Mopreme Shakur emerges from the shadows to tell previously unheard stories about his stepbrother Tupac Shakur in his memoir “This Thug’s Life,” released on February 24.
The book promises never-before-seen stories of growing up with the rap legend. Mopreme appeared on Jesse Weber Live on Thursday and explained why he finally decided to speak.
“I have a very interesting life, I have very interesting and legendary people in my life, and we do some incredible things that people have been asking me about over the years,” Moprem explained in the interview.
The timing differs from Duane “Keffe D” Davis’ murder trial, which is scheduled for August 2026. Mopreme sheds light on his family’s mindset in the courtroom drama that could finally bring justice for Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder.
“Our family remains strong. We remain hopeful. We are prepared for any news that may come, but we will hold on until the wheels fall off and we are still pursuing justice,” he said.
Mopreme knows his brother still holds a significant place in hip-hop culture. The founding member of “Thug Life” watched Shakur transform from a Baltimore teenager to a global icon before bullets interrupted his story in Las Vegas.
“My brother is legendary. His murder is legendary and, you know, there’s a lot of things, but there are answers, you know? I mean, there are answers. Just focus on it,” Mopreme added.
The memoir comes amid sales for Tupac Shakur’s new book.
Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur was released in October 2025 by Jeff Pearlman. Staci Robinson released the authorized biography “Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography” in 2024.
Mopreme brings something different to the table. He lived through the thug life era viscerally. The band was formed in 1993 by Big Syke, Macadoshis, Rated R and Shakur. In 1994, their self-titled debut album peaked at number four on the charts.
Before the official launch of “Thug Life”, Mopreme had already made moves in the music field. He recorded under the name Wycked and appeared on Tony!Tony! In the early ’90s, Tone!’s song “Feels Good.” His first major appearance came on the 1993 song “Papa’z Song” with Tupac Shakur.
The stepbrothers share more than just blood. They inherited the revolutionary spirit inherited from their parents.
Mopreme’s father, Mutulu Shakur, spent decades in prison for his involvement in the Black Liberation Army. Shakur’s mother, Afeni Shakur, was a member of the Black Panther Party who fought for civil rights.
In 1994, Mopreme toured with Tupac Shakur on the Thugs for Life Tour. He performed with his brother until September 1996, when a drive-by shooting ended his life at the age of 25.
Kensington Books will publish “This Thug’s Life,” which contains 320 pages of family history and hip-hop memories. The publisher calls it “the first-ever inside look at the Shakur family” and promises to provide details about the iconic group that changed the rap world forever.
Barnes and Noble and major retailers will have the memoir in stock when it is released on February 24. The book comes just months before Keffe D faces trial for allegedly masterminding a murder that shocked the world.
Davis was arrested on September 29, 2023 and charged with first degree murder. Prosecutors claim he was the “director” who ordered the beating of Shakur after Mike Tyson’s fight at the MGM Grand.
The trial was postponed from its original scheduled date of 2025 to August 2026 after new evidence emerged. Defense attorneys are fighting to suppress evidence of a nighttime search of Davis’ home.
