Cast: Demetrius Shipp Jr., Kat Graham, Lauren Cohan, Hill Harper, Danai Gurira

Direction: Benny Boom

Producer: David Robinson, L.T. Hutton, James G. Robinson

Writer: Jeremy Haft, Eddie Gonzalez, Steven Bagatourian

Genre: Biography

Duration:140Mins

All Eyez On Me

As shown in the statistics by the end of the movie, the legendary American hip-hop singer has sold more than 75 million records worldwide and also appeared in motion pictures. He was considered the most influential underground artistes of the 80s & 90s had ever seen. But what gives it so much of importance is, that he was only 25 when he was murdered in Sept’ 1996. And today he would have had been his 46 th birthday.

“All Eyez On Me” opens in New York when Afeni Shakur (Danai Gurira), who was a civil rights activist of Black Panther Party, gives birth to Lesane Parish Crooks aka Tupac Shakur (Demetrius Shipp Jr). She is a ferocious activist and wants the best for her community, whose profound creed influenced her son in a crucial way. From there, it traces the life and times of Tupac. He went on to become one of the most loved, innovative, brave and controversial singers during the ’90s.

He went on to grow up with people who were intriguing, political minded as well as those he later made music and did business with, are portrayed in clichéd ways. Benny Boom’s All Eyez On Me, which also happens to be the title of one of Shakur’s biggest hits, is actually talking about the black public figure who could have done much more for his community with his music if he hadn’t lost focus.

The film might be about Tupac and his insane lifestyle, but it takes us through issues far beyond the kingdomof music. The fans of old school hip-hop artists usually take the angry sledging rant in their favorite songs, but this trend gained momentum in the late ’80s and early ’90s when music became the escape point from harsh realities for many who were missed by the state burdened with the upliftment and progress of the black communities. He was a voice to the inarticulate men and women.

Demetrius Shipp Jr pours his heart out as the genial, unpredictable rapper who was still in the process of realizing his true potential. What he achieved by the age of 25 will continue to remain a dream for the biggest of hip-hop superstars. It’s because of him that All Eyez On Me has become something more than the events in Tupac Shakur’s life. The bond that he shared with his mother has been portrayed in a beautifully. Especially the song that he wrote,“Dear Mamma”.

There’s nothing the film actually shows that you don’t know. His unending loyalty to Death Row and rivalry with The Notorious Big are featured.

Demetrius Shipp Jr.’s performance has made a definite appeal. He makes the rapper likeable despite his obvious blemish in his life story.