2Pac -2004- Loyal To The Game (Amaru / Interscope)

• Compilation of renewed tracks originally recorded in 1991-1993.
  
• 2004, December the 12th.
• After the success of Resurrection O.S.T., Afeni Amaru gave Eminem the hard charge to lead the producing of the new compilation album of his son...
  

Picture taken from the same Reising & Taylor shooting taken in 1994 

some of them were used in Me Against The World

Is it an appropriate choice for a compilation gathering songs from 1992-1993 ?

Discogs page

1. Soldier Like Me feat. Eminem

2. Uppercut feat. Edi & Young Noble

3. Out on Bail

4. Ghetto Gospel

5. Black Cotton feat. Eminem, Kastro & Young Noble

6. Loyal To The Game feat. G-Unit

7. Thugs Get Lonely Too feat. Nate Dogg

8. N.I.G.G.A. feat. Jadakiss

9. Who Do You Love ? *

10. Crooked Nigga Too

11. Don't You Trust Me

12. Hennessey feat. Obie trice *

13. Thug 4 Life *

 

Bonus tracks :

14. Po' Nigga Blues (Scott Storch Remix) feat. Ron Isley

15. Hennessey (Red Spyda Remix) feat. Edi & Sleepy Brown *

16. Crooked Nigga Too (Raphael Saadiq Remix) feat. Raphael Saadiq

17. Loyal To The Game (DJ Quik Remix) feat. Big Syke

Producers - Eminem & Luis Resto (1 to 13)

* Bold : Until then these were leaked only in a very poor quality -  9, 12, 13, 15

 

Original producers - Big D The Impossible (1,4,5,8,10,11,16), Live Squad (1,2,7,9,12,15), Johnny J (13), DJ Daryl (14), Reginald Heard (6,17), LG Experience (3)

 

Originally intended for - 2Pacalypse Now / Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A. (8), Troublesome 21 or 2Pacalypse II / Ghetto Gospel / Fragile (1,4,5,9,10,11,14,16), Above the Rim OST (6,17), Mr. Middle Finger or Out On Bail (2,3,7), Thug Life Volume One sessions (1,12,13,15)

 

Original featuring - Live Squad (1,9,10,13), Thug Life (1,5,8,12,15), Y?N.Vee (2), Treach & Riddler (6,17), Prince's voice (7)

2Pac trapped in the Michigan ! Thank you Em' but stick to what you're able to do...

These tracks were recorded in 1991-1993. It is obvious that Afeni wanted them to sound modern, that's why she confides the remixing work to one of the most successful name of that time : Eminem.. Is Eminem a well-known producer ? No... At the height of the defy ? of course not at all. Was he able to gather competent people to do the job under his supervision ? Yes. Did he do it ? Not at all. The result is childish weak ass productions, average East Cost beats, totally irrelevant. Nothing sounds like 2Pac original work...

In the chosen tracks of this compilation, 2Pac was younger than during his period of fame at Death Row, so Eminem & Luis Resto have often altered his voice to make it sound older... the result is obviously awful (like if you couldn't recognize that the voice of your father/mother had been faked by an A.I. engine, modified... it can mislead only new listeners). More problematic, some sounds of the original can be still heard badly in the far background (like AB Money of Rappin' is Fundamental in "Out on Bail" chorus)... Surprising for an official release... Less good than most of fanmade remixes available on Internet...

 

When you see that the first song of that album combines verses from two different songs (one from beginning of 92, "Revenge of a Soulja" and one of late 93, "Judgement Day") with an average east coast sound and a totally unwelcome verse by Eminem, we can guess that the whole thing will be a waste of time to listen to...

Frankly, a total disaster (maybe not for the bonus remix tracks that were made by professionals), a shame for 2Pac's fans to know that youngsters will listen to this and say : oh this is it, this is 2Pac !

  

 

1. Soldier Like Me (Return of The Soulja) feat. Soulja Voice, Dee Tha Mad Bitch, Mopreme, Stretch, Eminem / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991-1992 - 2004. A mixture of two songs originally recorded for 2Pacalypse II and for Thug Life Volume I (cf. Honor Among Thugz). The first song was a sequel to the "Soulja's song" in his first album.
  
• Original version : Souljah's Revenge (Original) ; Judgement Day feat. Dee Tha Mad Bitch, Mopreme & Stretch 

2. Uppercut feat. Nic Nam (Y?N-Vee), Stretch, Edi & Young Noble / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger.
  
• Original Version : Uppercut (Original) feat. Nic.Nam (Y?N-Vee) [remake] ; Uppercut (Unused 2003 Mix) feat. Nic.Nam

3. Out on Bail feat. Rappin' Is Fundamental / LG Experience REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Out On Bail (his solo album in late 93 / early 94) during sessions in New York with Easy Mo Bee (and his group Rappin' Is Fundamental who were doing the original chorus), among other songs like "Temptations" and "Runnin'". It was a very important song for 2Pac, which appeared in almost every solo album projects until being dropped from the last sequence of Me Against The World. The original version is very well known because 2Pac played it live at the Source Awards in 1994.
  
