ALL EYEZ ON PAC

The Grammy Museum opened its latest exhibit, All Eyez on Me: The Writings of Tupac Shakur, on Monday night with a riveting panel discussion from some of Pac's closest friends and collaborators. Moderated by writer Cheo Coker, the panel included Chuck D, director John Singleton, EDIDON (Tupac's cousin and member of the Outlawz), Money B of Digital Underground, producer QD III, skateboarder Paul Rodriguez and hip-hop artist Ray Luv. Also in attendance were Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur and his brother Moecedes.

The discussion was a sentimental and often very funny roundtable jam session, with each recalling specific memories about Tupac, from his early days in Marin City as a teenager, touring with Digital Underground and Public Enemy, grinding in the recording studio, nailing the acting auditions and honing his work ethic on film sets. The panelists also weighed in on the larger picture: how Shakur has impacted hip-hop music and inspired the world in general.

Several questions from the audience were hurled at Singleton about the much-delayed and anticipated Tupac movie biopic, but he shut it down in no uncertain terms, saying the film would only be made if they could tell the story authentically. "His spirit is not gonna make this movie if it's not gonna be what it needs to be," Singleton explained. "If it wasn't, his soul will come back and haunt my ass for the rest of my days! It has to be as bold as he was." Chuck D added, "You have to think about it like, if Pac was sitting right here, would he put up with this bullshit?"

The exhibit, which runs until April 22, explores the rapper’s lyrical genius and celebrates Shakur’s legacy as a performer, actor, poet and outspoken social activist. For more info, go to grammymuseum.org