News of January 21, 2022
"Wake Me When I'm Free" Opens in Los Angeles
From a prison letter to a Versace suit: On January 21, 2022, the "Wake Me When I'm Free" exhibition opened at The Canvas at L.A. Live.
On the front wall of a white lobby stand the lines: “Please wake me when I’m free.” According to Billboard, the 60- to 90-minute walkthrough of “Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free” begins with Tupac’s poem “Untitled.” On January 21, 2022, the exhibition opened at The Canvas at L.A. Live.
From a Prison Letter to a Versace Suit
In the next room, a statue of a raised Black fist rises above handcuffs. Beside it hangs a letter Afeni Shakur wrote from prison in January 1970 (“We Will Win”), along with newspaper clippings about the Black Panthers. There follows a hallway featuring Tupac’s outfits, including the Versace suit from the 1996 Grammy Awards, and a depiction of a rose growing out of concrete. Headphones with remote controls trigger music and commentary at the individual stations.
150,000 Visitors and a Shirt for the Concrete Rose
By mid-June, Billboard counted more than 150,000 visitors. A merchandise line from Bravado had already been added in February, including a shirt featuring the poem “The Rose That Grew From Concrete.” On the announcement and the end of the tour stop.