• Original Version : Out on Bail (Original Intro) feat. AB Money ;  Out On Bail (Original No Intro Mix) feat. AB Money ; Out on Bail (Live at the Source Awards) feat. Mopreme & Stretch

4. Ghetto Gospel feat. The Kidz / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991-1992 - 2004. The song was firstly written down and firstly recorded in late 91, around Christmas, like "Troublesome" and "Changes". But 2Pac only recorded a reference track at that time. In 1992, he re-recorded the song for him and one of the Kidz.
  
• Original Version :  Ghetto Gospel (reference for The Kidz) ; Ghetto Gospel feat. Jesse The Kidz [snippet]

5. Black Cotton feat. Mouse Man, Eminem, Kastro & Young Noble / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1992 - 2004. Originally recorded probably for Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. or for Wycked & The Mouse shelved album State of Emergency (cf. Ghetto Gospel). The original song has many elements that will be re-used in "Pain".
  
• Original Version : Black Cotton (Original) feat. Mouse Man 

6. Loyal To The Game feat. Treach (Naughty By Nature) & Riddler (DBG'z), G-Unit / Reginald Heard REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1994 - 2004. Originally recorded for Above The RIM Soundtrack / Regulate B-side during the East Thug Life sessions (cf. Exodus). It is very unfair to re-release an existing officially released song without labelling as a remix. And what a strange thing to take off a Treach's verse !
  
• Original Version : Loyal To The Game (Above The RIM /Regulate Version) ; Loyal To The Game (Original Radio Mix) feat. Treach & Riddler 

7. Thugs Get Lonely Too feat. Rated R, Macadoshis, Prince (sampled chorus), Nate Dogg / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger with the well known voice of Prince sampled from "If I Was Your Girlfriend (Live Version)", then intended for Out On Bail and for R U Still Down Original concept (this last one about to be released in the pre-Death Row compilation project in summer of 95, cf. Exodus). Even the Nate Dogg welcome voice can't make it forgotten because 2Pac was so in admiration of Prince. Is it too hard to just imitate a bit the original in order to respect the author ?
• Original Version :  Thugz Get Lonely Too (Original Plain Version), Thugz Get Lonely Too (Original Breaks Version) [snippet], Thugz Get Lonely Too (Original Gigolos Mix)

8. N.I.G.G.A. feat. Mopreme, Mouse Man, Jadakiss / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991 - 2004. Originally recorded for 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.) but maybe another version has been recorded for Wycked & The Mouse shelved album State of Emergency (cf. Ghetto Gospel). This was the first combo between 2Pac and his stepbrother, and the first "professionnal" song with his first rap partner Dana Mouse Smith (cf. The Early Years).
  
• Original Version :  Hymn of The 90's N.I.G.G.A. (Original) feat. Mopreme & Mouse Man

9. Who Do You Love ? feat. Stretch / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger or Out On Bail.
  
• Original Version :  Who Do U Love ? (Original) feat. Stretch ; Who Do U Love (Solo) [remake].

10. Crooked Nigga Too feat. Stretch / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991 - 2004. Originally recorded for 2Pacalypse Now's companion EP Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A., then it appears in 2Pacalypse II (as a sequel to "Crooked Ass Nigga") and was about to be released in Troublesome 21 shelved album.
  
• Original Version :  Crooked Nigga Too (Original) feat. Stretch

11. Don't You Trust Me feat. Dave Hollister & Roniece / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1992 - 2004. The song could have been recorded as a reference track for his friend Yonnie Stokes aka A Sista Named Mista, a woman who was credited in 2Pacalypse Now for "Rebel of The Underground" background vocals, but more likely she is the female rapper of "Part Time Mutha". She was supposed to be a part of 2Pac first shelved project Dayz of a Criminal with Jungle Posse in 90, then she was half of the Ghetto Gospel project in 92 (so with this song), and she was in a short lived lineup of Thug Life group in early 94 (cf. Honor Among Thugz pictures and unreleased song "Thug Bitch"). 
• Original version : Don't You Trust (Original), not very appreciated because of the Roniece's chorus being not on key ; Don't You Trust (Piano Mix) ; Don't You Trust (Alternate)

12. Hennessey feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Obie trice / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1994/03 (~) - 2004. Recorded in the beginning of 94 for the East Thug Life sessions with Live Squad (cf. Exodus). It was the last song in 94 to feature Thug Life members (Dramacydal album excepted, but probably recorded when 2Pac was still in prison). The song seems to be only a kind of freestyle or a short lived project of song left unfinished. The leaked acapella has Big Syke and Mopreme verses in a very poor quality, but the original sample has been recently identified in the background of it and Parish could made a first OG remake version.
• Original version : "Hennessey (Original) feat. Big Syke & Mopreme [Parish OG remake".
  

