“This Thug’s Life”: Mopreme Shakur Reveals the Untold Story of His Brother Tupac in a New Book

Fans of hip-hop history and the Shakur legacy are about to witness one of the most significant literary events of the decade. On February 24, 2026, a major new book by Mopreme Shakur — titled “This Thug’s Life” — will be officially released.

This is the first-ever insider account of the iconic hip-hop group T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. and the life and death of Tupac Shakur. It is written by the only person who was there from the very beginning to the tragic end: his big brother and the eldest son of Black liberation activist Mutulu Shakur.

“Authentic, Honest, and Unique”

The memoir has already received high praise from those closest to the family. Jada Pinkett Smith, a pivotal figure in Tupac’s life, shares her thoughts on the new book:

“I have known Mo for years, and his memoir captures exactly what it’s like to sit down and listen to the man tell stories: he really brings us back to the ’90s — and to Tupac — in full color. His voice is authentic, honest, and uniquely his. I learned new things about Mo, Pac, and the Shakurs, but most of all I loved being brought back to that unique and beautiful time in our lives.” — Jada Pinkett Smith

A Story of Revolution, Music, and Justice

Named one of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” by Rolling Stone, Tupac Shakur’s legacy continues to grow even thirty years after his murder. However, this new book, “This Thug’s Life”, goes beyond the music. It explores the racial justice and Afrocentrism that were central to the Shakur family.

Mopreme and Tupac were the children of Black revolutionaries who encouraged them to embrace their Blackness. Their father, Mutulu Shakur, was a key activist in the Black liberation movement, with deep connections to the Black Panthers and Young Lords. This new book reveals how issues of police brutality and unjust incarceration were the driving forces behind the brothers’ record-breaking albums. These issues remain just as pressing today as they were in the ’90s.

Mopreme delivers an “unapologetically Black story” of two brothers who centered their experience as Black men and told their truth through art. This was done despite friction with racists, law enforcement, and the government.

“This Is Your Brother. Hold His Hand.”

Perhaps the most emotional aspect of this new book is the deep bond between the siblings. Mopreme has been known by many names: Maurice, Little Mutulu, Mogie, Mocedes, ‘Preme, Wycked. Born in Flushing, New York, and raised in Queens, he received an early education in “righteous New Afrikan values” from his father.

His life changed forever when he met his new baby brother, Tupac. Mutulu gave him an instruction that would echo through the decades: “This is your brother. Hold his hand”.

Mopreme never let go. For more than two decades, he was by Tupac’s side as a collaborator, producer, stagehand, and sibling confidante. He was there as Tupac rose to transcendent heights in the industry, and he was there until the day Pac’s life was cut short in Las Vegas.

The Keeper of the Legacy

As the sole surviving member of both T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. and Outlaw Immortalz, Mopreme Shakur has played a crucial role in the production and release of Tupac’s albums. He has appeared in and consulted on major projects like “Tupac Assassination,” “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.,” and “Dear Mama”.

Currently, Mopreme is producing a feature documentary about the influence of T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E., as well as developing a video game and a scripted series.

But before all that, on February 24, he finally tells his own story in this new book. It is a story of complex family relationships, fame, tragedy, politics, and brotherly love. As Mo would say: Dig that!

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