Remembering Tupac: A Film Retrospective

Today would have been the slain rapper's 40th bday

Juice (1992) - In this vehicle that launched Tupac as a film star (and cinematic thug soldier), Jackson was the perfect street info man in the role of Trip. His keen ear to the street would put Starsky & Hutch's Huggy Bear to shame.(Photo: Courtesy Island World)

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Juice (1992) - Pac shows off his acting chops as the troubled Roland “Bishop” in this gritty film alongside Jermaine Hopkins, Khalil Kain and Omar Epps. He plays a convincing sociopath enamored with James Cagney in the film White Heat. Set to one of the dopest film soundtracks of the '90s, Bishop and his crew get caught up in the pursuit of status and rep with murder and mayhem pursuit in the streets of Harlem.

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Above the Rim (1994) - In this hoop dreams drama, Shakur plays neighborhood thug Birdie. Onscreen he tormented Marlon Wayans, but off camera the two became great friends. Pac’s “Pour Out a Little Liquor” was featured on the double platinum soundtrack, which also included "Regulate" by Warren G. featuring Nate Dogg.ABOVE THE RIM, Tupac Shakur, 1994, (c)New Line Cinema/courtesy Everett Collection

Photo By Photo: New Line Cinema/courtesy Everett Collection

Poetic Justice (1993)   - For his sophomore project, Singleton paired Janet Jackson and hip hop music icon Tupac in this film about two South Central denizens—battling personal tragedies—who take a road trip in a mail truck to Oakland. Legendary writer Maya Angelou was hired to write poetry for Janet, who played a hairdresser moonlighting as a poetess. Opening number one at the box office its first weekend, the film also starred Guy Torry and Regina King.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Poetic Justice (1993) - Pac plays a mailman in the John Singleton-directed film, co-starring Janet Jackson as “Justice,” Regina King and Joe Torry. On a drive up the California coast to Oakland Tupac’s character, Lucky, falls for Justice—in real life, however, Pac says Janet changed her number.

Gridlock’d (1997) - Tupac as “Spoon” and Tim Roth as “Stretch” are heroine addicts determined to kick their habit in a detox program after a friend overdoses. But they have to get past the police and drug dealers first. Thandie Newton, in one of her first starring roles, is “Cookie,” Tupac’s lounge singing dope fiend girlfriend.

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Gridlock’d (1997) - Tupac as “Spoon” and Tim Roth as “Stretch” are heroine addicts determined to kick their habit in a detox program after a friend overdoses. But they have to get past the police and drug dealers first. Thandie Newton, in one of her first starring roles, is “Cookie,” Tupac’s lounge singing dope fiend girlfriend.

Bullet (1996) - Mickey Rourke is a drug addict parolee living in Brooklyn who robs neighborhood dealer, Tank, played by Shakur.  The two were nemesis in the film but respected each other off set. Rourke once said about Shakur, "I had met Tupac before and I thought it was funny because I never get to meet anybody that's supposed to be, like, bad, because I'm usually in that category. There was just this unspoken thing that two men feel and understand. It's been great working with him. Been f---in' great. I look at him and I think, "Yeah, this motherf---er would pull the trigger on me.”

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Bullet (1996) - Mickey Rourke is a drug addict parolee living in Brooklyn who robs neighborhood dealer, Tank, played by Shakur.  The two were nemesis in the film but respected each other off set. Rourke once said about Shakur, "I had met Tupac before and I thought it was funny because I never get to meet anybody that's supposed to be, like, bad, because I'm usually in that category. There was just this unspoken thing that two men feel and understand. It's been great working with him. Been f---in' great. I look at him and I think, "Yeah, this motherf---er would pull the trigger on me.”

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Gang Related (1997) - This film went straight to DVD, but it's still great to watch. Tupac and James Belushi play dirty cops trying to cover up a murder they committed. Lela Rochon and James Earl Jones also star in what would be Tupac’s last film.

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Gang Related (1997) - This film went straight to DVD, but it's still great to watch. Tupac and James Belushi play dirty cops trying to cover up a murder they committed. Lela Rochon and James Earl Jones also star in what would be Tupac’s last film.

Tupac: Resurrection (2003) - This posthumous documentary tells the story of Tupac’s life and music through rare archival footage, interviews with his family and friends like Jada Pinkett Smith, Treach and his mother, Afeni Shakur. And although his music frequently spoke of his demise, Tupac’s narration of his life as the voiceover in the film is completely surreal.

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Tupac: Resurrection (2003) - This posthumous documentary tells the story of Tupac’s life and music through rare archival footage, interviews with his family and friends like Jada Pinkett Smith, Treach and his mother, Afeni Shakur. And although his music frequently spoke of his demise, Tupac’s narration of his life as the voiceover in the film is completely surreal.

A Different World (1993) - Pac shows up on the Hillman campus as Lena’s (Jada Pinkett Smith) Baltimore homeboy, who says she’s changed since heading to college. The two are actually childhood friends who attended Baltimore School of the Arts together. Look for a hilarious music video that he and Jada recorded to none other than now hubby Will Smith's  “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”A Different World (Photo: NBC)

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A Different World (1993) - Pac shows up on the Hillman campus as Lena’s (Jada Pinkett Smith) Baltimore homeboy, who says she’s changed since heading to college. The two are actually childhood friends who attended Baltimore School of the Arts together. Look for a hilarious music video that he and Jada recorded to none other than now hubby Will Smith's  “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”A Different World (Photo: NBC)

Nothing But Trouble (1991) - Blink and you may have missed Pac in this cooky comedy starring John Candy, Chevy Chase and Demi Moore. It’s the first time we hear Pac rap on the Digital Underground track “Same Song.” Remember this verse? \rNow I clown around when I hang around with the Underground/Girls use to frown, say I'm down, when I come around/gas me and when they pass me they use to diss me/harrass me, but now they ask me if they can kiss me/Get some fame, people change, wanna live they life high/same song, can't go wrong, if I play the nice guy\rNothing but Trouble (Photo: Warner Bros.)

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Nothing But Trouble (1991) - Blink and you may have missed Pac in this cooky comedy starring John Candy, Chevy Chase and Demi Moore. It’s the first time we hear Pac rap on the Digital Underground track “Same Song.” Remember this verse? \rNow I clown around when I hang around with the Underground/Girls use to frown, say I'm down, when I come around/gas me and when they pass me they use to diss me/harrass me, but now they ask me if they can kiss me/Get some fame, people change, wanna live they life high/same song, can't go wrong, if I play the nice guy\rNothing but Trouble (Photo: Warner Bros.)