13. Thug 4 Life feat. Stretch / Johnny J REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993/05 (~) - 2004. This song was originally recorded during the Thug Life concept Original album sessions (cf. Thug Life Original : Do U Luv The Thug Life ?), but the song was not supposed to be included in the album, maybe for a B-side, it was more likely recorded for the Kidz/Havenotz side project - 2Pac writing and and recording reference tracks for a group of young kids rapping -, project that was started in late 91 (cf. Ghetto Gospel) and lasted until late 93 (cf. Honor Among Thugz). The song was already available in poor quality leaks and in its acapella form, so it was a good idea to have it in this compilation. Unfortunately, Eminem didn't include the original verse of Stretch which is in a very very distorted state in the acapella leak.
• Original version : Thug 4 Life (Original) feat. Stretch [juda7 edit] (homemade edited mix with the Stretch lost verse and an alternate unused version of the original instrumental).

14. Po' Nigga Blues (Scott Storch Remix) feat. Knumskull, Ron Isley / DJ Daryl, Shock G of 415 REMIX Scott Storch

• 1992 - 2004. The song has been said to be a reference track for his friend The Govenor (also a friend of Richie Rich of 415) who recorded a version of the song in his album Floss Mode in 95, but the song was probably given to him later, and it appears in 1992 in a handwritten tracklist of 2Pac's original project of 2Pacalypse II : a sequel to 2Pacalypse Now. When 2Pac was in prison or not long after his death, Shock G was asked to remix the song and so he gave the wonderful "Cause I Had To" original remixed version with backings by Knumskull, version that was said purposed for a release in R U Still Down, finally leftover. 2Pac vocals were also pitched to sound older, but is was a more successful and discreet work.
• Original version :  "Po' Nigga Blues (Original)", "Cause I Had To (Shock G Remix) feat. Knumskull (backings)"

15. Hennessey (Red Spyda Remix) feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Edi & Sleepy Brown / Stretch REMIX DJ Red Spyda

• 1994 - 2004. An alternate version of this remix has been made with the original verses from the leaked acapella, before the original sample was identified.
  
• Samples : D'Angelo - "Sh*t, Damned, Muthaf**ker"
  

16. Crooked Nigga Too (Raphael Saadiq Remix) feat. Stretch, Raphael Saadiq / Big D The Impossible REMIX Raphael Saadiq

17. Loyal To The Game (DJ Quik Remix) feat. Treach (Naughty By Nature) & Riddler (DBG'z), Big Syke / Reginald Heard REMIX DJ Quik

 

Del The Funky Homosapien -1988-1989- The Lost Demos (prod. by Sir Jinx) (1997, Hiero Imperium)

• Who was Del the Funky Homosapien in the end of 1990, when he recorded "Funky Freestyles" with 2Pac, Money B and Deb-E ?
  
• early tracks recorded by Del the Funky Homosapien & Sir Jinx, before they helped Ice Cube to record his classic Amerikkka's Most Wanted
  

Listen it in YT or grab it there.

1. Intro

2. Blank

3. Mr. Loveable 

4. Ain't We Funkin' Now

5. Word To The Wise

6. Smoked Out Charlie

7. Duck Season

Produced by Sir Jinx

* this promo cassette was given as a bonus for pre-order of Del's third album Future Development in 1997 (cf. rapreview.com).

Funky Freestyles - Del & Tupac

Del The Funky Homosapien was a guest in the still unreleased 2Pac's "Funky Freestyles" with Money B and Deb-E recorded in early 1991, listed in 2Pacalypse Now early tracklists (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.), broadcasted in Money B's show, and existing in a rare promo cassette-single by Deb E's "Drop The Grease". The word "funky" of that title could clearly refer to Del because like we can see in these early demos, Del was a funky man from the beginning.

Del is one year younger than Tupac but he is like him, a Hip Hop prodigy. He released his first solo album I Wish My Brother George Was Here in 1991 at the age of 19, one month before the release of 2Pacalypse Now. If Tupac moved from P-Funk sound of Digital Underground to Death Row's gangsta rap, Del always stayed in his early funky roots.

 

In June 1996, whilst 2Pac is recording One Nation, Del appeared in Digital Underground 4th album Future Rhythm in "Food Fight". A funny thing to notice is that in that same album also appear Saafir and Luniz. Numskull of the Luniz was then also recording with 2Pac for One Nation.

 

In the background of N.W.A.

 

These early songs were probably recorded at the time Sir Jinx was producing Lench Mob's Dazzy Dee EP in 1988-1989. Jinx appeared in 1986's single "She's a Skag" by the group Stereo Crew  (Ice Cube & Jinx produced by his cousin Dr. Dre and Lonzo of the World Class Wreckin' Cru). In 1987, the group became C.I.A. with Kid disaster aka K-Dee (they released the single Cru' in Action also produced by Dr. Dre). Then Dre and Cube join N.W.A. to record Straight Outta Compton in 1988. That's probably when Cube's cousin Del came to record with Jinx. When Cube splitted from N.W.A., they probably both give up the project to concentrate on Ice Cube's first album.

