Chance the Rapper has been doing some TV watching. The FX docu-series Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur was on his watchlist.
As a fan of the series, Chano hit Twitter looking for opinions.
“Did y’all watch the Tupac & Afeni Shakur documentary series yet?” Chance wrote. “What’s y’all honest thoughts? Cause I would say without exaggeration or hyperbole it’s probably the best documentary I’ve ever seen.”
Did y’all watch the Tupac & Afeni Shakur documentary series yet? What’s y’all honest thoughts? Cause I would say without exaggeration or hyperbole it’s probably the best documentary I’ve ever seen.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) May 27, 2023
Fans responded with praise for the series.
It’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen and I’ve been trying to find the words to describe how much it impacted me as a black person and a filmmaker. 11/10 doesn’t even do it justice. https://t.co/JeDmb8j0Zj
Dear Mama became the most-watched premiere for an unscripted series in FX network history.
The Five-part series directed by Allen Hughes made its debut on April 21 and was available to stream the next day, leading to the combined performance. The show highlights a lesson that Tupac’s late mother shared with him at an early age.
“It was my responsibility to teach Tupac how to survive his reality,” Afeni Shakur said in the trailer. “So, Tupac do something wrong, take your little sorry self in that corner, get the New York Times and let’s have a debate about it. Not a discussion, a debate. Let me hear what your idea is, stand up, defend it.”
The series is an intimate wide-angle portrait of the most inspiring and dangerous mother-son duo in American history, whose unified message of freedom, equality, persecution, and justice is more relevant today than ever.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”
Dear Mama is the story of Tupac Shakur and his mother, Afeni. Not only does it explore their relationship, but their separate histories. That includes Tupac’s rise in the west coast rap scene and Afeni’s vibrant history as a Black Panther. It’s a deep, intimate, and heartfelt look at a pair whose lives have often been publicized but rarely explored. Tupac died in 1996 while his mother passed away in 2016.
The series, premiering on FX and Hulu, was directed by Allen Hughes. Hughes, along with his brother, is best known for films such as Menace II Society and The Book Of Eli. On his own, he has created Broken City and The Defiant Ones. Dear Mama broke records at FX upon its premiere. Nearly 300,000 people watched the show when it first dropped on FX. It made the biggest premiere for an unscripted FX show. Now it has joined another exclusive club.
Based on six reviews, Dear Mama currently holds a perfect 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, it holds a 96% audience rating. The reviews, obviously, have been overwhelmingly positive. TIME‘s Judy Berman said it was “One of the most thorough, sensitive portraits I’ve seen of an artist who has by now been eulogized for longer than he was alive—and of the remarkable woman who created him.” Johnny Loftus of Decider added to the praise, “Dear Mama feels like the Tupac Shakur documentary of record as it connects the rapper’s enduring legacy to the philosophies at work in his upbringing and presents its story in a challenging, rewarding nonlinear fashion.”
Meanwhile, Variety’s Joshua Alston praised it for “Beyond its intimate and nuanced portrayal of their relationship, “Dear Mama” miniaturizes a huge swath of Black life without diluting it.” While not a perfect score, Nick Allen from RogerEbert.com had strongly positive comments about the series. “Ambition can be a messy act of passion, and throughout an eye-opening and sometimes disorienting five hours, we come to share Hughes’ intricate admiration for the Shakurs and their impact across movements and generations.”
FX has another hit on its hands as the new show, Dear Mama, has become the most-watched premiere for an unscripted series in network history.
The Five-part series directed by Allen Hughes made its debut on April 21 and was available to stream the next day, leading to the combined performance. The show highlights a lesson that Tupac’s late mother shared with him at an early age.
“It was my responsibility to teach Tupac how to survive his reality,” Afeni Shakur said in the trailer. “So, Tupac do something wrong, take your little sorry self in that corner, get the New York Times and let’s have a debate about it. Not a discussion, a debate. Let me hear what your idea is, stand up, defend it.”
