The hologram resurrection of the late Tupac Shakur thrilled the audience Sunday night at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival … then it became a huge internet sensation yesterday. Today we are hearing that the hologram Tupac may be going on tour … for real. Plans are reportedly in the works for this hologram Tupac to join Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre on a tour that would visit stadiums around the country … and possibly the world. Considering how popular hologram Tupac is right now (you can even follow it on Twitter — tho, technically, it’s not really a hologram but rather an elaborate projection), it makes sense that tour plans are seriously being discussed.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are reportedly planning to take the hologram of Tupac, which took to the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival yesterday (April 15), out on tour. The lifelike hologram appeared during the rappers’ joint headline set at the California festival, which also saw guest performances from Eminem, 50 Cent and Warren G. Buoyed by the success of this, reports today (April 17) suggest that the pair want to take the recreation out on the road. According to the Wall Street Journal, a close source to Dr Dre has said that he and Snoop Dogg are considering a tour that would see them performing alongside the virtual Tupac. Plans under discussion reportedly include a tour in stadiums alongside Eminem, 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa, and a smaller, more limited tour, featuring only Dre, Snoop Dogg and the virtual Tupac. The hologram was created by US company Digital Domain, whose chief creative officer, Ed Ulbrich described the hologram as “most complicated thing that can be done” and said that Dr Dre has “a vision” for using holograms in the future. He said: “To create a completely synthetic human being is the most complicated thing that can be done. This is not found footage. This is not archival footage. This is an illusion. This is just the beginning. Dre has a massive vision for this.”
Under other circumstances, I would absolutely HATE this idea. The thought of scrounging up a dead celebrity, animating it and putting it on stage just sounds like a horribly terrible idea. BUT, in this instance, with the way that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre are paying homage to their late friend 2pac, I am just charmed by the whole thing. I’ll admit that it seems a bit much to take this hologram on tour but … it does make sense. There is so much interest in this hologram. I know there are lots of people who would happily pay to not only see this hologram with their own eyes but would LOVE to get a chance to kinda see Tupac perform in concert again. Folks, these are the times we live in. Technology will only make this sort of thing even more of a reality. The robot uprising is coming. For now, we have holograms to entertain us. Fascinating, isn’t it?
What do y’all think? Would YOU like to see hologram Tupac live in concert?
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Eerie!
I would love it…
thats a stupid and horrible idea.
This really creeps me out. This guy is dead…long dead, let him rest. It just doesn’t seem right to “resurrect” him and make money from it. Seriously creepy.
Sarah. You’re obvs not a tupac fan. because seeing that hologram was like the real thing and the gift it gives fans is priceless. to re-live tupacs philosophies during an emotional concert is AMAZING and the money they make from it could possibly go to his foundation. i think this is a great idea. tupac is RESTING IN PEACE. we aint resurrecting him. we are letting his legacy live on, as it should. the man was a pioneer. me and my friend totally called this and said flat out that we would pay 500$ to see this HANDS DOWN. love it.
Okay, I can see your point but it was still a little spooky. Almost like looking at a ghost.
The hologram is absolutely unbelieveable. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. What I saw was a living and breathing Tupac that was showing his talent. Fans will be clamoring to see him again – Not to allow this is a crime – this is not disrespecting him – it is paying tribute to him.
I love this idea and don’t find it any creepier than watching his videos or listening to his music. If it is well done, it will give his fans a new way to experience his talent. One of the best things performers can hope for is that people would still pay to see them after they are gone. That is true success and I am sure it is the spirit of the tour.
Hold on to your hats folks. It’s only a matter of time before Whitney Houston is resurrected from the dead (Via Projection) to tour with Dolly in a duet of, “I will Always Love You”. Even if Snoop Dog and Dr Dre’s motives are to pay homage and not purely monetary they are starting a really despicable trend.
I would think that laws applying to a person’s “image and likeness”, which is usually owned by their estate after they die, would apply to holograms. I wouldn’t think that that, for example, Dolly could use Whitney’s image unless Whitney’s family gave her express permission to do so.
@George M, I can totally see your point. I think this technology will work better on some artists than others. It is a wave of the future. Won’t be long before brains and personality are uploaded to digital medium so people will never really, you know, die. Think of all the sci fi movies where holograms of the deceased are just an everyday part of life in future world. This technology is full immersion and it could lead to TV projection of our favorite shows so they actually take place in our living rooms, in 3D, instead of on our screens.
Yeah in a few years from now holograms will headline summer festivals better yet a new festival will pop up with only holograms of long dead artist populating the line ups. I can see it now. LOL
Horrible concept.Let the dead stay dead.Pretty soon we’ll have x rated movies with dead stars in them.Creeeeeppy.We already have vampires that walk around in daylight and that have kids and whatever.There is no sacred thing anymore.Every movie that was a success has to be remade with blacks on the main characters but forget about making a production of “Porgy and Bess” with white people.Booohooo what a sacrilege.LOL,LOL,LOL….
This creeps me out in the sense that these people have done their time and should be allowed to rest in peace instead of continuing to line the pockets of others. I mean for the right price people are going to be able to do this to whoever they want.
What they did made me feel unbelievably emotional and stunned. It was so incredible, I cried…it was Pac, right there in front of my eyes looking alive and sexy in all his glory spittin some Hail Mary. Awesome. Just afraid that the affect it carried the first time would wear off if it is continued.