Mother Spurs Tupac Tribute Album

The impact of the late Tupac Shakur on hip-hop is massive. But even his biggest fans might not immediately recognize his songs on an upcoming tribute album.

Shakur's manager Leila Steinberg and his mother Afeni Shakur are recruiting artists from a wide range of styles for the project, which is meant to show the universality of his message and music. Plans call for the album to be released through Amaru Records, the Interscope-distributed company formed by Afeni Shakur, next spring to coincide with a major Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit commemorating two decades of rap.

Signed on already are reggae's Ziggy Marley, rock band Smash Mouth, rap outfit Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, alternative-funk's Meshell Ndegeocello, pop-soul singer Roberta Flack and former Motown producer Lamont Dozier. Those not inked but showing interest, says Steinberg, include Madonna and the Wallflowers, while Sting, Prince, Alanis Morissette and Seal are also being pursued.

"On each song we want to have the performers take [Tupac's] lyrics and reproduce the song in their own style," says Steinberg. "The only thing that will really stay the same are his lyrics. And most of them will be sung, not rapped."

The idea, Steinberg says, grew from a high school curriculum she's developed in Berkeley using Shakur's lyrics to spur lessons about a variety of cultural issues. She found that the messages were relevant to kids from a multitude of cultures and backgrounds. "I took 'Dear Mama,' which is about his totally coming to terms with the pain of his mother as a drug addict and still loving her unconditionally; 'Papa's Song,' about growing up without a father and the issue of abandonment; 'Life Goes On,' about how we're more than our body but are also spiritual beings.

"Every one of these songs has a story and a powerful issue. I hope we can deliver this gift not only to him as a tribute, but to the community and people who like all genres of music, so they can appreciate how gifted he was."

Wallflowers manager Andy Slater says that he was contacted about the project but had heard little detail about it since. The idea, though, intrigues him, and he says the group will consider participating, "given the right song."

Madonna's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg says that her artist was interested in participating and helped hook up Ndegeocello, who records for her Maverick Records, with the project. But Madonna herself had to pass due to other commitments.