HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, Tupack Shakur's Poetic Legacy Lives On

HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME is an original, new musical at the Palace Theatre that gives rise to the elegiac lyrics & music by Tupack Shakur.  Shupack lyrics, rap & music speak in a stentorian voice of racism, violence, oppression, dreams, love & hopes for change.  HOLLER is a visionary work of genius dealing with contemporary oppressive issues.  It grabs you & moves you to tears, rage, empathy & awe.  It's a travesty this social & politically potent voice has been quelled by a shooting; a plight he spoke of frequently.  This is a groundbreaking musical.  It defies any one genre.  It's a seamless amalgamation of the best in music: rap, hip hop, rock, soul, gospel & folk.  It possesses a creative montage of movements & dance. The show's poetry & prose are as stirring as Maya Angelou's & Dr. King's.  The enormous compilation of talent in every aspect of this production are by Tony winning artists:  dir.  Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) musical/staging by Wayne Cilento (Wicked) music supervision by Daryl Waters (After Midnight) book by Todd Kreidler (Guess Whose Coming to Dinner) and lyrics by Amer. poet/rapper/actor Tuapc Shakur (1971-96.)  The entire cast is sensational but I must give a huge shout out to Saul Williams.  Williams' lead performance is unforgettable.  Homage is bestowed on the shoulders of a multitude of influential legends: Marvin Gaye (What's Going On? There's too many of us dying) Sam Cooke (Change is Gonna Come, Billie Holiday (God Bless the Child) to name but a few.  Nonetheless, it's Tupac's expressive strengths that cry out to be heard.  "Hear me - no need to fear me.  Long live the rose that grew from concrete."