readers will understand the journey Tupac took and the hardships he faced. He sees Tupac as a deeply tragic figure – incredibly talented, but someone who died too young. He imagines the impact Tupac, if he were still alive today, could be making, speaking out on current issues like the ICE raids and enjoying life.

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2025-10-23 20:02