Synopsis

After leaving a hotel party, 2Pac and a friend are attacked by a gunman. 2Pac dies protecting him and arrives in heaven, where Danny Boy appears among an all-star gathering of legendary performers. Sent back to Earth, 2Pac watches over his friend and tries to guide him through grief, guilt, and uncertainty. The friend eventually finds the strength to visit 2Pac's widow and daughter, offering his condolences and bringing the story to a peaceful close.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed on May 15, 1996, several months before 2Pac was killed in Las Vegas on September 13, 1996.

• It premiered on MTV on September 18, 1996, just days after 2Pac's death. The video's opening shooting therefore appeared especially prophetic to viewers.

• The video uses a newly recorded version of the song performed with a live band, including horns and strings, rather than simply using the album recording.

• Several famous deceased African-American entertainers are represented in the heavenly party scene, including Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Redd Foxx, and Sammy Davis Jr.

• Danny Boy appears in the heaven sequences as an angelic figure and also performs the song's sung hook.

• The clean version replaces the original third verse with different lyrics dealing with faith, hardship, and life after death.

• The closing dedication names Mutulu Shakur, 2Pac's stepfather, and Geronimo Pratt, his godfather.

• The video ranked No. 33 on MTV's year-end list of the Top 100 music videos of 1996.