Four bullets.
Who did it?
Lashonda Lester might not be able to
tell you who pulled what triggers where,
but she can definitely school you on why
the lost lives of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
(not to mention the unmurdered yet still late Eazy-E)
matter one hell of a lot.
The acclaimed – at least locally acclaimed, damnit –
stand-up comedian’s presenting a slate of biography shows,
presenting the facts along with some relevant comedy flavors,
and she’s starting the series (Weird! True Hollywood Tales)
with Thug Heaven, exploring the too-short & tragic lives
of those rap stars referenced above.
But why, Lashonda?
Why biography in the first place?
“I’m extremely fascinated by tragic biographies about
people who
worked hard to accomplish their dreams, only to die unexpectedly,”
says the comedian. “Even though their stories are often turbulent,
they’re inspiring to me.” She frowns. “Hope that doesn’t come off as weird.”
And why gangster rappers to start?
Why begin the series with, ah, thugs in particular?
“These guys weren’t really thugs in the sense of they wanted to rob or kill you.
Johnny Cash sang about shooting a dude in Reno just to watch him die –
didn’t say shit about calling the EMS – yet nobody ever called him a gangsta/thug singer.
Tupac and Biggie’s deaths are so iconic, it would be a crime not to do their story first.”
We find the comedian guilty of giving a damn
& doing something educational & interesting about it.
But, hey – you be the judge.
This article appears in January 20 • 2012.