"Gang Related": Tupac's Last Film Hits Theaters

On October 8, 1997, Gang Related arrived in US theaters, the last film featuring Tupac Shakur. He and James Belushi play two corrupt police officers who become entangled in a murder case they set in motion themselves. The film was completed a few days before his death.

Memories of the Shoot

Co-star Lela Rochon recounted that an eerie mood hung over the set and that she did not believe the film would ever be finished. Tupac himself had claimed that nothing would happen to him, but also told her he expected to die young. Variety praised the film’s premise, but found the ending over-the-top.

Preston Holmes, producer of Gridlock’d, explained why the January film had grossed only 5.5 million dollars: Tupac’s audience was not prepared for such a different role. The soundtrack, featuring four previously unreleased Tupac recordings, was released by Death Row one day before the film and stood at number 2 on the Billboard chart of October 25. More in the magazine: Tupac’s Last Movie “Gang Related”.