Tupac Interviews

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Tupac's former bodyguard, Frank Alexander, talks in depth about Tupac's life, death, the Outlawz, the new 2pac movie: Resurrection, and much more. Props to Aurel from MadeNiggaz.net who conducted the interview for us.

This is Aurel from MadeNiggaz.net over here with Frank Alexander, Tupac's bodyguard, what's up Frank?

What's happening my man? I wanna give a shout out to MadeNiggaz.Net and 2PacZone.Com. So you guys keep on doing what you’re doing, putting it down for Pac man. That's how we got to keep him alive, in the spirit. People like you guys out there, you know, keeping his name going. That's much love man. One love, as Pac would always say.

You wanna tell us how you got with Wrightway Security?

Okay, I don't know if you guys ever read the book "Got Your Back". That's my book that I put out right after Tupac was assassinated. In the book I'm not going into complete detail of it, but I'll summarise it for you for this interview. How I got with Wrightway Security was...One of my partners, my homeboy, he was a limo driver. And he had just picked Tupac up from LAX. He'd just got in from Rikers Island. As everyone knows he was locked up at Rikers Island for that alleged rape conviction that was put on him. Anyway, when he got into the studio there was a security guy that was on duty that day. His name was -Cedrik-. Cedrik and I had been in the marine core over the last ten years together. Cedrik and my homeboy the limo driver, his name was KJ, they got to talk and Cedrik said to KJ: "Ey you look like a partner of mine that I was in service with". And KJ said: "Oh yea, who is that?"

And he goes: "Oh, this brother named Frank". He goes: "Alexander!?" And he was like": yeah", he goes:"man, I know that dude, he's like my brother". Cause KJ and I use to...you know we looked similar alike and were built the same, so we used to go as you know brothers and stuff like that, and that's how I ended up getting hooked up with Cedrik again, through he and KJ accidentally...as God had it planned, it was a plan. KJ and Cedrik met, gave him my phone number, KJ gave Cedrik my phone number, and from there I hooked back up with Cedrik, and Cedrik said to me, "hey im working for Death Row, what is you doing? Can you still carry your weapon?" You know...bla bla bla...I was like "yeah"...so he was like "well why don't you hook up with the dude that runs the security which is Wrightway Security, and we'll see if he can..You know...get you on. So I was like: "cool". So he set me up with Wrightway Security and on it was after that.

What was your first impression of Tupac when you met him?

Well see, here's the thing man. That's a good question because Pac and I... I only saw Tupac, as he would come in and out of the studio. And he would come in and out of the studio, you know, for his recording sessions, the time that he had in the studio. And then at this time after I was hired, I would be the studio-security. And of course, when people come in to the studio, the artists, the artist we would let in and anyone that was a guest of theirs we had to pat them down so we had to search them. So Pac and I really didn't have much interacting going on other than I spoke to him when he came into the studio. And it was like that. I mean my presence was known, at that time I was 270 pounds, so he definitely knew who I was as he would come into the studio, which to him I was just security.

How do you feel about the Outlawz, first impression of them?

Same thing basically with Pac. The Outlawz were Tupac's back up singers, and all of them were kids at that time, you know, they were 17. I think the oldest one was EDI and he was 20-21, something like that. To be honest with you all of them were just some cooler brother’s man. They were trying to learn the business, Pac was teaching them. When Pac told them to do something they respected him and they did it. Pac was like their big brother.

What's your favourite tracks by Tupac?

Oh man! hehe.

Top 3?

Okay top 3, that will be easy. "All Eyez On Me", "Only God Can Judge Me" and "Picture Me Rollin". I named all three of those from the "All Eyez On Me" CD, because that was the album he was working on at the time. I had the privilege of watching this brother putting it down. Tupac was quick; he was fast with the pen, the thoughts and the lyrics that just came out of him. It was phenomenal to see this brother at that time doing what he did best and I mean he was putting it down. So those three tracks of that particularly album were the ones that...you know...He had Benz 500 SL, I had a 500 SL and we would have our top down. We be Rollin‘. And the songs were perfect. Picture me rollin' in my 500 SL...It was cool.

What's your view on the report by Chuck Phillips saying Biggie put the hit out on Pac?

