Tupac Shakur musical Holler If Ya Hear Me to close on Broadway

The cast of Holler If Ya Here Me, with Saul Williams centre, performing California Love

Broadway musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, which includes songs by Tupac Shakur, is to close after less than two months.

The curtains will fall for the final time on Sunday at the Palace Theatre after just 38 performances.

Producer Eric L Gold cited "the financial burdens of Broadway" as the reason.

The jukebox show features Shakur's hits but does not tell the story of the rapper, who died after being shot in 1996 aged 25.

Last week, it managed to pull in only $155,000 (£90,826) from a possible $917,000 (£537,343), which is less than 17%.

Directed by Kenny Leon, who won a Tony Award for his recent revival of A Raisin In the Sun, Holler If Ya Hear Me is billed as a non-biographical story about friendship, family, revenge, change and hope.

It received mixed reviews from critics.

Variety called it a "generic gangland saga" that was "predictable" with "clumsy characterisations", although praised its "soaring performances".

Deadline described lead actor Saul Williams as "rivetingly charismatic".

Featuring Shakur tracks such as California Love, Me Against the World and Keep Ya Head Up, the musical is the first time hip hop classics have been performed on the Broadway stage.

The rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur, is a producer of the show.

Shakur died following a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, thought to be the result of gangland conflict.