An exhibition experience dedicated to the life of late rapper Tupac Shakur will open at the L.A. LIVE building on the 21st of January 2022.
The project, titled Wake Me When I’m Free is being headed by Tupac’s estate, and has been “years in the making”. Jeremy Hodges, creative director of the Project Art Collective, has taken over as creative lead of the installation. Hodges’ agency has previously worked with rappers Jay Z and Drake. Working with him is Nwaka Onwusa, vice president and chief curator of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Exhibition is being described as a multi-form experience. Combining museum, gallery and music to create a fully immersive atmosphere.
Hodges notes,
“It is a privilege to be a part of such a monumental project. Tupac Shakur was my Malcolm; he was my Martin, and to build an experience that honors such a prolific man cannot be summed up in words.”
Wake Me When I’m Free is to show handwritten pieces from Shakur, along with other never-before-seen personal artifacts. These pieces will range from a grocery list for a birthday party to drafts for his songs like ‘California Love’. The 20,000-square-foot installation will also showcase influences on Tupac’s life.
His mother, Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther and political activist, will also feature in Wake Me When I’m Free. Her installation will be the ‘guiding light’ of the exhibition, says Arron Saxe, president of Kinfolk Management + Media and collaborator with Shakur’s estate on the project.
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Tupac Shakur is one the most influential rappers of all time. His tragic death from a drive-by shooting in 1997 shook the music world. He is now seen as one of the best musicians in history, with 75 million records sold worldwide. One can hear his influence today in the likes of Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and Ja Rule. Since his death, many professors, academics and intellectuals have begun intricate studies and discussions of his work and its lasting impact.
The exhibition will take its name from a track on the tribute album The Rose That Grew From Concrete. The album featured a wide range of celebrities and people inspired by Tupac’s legacy reading his poetry and writings.
Wake Me When I’m Free is expected to travel to multiple cities after six months in Los Angeles. General tickets sales begun on the 12th of November.
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