This year marks the 20th anniversary of Tupac's death, and his friend and former band mate, Chopmaster J of the pioneering hip hop group Digital Underground, is promising to release some previously unheard Tupac recordings to mark the occasion.
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland that helped define the sound of hip hop throughout the late 80's and 90's. The group featured a rotating line-up of many great musicians, the most famous and successful of which was the legendary Tupac Shakur. Chopmaster J is often credited with discovering Tupac, who got his start working as a roadie, then later as a background dancer and emcee, for the band.
Chopmaster J has announced plans to release previously unheard Tupac recordings, possibly the earliest recordings of the legendary rapper, recorded during the start of his time with Digital Underground. Chopmaster J will also re-release his 1999 book "Static: My Tupac Story," which details his work experience and friendship with Tupac. This is the first time that the book has been available digitally; you can get it on Amazon here.
In addition to the book and music, Chopmaster J is planning a slew of other Tupac related releases, including a new cover of Tupac's "Static," updated new versions of classic Digital Underground songs written and produced by Chopmaster J's son S.O.T.U. (Sun of the Underground,) and has teased the release of even more unreleased tracks from artists like El Da Barge, George Clinton, R&B singer David Hollister (who worked with 'Pac on "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Brenda's Got A Baby,") and more memorabilia from his personal vault.
"My group, Digital Underground burst on the hop hop scene like a psychedelic explosion. But where our musical chapter faded like a mellow drug high, Tupac went on to soar to unimaginable heights," Chopmaster J said. "None of us, not even Tupac, could have imagined what was in store for us all. Like everyone else, the 20th anniversary of his death makes me nostalgic. Unlike everyone else though, I've got some pretty spectacular memories from those early hip hop days and I'm ready to share them and celebrate the birth of his career. I'm an older cat now and I feel like it would be selfish to just keep them to myself. The world loves Tupac and I'm excited to finally add my chapter to his legend."
You can keep up with all of Chopmaster J's projects at his official website here.
By Michael Lacerna for RAPstation.com
