Interview from http://www.kadafilegacy.com with Angela Ardis, Author of Inside a thugz heart...
Q: Thanks for taking your precious time to conduct this interview with us. First off how are you doing? How has life been treating you? Any lucky man in your life?
A: I’m doing well. I can’t complain. (smile) Life has been pretty good.
I do have a man in my life and he’s been here for the last 3 years. We’re looking to marry but are taking things one day at a time…neither one of us
are in a hurry. (smile)
Q: what upcoming projects do you have in the works, anything 2pac related.Or Just Something You Are Working O?
A: No. I have nothing else that is Tupac inspired (smile). I have a new book that just got picked up called “The Block”. It will be out sometime next year. There is a synopsis on my website www.AngelaArdis.com . I also have a screenplay being produced in LA via a business partner of mine and one in constant (smile) preproduction in Atlanta.
I am developing two clothing lines – one is casual inspiration – the other is more fashionable. I also have a jewelry line in the works; all of which should be showing their faces sometime in the New Year via my website (initially).
Q: Well for people who didn't read the book, can you tell them how you first got in contact with 2pac?
A: It was a fluky bet by some co-workers at my job. We were working late and MC Lyte’s song Ruffneck came on the radio. We asked each other, if you could have a ruffneck, who would it be? I said Tupac and for some reason it became a fixation for one co-worker in particular. She bet me that I couldn’t get in touch with him. I didn’t think I could.
I’d had an uncle in prison and knew that you would need to get the inmates prison number in order to send a letter. So, I called Riker’s Island Correctional Facility, asked the operator for Tupac Shakur’s prison number (never once believing that she’d give it to me because of his celebrity), received his prison number and Riker’s address, hung up the phone and sat there staring at it. I wrote him a two paragraph letter, inserted a photo, sent it Fed-Ex and he called me three days later.
Q: Do you feel that if pac was still alive, you would have met up with him
once more. The only time you seen him was when you visited him in Clinton
correct?
A: I truly believe that, eventually, we would have met up somewhere. Yes.
The only time I saw Tupac was at Clinton Correctional Facility.
Q: How do you feel 2pac's legacy is being handled 10 years later?
A:I believe his estate and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation is handling his legacy beautifully. They’re making every effort to keep his name and likeness in the public eye in a positive and refined manner.
Q: Can you tell the fans, what went threw your mind when you heard 2pac was shot. What went threw your mind when you heard he passed away on the 13th of September in 96.
A: I was just as shocked and surprised as everyone else. Initially, I remember thinking, “Oh, he’s been shot before and he got through it. He’ll get through this, too.” But when they announced he’d passed…it was just a deafening silence.
Q: Besides Me against the world, which you state in your book you bought is there any other 2pac music CD's you own, if so which one(s)? which is your favorite song when he was alive, and favorite after he passed away.
A: I own them all. My favorite songs period are Holla if Ya Hear Me (I love the beat!), Brenda’s Got A Baby, Can U Get Away, How Do U Want it, Wonda Y They Call U. Actually, the entire Me Against the World CD (smile). Depending on my mood, I’ll listen to other songs on his other CD’s but definitely the songs I noted above.
Q: You told pac in your letter that, "he is inside of you" pac responded with "now that I am inside of you I don't want to leave" you told him you
"don't want him to ever leave your system "you have implanted yourself inside of me" does he still hold that place no matter what?
does he still have a special place in your heart?
A: Tupac will always hold a special place inside of me because of the connection that I felt with him. The side of him that I was blessed to have the opportunity to meet, the side that I shared in the book, was so different from the portrait the media always attempted to exude.
Q: You said the second day, you went to visit him that pac and his cousin where talking about pacs next album. You said he was writing songs for the CD he wanted to do upon his release, do you remember any titles ? ones that maybe didn't make the album?
A: No, there were no titles in particular that were discussed.
Q: During your private time with 2pac, what films did he tell you he was going to write. Remember any titles ? and what exactly did he say about the youth center he wanted to start?
A: I’m sorry but I’d rather keep that to myself, if you don’t mind.
Q: Do you remember anything he talked about, might it be with you or his cousins. That you didn't add to the book that you can share with us? Do you remember his cousins names? Who he was or who they were?
A: Yes, there were several topics that were discussed that I didn’t include in the book but I’d rather keep them where they are. (smile) The cousin that I went up there with was Billy.
