Tupac Amaru Shakur left behind a legacy for us to learn by. His death marked a change in the lives of those close to him and opened up the minds of those who were curious about his life.

“The Rose That Grew From Concrete Vol.1,” is a collection of his poetry that offers a good sense of how the world was seen through Shakur’s eyes. It provides an understanding of a part of his life that the media couldn’t capture.

An array of artists have embraced Shakur’s words and then expressed them in their own unique way.

The poems open up a consciousness of love, hate, politics, and the universal arena of pain.

The words embrace the sounds of hip-hop, jazz, soul, and the voices from the cast of the Lion King.

There is also a soothing guitar ballad played by Dan Rockett, who recites “Sometimes I Cry,” a sorrowful piece that takes you deep into Shakur’s emotional presence.

“Starry Night” is a poem that Shakur dedicates to the memory of artist Vincent van Gogh.

It is confidently recited by Quincy Jones as Lilo Fadidas accompanies him with a graceful acoustic guitar. It then goes into a different version as rap artist Mac Mall transforms the poem into a hip-hop track with vocals provided by Rashida Jones.

Shakur’s words are brought to life in “The Rose That Grew From Concrete Vol.1.” Rich with emotion in its lyrical content and heavy with diverse musical sounds, this is truly a worthy creation to carry on Tupac Shakur’s remembrance.

Rating: 5 Sinatras (5 out of 5)