Two missed dates

Sir Jinx never produced for 2Pac. But 2Pac wanted him in late 1990 to produce the eponymous song of 2Pacalypse Now... Sir Jinx was probably too occupied at that time with the recordings of Yo-Yo's Make Way For The Motherlode. and WC & The Maad Circle's Ain't A Damn Thing Changed. And the song has never been recorded (or maybe produced by Big D instead).

 

Jinx recently stated that in 1992, just before the L.A. riots (late April of 92), probably at the time he was finishing to record Kool G Rap & Polo's third album Live and Let Die, they were together with Tupac supposed to go to the studio, but because of the events they never reached the studio... A pity.

Funky Aztecs -1992- Chicano Blues (Par / TNT)

• 2Pac & Digital Underground's TNT Records labelmates ; 
• Partially produced by Pee Wee of the Underground Railroad...
• 2Pac's latin friends from Bay Area !!
  
• with 2Pac, Money B, Pee Wee, Wicked Julian Brooks of Mod Squad, Jeremy Jackson 
  

Discogs page 

Listen to the album in YT or grab it there

 

Tracklist 

 

1. Straight Up Loco feat. DJ Q-Bert (scratches)

2. Chicano Blues

3. Barrioism

4. Much Love feat. ALT

5. Ribbitt

6. Amerikkkan (interlude)

7. Shoot The Mutha Fuka !! feat. Pee Wee & Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (scratches)

8. New Blues (interlude)

9. Mi Burro

10. Salsa Con Soulfood feat. 2Pac, Money B & TMD

11. Nothing Else Matters
12. XIV, XIII, K.J. feat. Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (scratches)

13. Organize

14. Brown Sugar feat. Sean Rodgers (chorus) & Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (scratches)

15. Don Quixote feat. Julian Brooks of Mod Squad

16. Lloyd Did It

17. Smokin K.J. feat. J-Loc

Produced by Accrraaa J. Pavel,  Kirk Cumpler & Lloyd Gregory (2,8,10,11,16), Merciless of Funky Aztecs (14), (2,8,11,16), Pee Wee (5,7,9,12,13,14,17), Sam Burton of Mod Squad (1,3,5,4,13,15)

Co-produced by Funky Aztecs

Executive producer - Atron Gregory

Engineer - Darrin Harris, Marc Senasac, Steve Counter

 

 

Funky Aztecs & T.N.T Records

Tupac and Digital Underground's manager Atron Gregory also helped this latin group from Bay Area to record their first album. Logically, there are the same sound engineers than in Pac's album, with notably Darrin Harris. same team also worked in all TNT records and in 451 and Richie Rich albums. 

 

Pee Wee of Gold Money, who was one of the 2Pacalypse main musical architect as Underground Railroad, produced a big part of that album and is sometimes considered as a member of the group. So everything will easily remind of Pac's first album. 

 

In three tracks, we even have Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (also member of the Underground Railroad) at the turntables, the one responsible for producing "Troublesome", eponymous song of his album of that time. the album being shelved, it will finally be released only in Def Jam's How To Be A Player OST in 1997... It could have helped Jeremy to a greater career. then he will produce for Saafir and Hobo Junction.

 

Sam Burton of the Mod Squad also gave some of the strange sound he will give for Mod Squad. With the latin good vibes of the group, that will result in a kind of Digital Underground sound a like.

 

 

"Salsa Con Soulfood" == > "Slippin' Into Darkness"

 

2Pac is featured in "Salsa con Soulfood" with Money B of the Digital Underground, and with TMD, Oakland rapper from Capital Tax, who released a EP album in 1986 with Mr Magic with a first successful single "Backstabbers" (same title than a 2Pac's unleaked song, maybe not recorded or with an alternate title).

The song contains a sample of Weak at the Knees" from Steve Arrington. Pac's verse is the same as for "Slippin' into Darkness" (over the famous W.A.R. song) in Funky Aztecs' second album in 1995. Tupac was probably in jail when Funky Aztecs wanted him to record again with them. And it ends up to be the first patched Pac's verse before the Amaru posthumous recordings.

So in 1995, they will release their second album, Day of the Dead, also heavily produced by Pee Wee, with a sticker announcing a 2Pac feature, but the album was more confidential.