Q: Have you had the chance, to still keep in touch with his family, his cousins. I Am assuming you met his mother? If so how was that like for you?
A: I actually saw everyone at the premiere of “Tupac Ressurrection” in LA. I flew out to LA for that. We all reconnected at the after party. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had! I’ve never formally met his mother. I would love to and I know that when the time is right, it will happen. Nevertheless, she did give me the approval to put the book out. I thank her profusely for that.
Q: Who accompanied you to visit pac those two days you were there in New York?
A: Tupac’s cousin Billy accompanied me to the prison; however, Moe and Big Syke were there as well.
Q: In your book, (page 235 5th paragraph last sentence) when you arrived back home you told your roommate. "I explained Something had changed on the second day. I couldn't Explain it, but something had" can you elaborate on this.? Is it negative or positive.?
A: The change wasn’t negative at all. It was one of those things that once you’ve built something up so much and then you actually interchange with it…it’s not as intense as it was in your mind. I think that was what Tupac and I were feeling. It’s still hard to explain but I wouldn’t classify it as a negative thing, just a thing. (smile)
Q: Do you have a special piece of poem that's your favorite written by 2pac?
A: Yes, actually the poem he wrote me called “I Feel You” is my favorite but the last phrase let me know that he definitely understood my mind. It reads: (pg 157 , Inside A Thug’s Heart)
“From this day forth until the end
Eternally I claim
It’s impossible to love a woman
Until you’ve fucked her brain”
Q: Do you read the letters and poetry once in a while and reminisce of the times?
A: From time to time, I’ll look back over certain sections or reread certain poems and marvel at the flukiness of it all. I marvel at how it started and where it is today. I ask how and why, constantly but just figure that everything happens for a reason.
Q: Thank you So Much For your Time Angela any last thing You want To Say?
A: I would just like to thank the thousands of people who have written me emails expressing their joy for me writing this book. I truly felt that I would be ridiculed and bashed for having written it but have only received two emails of that nature. I’m truly grateful that so many people were able to feel what I felt and relive what I lived and were truly able to see the side of him, the man, that I had the opportunity to connect with. It has been your emails that have given me the confirmation that I contributed to his legacy and not scarred it. I thank you for that…truly.
Source: http://www.kadafilegacy.com
Q: Thanks for taking your precious time to conduct this interview with us. First off how are you doing? How has life been treating you? Any lucky man in your life?
A: I’m doing well. I can’t complain. (smile) Life has been pretty good.
I do have a man in my life and he’s been here for the last 3 years. We’re looking to marry but are taking things one day at a time…neither one of us
are in a hurry. (smile)
Q: what upcoming projects do you have in the works, anything 2pac related.Or Just Something You Are Working O?
A: No. I have nothing else that is Tupac inspired (smile). I have a new book that just got picked up called “The Block”. It will be out sometime next year. There is a synopsis on my website www.AngelaArdis.com . I also have a screenplay being produced in LA via a business partner of mine and one in constant (smile) preproduction in Atlanta.
I am developing two clothing lines – one is casual inspiration – the other is more fashionable. I also have a jewelry line in the works; all of which should be showing their faces sometime in the New Year via my website (initially).
Q: Well for people who didn't read the book, can you tell them how you first got in contact with 2pac?
A: It was a fluky bet by some co-workers at my job. We were working late and MC Lyte’s song Ruffneck came on the radio. We asked each other, if you could have a ruffneck, who would it be? I said Tupac and for some reason it became a fixation for one co-worker in particular. She bet me that I couldn’t get in touch with him. I didn’t think I could.
I’d had an uncle in prison and knew that you would need to get the inmates prison number in order to send a letter. So, I called Riker’s Island Correctional Facility, asked the operator for Tupac Shakur’s prison number (never once believing that she’d give it to me because of his celebrity), received his prison number and Riker’s address, hung up the phone and sat there staring at it. I wrote him a two paragraph letter, inserted a photo, sent it Fed-Ex and he called me three days later.
Q: Do you feel that if pac was still alive, you would have met up with him
once more. The only time you seen him was when you visited him in Clinton
correct?
A: I truly believe that, eventually, we would have met up somewhere. Yes.
The only time I saw Tupac was at Clinton Correctional Facility.
Q: How do you feel 2pac's legacy is being handled 10 years later?
A:I believe his estate and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation is handling his legacy beautifully. They’re making every effort to keep his name and likeness in the public eye in a positive and refined manner.
