Tupac Shakur's poetry was included in the Worcester public school systems
summer reading list this year, to the chagrin of some members of the school
district.

"The Rose That Grew From Concrete," a collection of introspective poetry the
rapper penned between 1989 and 1991 before he was famous, was recommended
along side Jewel's book "A Night Without Armor."

Despite Tupac's cult-like following among young people, the decision to
include his youthful poetry raised eyebrows and will undergo a literary
review by the school district's English department at the request of the
School Committee.

"It's not a book I would have put on there . . . but those who make the list
are trying to appeal to a wide variety of kids,'' school committee member
Mary Mullaney told the Boston Herald. "I wonder sometimes if we're putting
the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on Tupac if we put this on the
list.''

The book includes forewords by Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur as well as world
renowned poet, Nikki Giovanni.

Tupac Shakur is the best-selling rap artist in history and has sold more
records than such cultural icons as Prince, Ozzy Osbourne, Britney Spears,
The Doors and Frank Sinatra.