Live Squad -1993- A Game Of Survival (Promo Cassette - Original Full Version) (Tommy Boy)

•  Stretch's Live Squad original first album (recorded in 91-92)
  

Discogs pages of the Promo, of the CD/DVD 2001 edition

(LISTEN in Youtube or grab the 2001 edition here)

Original Promo Cassette (recently leaked)

1. -- Hit Skit Intro --

2. Shit List

3. -- Block Hot Skit --

4. Heartless (Original Mix) ** ***

5. -- Pop Da Wino Skit #1 --

6. Fake Gangster (Origina Mix) ** ***

7. -- Diss Skit --

8. Pump For A Livin **

9. -- Job Skit --

10. Game of Survival

11. -- Money Skit --

12. Movin' Keez Wit Ease

13. -- Snitches Skit -- *

14. Snitches Lay In Ditches (Bitch Ass Niggas) *
15. -- Funeral Skit --
16. Murderah

17. -- Pop Da Wino Skit #2 --
18. Big Time feat. 2Pac ****
19. -- Can't Take It Skit --

20. Trouble On My Mind

21. -- Stressed Out Skit --

22. Fuck It

23. -- Blowin' Skit --

24. Blow 'Em Out Da Frame **

21. -- Robbery Plot Skit --

22. Da Gatta Way 

 

* not released in 2001 edition. 

** uncomplete versions (~1'30) in 2001 Grand Imperial edition.  

*** alternate mixes in 2001 Grand Imperial edition.

**** "Big Time" is replaced in the 2001 edition by the later track "Daddy Big Timerz" that is like a follow up and was probably a song from their unreleased second album (cf. Diary of a Poor Man). We can hear the beginning of the next skit in some leaked versions of "Big Time". 

There could be also an earlier version of the tape (according to a tracklist given by Banned of Bomb1st forum), that could have an unkown track "Noy Ya Head" instead of "Heartless", and slightly alternate versions of "Big Time" and "Fuck It". Banned also affirms that A-side is made of 1991 material and B-side of 1992 material. 

Beginnings

Live Squad is the brothers Stretch & Majesty, and DJ K-Low. They are from the Queens.

They released their first two songs in a 1988 EP rare compilation BQ in Full Effect with Aaron Dee, C-Nice and a then unknown Percee P with his group Top Priority. In 1989, less known, it seems that Stretch produced the whole album of the conscious group The W.I.S.E. Guyz, eF uoU eN Kay E. 

 

Listen to 1988 Troopin' it / We Ain't Having It

They met Shock G in 1990, what leads Stretch to be featured in Digital Underground's 2nd album Sound of the P and in 2Pac's 2Pacalypse Now in 1991. At that time, Live Squad started to record their first album signed with Tommy Boy, with the help of their friend Ed Lover. In 92, they released their first single Heartless/Murderah and they shot a short hardcore movie to promote the album.

cover of the single 

Heartless video

Stretch also heavily participated to the recording of 2Pac's second album (then called Troublesome 21). But with Ice T's "Cop Killer" controversy and also after the L.A. riots, music labels were afraid of releasing hardcore albums. Interscope asked 2Pac to remake his album to be less violent (that became Strictly 4 My Niggaz). Live Squad released the second single for the album "Pump For A Livin/Game of Survival" in 1993, but Tommy Boy simply cancealed the album... (so hard to imagine a clean version of the album...)

GAME OF SURVIVAL - The short movie, part 1 / part 2

The idea of making a combo movie + soundtrack will be re-used by another artists, starting by 2Pac himself. Like if Stretch had given him the idea for his Thug Life project (cf. Honor Among Thugz). But 2Pac was also struggling to release his album with his justice troubles. Finally, it is Snoop Doggy Dogg and Death Row who first released this type of project in 1994 : Murder Was The Case.

Grand Imperial 2001 edition

 

In 2001, Majesty with his independant label Grand Imperial decided to realease most part of the album. But, probably still angry against 2Pac/Stretch diss, he didn't include "Big Time" feat. 2Pac. He includes "Movie Commercial" (a promo freestyle from that time) and "How We Roll" as bonus tracks.

Live Squad -1994-1995- Diary of a Poor Man / Ghetto Blues (2nd album project)

• Live Squad's second album project
• recorded at same period than Thug Life Volume 1
• delayed, remade and finally shelved because of Thug Life, Qad studios shooting and finally Stretch's death in '95
  

LISTEN

Tracklist :

1. Daddy Big Timers (Back Again)
2. Nobody Move
3. No Pause
4. Wrong Nigga
5. Whirlwind
6. It Hurts The Most feat. 2Pac & Mopreme
7. Cheese 
8. Moving Up In The World
9. Cashflow (Understand Me)
10. The Edge
11. Danger Times feat. 2Pac
12. Heat In My Hand
13. Shit List pt. 2
14. No More (Another Memory)
15. Pay Me - snippet
    
16. Life of a Hustler - snippet
17. Hectic - snippet
18. Diary of a Poor Man - snippet

Most of the tracks here are taken from Live Squad's The Tribute, The Forgotten Chapter (2010, Grand Imperial), except for #1 from Game of Survival (2001, Grand Imperial) which was a replacement for "Big Time feat. 2Pac" (was there a rest of eagerness ? a right problem ?). "Danger Times" and "It Hurts The Most" are from 2Pac's leaked originals. "Heat In My Hand" has recently been released in The Recruiters (2023, Grand Imperial).

