There’s a new documentary on the murders of Biggie and Tupac coming this summer

A new documentary about former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight and the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac will be released this summer. 

Directed by British documentary maker Nick Broomfield, Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac will be released in July. It is the follow up to Broomfield’s 2002 documentary, Biggie & Tupac, which alleged that the murders of both rappers were orchestrated by Knight. 

In Last Man Standing, Broomfield claims to produce new evidence relating to the LAPD’s alleged involvement in those murders, and its attempt to conceal evidence. The release of the documentary comes three years after Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison, after being convicted of manslaughter, which Broomfield claims prompted others to give evidence against him in relation to other violent crimes. 

The documentary’s press release states that, “Last Man Standing takes a look at Death Row and how L.A.’s street gang culture had come to dominate its business workings as well as an association with corrupt LA police officers who were also gang affiliated. It would be this world of gang rivalry and dirty cops that would claim the lives of the world’s two greatest rappers, Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls.”

Speaking about the documentary, Broomfield said: “After finishing Biggie & Tupac in 2002 I became increasingly troubled by the treatment of LAPD detective Russell Poole who had come up with evidence that LAPD officers were involved in the hit on Biggie Smalls. 

“Russell was vilified by the LAPD and over the years I watched as his health and wellbeing declined. In August 2015 Russell died of a massive heart attack during a meeting at the LA Sheriff’s headquarters where he was still arguing his theory of the Biggie Smalls murder. It was a tragic end that Russell didn’t deserve, however a few years later people started talking more freely after Suge Knight (whom Russell accused of commissioning the hit) was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2018.

“I believed in Russell and I believed in his theory, and people who had never spoken before, who didn’t know Russell Poole, came forward with new evidence never heard before that supports his allegations that LAPD officers were involved.”

Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac will be in cinemas from 2nd July. 

Earlier this year, it was reported that Death Row Records was for sale, as part of the sale of the label's umbrella company, Entertainment One (eOne). This week, it was confirmed in a report by Music Business Worldwide that financial giant Blackstone would purchase the Hasbro-owned company’s music entities, including Death Row, for $385 million.