The series is an intimate wide-angle portrait of the most inspiring and dangerous mother-son duo in American history, whose unified message of freedom, equality, persecution, and justice is more relevant today than ever.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”
Tupac & Afeni Shakur’s Dear Mama documentary recently premiered, and it has fans buzzing. It has been nearly 27 years since the unsolved murder of Tupac Shakur, and the mythology has continued since. This Allen Hughes docuseries sheds light on the history and background of the infamous West Coast legend. Hughes is best known for his scripted films, such as Menace II Society and DeadPresidents, which offered insightful depictions of Black men. His introduction into documentary filmmaking with his twin brother Albert, American Pimp, did not live up to expectations.
However, since pursuing solo projects, Allen has found his stride with The Defiant Ones, a Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated docuseries chronicling the successful partnership between Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Allen Hughes’s impressive documentary work has solidified his status as one of his generation’s most innovative and skilled filmmakers.
Hughes returns with his latest project, Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur, a five-hour docuseries that examines the role of Black activism in Shakur’s life and its blend into his music. In this ambitious series, Hughes parallels the lives of Tupac and his mother, Afeni, an outspoken leader in the Black Panther Party. Hughes delivers a complete account of the rapper by interweaving his story with his mother’s. Dear Mama offers real insights into the impact of the Shakur family across movements and generations. The series constructs an experience that offers an intimate and nuanced portrayal of their relationship. With Dear Mama, Hughes again proves his gifted and imaginative approach to documentary filmmaking.
At 17 years old, Tupac faced many challenges, including poverty and familial struggles. He pursued his dream of using poetry and music to spread his mother’s message of social activism. At the same time, Afeni, a well-known Black Panther activist, was haunted by her past. She worried about how it might impact Tupac’s promising future. Despite his difficulties, Tupac remained committed to his goals and continued using his art to advocate for vital issues.
The first episode of Dear Mama, “Panther Power,” starts with the impactful story behind one of Tupac’s most beloved songs. The rapper’s activism and revolutionary spirit, inspired by his mother’s involvement with the Panthers, drove him to intervene during a violent incident. He witnessed two white men harassing a Black motorist in Atlanta in 1993 on Halloween night.
Despite the victim attempting to calm the situation, one of the men hit the motorist and pointed a gun. Tupac witnessed the event, grabbed his weapon, and shot both assailants. It was later learned that the attackers were off-duty police officers. As law enforcement surrounded the hotel where Tupac and his friends stayed, he attempted to comfort the tense room by playing a song he had just recorded: “Dear Mama.” The song showcases Tupac’s musical talent and deep love and appreciation for his mother. Although the show portrays the shooting incident as legendary, it also exposes Tupac’s troubled past and struggles as a young Black man.
The first episode concludes just as powerfully as it began with the jaywalking arrest of Tupac. Following his arrest and beating for jaywalking, Shakur filed a well-known lawsuit against the Oakland Police. He sought $10 million in damages. The film emphasizes the poignant and heartwarming realization that even though he was enraged by the incident, he longed for his mother’s counsel.
Unfortunately, she was undergoing treatment in rehab at the time. Regarding sensitive subjects like violence, it can be tricky to strike the right tone. That’s undoubtedly a challenge Hughes faces when analyzing the tumultuous life of Tupac. While glorifying some of the more violent moments in his past may not sit well with some viewers, it’s a reminder that Tupac’s life teemed with complexities and contradictions. It’s up to the viewer to grapple with that truth. By taking on this complicated subject matter, DearMama forces viewers to confront the darker side of Tupac’s legacy, even as it celebrates his enduring impact on popular culture.
The premiere episode, which debuted on April 21, is now FX’s most-watched unscripted series premiere in the network’s history. The Dear Mama Hulu release date also performed exceptionally well.
Afeni’s story is captivating, from her leadership in the Black Panther Party to her imprisonment while pregnant with Tupac. She also battled addiction and financial struggles that contributed to her family’s constant displacement. What sets Dear Mama apart is its unconventional, non-linear narrative approach that weaves events from Afeni’s and Tupac’s lives. Through interviews with former Black Panther colleagues and family members, the film offers valuable insights into how Afeni’s influence helped shape her son’s myth-building approach to storytelling.