A forgotten chapter fairly well released to the public

It could appear that Majesty released most of Live Squad 2nd album project in The Tribute - Forgotten Chapter (2010, Grand Imperial). But it is also clear that it is not like it was recorded with some new elements, notably new Majesty solo songs ("Forever", "Seems Like Yesterday", "Pain Tribute", "Rapumentary") and new verses by Majesty and E-Money Bags ("It Hurts The Most", "Wrong Nigga"). And probably Majesty kept some tracks for a new project...

Banned of Bomb1st forum confirmed that a sequence of the album called Diary of a Poor Man contains "Danger Times", "It Hurts The Most", "God Bless The Dead". Leaked version of "It Hurts The Most" has only Pac, Mopreme & Stretch. Forgotten Chapter's version adds Majesty & E-Money modern verses. Is there any other version with Majesty ? Original "God Bless The Dead" has only Stretch verse and two Pac verses... It would be strange in a Live Squad album. Maybe there is another version with Majesty and not with two Pac verses...

In the known handwritten tracklists, the album then called Ghetto Blues includes "Daddy Big Timers". It is clearly a sequel to "Big Time" featuring 2Pac that was supposed to be included in original Game of Survival (replaced by that one in Grand Imperial's 2001 release - probably it was still unbelievable for Majesty to release a Tupac song at that time). The song couldn't be included in this new release.

"Wrong Nigga" re-uses the music of "Judgement Day". Stretch probably decided to record his own song for his album because the song was a leftover track from Thug Life vol. 1 (maybe because Dee wasn't part of the group anymore and 2Pac didn't want the song). Majesty added or re-recorded a verse (at the end he says rest in peace Stretch & E-Money Bag).

Intro
1 Back Again
2 Daddy Big Timers
3
4
5
..10 [Incomplete]

Another on the bottom left:
1 Back Again
2 Wrong Nigga
3 Pay Me Feat Mopreme of Thug Life
4 Hurts Da Most Feat Tupac and Mopreme of Thug Life
5 Danger Times Feat Tupac
6 Heat
7 MNM ?
8 [Y'all?] all Fucked Up
9 [unsure] / Gotta Get It

And a third on the bottom right :
1 Back Again
2 Wrong Nigga
3 No Pause

 

Ghetto Blues handwritten tracklists (summer of 94) 

Two successive projects ?

According to Banned from Bomb1st forum, Diary of a Poor Man and Ghetto Blues are two different projects. Diary is said to have a complete sequence ready to be released with songs like "Under Pressure" and maybe "God Bless The Dead" (maybe more likely a Stretch kind of solo album). So this sequence was probably pre-Thug Life Volume 1. The song is not in Ghetto Blues tracklists, so it could mean that Ghetto Blues was a later project, post-Thug Life with also "Wrong Nigga" re-using the Thug Life unreleased "Judgement Day" Stretch music.

Both projects include songs with 2Pac and Mopreme : "Danger Times", "It Hurts the Most", "God Bless The Dead", "Under Pressure", unleaked "Pay Me" with Mopreme... First two were in both album projects so it is clear that Diary of a Poor Man turned into Ghetto Blues.

 

Johnny J -1994- I Gotta Be Me (Shade Tree)

• Johnny J also knew how to rap !!!
• Discover the funky and sexy west coast vibe of 2Pac most important producer
• Fully produced by Johnny J, featuring Y?N-Vee, Syke...
  

In front, three members from Y?N-Vee with their specific dressing
Capucine Jackson, Johnny's wife, in red, Syke in the background

Discogs page of the album

LISTEN or grab it there

 

1. Something She Can Feel

2. Diggin' Um Out

3. I'm A Better Man

4. Why You Want Me Now ?

5. Get Away From Me

6. P.O.P. (Got Control Of Me)

7. Better Off feat. Mel-Low, 213 & Fire/Fly (chorus)

8. It's A Wonderful Day feat. Dangerous D, Tara Kessler & Lil E

9. Shake Dat Ass

10. Say Whatcha Gotta Say feat. Nic Nam & Vayne (Y?N-Vee), Boe, Big Syke, Maniak & Tim-Tee, MC TNT

11. Love's The Way

 

Produced by Johnny J, co-produced by Charlie Mack

Featuring chorus by Boe (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11).
Additional vocals by Capucine Jackson (1,2,3,6), Y?N-Vee (2), Nikki (4,6), Prop'a Vee (4,5)

 

West Side G-Funk producer

Before producing for Tupac, Johnny J early produced for West Coast artists : most of the first album of MC TNT (here featured) in 1988-1990, the two first albums of MC Candyman with his superhits "Melt in your Mouth" and "Knockin Boots" in 1990-1991. Then some songs for the latino rapper Biggy Smallz and of course the whole Evil Mind Gangsta's album (Big Syke, Mental & Domino).

