Staci Robinson is an author and screenwriter. Her previous projects and collaborations include the compilation Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy, the novel Interceptions, the film The Bounce Back, and the FX documentary series Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur. Robinson graduated from UCLA with a degree in history. She currently lives with her family in Northern California.
“Tupac Shakur is a touching, empathetic portrait of a friend. Even familiar stories achieve new intimacy at closer range. And small moments help clarify longstanding narratives, coloring in the outlines of this well-known tale of the actor-rapper-activist who died at 25 . . . [I]t astutely chronicles his life as a microcosm of the ongoing Black American struggle . . . Robinson spends [the book’s] pages advocating not only for Tupac’s integrity, but for the spirit of Black resistance he embodied . . . At its best, the book feels like a plea to re-examine the world that made Tupac Shakur so angry.”—The New York Times “If you want to read a single comprehensive narrative of [Tupac Shakur's] life, written with love, this authorized bio, is a seminal text.”—Nelson George, author and filmmaker “Robinson perfectly captures [Tupac’s] everyday moments. Strangely, on balance, you almost feel like you’re reading about the life of an ordinary person. . . . [She] gives us a portrait of the artist as a young man, a restless spirit convinced of the greatness of his destiny, if unsure of his destination.”—The Washington Post “A must-see for [Tupac] fans [with] loads of colorful details about his life . . . The author is at her best in her descriptions of Shakur’s ambitions, intense work ethic, and dislike of authority . . . as well as his family life. . . . This authorized biography of Shakur is intimate and personal.”—Kirkus Reviews “[A] riveting account . . . Robinson [sets] out a faithful and detailed portrait of an artist dedicated to helping ‘others achieve freedom from oppression.’ Enriched by invaluable excerpts from the rapper’s notebooks and sketch pads, this will have hip-hop devotees enthralled.”—Publishers Weekly