Tupac Shakur News

Jacob Lusk will never forget the moment they called his name as one of the finalists on the 2011 edition of “American Idol.”  Since that time Jacob has continued performing around the Los Angeles area in various plays and church events.

American Repertory Theater at Harvard University (A.R.T.) announces September and October 2018 programming at OBERON, its club space for cutting-edge performance and thriving incubator for local and emerging artists. Upcoming events include A.R.T.'s Live @ OBERON, Breakout (formerly OBERON Presents), and Afterglow @ OBERON series, as well as independently-produced events.

Students from the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF) created unique pointillism mosaic portraits of President Barack Obama at an arts workshop taught by artist Lennox Commissiong.

A dramatic portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama by artist Lennon Commissiong, a mosaic comprised of thousands of colorful paper dots, is on view in the WIZARDHANDS exhibition at Harlem's Dwyer Cultural Center, 258 St. Nicholas through August 26. “Michelle Obama comported herself with grace and dignity through one of the most racially troubled periods in recent times,” said Commissiong.

“City of Lies,” starring Johnny Depp, has been pulled from release schedule by Global Road Entertainment, a month before it was slated to hit theaters, according to Variety.

Netflix has ordered eight additional episodes of Altered Carbon from Skydance Television. The series is based on the classic science fiction novels by Richard K. Morgan.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), under the leadership of Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Producer Diane Borger, is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for the fall line-up of the theater's live music series, Live @ OBERON. Bringing together an eclectic array of musical artists, many with local roots, Live @ OBERON features exceptional original shows that utilize A.R.T.'s club space for cutting-edge performance.

Hologram USA Inc. has announced the Chief Keef and Icons of American Music Tour. The 90-minute hologram experience, hosted by hip hop renegade Chief Keef's billionaire label boss, Alki David, launches at London's famous Hammersmith Eventim Apollo theater on August 31st and September 1st before heading to Chicago to start a nationwide tour of the U.S. Chief Keef will beam in live to the shows to deliver his message of peace and anti-violence, despite having been banned from entering the UK. and the city of Chicago.

As the music business and its landscape changes, artists need to adapt to new ways of distribution. One such artist who is up to that challenge is Dondi. This two-time Global Music Award winner, songwriter, vocalist and producer is giving it away... all for the love of R&B.

Broadway - today and over the last decade or more - has played host to programs spotlighting the legends of the music industry: From Billie Holliday, Fat's Waller, and Kurt Weill to Carole King, Frankie Valli, ABBA, Janis Joplin, and Johnny Cash; to Peter Allen, Jimmy Buffet, Donna Summer, The Shirelles, The Gogos, Green Day, Tupac Shakur ... and lots of Beatles tributes ... with CHER planned for next season.

Hologram USA Networks Inc. today announced the date for the launch of its new hologram stage show, Higher & Higher: The Jackie Wilson Story. The show, from the leader of hologram technology founded by Greek billionaire Alki David,  tracks the wild life of the R&B star, dubbed Mr. Excitement, all the way to the end when Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley paid his hospital bills. In the same 30-minute narrative format that Hologram USA pioneered with its successful show, Billie Holiday Alive!,  the new show dramatizes scenes from the legend's life--including the sex, drugs and rock & roll-- in addition to presenting his stage presence in all its glory.

Hologram USA Networks Inc. today announced the date for the launch of its new hologram stage show, Higher & Higher: The Jackie Wilson Story. The show, from the leader of hologram technology founded by Greek billionaire Alki David, tracks the wild life of the R&B star, dubbed Mr. Excitement, all the way to the end when Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley paid his hospital bills. In the same 30-minute narrative format that Hologram USA pioneered with its successful show, Billie Holiday Alive!, the new show Higher & Higher dramatizes scenes from the legend's life--including the sex, drugs and rock & roll-- in addition to presenting his stage presence in all its glory.