At the time of recordings of his album (1993-1994), Johnny J had produced half of the first project of Thug Life album (cf. Thug Life Original, only a small part will be published in mid 94).

 

Music given to 2Pac

"Better Off" has the beat that Johnny J will re-use for "Picture Me Rollin'" in 1996. Johnny J will also give the beat of "It's a Wonderful Day" to 2Pac for "Everything They Own", a song recorded for his second Death Row album (cf. Euthanasia Supreme).

Let's notice that Johnny J had produced the Mel-Low song "Return of the Player" for his eponymous album in 1993 (it seems that the promo album edited by Def Jam and with Redman participation in 3 tracks, never knew an official release before 2017...), a song that uses the same music than Outlaw Immortalz "Penitentiary Bound" (is there a Pac verse ?). In the same way, he gave 2Pac a beat he used in "Nobody Rides 4 Free" for the original Biggy Smallz, a latino rapper (not the Live Squad member who died in early 94). And it became the unreleased "If There's a Cure" with Snoop Dogg.

So we could say that Johnny J gave everything he could to 2Pac. It was sure that like many, he felt that 2Pac would be one of the most important hip hop phenomenon.

 

 Thanks to "Thuglife living nigga 2Pac"

Prince Ital Joe -1997- Prince Ital Joe (Death Row)

• Unreleased Death Row album recorded in 1996-1997 
• Prince Ital Joe, long time 2Pac friend and collaborator

 

 

Discogs page

Listen that album in YouTube

 
1. No More Games feat. Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg
2. Some Day
3. Jamming on the Radio feat. Yo-Yo
4. 2Pac Tribute feat. Kurupt, Coolio & Jewell
5. Don't Test Me (Acting Shady) feat. K-Ci & Jojo
6. Sea of Love
7. Whatcha Gonna Do feat. Daz Dillinger
8. Ras Mob
9. Stereo Type feat. WC
10. Wicked Run
11. True Love
12. It Ain't Easy feat. Low Life Gangstas

Executive producer : Daz Dillinger

The album knew an unofficial release recently

Authentic reggae singer & mainstream success with Marky 'Mark' Whalberg

In the 80's, Prince Ital released some reggae singles in a traditional Jamaican style. But he is of course mainly known for his mainstream collaborative album with Marky Mark Whalberg in 1994 (and the remix companion in 1995). The project was mixing dance music with hip hop & reggae for a huge commercial success. In this Death Row album, you can easily hear that dance vibe he is used to improve with his ragga style (in many songs like "Some Day" or "Sea of Love"). 

Early Hip-Hop / Reggae singer

Hip hop fans prefer to remember his contributions for 2Pac (in Makaveli, The 7th Day), Dogg Pound ("Respect" in Dogg Food in 1995). And they are not wrong because Prince Ital was doing features in the west coast hip hop before his mainstream success with the bad boy actor. In 1993, he is featured in Yo-Yo's "Givin' it Up" for her 3rd album mainly produced by Ice Cube. This has been his first significative disc appearance and maybe that's why he invited her here.

Even before that, Prince Ital Joe also recorded in 1992 a song for Dr. Dre album Chronic, "Mr. Officer" ! But Dre finally chose to remake the song with Snoop and Daz Dillinger. It became "The Day The Niggaz Took Over" and this early Prince Ital song remained unreleased...

A long time 2Pac friend & collaborator

In the early 1993, Prince Ital recorded the song "Thug Life" with 2Pac and Big Syke, a song that was the first step of Pac 's famous third project, but unfortunately stayed unreleased until today...

So Ital was at the basis of Thug Life and that's probably why 2Pac invited him in the late '96 to record three songs with him and his group Outlaw Immortalz for his new project Thug Life Volume 2 : "What's Next", "Penitentiary Bound" and above all "Hit Em Up original". 

Ital was not in One Nation (or eventually if "Street Life" could have been included in a west side second part), but what is funny is that another well-known hip hop contribution is to "Mirror, Mirror" published in One Million Strong in 1995, a song by Smooth B, partner of Greg Nice, heavily featured in One Nation.

 

This first solo album knew a promo release in 1997.

Casual cursed Death Row artist

Like we saw, he missed the opportunity to shine in Chronic. In beginning of 1996, Ital recorded "Street Life" with Daz Dillinger and Val Young, promised to be a real street anthem. Daz gave his verse to Snoop for his new Doggfather album. 2Pac is added in June. But finally the song will be scrapped from Snoop album and from the Death Row compilations... 

The entire Dogg Pound, augmented of Snoop and Nate Dogg were there, alongside with other west coast heavyweights (Coolio & WC, who were partners in the Maad Circle) and New Jack superstars K-Ci & Jojo to help him to record his first solo album that knew an official promo release in 1997. But because of Snoop and Kurupt leaving Death Row ? It failed to break the curse...

