'Holler If Ya Hear Me' Review: 2Pac's Stories Take Center Stage In New Musical

Holla if ya hear me – PUMP PUMP if you're pissed
To the sell-outs, livin it up
One way or another you'll be givin it up, huh
I guess cause I'm black born
I'm supposed to say peace, sing songs, and get capped on

2Pac’s rhymes are heard loud and clear in Holler If Ya Hear Me, a new and daring musical directed by Kenny Leon, which opened at the Palace Theater. Stories of urban life are often untold, and when they are, they’re severely misunderstood. Holler If Ya Hear Me seeks to drag them all out into the limelight for everyone to see, even if it has to use a weak plot to do it. With hit songs by the late Tupac Shakur, the musical is a small breath of fresh air in the clutter of homogenous Broadway shows.

Thespian and poet Saul Williams breathes aching life into 2Pac’s rhymes as John, an ex-con who was recently released from prison. He returns to his neighborhood, living the simple life of a mechanic while trying to lay low. But his friends push him to return to the violence and thuggery that landed him in prison in the first place. There’s a love story somewhere in there, but it quickly fades into the themes of gang violence that are jam packed into this two-hour musical. And yes, I realize I subjected you to a vague description of the plot but it’s the best I can do, considering how painfully unclear it is.

It’s actually pretty strange how barren the plot is considering 2Pac’s life is an epic no storywriter can mess with. But then again, Holler If Ya Hear Me isn’t about the legendary rapper; instead the musical tells a story that doesn’t quite live up to the stories told in 2Pac’s music.

The underwhelming plot doesn’t keep this musical from shining. It’s the themes and the message from the late rapper, present throughout the show, that one can appreciate from this hip-hop production. The spectacular set design by Edward Pierce drives the realism of the urban setting, with laser lights that project tall building outlines in the distance and a purple, tricked-out 1970’s convertible as the set to fun dance number “California Love.” And did I mention a live orchestra performs all of the music?

As with most urban stories, the message in Holler If Ya Hear Me didn’t reach a lot of audiences. The New York Times reported that the musical was the lowest grossing musical of Broadway in June. Of course, the subpar plot is partly to blame, but perhaps Holler If Ya Hear Me should have tested the waters in front of smaller audiences before making its Broadway debut. Many Broadway musicals are generic, and have cemented a very specific type of theatergoer (mostly a white, upper-class audience). Consequently, the audience willing to give Holler If Ya Hear Me a chance is relatively small, and the musical could have benefitted from being produced in a smaller theater. That said, with its top notch music numbers, mesmerizing set design, and fresh talent, Holler If Ya Hear Me is an underrated and unforgettable performance.

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