Legendary rapper 2Pac passed away in September 1996 at the age of 25. All Eyes on Me," a film that explores the epic life of the star who arguably set the trend for the current hip-hop boom, will be released in theaters on December 29.
Even if you are not a music fan, you must have heard the name 2Pac at least once. But few of us know the life he led, don't we? This film takes us back to 2Pac's childhood in the slums, to his boyhood devoted to theater, and to his youth when he awakened as a rapper and rose to become a star. Why was 2Pac killed at the height of his popularity? Why did he continue to weave his aggressive lyrics over the objections of those around him? Why was he revered as charismatic? The truth about 2Pac, shrouded in mystery, is packed into this work.
His parents were revolutionaries, he was sent to prison, the album he released made a million, he was hit by a bullet and died... The truth behind 2Pac's death is one of the mysteries of the music world. What happened that day? What started the "East-West hip-hop war" that led to the shooting? This is a shocking story that can only be told now, more than 20 years after its release in the U.S., where it was a blockbuster hit, grossing 3 billion yen in its opening weekend. It is a great film that will surpass even "Straight Outta Compton," a hip-hop movie that was nominated for an Oscar. Please check it out at the theater.
Also, below is a talk show featuring the hip-hop group Doberman Infinity as guests at the Japan premiere event held prior to the release of the film. They talk about their most influential artists as 2Pac. Here is the whole story. Check it out!
From left to right: P-CHO, GS, KAZUKI, SWAY, KUBO-C
MC: What are your impressions of the film and do you have a favorite scene?
P-CHO: I was really looking forward to the release of the film, so I finished watching it quickly and it reminded me of the time when I first encountered HIPHOP. The scene where you sing "Keep Ya Head Up" live made me hot.
GS: It's no exaggeration to say that he is the artist who has influenced me the most, so I was able to rediscover the greatness of 2Pac once again. I liked the scene where "Dear Mama" plays during the scene where the mother comes to visit 2Pac in jail.
KAZUKI: I thought he was too intelligent, deeply human, not to mention musical. . Also, I admired his 2-pack recording studio.
SWAY: I have seen many different biographical films about 2Pac and there was a lot of crossover. All my life I had to study him by text or dig into his past by looking at magazines, so I thought it would be wonderful to learn about his history just by watching the film. The scene that left the biggest impression on me was the prison scene where 2Pac is told by the other inmates, "Don't waste 50 years on a 50-second decision. It really resonated with me because I think there are many times in our lives when a one-minute decision can make a big difference in our future.
KUBO-C: 2Pac's commitment to the songs was inspiring. I'm still envious of the recording studio. I can't get mad at the engineers, you know. We can't lose our temper (laughs).
MC: In your careers, have there been any influences from 2Pac?
GS: When I was 16 years old, I had a part-time job at a HipHop clothing store in Amemura, Osaka, and the owner there loved 2 Pac, and I came to know about 2 Pac because of that, but when I went to Las Vegas for the first time after the owner passed away, I happened to be in the car. When I was driving to Las Vegas for the first time after the owner passed away, I happened to be approaching the MGM Grand (where 2 Pac died) when "Dear Mama" suddenly started playing on the radio.
MC: What is Doberman Infinity's favorite 2-pack song & quote?
P-CHO: 【 I don't think I'm special, I think I'm more responsible than the next guy] I knew that people become stronger with a sense of responsibility, and that's one word that inspired me, because I thought it would be powerful.
GS: 【Only god can judge me] In life you never know when you are going to die, and everyone's limits are not the same, so I felt empathy for these words. I haven't made it public yet, but I have a large tattoo on my chest. In fact, I have this word tattooed on it. That's how much these words have influenced me. I can't show it to you, though, because my body is too shapely (laughs).
KAZUKI: 【 I didn't choose Sag Life, Sag Life chose me] The phrasing is already cool. I'm thinking of getting a tattoo of "Sag Life" too.
SWAY: 【I will spark the brain,that will change the warld. I want to be an artist who can change people's lives for the better.
KUBO-C: 【 Never stop dreaming while you are alive. No one can take your dreams away from you] There is a weight in the fact that if you have a strong desire to pursue your dreams, you can run after them until they come true, and I was very much influenced by these words because I believe so too.
MC: What would you like to say to the people who are going to see the movie?
SWAY: I think it was only possible to make a film that shows 2Pac's life in an easy-to-understand way, and I think it will help people understand how the great songs that 2Pac created came to be. There are many parts of the film that link to the various stories of HIPHOP, so I thought that if viewers could see those parts of the film, they would enjoy it even more.
MC: We have only a few days left this year, but do you have any aspirations for next year?
KAZUKI: This year has really been a year of music, starting with the hall tour. Next year, like the 2-pack, we will take our music to the next level, go deeper lyrically, and continue to do our best to deliver good music to everyone.
Text_Jun Nakada
All Eyes on Me"
Director: Benny Boom
Starring: Dimitrius Shipp Jr. as 2PAC, Jamal Woolard as Notorious B.I.G., Danai Gurira as Afeni Shakur, Kat Graham as Jada Pinkett-Smith, Dominic Santana as Shug Knight Harold House Moore (as Dr. Dre)
Distributor: PARCO / REGENTS
2017 / USA / 139 min / Original title: ALL EYEZ ON ME
Japan Release Date: December 29, 2017
http://alleyezonme.jp/
© 2017 Morgan Creek Productions, Inc.