Despite her flaws, Afeni was a fierce advocate for justice and equality. She played a significant role in the movements of the late 20th century. The story of Afeni Shakur is one of courage and resilience. Her influence on her son Tupac’s life is undeniable.
The documentary takes a profoundly personal approach. It features a diverse cast of individuals who share their stories about the mother and son. From Tupac’s peers and cousins to his former collaborators at Death Row Records, the film provides a multifaceted perspective on the complex and enigmatic figures. Ultimately, the purpose behind Hughes’s documentary is the argument about Tupac’s constant drive. Additionally, it sheds light on Pac’s desire to protect people who are wronged, no matter the personal cost. The next Dear Mama Hulu release date for new episodes is April 28th.
Tupac’s aunt and Afeni’s sister, Glo, summarizes this mission by stating in the documentary, “Where did Tupac get the myth-building from? Afeni. And ‘Feni wanted the story told. Correctly. That means blemishes and all, so people can understand that whole thing of what makes a human being.”
Fans have long awaited Dear Mama, a documentary series about the relationship between Tupac Shakur and his mother Afeni. Directed by Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, Book Of Eli), the five-part mini-series is set to provide an intimate look into one of the most important relationships in the late rapper’s life. Additionally, it chronicles their respective histories, such as Afeni’s time as a Black Panther.
The first two episodes of the series premiered on FX and Hulu on April 21. The series was also released on Disney+ in international markets. The series currently holds a 100% critics rating and a 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, industry legends helped create the series. They include Lasse Järvi, Quincy Delight Jones III (QD3), Staci Robinson, Nelson George, Charles King, Peter Nelson, Adel “Future” Nur, Jamal Joseph and Ted Skillman.
Prior to Dear Mama‘s release, the most-watched premiere on FX and Hulu for an unscripted series was Welcome To Wrexham. That documentary follows the journey of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in buying the English soccer club Wrexham AFC. That series debuted in August 2022 and is preparing to release a second season later this year. While Dear Mama trailed Welcome To Wrexham initially, it surpassed the record when streaming figures were factored in. The record set by Welcome To Wrexham was 271,000. However, nearly 200,000 people alone watched the live FX premiere of Dear Mama, which gave it a strong footing.
Furthermore, FX were overjoyed by the new record. Their feelings were expressed by entertainment division president Nick Grad. “It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes’ definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy. Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.” However, what do you think of Dear Mama? Did you help it break the record? Be sure to make HotNewHipHop your first stop for entertainment news.
Chuck D says that 2Pac once beat up a man who tried to steal equipment backstage at a show. The legendary Public Enemy rapper recalled the moment of loyalty during a recent interview with Sway In The Morning. He says that the incident went down while they were on tour in Oklahoma City.
“‘Pac — little brother. Brought him on tour along with, rest in peace, Shock G,” Chuck D began, as noted by HipHopDX. “‘Pac is carrying bags, hoping he can get a verse on the stage as a rookie. [And] Queen Latifah introduces me to her rookies. She says, ‘Chuck, meet Young Treacherous.’ And we’re in Lafayette, Louisiana, I’m lookin’ at both of them, and I’m like, ‘okay.’ It’s 1990. These two cats — Treach, and ‘Pac, okay? … I felt so good for them.”
NEW YORK – JULY 23: (L-R) Rappers Chuck D and Tupac Shakur pose for a portrait at Club Amazon on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
He continued: “Quick story about ‘Pac: we were in Oklahoma City one time, and somebody went and stole stuff out of the backstage. I think they stole some equipment — a hat, whatever — and they found the dude. And they said, ‘Is this the dude?’ And ‘Pac said, somebody told him that was the dude. And ‘Pac went upside this dude’s head. I said, ‘Yo, ‘Pac, it’s not that deep man. But ‘Pac wanted to prove, ‘Listen, I’m ridin’ for y’all!’ Well, ‘Pac, we don’t want you to get arrested in OKC, man, it’s alright.”