Hologram USA Networks Inc. today announced the date for the launch of its new hologram stage show, Higher & Higher: The Jackie Wilson Story. The show, from the leader of hologram technology founded by Greek billionaire Alki David,  tracks the wild life of the R&B star, dubbed Mr. Excitement, all the way to the end when Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley paid his hospital bills. In the same 30-minute narrative format that Hologram USA pioneered with its successful show, Billie Holiday Alive!,  the new show dramatizes scenes from the legend's life--including the sex, drugs and rock & roll-- in addition to presenting his stage presence in all its glory.

The Historic Ali Cultural Arts is proud to present an exhibition featuring the paintings of Haitian visual artist Jai D and the photographs of David I. Muir. In celebration of June being African-American music month, works on display will feature paintings of music icons including Prince, Diana Ross, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and concert photographs of Toni Braxton, Common and Maxwell. The free exhibition runs from June 7- July 26, 2018, and there will be a free artist opening reception and art talk on June 7, 2018 from 6-9pm. For more information, www.aliarts.org.

Billie Holliday, Fat's Waller, Kurt Weill, Carole King, Frankie Valli, ABBA, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Peter Allen, Jimmy Buffet, Donna Summer, The Shirelles, The Gogos, Green Day, Tupac Shakur ... AND too many Beatles tributes to count have covered the Broadway skyline for more than a decade as tributes and jukebox musicals. Now, Preemo Productions in association with Broadway's Town Hall will add its name to that list with BEGINNINGS MEETS THAT MOTOWN BAND.

In its ongoing efforts to recognize, support and raise awareness about the huge impact of cinema beyond the screen, the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has partnered with Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson to present the inaugural AAFCA Day at City Hall on April 27 celebrating and honoring productions that put a spotlight on Los Angeles life highlighting its residents and locations through complex and elevated depictions. With that mission at the forefront, the inaugural AAFCA Day at City Hall will celebrate “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.,” the groundbreaking USA limited series exploring the decade-plus investigation into the real-life homicides of the iconic rappers, as its first honoree. The “Unsolved” collaborators and key cast will gather before a fully assembled City Council on April 27 for a formal proclamation and reception as they are saluted as the very first honorees of AAFCA Day at City Hall. Harris-Dawson and AAFCA co-founder and president Gil Robertson, who jointly spearheaded this effort, will be on hand, along with other special guests.

The Actors Fund, the national human services organization for everyone in performing arts and entertainment, will hold its Annual Gala on Monday, May 14, 2018. The evening will celebrate Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker Warren Beatty, Tony Award-winning Broadway and film director Kenny Leon, currently director of Children of a Lesser God on Broadway, two-time Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Chita Rivera, and Golden Globe-winning, Academy Award and Emmy-nominated actress Uma Thurman. Mr. Beatty, Mr. Leon, Ms. Rivera and Ms. Thurman will be awarded The Actors Fund's Medal of Honor. The event begins with 6 pm cocktails followed by a 7 pm dinner and tribute at the New York Marriott Marquis. The evening will include special tribute performances by guests to be announced.

What happens when classic old world and contemporary poetry are combined or collide?

Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and Blumhouse Television today announced that Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) award-winner Anthony Hemingway (UNSOLVED: THE MURDERS OF TUPAC AND THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.) is set to direct the premiere episode of USA/SYFY's upcoming series THE PURGE based on the hit film franchise. From Blumhouse Television and Universal Cable Productions, THE PURGE, which will air on USA and SYFY, and the series was created, and will be executive produced by the film franchise creator James DeMonaco, and led by Jason Blum, the entire team behind the blockbusters are on board to executive produce: Michael Bay with Brad Fuller and Andrew Form under the Platinum Dunes banner and Sebastien K. Lemercier. Thomas Kelly serves as executive producer/showrunner of the series.

This week, critically acclaimed rock n' roll true crime podcast Disgraceland explores the disappearance and mysterious death ofRick Philp, the guitar player on Van Morrison's landmark creative statement,Astral Weeks. Philp's death came as Morrison was hiding out from the NYC mafia in Boston following a physical attack by a member of the Genovese crime family. Disgraceland pieces together the story using a multitude of sources, including the recently released and critically acclaimed book Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968 by Ryan Walsh(available now via Penguin Press). Listen to the episode at disgracelandpod.com.