Q: Can you tell the fans, what went threw your mind when you heard 2pac was shot. What went threw your mind when you heard he passed away on the 13th of September in 96.
A: I was just as shocked and surprised as everyone else. Initially, I remember thinking, “Oh, he’s been shot before and he got through it. He’ll get through this, too.” But when they announced he’d passed…it was just a deafening silence.
Q: Besides Me against the world, which you state in your book you bought is there any other 2pac music CD's you own, if so which one(s)? which is your favorite song when he was alive, and favorite after he passed away.
A: I own them all. My favorite songs period are Holla if Ya Hear Me (I love the beat!), Brenda’s Got A Baby, Can U Get Away, How Do U Want it, Wonda Y They Call U. Actually, the entire Me Against the World CD (smile). Depending on my mood, I’ll listen to other songs on his other CD’s but definitely the songs I noted above.
Q: You told pac in your letter that, "he is inside of you" pac responded with "now that I am inside of you I don't want to leave" you told him you
"don't want him to ever leave your system "you have implanted yourself inside of me" does he still hold that place no matter what?
does he still have a special place in your heart?
A: Tupac will always hold a special place inside of me because of the connection that I felt with him. The side of him that I was blessed to have the opportunity to meet, the side that I shared in the book, was so different from the portrait the media always attempted to exude.
Q: You said the second day, you went to visit him that pac and his cousin where talking about pacs next album. You said he was writing songs for the CD he wanted to do upon his release, do you remember any titles ? ones that maybe didn't make the album?
A: No, there were no titles in particular that were discussed.
Q: During your private time with 2pac, what films did he tell you he was going to write. Remember any titles ? and what exactly did he say about the youth center he wanted to start?
A: I’m sorry but I’d rather keep that to myself, if you don’t mind.
Q: Do you remember anything he talked about, might it be with you or his cousins. That you didn't add to the book that you can share with us? Do you remember his cousins names? Who he was or who they were?
A: Yes, there were several topics that were discussed that I didn’t include in the book but I’d rather keep them where they are. (smile) The cousin that I went up there with was Billy.
Q: Have you had the chance, to still keep in touch with his family, his cousins. I Am assuming you met his mother? If so how was that like for you?
A: I actually saw everyone at the premiere of “Tupac Ressurrection” in LA. I flew out to LA for that. We all reconnected at the after party. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had! I’ve never formally met his mother. I would love to and I know that when the time is right, it will happen. Nevertheless, she did give me the approval to put the book out. I thank her profusely for that.
Q: Who accompanied you to visit pac those two days you were there in New York?
A: Tupac’s cousin Billy accompanied me to the prison; however, Moe and Big Syke were there as well.
Q: In your book, (page 235 5th paragraph last sentence) when you arrived back home you told your roommate. "I explained Something had changed on the second day. I couldn't Explain it, but something had" can you elaborate on this.? Is it negative or positive.?
A: The change wasn’t negative at all. It was one of those things that once you’ve built something up so much and then you actually interchange with it…it’s not as intense as it was in your mind. I think that was what Tupac and I were feeling. It’s still hard to explain but I wouldn’t classify it as a negative thing, just a thing. (smile)
Q: Do you have a special piece of poem that's your favorite written by 2pac?
A: Yes, actually the poem he wrote me called “I Feel You” is my favorite but the last phrase let me know that he definitely understood my mind. It reads: (pg 157 , Inside A Thug’s Heart)
“From this day forth until the end
Eternally I claim
It’s impossible to love a woman
Until you’ve fucked her brain”
Q: Do you read the letters and poetry once in a while and reminisce of the times?
A: From time to time, I’ll look back over certain sections or reread certain poems and marvel at the flukiness of it all. I marvel at how it started and where it is today. I ask how and why, constantly but just figure that everything happens for a reason.
Q: Thank you So Much For your Time Angela any last thing You want To Say?
A: I would just like to thank the thousands of people who have written me emails expressing their joy for me writing this book. I truly felt that I would be ridiculed and bashed for having written it but have only received two emails of that nature. I’m truly grateful that so many people were able to feel what I felt and relive what I lived and were truly able to see the side of him, the man, that I had the opportunity to connect with. It has been your emails that have given me the confirmation that I contributed to his legacy and not scarred it. I thank you for that…truly.
Source: http://www.kadafilegacy.com
