Tupac VS. Directed by Ken Peters, 2002

Icon, Philosopher, Martyr. He wanted to change the world, though he believed the world might never change. His empathy for the downtrodden was tempered only by his abject cynicism. He was an icon, a scapegoat, a martyr, and a complex human being. Tupac Amaru Shakur – an idol to his admirers, an allegory to his detractors – remains a controversial and misunderstood figure long after the shooting that ended his life in September of 1996. In TUPAC VS., director Ken Peters has assembled a compelling portrait of Tupac, featuring excerpts from an in-depth, never-before-seen 1995 interview conducted shortly before his release from prison and his entry onto the Death Row Records roster; rare footage and still photos from Tupac’s life and career; on-screen commentary from biographer Michael Eric Dyson (“Holler If You Hear Me: Searching For Tupac Shakur”), artist Rah Pacasso, former manager Leila Steinberg, and instructor Arvand Elihu (“The Poetry and History of Tupac Shakur”). TUPAC VS. lays bare the conflicts and contradictions that haunted this legendary artist throughout his short life, as well a the philosophies and experiences that inspired his music.