Shakur Tupac - Holler if you hear me : searching for Tupac Shakur

As usual, I thank my wonderful, brilliant, and gifted editor, Liz Maguire. She has shared my vision almost from the beginning of my writing career, and I am indebted to her for nurturing and inspiring my gift. Love you, Liz. I also thank William Morrison, Stephen Bottum, Christine Marra, and Jane Raese, for their expert transformation of this manuscript into a book.

I thank the following people for sharing their precious time and granting me interviews: George Duke (a gifted musician); Todd Boyd (my Detroit nigga and a hell of a professor and writer); Karen Lee (a good sister and sweet soul); Atron Gregory (who took my many calls); Mos Def (an extraordinary young artist of incomparable gifts); Eric Meza (who made smart comments); Connie Bruck (who took time from her wedding preparations to help me with last-minute research); Larenz Tate (a great actor and good brother); Anna Marie Horsford (my beautiful chocolate diva; Im her number-one fan); Big Boy (a humorous personality); Ray J (a sharp young brother); Warren G (for his on-the-spot insight); Big Tray Dee (for true sharing from the heart); Matthew McDaniel (for the words in between filming); Congresswoman Maxine Waters (fearless warrior, my beautiful, brilliant role model and hero); Preston Holmes (for his sincerity and generous time); Vivica Fox (for her beauty and brilliant craft); Reverend Willie Wilson (an awesome preacher and pathbreaking Christian); Vanesse Lloyd-Sqambati (a brilliant and resourceful public relations person); LaTanya Richardson (a beautiful treasure); Quincy Jones (still the man, a great genius); C. Delores Tucker (who was so generous with her time); Geronimo Pratt (an old-school warrior and strong black man); Allison Samuels (a gifted journalist who was extremely helpful with contacts); Keith Harrison (a sharp young professor and good brother); Bill Maher (the politically incorrect guru of latenight television); Arvand Elihu (a sharp young physicianpoetTupac expert); John Singleton (a singular director with mad skills who squeezed me in); Jada Pinkett Smith (a wonderful artist and a true gem of a woman who took time from Matrix II); Samuel Jackson (theres only one of this brother); Takashi Buford (for granting me time); Rose Katherine (my beautiful Princeton homie); Vondie Curtis Hall (a wonderful artist, gifted director, and my homeboy); Cassandra Butcher (a sweet, talented, and generous sister); Peggy Lipton (a warm woman whos still bright and mod as all get-out); Reginald Hudlin (a dazzling raconteur and intellectual); Everett Dyson-Bey (my big little brother who drops mad science); Reverend Al Sharpton (who keeps witnessing for the truth); Kim Fields (a bright and gifted thespian); Common (a lyrically ferocious emcee and ingenious poet); Shawn Chapman (a wonderful attorney and kind sister); Bishop T. D. Jakes (an enormously talented preacher); Yanko Dambaulev (a great poet, philosopher, and brother); Khephra Burns (an immensely gifted writer and my brother); Talib Kweli (a supremely moving wordsmith of enormous gifts); Johnnie Cochran (who hooks up all the brothas in trouble); Robin D. G. Kelley (an intellectual giant); Sonia Sanchez (a great poetess, both profoundly intelligent and generous); Stanley Crouch (a stunningly smart critic who defines the Renaissance man); Charles Ogletree (an amazing professor, excellent jurist, and good brother); Danyel Smith (my sweet, beautiful, and brilliant friend and an amazing writer); Vijay Prashad (for the thug science); Toni Morrison (for her genius, her generosity of spirit, and her plain old soulfulness); Big Syke (a soulful, wonderful, and magnanimous brother who mentored Tupac in important ways); Tracy Robinson (for her extraordinary openheartedness, wonderful and guileless spirit, and stewardship of Pacs projects); Leila Steinberg (for the amazing drive to keep Pacs spirit alive and for her own remarkable spirit and love); and especially Afeni Shakur (the woman without whom there would be no Tupac Shakur, for her beautiful, bold, and brave spirit; her commitment to fulfilling her sons work; and her giving soul).

I also want to thank the following folk for tending to my heart, body, mind, and spirit: Stanley and Barbara Perkins (amazing and wonderful friends with tremendous spiritsand unbelievable food); Al Colon and Linda Malone-Colon (precious friends who opened hearth and home); Valentine Burroughs (my wonderful friend, big brother, and healer); Carolyn Moore-Assem (a sweet-souled sister with magic in her mouth); Veronica Mallett (my beautiful homegirl and a gracious, generous professional); and my sweet, brilliant, giving friend Deborah Langford (You know what Im saying, mofo?). I am grateful as well to Mia Stokes and Kim Ransom for their efficient and solid research as well as Paige McIntosh for her assistance and dedication. And a special shout out to the inimitable D. Soyini Madison, brilliant critic, my souls most precious friend, spiritual warrior, and a great woman. Profound gratitude to my wonderful family, Freda, Frederick, and Dr. Sampson (my true hero and role model).

Finally, I want to thank my family: the memory of my father, Everett Dyson Sr. (gone for twenty years); my mother, Addie Mae Dyson; my brothers, Anthony, Everett, Gregory, and Brian, as well as their children; and my own wonderful children: Michael Eric Dyson (who sweetly said to me when Tupac was murdered, Dad, I think if you had met Tupac he wouldnt have died); Maisha Dyson (a terrific actress who is blazing her path to artistic excellence); and Mwata Dyson (a physician whose commitment to holistic healing is exemplary); and my lovely Jennifer and my wonderful Virgil. Finally, I am grateful to my wonderful and amazingly loyal wife, Rev. Marcia L. Dyson, who took time from her novel Dont Call Me Angel to give me extraordinary assistance in every phase of this book.

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