At 4:03 p.m. (PST), on September 13, 1996, medical personnel at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada announced the death of rap star and actor Tupac Shakur (1971-1996). His mother Afeni (1947-2016) was forced to confront the death of her first-born son at the youthful age of twenty-five. Standing by her side was stepson Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur, the son of Mutulu Shakur (1950-2023) and Sharon Harding. In the wake of Shakur’s death, attention was focused heavily on Afeni, but Mopreme has a story of his own which I had the pleasure of reading. I recently reviewed Jeff Pearlman’s ‘Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur‘ and Staci Robinson’s ‘Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography‘. Both books are well-written and explore Tupac’s thoroughly. However, Mopreme was in a unique position to tell what he knew both as a sibling and rapper. This is his story in which he revisits his own past, and the short and tragic life of his famous younger brother.
I first became aware of this book shortly after its publication due to a contact submission on this site and made a mental note to purchase the title when I had the time to read it. That moment arrived a few weeks back and I am more than satisfied with my decision. This book is good in so many ways, and I enjoyed learning Mopreme’s story which goes far beyond the rap music industry. In fact, the Shakur name is firmly entrenched in American history in both negative and positive lights, depending on who you ask. To clear up any confusion, Mopreme entered Afeni and Tupac’s lives several years following famous rapper’s birth. Mopreme recounts his family’s roots in Queens, New York, and the early childhood years spent with his Aunt Joanna in Fayetteville, North Carolina, before making his return to the city that never sleeps. And this is where the story begins to take unexpected twists and turns.
Mopreme’s mother is a source of stability in the book, sorely needed in contrast to the lifestyle of Mutulu, who goes “underground” to avoid authorities, particularly the eyes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mopreme discusses their relationship which is filled with love but also complicated due to his father’s fugitive status. However, there are bright moments in the book, but Mutulu would eventually face the court system and lose his freedom for four decades. While behind bars, the multiple families Mutulu created would struggle with his incarceration and the pressure of carrying the Shakur name. As for Mopreme, his time with Tupac is still in the future, and his life takes a different path that I was not aware of previously, but what he explains provides the background information on residency in California, and reunion with Afeni, Tupac and sister Sekyiwa (“Set”) after a several years apart. And once the siblings are reunited, the story intensifies as the music industry becomes their focus.
While reading the book, I reminded myself not to lose focus on Mopreme’s story. Of course, Tupac’s role in the story is significant, but it is imperative to remember that Mopreme was also a rapper. His anecdotes from his time in the business as the Shakur brothers are “coming up” is gold. It is an incredible journey and Mopreme was there to witness it all. But the story takes a dark turn when Tupac is shot several times during a robbery at Quad Studios in Midtown Manhattan on November 30, 1994. And it set the stage for the last two years of Tupac’s short life. Mopreme was not present during the shooting but discusses what he knew and how the family responded to it. Further, he touches on Tupac’s conviction in December 1994 on sexual abuse charges. The following year, Tupac walked out of the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York to the waiting arms of Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight. Tupac was out of jail pending his appeal, but as Mopreme explains, things went from good to disturbing, and he began to see changes in his brother due to his association with the record label. Although Mopreme was never signed to Death Row, he did interact with its roster, and he provides insight into what he witnessed and how it changed his perception of where their lives were headed. And it forced him to reevaluate his own life which included marriage and fatherhood. But readers will see that a dark cloud is forming on the horizon.
The events of September 7, 1996, have been told countless times, and the night ended with Tupac Shakur critically wounded and Suge Knight with non-life-threatening injuries. Mopreme does not go into extensive detail about the shooting, but he does provide a glimpse into Tupac’s hospital room and his physical condition. His account is first-hand and should clear up any debate as to whether Tupac was aware of his surroundings at any time, he was admitted to the hospital. Initially, doctors had given Tupac a fair chance of survival, but in the days leading up to September 13, the trauma from the gunshot wounds took its toll on his body and his death on Friday, September 13, sent shockwaves across the globe. The impact on his family was monumental, and Mopreme details how it affected him personally. Anyone who has watched interviews with him in recent years knows that it still affects him to this day. Currently, Duane “Keefe D” Davis awaits trial in Las Vegas for Tupac’s murder. Time will tell in a jury will return a verdict of guilty but until then, the case against him continues to proceed. If David is found guilty, it will bring a sense of closure to the Shakur family and help Mopreme find peace with his brother’s death. I strongly recommend this book for Tupac fans or anyone looking for an enjoyable book about a family whose name and lives are part of American history.
ASIN B0FBHY2KD3
Publisher : Dafina, February 24, 2026
FREETHINKING BIBLIOPHILE 
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