TUPAC 'BACK FROM THE DEAD?'

TUPAC Shakur appeared on stage on the closing night of the Coachella festival — 16 years after his tragic death.

Rapping from the grave ... Tupac with Snoop Dogg

It was the event of the weekend: Tupac, who died in 1996, was brought to life as a hologram and joined Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at Coachella Music Festival.

The biggest buzz at Sunday's Coachella music festival in California wasn't for a hot new DJ or indie-rock band.

It was for Tupac Shakur, the rapper who died more than 15 years ago and "performed" Sunday night alongside Snoop Dogg and producer Dr. Dre.

Internet video of the Sunday evening show became an instant sensation on Monday morning. That response is helping push the possibility of a virtual Tupac tour in coming months.

The rapper's ghostly image was created by Digital Domain Media Group Inc., DDMG +0.78% the visual-effects house responsible for making the virtual versions of Brad Pitt that populated 2008's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." The movie won the Oscar for visual effects.

As well as the ghostly, shirtless figure of the late rapper, they were joined on stage by Eminem, 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa and Kendrick Lamar.
Warren G teamed up with the hip hop legends for a tribute to former collaborator Nate Dogg, who died last March after suffering multiple strokes.

VIDEO: Tupac comes back from the dead

LATE star's hologram performs at Coachella during Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre set Snoop performed Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None) with Warren G, as a photo slideshow of Nate Dogg flashed up on big screens behind and over the stage. Eminem came on stage after the Tupac tribute to perform I Need a Doctor.

Hologram ... Tupac image at Coachella

Fiddy perfomed P.I.M.P. and In Da Club, and Wiz Khalifa joined Snoop for a rendition of their hit Young & Wild & Free.

Headliners Snoop and Dre also celebrated a 20-year partnership with a 60-minute set that included Drop it Like It's Hot, Next Episode and Gin & Juice.

The real thing ... Tupac Shakur before tragic shooting

He left the thousands at the festival with the line, "Coachella, I wanna say thank you for all the love over the years".

The Tupac hologram drew mixed reactions from fans, with one saying it was "wrong on so many levels".

But most were happy with the stunt, paying tribute to Shakur.

Festival fan ... Rihanna

Rihanna was among the stars hanging out at the event yesterday, after performing with Calvin Harris.

One wrote: "This is dope," and another tweeted, "I told y'all Tupac wasn't dead!"

Tupac 'back from the dead' to perform at the Coachella festival