 

 

 

 

 

Bo$$ (Lady the Boss & Dee Tha Mad Bitch) -1993- Born Gangstaz (Dj West, Columbia)

• Bo$$ : Bitches On Some Shit
  
• Dee the Mad Bitch recorded two tracks with 2Pac ("Mind of a Bad Boy" and "Judgement Day")
  

 

 Discogs page

Listen to that album here and there

1. Intro: A Call From Mom
2. Deeper feat. Papa Juggy (dancehall)
3. Comin' To Getcha feat. Erick Sermon (backing)
4. Mai Sista Izza Bitch feat. AMG
5. Thelma & Louise
6. Drive By*
7. Progress Of Elimination
8. Livin' Loc'd feat. Sticky Fingaz (Onyx)
9. Recipe Of A Hoe
10. A Blind Date With Boss feat. Onyx*
11. Catch A Bad One*
12. Born Gangsta feat. Admiral D (dancehall)*
13. 1-800-Body-Bags feat. Def Jef
14. Diary Of A Mad Bitch*
15. 2 To Da Head*
16. I Don't Give A Fuck*
17. Outro: A Call From Dad

* featuring Dee tha Mad Bitch

Produced by Def Jef (1,2,5,7,11,13,17), Erick Sermon (3, 15), AMG (4, 12), Stone Tha Lunatic (6), Chyskillz & Jam Master Jay (8), Mic Professah (9), Tracey Waples (10), MC Serch & T-Ray (14, 16)

back cover : Lady the Boss is alone
in the front cover, she was in the right side and Dee in the left 

Bo$$ is at the same time the name of the group - with two female rappers called Lady the Boss and Dee tha Mad Bitch - and the alias of one of them... Def Jef, who released two conscious solo albums in 1989 and 1991 is the main producer of the album ; it is funny to notice that he will have a part in 2Pac's R U Still Down credited for remixing "I'm Loosing It" (or could he be the original producer ?).

Lady the Boss put her first verse in 1990 for the introduction track "Knowledge is Power"to the Detroit compilation of the same name. Then she gave a verse on the track "One Nation" for the album of St. Louis artist Sylk Smoov in 1991.

After that it is difficul to know if she went to L.A. or if she met Dee first. DJ Quik invited Lady the Boss for the track "Mai Sista izza Bitch" in AMG album in 1991. On that track, she talked about "me and the D double E". Dee tha Mad Bitch has a solo in the Zebrahead soundtrack with "Explanation of a Bitch" (aka "Diary of a Mad Bitch", included here) in 1992, but it could have been recorded before... Anyway, they released their first 12'' in 1992 : "I Don't Give A Fuck" with "My Sista izza Bitch" as a b-side.

But before they achieve the recording of the album, the duo splitted and Lady went solo under the name of Bo$$ (it is said something like that Lady was turning paranoiac or unsociable). So most of the tracks of the album have only Lady the Boss rapping. Certainly she is the best rapper of the two, but it is good to have a conterpoint to see the difference. And... it is important to keep the balance of what is good to do and say. It seems that after the album, Lichelle Laws aka Lady the Boss fell slowly, unable to play her role...

 

The main problem of the album is its title... for a rapper who is not coming from the street, it is a certitude for everybody that Bo$$ is acting like a gangsta... The emphasis of the cover didn't help neither... And from the first track of the album, Lady's mother reminds her that she received a good education, dance lessons, etc... and that she doesn't like what she is doing. 

 

Progress of Elimination 12'' with "Progress" Niggaz Iz Dyin Remix

There is some kind of game with that gangsta imagery by Boss. She acts like a real gangster during interviews but she doesn't hide her origins. Of course people couldn't see the autoderision and the "second degree", that was nothing but obvious. For later cemments, she was acting like many other male gangsta rappers, building herself an image in the medias. But everything is like it wasn't acceptable for a girl to be fake... 

And Bo$$, despite her obvious huge rapping talent, fell back in the unknown. Going back to Detroit, trying to build her a new life, struggling with sickness...

Deeper 12'' with b-side :
Drive By (Rollin' Slow Remix) by DJ Premier & Erick Sermon !!!

Not a lot is known about her partner Dee the Mad Bitch, who met and rap with 2Pac in late 93. But Lichelle Laws aka Bo$$ has some common points with 2Pac. Apart from the good education, the good school, the dance lessons, she's not from the west side but from Detroit. When she arrived in L.A., she spend many time living in the street, without ressources. This is probably there that she met Dee and that she acquired her determination, her bad girl or bad bitch spirit (like for 2Pac in Marin City). She is also the cousin of Sticky Fingaz from Onyx.

Anyway, 2Pac declared that it was the best female rap group. This is probably the reason why he invited Dee tha Mad Bitch to join the Thug Life at the end of '93. A pity that it failed because Dee was also a really good rapper.

Beginnings for a second album with the 12'' Run, Catch & Kill (1994).
It was supposed to be called They Don't Have The Body Count but nothing more came...