Tupac Amaru Shakur. The rapper. The poet. The outspoken activist. The...thug. Regardless of what you label him as, we all can agree that he is the most iconic hip hop artist in the history of music. Through all the ups and downs, through all the drama and even leading up to his death, he has been the most inspiring artist to this new generation of rappers. So many quotable lines not only from songs but just from him speaking. See, it wasn't just about his music, it was about what 'Pac stood for. What his messages were. How he wanted to uplift his people in the ghettos and in the hood through every thing he did. I could continue on just reflecting on his life but that would be a whole other blog. A lot was going on around the 1996 time period. Hip hop was at the height of the infamous east coast/west coast beef. Lead of course by both 'Pac and Biggie who went from friends to enemies quick (again, that's a whole other story). So with so much drama going on around him at the time, it's a wonder how 'Pac was able to put together this masterpiece. All Eyez On Me. Before I start this review, it's a couple things I want to address. First, it was extremely difficult to decide which of his albums to review. So many of them are slam dunk classics. From 2Pacalypse Now, to Strictly 4 My Niggaz, to Me Against The World, to The Don Killuminati (my personal favorite). I eventually ended up picking the album that probably gained the most attention and recognition. The second thing is this. As you know, this album as great as it is, is incredibly long. Double disc albums tend to be that way. So unfortunately, as much I would like to address everything about this album, I can't. I don't want this to be too long. I'll just touch very lightly on some notable tracks for me. Right off the back...the first track..."Ambitionz Az A Ridah". A serious argument can be made that this is one of, if not thee greatest intro song on a hip hop album of all time. It's certainly one of the most iconic instrumentals ever. Being sampled a number of times by rappers that came after. The way that beat just blasts through your speakers/headphones with such brute force is just...wow. It's a beat only 2Pac could have did justice too. Much props to Daz Dillenger on the production here. I love the collaboration on "Got My Mind Made Up". It features dope verses from Tha Dogg Pound, Method Man & Redman. Once again, Daz Dillenger comes through again with another dope production. Now let me get to the four singles that are on this first disc. "2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is of course the dope collaboration between him and Snoop Dogg. The two flaunt their gangsta and show no love to authority in such cocky ways. The pairing between these two on this track was flawless. 'Pac's loud and aggressive demeanor combined with Snoop's laid back persona and sinister voice made for one of the best collabo's of the mid-90's. Of course, 'Pac got a lot of love from the ladies. In comes "How Do You Want It". I always rant about how rappers today have such a difficult time making good songs for the ladies. Take not, THIS is how it's done. He found a way to croon women but still sound thugged out at the same time. K-Ci & JoJo's hook just made the song more live. This is definitely one of the best rapper/singer collaborations ever. "I Ain't Mad A Cha" is the memorable dedication to his homies that he used to down with. Some got locked up, some died, and some just lost contact. It's a song everyone could relate to. Then...there's "California Love". What more can be said about this? Ask anyone from Cali and they'll tell you themselves that this is thee official anthem of the west coast. Such and iconic beat, an iconic collabo with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman (the originator of the auto-tune), and an even more iconic music video (check it out below). I could go on but the bottom line, the track is just borderline classic. Period. "Only God Can Judge Me" is basically 'Pac's response to critics and media type labeling him as a "out of control thug" and things of that nature. Telling them that God is the only one that can judge. He's also goes on addressing him being shot, friends becoming enemies and so on. There were some songs I loved just because of the beat. "No More Pain" which is a very fast paced almost 2014-ish sound beat. The laid back sounds done by DJ Quik on "Heartz Of Men". But then there's "Can't C Me" which is hands down my favorite production. Much like "Ambitionz Az A Ridah" on the first disc, this track starts off the second disc with a hard hitting beat produced perfectly by Dr. Dre. Speaking of relatable songs (he has so many of them), "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" is a song that so many need to hear. Especially a lot of these young women today. So many women get disrespected, treated wrong or called out of their name not because people want to do that, but because that's how they present themselves. Whether it's their attitude, their sexual behavior or whatever it may be. You can't be mad if someone calls you "bitch" or "hoe" when you present yourself as such. Just one of 'Pacs many teachings there. "All Eyez On Me" is another favorite of mine. Simply because if you're a die hard Nas fan like myself, then the beat for this song sounds awfully familiar. That's because it's the same exact beat for Nas's song "Street Dreams". I never really knew the situation behind that and I'm sure it's a whole other story. I'll just leave it as a really dope beat done justice by two of the best ever. "Run Tha Streetz" shows the loyalty of a woman to her man regardless of him running the streets. This was definitely my second favorite hook that was sung on the album. There's so much more I can say about this album but like I said, I'ma keep it short. Overall it's a no brainer why this album sits in hip hop immortality. It's an album that defied 2Pac's career and maybe even his life. I give it a final grade of a A+. Song titles like "Heaven Ain't Hard To Find" and "Life Goes On" where he touches on life and death is something he did a lot of. It plays right in to the belief many people had that he saw his death coming. Which is why he spoke of it so much. Whatever the case, 'Pac knew how precious life is. He learned a lot through everything he's dealt with in his personal life, his career, and so much other drama. This album reflects that in every way. The album defies who 2Pac is as an artist, as an poet, as an activist, and most importantly as a black man in America. He is remembered as all of those things. But to me, he will be remembered as someone who changed lives through his words. You call those kind of people...an inspiration. That's what he is and will forever remain. R.I.P. End.
Final Grade: A+
CREDITS
Executive Producer
Marion "Suge" Knight
Lead Artist
Tupac Shakur
Production
Delmar Arnaud
Johnny Jackson
DeVante Swing
David Blake
Doug Rasheed
Michael Mosley
Ricardo Thomas
Andre Young
Bobby Ervin
Mark Jordan
Quincy Jones III
Collaboration
Calvin Broadus
Danyle Robinson
Bruce Washington
Yafeu Fula
Nathaniel Hale
Delmar Arnaud
Ricardo Brown
Reginald Noble
Clifford Smith
Cedric Hailey
Joel Hailey
Stacey Smallie
Anthony Forte
Shawn Thomas
Andre Young
Roger Troutman
Danny Steward
George Clinton
Nancy Fletcher
Jewell Caples
Tyruss Himes
Natasha Walker
Richard Serrell
Michel'le Toussant
Mutah Beale
Brandt Jones
Dannell Stevens
Earl Stevens
Label
Death Row/Interscope
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