Tupac’s acting career took flight with his role in the film “Juice,” directed by Ernest Dickerson, where he captivated both audiences and critics alike. With a solid foundation in acting from his time at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Tupac went on to appear in six additional films, including a memorable performance alongside Janet Jackson in “Poetic Justice.”
Hughes, who directed Tupac‘s first three music videos, spoke about the rapper’s acting abilities and the competition he would have posed to seasoned actors like Denzel Washington. “If he had been here, Denzel would have stiff competition. He was that talented,” Hughes affirmed. Drawing a parallel between Denzel and Tupac, Hughes described their remarkable emotional and social intelligence, which set them apart in any room. However, he noted that while Denzel was wise and able to control his emotions, Tupac struggled with emotional control—a quality that separated the two.
Denzel Washington had previously won the Best Actor award at the 74th Oscars in 2002 for his role in “Training Day,” solidifying his status as a Hollywood heavyweight. Recognizing Tupac’s potential, Hughes believed that Tupac would have emerged as one of the greatest leading men in the film industry, amassing multiple Academy Awards. Although music remained an integral part of his life, Tupac expressed his desire to focus more on acting and push the boundaries of his artistic endeavors during a rare interview with ET. This shift in focus was evident in his last film, “Gridlock’d,” where Tupac showcased his dedication to his craft.
Allen Hughes first met Tupac in 1991 at a Waffle House in San Francisco, where the rapper was accompanied by the members of Digital Underground. Even before Tupac‘s rise to fame, Hughes noticed his exceptional charisma, wit, and humor, which set him apart from the rest of the table. From that moment, Hughes recognized Tupac‘s “It” factor—a quality that would later shine through his music videos and subsequent film performances.
Hughes emphasized that Tupac’s success in the film industry would have far eclipsed his achievements in music. Although he believed Tupac would continue to make music, his impact as a leading man in Hollywood would have been unparalleled. The director expressed confidence in Tupac’s ability to win multiple Academy Awards and saw him as a transformative figure in the world of cinema.
Dear Mama, the five-part docuseries directed by Allen Hughes and approved by the Tupac Estate, has received widespread acclaim. The series, which premiered on April 21st, has broken records on FX as the most-watched unscripted debut across platforms. The first two episodes garnered significant viewership, with Episode 1 attracting 196,000 views and Episode 2, titled “Changes,” accumulating just under 196,000 views. These figures do not account for views from streaming platforms or delayed viewing. Additionally, Dear Mama has achieved a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and received a 97% audience score, further solidifying its positive reception among viewers.
As the finale of Dear Mama approaches, set to air on Friday, May 12th, just two days before Mother’s Day, audiences eagerly anticipate the conclusion of this compelling docuseries. With the blessing of the Tupac Estate and the masterful direction of Allen Hughes, Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur stands as a fitting tribute to the remarkable lives of these influential figures.
The “24K Magic” singer announced a multi-year residency with MGM Resorts International in 2016, performing at the hospitality giant’s Park MGM resort in Las Vegas.
However, the relationship between the 38-year-old and the hospitality giant may have gone sour as the singer’s gambling has allegedly racked up large debts at the poker tables in Las Vegas, according to NewsNation.
“He owed millions to the MGM,” a Vegas insider told the outlet.
Another source added that the debt is as high as $50 million.
“[MGM] basically own him. He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt,” added the insider, claiming that the singer only makes $1.5 million per night after taxes.
Part of Mars’ MGM contract reportedly included the creation of The Pinky Ring, a cocktail lounge inside the Bellagio Resort. NewsNation reports that another project is in the works as well.
The New York rapper joined Kevin Hart for a recent episode of his Golden Minds Podcast where Meth explained he’s never watched an episode because he wanted to allow the show to take creative liberties with its story and not feel a way about it.
“So to see this come to fruition on screen, it was a no-brainer for me knowing how RZA works,” he said. “In the beginning, it was like, ‘Wow, they’re taking a lot of liberties here with the story.’ In hindsight, knowing how some of these things work, and embellishments and sometimes dudes still be having open cases and shit so I could understand.
“I haven’t watched an episode, personally, but I get the scripts ahead of time. Everything ain’t for everybody, that’s all I could say.”
The group breaks down the Book of HOV event, where Ebro and Lowkey were able to help surprise Jay-Z at the Brooklyn Public Library for the opening of the retrospective. Nadeska shares her experiences catching up with Lil Uzi Vert at Jay-Z’s charity auction over the weekend, too. The team also discusses Beyoncé’s strong start to the second leg of her RENAISSANCE World Tour, before giving flowers to Apple Music for recent Emmy nominations and congratulating Cordae and Naomi Osaka on welcoming their first child.