Nine years after the loss of Tupac Shakur, his likeness will be unveiled at the newly opened Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia on the day of his passing - September 13th, 2005.

The statue, created by sculptor Tina Allen, will stand seven-feet tall on a three-foot base, located within a fountain in the shape of a gothic cross universally associated with the slain superstar. Her previous works feature bronze monuments of historic figures ranging from Frederick Douglass and A. Philip Randolph to Nat King Cole and Dr. Martin Luther King.

Pac's mom, Afeni Shakur says, "This statue will serve as a reminder to all those who visit the Peace Garden of the love and hope for peace my son always held in his heart. This sculpture and the center that surrounds it will carry Tupac's message on down to our children's children."

The ceremony is free for all whom attend and tickets for the reception are available for the price of $50. Those who donate a $100 or more can attend the reception, as well as purchase a commemorative brick that can be engraved with a name or message. The bricks will then be donated to the "One Brick at a Time" campaign where it'll be used to construct the Tupac Center.

In addition to the unveiling of the statue, on September 20th, The Rose, Vol. 2 CD is slated for release. Like Vol. 1, the CD is a collection of songs that are inspired by poems the late MC wrote as a teenager. While all tracks included are not spoken word readings, new material has been written and performed by Bone Thugs 'N Harmony, Tha Outlawz, and Digital Underground's Shock G..

In 1997, Afeni Shakur founded Amaru Entertainment and has since has released posthumous albums, a documentary, and a clothing line through the imprint. The money generated in sales was donated to the Tupac Foundation which was created that same year.

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