Chuck Phillips is a joke, that's my review on Chuck Phillips. That Chuck Phillips interview I thought was bogus. I think that Chuck Phillip himself is bogus for even putting that out. That wasn't right the way he did that. I don't think that Biggie had anything to do with Tupac's murder. Biggie was too big of a person, meaning physically too big of a person to been in Las Vegas and no one have seen him in Vegas. Especially at the MGM where we were at. That was just bogus. Chuck Phillips interviewed me when that whole situation first happened with Tupac. It was just a very very very small interview, probably two or three lines. I wouldn't give anything up because I was in the process of trying to do my book, so I really didn't do much with Chuck. Chuck knew how to get the hold of me, knows how to get the hold of me. If he wanted to get straight scoop how come I wasn't interviewed in that LA Times article. I was a key witness; eyewitness to that whole murder of Tupac and Chuck could have come to me. He didn't wanna come to me cause he didn't want the truth in that article.

Where were you at when Pac got shot?

I was in the car directly behind Tupac. Actually how the whole thing went down... After we left the fight at the MGM we went to Suge's house for Suge to change clothes. And you know, I was getting into the car with Tupac and Suge and Tupac turned to me and said, here drive the Outlawz cause we gonna be drinking tonight and we want you to drive us back after we're done drinking and partying at the club. So that's how I ended up not in the car. My hand was on the door, opening the door, actually getting in with Tupac and Suge. Had I got in their back seat I wouldn't be doing this interview right now. And again, people think man it just wasn't your time. We all have guardian angels, those that believe in the Lord. I have God on my side and is no doubt about that. I had a guardian angel that night. Tupac gave me those keys and I didn't get into that car... I would have been dead, bottom line. So we left from the Luxor Hotel, went to Suge's house, Suge change clothes, we headed back down the Vegas strip, turned right on the Flamingo, going east toward 662. That was Suge's nightclub out there in Las Vegas. We were just sitting there at the light and the Cadillac pulled up. We really didn't pay no attention, no mind to it. It was just like another car pulling up to a stoplight. They got closer to the car and started firering into the car.

Where do you think they drove after they shot?

The street we were at is called Koval that's a one-way, it busted a right hand turn. Exactly where they went I have no idea. But the funny thing about that is people say nobody followed the car. Somebody did follow the car, the car was followed. The car that was behind me took off and followed that car.

And where did they say it went?

No, I never spoke to that person that was driving the car behind me. But he did though [follow the car]. He just recently got killed.

Was the Nas beef resolved before Pac died or is Nas just making that up?

I can’t really say because I don't know about that. I know about the beef but I dont know if that was resolved or not. You know, if Nas is telling the truth, yeah, it was. Afeni Shakur, I don't know if she just put that song out there on "Better Dayz" with Nas on it.

How do you feel about him being on that too?

I think the track itself is tight. I like the track. You got the first song on there with Pac on it so you get to hear the original version of "Thugz Mansion", and then you get to hear the acapella with Nas, and it’s just been re-done. It actually sounds very good. I've also noticed that Nas has a new CD out, its called "God's Son", and he has "Thugz Mansion" on that as well. I haven't bought it and haven't heard it but Im sure its the exact same song.

The thing about Pac and the thing about Afeni and the thing about his music being left behind. She is in control of the Estate, and she's making judgements on what she FEEL that Tupac would have wanted her to do with his legacy. I have no problems with that. I have no beef with that, because that's his mother and she has the right to do what she wants to do. When I say I have no beef with it I mean I have no real feelings about it, because I know for a fact that she's a woman of God and she's Christian. She and I we have spoke and I know where her heart is at. I have a blessing with the things that I've done. I haven't done anything without having it OK and her knowing about it. Im just not like somebody that trying to put something out, trying to ride on his fame. I was there, I was with him for that last year of his life, I was blessed to been with him. And I believe that my side of what has happened, and my side of the whole death surrounding Tupac is my own opinion. And in my opinion I have the right to express what I feel. Im not expressing it by lying. There's not one single thing I've lied about in my book "Got Your Back" or my documentary "Before I Wake". There's all about the truth...

So who do you believe killed Pac from your opinion?

It's hard to say who I think killed Tupac, because even though I was there, unfortunately, I wish I could have said I saw the person and I could have identified the person, but I didn't. Had I been able to do that, that would have been a solved case six seven years ago here now. I can’t say who I think it was cause I just can’t THINK, and say oh I THINK because that wouldn't be right.

How long did it take you to write your book "Got Your Back"?

It took me...we started on the book in January of 1997. We had the first draft done by March, sent it in for the approval, say they liked the approval of it and said go ahead and finish it. It took from March to September to have the last draft of it done and then it came out I believe in 98.

You planning on writing any more books?

It all depends on if God leads me in that direction. I would definitely like to write another book. I can’t say exactly what it would be on right now. It would always have something to do with Tupac because he was a part of my life and I was part of his. So I couldn't write a book without talking about my life and that time and that last year with him. I just don't know what the subject of that book would be. "Before I Wake", I would like to come out with a part 2 to, because I do have some other things that I wanna say and I got some other footage that I wanna use. I may be doing something with a part 2 to "Before I Wake", but that's yet to be seen right now.