The story comes after the premiere of FX’s Dear Mama docu-series. The first two episodes of the show dropped on Friday, April 21. It focuses on 2Pac’s relationship with his mother, Afeni Shakur, who was a political activist and member of the Black Panther Party. She also founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and also served as the CEO of Amaru Entertainment, Inc. in the wake of her son’s death. Episodes of Dear Mama are available to stream on Hulu.
Chuck D Reflects On 2Pac’s Loyalty
2Pac once beat up studio thief out of loyalty to Public Enemy, says Chuck Dhttps://t.co/52WCdDsvQr
2Pac spoke about wanting to distance himself from music and focus on his acting career prior to his death, according to a resurfaced interview with Entertainment Tonight. The outlet shared the rare discussion on Sunday, following the premiere of FX’s Dear Mama docuseries. The show explores the relationship between the legendary rapper and his mother, Afeni Shakur.
For the original interview, 2Pac sat down with the outlet to discuss his role in Gridlock’d. In the film, he stars alongside Tim Roth, Lucy Liu, and Thandie Newton. It was released four months after he was murdered. “To have change in my image, really, number one,” he said when asked what attracted him to the role. “This movie is really about friendship and what unconditional friendship means. I did it basically because it was funny and I’ve never really got to be funny.”
2Pac In “Gridlock’d”
Tupac Shakur in a scene from the film ‘Gridlock’d’, 1997. (Photo by Gramercy Pictures/Getty Images)
From there, he discussed wanting to star in a rom-com and launching a movie production company. “We got a lot of good things happening,” he said. “If I say it right now, the way my luck has been going, it’ll all fall through … Just give me a month so I can lock it down before I tell everybody. I just want to push the envelope and work, work, work. I want to move further away from the music and start wading myself into the acting more.”
The legendary rapper also discussed how fame and wealth made him feel like a “kid in a candy store” with all the opportunities he had. “[I] got cash, everything you dreamed of, and they’ve held me back in so many other circumstances that now it’s time to go and it’s kind of hard to keep [myself] from just pressing the gas down all the way,” he explained. “[It’s hard] just taking my time and thinking and analyzing situations and trying to think before I do things… But my whole mind state is that if we don’t ever go outside of the boundaries, we will never change anything… We’ll just keep talking about the people who did it once and told us not to go outside the thing… They’re telling me, ‘You can’t do this. You can only rap and if you rap, you can only rap about this. Then, you can’t act. And if you act, you can only do the Black films and you can’t be a rapper…’ I don’t like that. So I try to go outside the boundaries.”
As for music, 2Pac explained that his album, All Eyez On Me, was fueled by “emotions,” and that he wanted to start releasing music that he found to be more “thought-provoking.” He also spoke about being a Gemini and learning from his past mistakes. Check out the full interview below.
Rapper Ray Luv recently reflected on his early friendship with Tupac Shakur on the “Dear Mama” docuseries from FX and Hulu. Moreover, Luv spoke to their dire economic straits and having to turn to the streets and sell drugs to make a buck. However, on the very first episode of the show, Ray said that he and Pac were not successful at all in that enterprise. Unsurprisingly, he spoke of how the California legend’s character and perspective wasn’t very conducive to the often cold and exploitative drug business. Still, they tried to make some money for themselves, but fortunately found other paths to success.
“We sucked at selling crack,” Ray Luv revealed on the deep dive into Tupac Shakur’s personal life. “We were the worst crack dealers in the history of crack dealers. He sold crack for like five days. I think I sold crack for seven, mostly because I couldn’t sell my crack which is weird. We knew very quickly that that was not going to be our way out. Because capitalism requires that your empathy level is relatively low. And his empathy level was a little higher than most people. He didn’t believe in hurting or killing Black people. So if a person is smoking crack with their daughter or their son, he’s not gonna recover from that.”
Tupac “Sucked At Selling Crack,” Ray Luv Reveals
MILWAUKEE – SEPTEMBER 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs at the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Of course, Tupac’s character and righteous mindset and mentality is as integral to his legacy as his music in many’s eyes. So much so, in fact, that when a Trump crony compared the former president to the late rapper, Shakur’s sister had to set the record straight. “My brother was measured by his integrity, his principles and personal and collective responsibility,” she expressed. In addition, she called such claims “blasphemous” and said that Tupac actually accepted accountability for his wrongdoing, which Trump has never done.
