Angela Ardis

Rikers Island is the centerpiece of the New York City Department of Corrections, a sprawling prison city of concrete and steel with housing for more than 16,000 inmates. Early in 1995, it was also the temporary home of legendary rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, incarcerated for a crime he swore he did not commit. And it was there that Angela Ardis, acting on a late-night wager among her friends and coworkers, sent a letter, along with a photo and her phone number. To her utter delight and amazement, Angela's phone rang a short while later. Tupac Shakur was on the line. Over the next several months, Angela and Tupac shared a near-daily exchange of letters, poems and phone calls, and their the relationship quickly grew into something neither of them could quite define, a kinship of souls that touched each in unexpected ways. Those original poems and letters, many of them written after Tupac's transfer from Rikers to Dannemora State Prison, are presented here, along with the increasingly passionate and personal phone calls that touched on every subject imaginable. Far from the media spotlight, Tupac was by turns playful, sensual and serious, offering sharp observations on prison, music and the uncertainties of life. His letters to Angela reflect how he felt about being shot five times and left for dead one terrible night in New York in 1994, and his heartfelt verse encapsulates his dreams for the future--a future that would be so tragically cut short just over eighteen months after their correspondence began. Tupac Shakur was shot on September 7th, 1996 and died a week later from his injuries. His murder remains unsolved, an ending as enigmatic as his life. But while Tupac may be gone, his words live on here, giving every fan a rare glimpse inside the mind and unbroken spirit of a passionate and unpredictable musical icon. Angela Ardis is an author, screenwriter, actress and model.

Inside a Thug's Heart

Details the daily exchange and special bond between the author and Tupac Shakur, which commenced during his stay at Riker's Island, in this powerful collection of personal letters, original poems, and intimate conversations that provides rare insight into the thoughts and aspirations of this musical icon. 30,000 first printing.

With Original Poems and Letters by Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur

After legendary rapper and actor Tupac Shakur was incarcerated in New York City's Rikers Island prison in 1995, Angela Ardis, acting on a bet with her friends, sent him a letter, photo, and phone number... and soon found herself answering a phone call from Tupac himself. Their near-daily contact grew and now, in letters and original poems - some available nowhere else - here is Tupac as never before. 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.

Angela Ardis

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