Anything you wanna say about the "Resurrection" movie coming on? I heard It's like a 30 min live performance of Pac on that or something?

Yeah, that's from the House Of Blues. The House of Blues was the last consort Tupac would perform. That was done when we got back from Italy, which was in July of 1996, actually the fourth of July. We landed in LAX Airport and from LAX we went straight to the House of Blues for him to perform there. So I have footage of that and apparently there's other footage of it as well. But im doing some stuff with Afeni on that and I cant go any further than, you know its going to be tight. I know that because that's going to be the authorized story of Tupac. Everything else is unauthorized because it didn't come from the Estate.

So what's your involvement in the movie?

I've submitted some footage, some footage has never before been seen. I have some stuff that if their interested in using, their gonna use it. We'll see what happens from there. The movie is actually pretty much done, they're in the edit ting process. And if what I have submitted, you know, if it's in there, it's in there, if not, it won’t be...

What are you doing today, you still doing security? I just got back into doing some stuff with a partner of mine that opened up a business. He asked me to come and help him, so im looking at moving with him a little bit, doing some stuff. I am still concentrating on putting out another project on Tupac as well. Title unknown right now...

So is there anything else you wanna say?

For all you readers out there that's gonna read this interview, what I have to say is all about the truth. And if you haven't read my book "Got Your Back" I think that's a must get. You can get it from amazon.com...

Yea that's a good book...

Yea that's a good book man, and even Afeni agreed with me on that because it was right that I write that book. Because it was something that the family wasn't able to do at that time and it was like a family member being right there, being able to tell what was going on with him. And then the documentary as well, a lot of people have seen it and im sure that it's been well liked. And If you haven't seen it, it's a must get as well, because it goes into a little bit of stuff.

Other than that im just happy that's there a website out there like HitEmUp.Com, MadeNiggaz.Net and 2PacZone.Com that's keeping Pac's legacy going man, because it's no different than Elvis Presley. Tupac is been deemed the black Elvis. And it should be said that he's like the black Elvis of rap. He died in a young age. He was assassinated in the age of 25 years old, and he had a whole lot more to give to the community and a lot more to give to the youth. And pretty much that's what im trying to do. Pick up that baton where he left off at only doing it in a Christian manner of way. Of being a voice of the generation that he left behind. Being able to have kids relate to me through his music and through being the closest person next to him...for the questions and things like that. They ask about you know, how was Tupac, was he like this or was he like that? I give the truth ness of those answers to these kids because a lot of them they knew Tupac they like Tupac and the generation of music that we're in today..The music is what reaches kids.

What do you think Pac would be doing today if he was still around?

Man...you kow..I miss Tupac, I dearly dearly miss him. I miss him because like I said I was blessed with that opportunity to share that last year of his life with him. And the brother was funny, he was funny. I used to tell him all the time you missed your calling. I said you should be a comedian as well as a rapper. I go: "any time you wanna go do some stand-up you should go do it". Cause he was just funny. He was down the earth. He was definitely like definitely like for the family. He was like, help you family man, do this for you family. Look what he did for me and my family. He didn't have to do that, but he had a good heart, then he put it out there like that. Some of the things I miss about him...I miss the way he laughed, I miss the way..u know..When he got serious about his music...the intensity of putting it down and that shows the intensity because of how much he left behind, how many tracks he left behind. That brother knew what he was doing. I just miss him, I truly miss him. And today..look at the music that's out today. Now if he had left already 200 tracks, ok though approximately 200 tracks that he had already left. And that's been seven years, just think seven years +... and he did that in one year, 200 tracks. If you multiply 200 times 7. Oh my goodness, that's a lot of music that brother would been able to have done and put out. So there's really no saying to where he would have been today and what he would have been done. Tupac prophesied his own death too because he knew that he was going to die the way that he did, cause he always spoke about it and he always singed about it...

What kind of stuff did he say to you about it?

Im not gonna go deep into that..other than the fact if you listen to "Me Against The World", "All Eyez On Me" and "Makaveli", you see through his music his pain. You see through his music how he felt death was right around the corner. He prophesied that he was gonna die the way he did, being shot, holding his nuts, laying in the hospital, I.V's all in him, they pumping on him trying to save him..He SINGED about stuff like that, and then it happened just as he predicted it would. It wasn't right of him to go out the way he did but you know what? We all have death to look forward to because nobody lives forever. I just say... live the life to the best of your ability and find God. If you don't have God in your life find God and do what God wants you to do, so you can be blessed that you live your life. And that's how I wanna end it.