Angela Ardis

An improbable window into one of Black America's most iconic figures, this 20th anniversary re-release celebrates the vulnerable, troubled, impassioned human behind hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur.

In 1995, one year before Tupac Shakur was shot dead in Las Vegas, he was jailed for two months inside New York City’s notorious Rikers Island. While there, he received a letter from a stranger – Angela Ardis, acting on a casual bet with her friends. She included her photo and phone number… and soon found herself answering a call from Tupac himself. Remarkably, their near-daily contact grew into a complex kinship of souls that neither could define – and touched both in unexpected ways. Alive in letters and original poems – some available nowhere else – Tupac’s ever-relevant heart beats within these pages. Playful, sensual, and serious, he gives insightful observations on music, prison, and life’s uncertainties – and his dreams for a future that would soon be tragically cut short. In this moving, one-of-a-kind tribute, generations of fans can experience a profound connection to the mind and unbroken spirit of a passionate, unpredictable musical icon.