The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

Shakur, Tupac. The Rose That Grew From Concrete. New York, NY: MTV/Pocket Books, 1999.

176 pages ISBN 978-0671028459 $9.99

Genre, Autobiography, Poetry

This posthumous collection of poems comes from a personal journal that the rap artist created in his late teens (1989-91). The book has 4 different chapter or sections with copies of the artist’s hand-written works –full of errors and doodles - on one side and the typed version on the opposite page. The volume could certainly be of interest to reluctant readers, aspiring artists, and those with difficult and relatable histories.

When reading the poems, the first thing that struck me was the beat/rhythm of it. For example, “In the event of my Demise/when my heart can beat no more/I Hope I Die For A Principle/or A Belief that I had Lived 4” (“In the Event of My Demise” p. 150) it was exceedingly difficult not to fall into the hypnotic cadence of it and even imagining the author performing it. The other thing that struck is his sensitivity and intelligence as the poems explored a wide range of topics from child loss to Lady Liberty.

I have mixed feelings about adding this to a YA collection. Contextually, this book is brilliant. It gives a clear and focused snapshot of who the author was, his music inspiration, and his emotions and passions during his teen years.As a stand-alone volume, the poetry of a 19-year feels more like flawed and lyrical reporting and perhaps a failing on my part but I was neither inspired nor moved when I separated the context –what I know of his life and tragedies – from the actual work. A rose in concrete is a bizarre image if you don’t know who the walking rose is. As an autobiography, the collection falls short of encompassing his rise and the turbulence he encountered before his murder. It is not The Diary of Anne Frank due to its lack of information and detail as some poems such as “Liberty Needs Glasses” require contextual and cultural understanding in order to decipher it. If budget, possible interest, and space were an issue I would most likely forgo this title despite its potential.

Here's an interview from Youtube featuring Tupac.