Birdie

Birdie is the main antagonist of the 1994 basketball drama film Above the Rim. He is a local drug dealer in the neighborhood of Brooklyn, who wants Kyle Lee Watson, the film's protagonist, to join his basketball team, the Birdmen. Birdie is the younger brother of a talented ex-basketball player, Thomas "Shep" Sheppard, whom he wants to join his illegal business. Birdie is portrayed by the late rapper Tupac Shakur, who also portrayed Roland Bishop in Juice.

Biography
One night was brought to Monarch High School, with Motaw, one of his lieutenants and the best player for his basketball team, the Birdmen, by Bugaloo, a low-level member of his organization, to watch the school's basketball, the Panthers, play against their rivals, the Tigers, as Bugaloo wishes to show Birdie his best friend, Kyle Lee Watson, who is a talented basketball player. During a timeout, Birdie sees his older brother, Thomas "Shep" Sheppard who is a former basketball player, is now working at the school as a security guard. After the game resumes, Birdie watches as Kyle's ball hogging costs the Panthers the win. After Motaw, who chews out Bugaloo, tries convince Birdie to leave but Bugaloo tries to get Birdie to think about allowing Kyle to play for Birdmen. Although Birdie then scolds Bugaloo for telling him how to run his business, Birdie is still impressed by how well Kyle plays basketball, then orders to bring Kyle to his nightclub later. At Birdie's nightclub, Birdie and Motaw are properly introduced to Kyle.