Hologram of Tupac hologram to headline Coachella
INDIO, CA—"We're thrilled to be the first festival EVER to feature a hologram of another hologram!"
Those are the excited words of Blake Blake, director of programming for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival.
"Since we debuted the Tupac hologram in 2012," says Blake, "he's been touring all over the world. Music fans love pretending they're seeing Tupac."
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But the original hologram's surging popularity, combined with an ever-demanding tour schedule, means that Coachella and the three-dimensional image formed by the interference of light beams from a laser or other coherent light source have hit a crossroads.
"While the Tupac hologram from 2012 would love to project at every show every night, we've also got to make sure not to overwork him," explains the Tupac hologram from 2012's tour manager J.C. Crust. "The bottom line is he needed some time off to recharge his non-metaphorical batteries."
But what did the fans, some of whom spent upwards of $1,000 on tickets, think?
"It was cool," said a very dirty Michael Milton, 28. "I come to this festival every year so it was great to see something unique. It was a little reminiscent of the time in 2012 when they got the original hologram of Tupac, but this 2017 hologram made the performance all his own. He sort of had this green glow all around his body, which I really appreciated."
Fortunately for Milton, Blake says the performing holograph trend won't be going away anytime soon.
"We're already discussing expanding our holographic line-up for next year," he shares. "Ideally we'd like to see 7-10 Tupacs onstage performing at once. Technology is only getting better and we want to use it to our advantage. Soon I won't event need to be here talking to you — I'll be able to send a form of communication wirelessly through the Internet, I think. The future is limitless."
Whether or not the festival will be able to expand its roster of holographic artists is uncertain.
"We're actually trying to kill some popular singers right now so we can get them up onstage next year!" exclaims Blake. When asked if he could spill the beans in regards to specific names, he winks and says, "If I told you, I'd have to make you a hologram."
Meanwhile the one artist most affected by the change is taking it in stride. When reached for comment the Tupac hologram from 2012 explained:
"California love!
California, knows how to party
California, knows how to party
In the city of L.A.
In the city of good ol' Watts
In the city, the city of Compton
We keep it rocking! We keep it rocking!
Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west
A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness
The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest
Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex
We in that sunshine state with a bomb ass hemp beat
The state where ya never find a dance floor empty
And pimps be on a mission for them greens
Lean mean money-making-machines serving fiends
I been in the game for ten years making rap tunes
Ever since honeys was wearing Sassoon
Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me
Diamonds shining looking like I robbed Liberace
It's all good, from Diego to the Bay
Your city is the bomb if your city making pay
Throw up a finger if ya feel the same way
Dre putting it down for Californ-I-A
California, knows how to party
California, knows how to party
In the city of L.A. (city of L.A)
In the city of good ol' Watts (good ol' Watts)
In the city, the city of Compton (city of Compton)
We keep it rocking (keep it rocking) We keep it rocking!
Shake it shake it baby, shake, shake it shake it baby,
Shake it shake it mama, shake it Cali
Shake, shake it baby
Shake, shake it shake, shake it, shake it Cali
Out on bail fresh outta jail, California dreaming
Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearing hoochies screaming
Fiending for money and alcohol
The life of a west side player where cowards die and the strong ball
Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die
In L.A. we wearing Chucks not Ballies (that's right)
Dressed in Locs and khaki suits and ride is what we do
Flossing but have caution we collide with other crews
Famous cause we program,
Worldwide et 'em recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans
Bumping and grinding like a slow jam, it's west side
So you know the row won't bow down to no man
Say what you say, but give me that bomb beat from Dre
Let me serenade the streets of L.A.
From Oakland to Sacktown
The Bay Area and back down
Cali is where they put they mack down give me love!
California, knows how to party
California, knows how to party (c'mon baby)
In the city of L.A. (L.A.)
In the city of good ol' Watts (That's right)
In the city, the city of Compton
We keep it rocking (keep it rocking) We keep it rocking! Now make it shake
Shake it shake it baby, shake, shake it shake it baby,
Shake it shake it mama, shake it Cali
Shake, shake it baby
Shake, shake it shake, shake it mama, shake it Cali
Uh, yeah, uh, long beach in the house, uh yeah
Oaktown, Oakland definitely in the house
Frisco, Frisco
Hey, you know LA is up in this
Pasadena, where you at
Yeah, Inglewood, Inglewood always up to no good
Even Hollywood trying to get a piece baby
Sacramento, Sacramento where ya at? yeah
Throw it up y'all, throw it up, throw it up! I can't see ya
California love
Let's show these fools how we do it on this on that west side
'Cause you and I know it's the best side
Yea that's right, west coast we coast,
Uh California love, California love
California, knows how to party
California, knows how to party (where they at uh)
In the city of L.A. (South Central)
In the city of good ol' Watts (Yeah, yeah)
In the city, the city of Compton (In the city of Compton)
We keep 'em rocking, we keep 'em rocking!
Just c'mon just shake it baby baby baby shake it mama shake it mama sha' Cali'
Rector scale talking about a earthquake on the rector scale-la'
City of Compton, city of Compton where the girls shake their booty's
Shake it mama, shake it baby, shake shake it baby, shake shake it,
Computer-puter-puter-puter-puter-puter-puter, Joe.
Thank you for coming out tonight!!!!!!"
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