Regardless of undue comparisons, “Dear Mama” provides previously unreleased footage detailing the “All Eyez On Me” MC’s relationship with his mother. In addition, it covers more personal aspects of his life. “For Tupac superfans, I believe that two of the most important things in the project is the never seen before [footage],” director Allen Hughes remarked. “But most importantly, you get to understand why he made certain decisions.” Check out a trailer for it here, find the released series on FX or Hulu, and return to HNHH for the latest on Tupac Shakur.
2Pac‘s former manager, Leila Steinberg, praised the upcoming docuseries, Dear Mama, for its “honesty.” Steinberg spoke about the highly-anticipated series during an interview with SiriusXM’s The Last Mile Radio.
“Well, I wanted to say something about Dear Mama. Last year, [director] Allen Hughes reached out to me and said he was doing the five-part series on FX that’s coming out…April 21st…. Part of [Alan] wanting to really do this piece was about healing, was about honesty, was about all of us looking at what happened. And, so I’m just saying this to say, he’s done an incredible piece,” she said.
2Pac Performing In Chicago
CHICAGO – MARCH 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
While Steinburg admitted 2Pac’s behavior could be erratic, she also blamed the music industry for his downfall. “Tupac was not always right. Matter of fact, he was so passionate and so emotional and so often not emotionally literate, not able to control his emotions. And so he let his anger speak first and then later he would apologize or acknowledge things,” she said.
Steinburg continued: “I have to sit here as someone who was close to Tupac until his death, who was present many times when I no longer worked with him in a managerial capacity. I was at lots of video shoots that he did. I was in the studio at Can-Am when he was with Suge [Knight]. And this industry is so destructive, that if I point the finger, I would say that executives and this industry had more to do with his collapse than anything.”
Dear Mama will premiere on FX on April 21, with the first two of five episodes being released at the same time. The rest of the series will air on the following three Fridays. Hulu will also host the episodes one day after they air on FX. For the documentary, director Allen Hughes has said that he and his team focused on finding unreleased audio and video content of Afeni Shakur and her son. Check out a trailer for the project below.
Dear Mama, the docuseries about Tupac and Afeni Shakur, just got an emotive and impactful new full-length trailer. Moreover, the FX outing will focus on the legendary rapper’s relationship with his mother, who was a Black Panther and shaped him profoundly. On Wednesday (March 22), a two-minute clip premiered ahead of its April 21 debut on FX. Not only that, but the premiere will consist of two of its five episodes, with the rest coming out individually every following Friday for three weeks. Also, each episode will be available to stream on Hulu the day after its network broadcast.
“It was very difficult for me to be a mom. But I knew very well how to protect my children,” Afeni Shakur says in the short clip. “My mother taught me to analyze society and not be quiet,” a 17-year-old Pac remarks in the trailer. “If there’s something on my mind, speak it. Because – I gotta reiterate it – my mother was a Black Panther and she was very involved in the movement.” Amid photos, video clips, and Pac’s music, the teaser paints a concise, vivid, and emotional picture of their bond.
Tupac’s Dear Mama‘s Full-Length Trailer Is Here
“Wherever possible, we tried to find archival footage that hadn’t been seen. So there’s a lot that we have in the five parts,” series director Allen Hughes explained. “There’s also audio that’s never been heard. And not just some of his acapellas and vocals, there is a lot of stuff of Tupac from his baby years that had never been seen.” Moreover, Hughes also directed the Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine-centered The Defiant Ones.
Furthermore, he shared these details while promoting Dear Mama at the Television Critics Awards winter press tour. Also, he explained that prioritizing new content will help viewers understand some of Pac and Afeni’s decisions more. “For Tupac superfans, I believe that two of the most important things in the project is the never seen before [footage],” he continued. “But most importantly, you get to understand why he made certain decisions.” Check out the trailer above and come back to HNHH for the latest on Dear Mama and Tupac Shakur.
(@JasonMadison) May 28, 2023
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