Evil Mind Gangsta's (Big Syke, Mental, Domino & Johnny J) -1993- All Hell Breakin' Loose (Organize Records)

• Big Syke's first group with Mental Illness, Domino & Johnny J !
• Recorded from 1990 to 1992

Discogs page

Listen in YouTube

Side 1 :

1. Intro

2. Livin' in the Edge

3. Get It Strait *

4. Got To Get Paid *

5. I'm That Nigga

6. Not My Girl *

7. Riden A Double Murda Beef

Side 2 :

8. I Wish U Would *

9. N Misery

10. What Else Cana Nigga Do *

11. Evil Mind

12. U Tripin' Bitch *

13. All Hell Breakin' Losse

 

Produced by Johnny J, Charlie Mac & Big Syke.

Probably recorded mostly in 1992.

* solo tracks by Big Syke

Big Syke's beginnings are less known than his later works, altough it is probably better, more fresh and rough, closer to Thug Life style. The "closest road dog" is already the deep voice we know (just listen to "Riden a Double Murda Beef"). He is the proeminent persona here with 6 solo tracks and 4 other songs. He's taking an important part in the production too.

Johnny J has already produced significant tunes for MC T.N.T., (Bustin' Out, Mr. Dynamite album), Candyman's (album Ain't No Shame in my Game), but he is the main ingredient here in the sound identity. You can hear the departure from N.W.A. old L.A. sound to a more funky/soul even jazzy thing like in "U Tripin' Bitch" that will characterize 2Pac later sound.

 

Mental Illness : Probably you already heard that name in Tupac's songs ("Mental, rest in peace"). He died not a long time after the recording of that album. What is particularly interesting, if you listen to his verse in "Livin' in the Edge", you will hear this famous sentence re-used many times by 2Pac :

 

My only fear of death is coming back reincarnated

 

It seems that Mental's style and text (you can hear a bit of Eazy-E) had important influence over Tupac, over the Me Against the World intimate mood :

Will I live today and live in sorrow (?)
Or will I get love and die tomorrow ?
Mental, "All Hell Breakin' Loose"

 

 

Raw Fusion (Money B & DJ Fuze) -1991- Live from the Styleetron (Hollywood BASIC)

• Money B & DJ Fuze's side project
  
• Released the November 12, 1991
  

Review in Allmusic.com

Tracklist :

1. Live from the Styleetron feat. Margie Marie Rubio
2. Hip Hip, Stylee Expression
3. Don't Test feat. Pam Taylor & Daddy Courtney
4. Do My Thang
5. Ah Nah Go Drip feat. Mac Mone, Cooley Ranx & Clee
6. Nappy Headed Ninja
7. Kill Mi Dead feat. Mac Mone
8. Rockin' to the P.M. feat. Roniece Levias & Piano Man
9. Hang Time
10. Traffic Jam feat. Mac Mone & Roniece Levias
11. Funkintoyoear feat. Shock G, Gold Money (Big Money Odis & Pee Wee), Humpty Hump & Schmoovy Schmoov
12. Wild Francis feat. Mac Mone & Roniece Levias
13. Throw Your Hands in the Air feat. Mac Mone & Piano Man
14. #1 With A Bullet feat. 2Pac

 

Raw Fusion is Money-B & DJ Fuze from Digital Underground. The album is well known for his last track featuring 2Pac. But it is also a really good album. 

 

LP version doesn't have ""Traffic Jam" and "Wild Francis"

A strange fact is that this album has been officially released the same exact day than 2Pacalypse Now. : the 12 of November of 1991.

But there are more interesting things to notice here. Probably both albums have been recorded or mixed around the same time. So we have the same guests than in 2Pac's first album :
- of course Shock G appears in three tracks, as himself, Piano Man and Humpty Hump
- Schmoovy Schmoov, Digital Underground's chorist, that sing in 2Pac's unreleased first version of "(What U Won't) Do 4 Love"

- Saafir can be heard in the background of the song n° 4, that sing in "Pass the 40" (collective track probably recorded at the time of this album, even not for this album), will be in Digital Underground's third album with 2Pac in 1993.
- Pee Wee from Gold Money that was featured in "Trapped", "I Don't Give a Fuck" and "Something Wicked", producing the first two.

- Mac Mone who can be heard in the background of "Violent" and is also featured in "Pass the 40".
- Roniece Levias, female singer that sing in "Brenda's got a Baby" and in unreleased song "Don't U Trust Me".

 

 

Song n°5 featured Cooley Ranks (probably Coolie Ranx from the Pilfers) is probably the same reggae voice than in "Static" original song and unreleased "Fade Away". If you listen as well carefully to song n°4, you will notice that some elements sound really close to "Fade Away".

The mixdown of this album is generally close to Tupac's first album.

Tupac with Money B around 1990-1991 (same hair than in the Lost Tapes pictures) - is it DJ Fuze in the left ?

2Pac -1999- Still I Rise (with Outlawz) (Interscope)

• 1999, December the 21st

• Compilation of tracks taken among the three Death Row aborted projects 2Pac had with his friends : Thug Life : Volume 2, Immortalz and Ghetto Starz.

This picture shows the group with 2Pac around August of 96

Discogs page

Listen in Youtube

 

1. Letter To The President (Remix) feat. Outlawz & Big Syke / QD3
2. Still I Rise (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Johnny J
3. Secretz of War (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Johnny J
4. Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up 2) (Remix) feat. Outlawz / 2Pac, Soulshock & Karlin
   => same sample than original which was unfinished with no Outlawz verses.
5. As The World Turns (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Darryl Harper
6. Black Jesuz (Remix) / 2Pac, L Rock Ya
7. Homeboyz (Remix) feat. Young Noble / Daz Dillinger
   => original is unleaked but would have the same beat, but no Noble verse.
8. Hell 4 A Hustler (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Damon Thomas
9. High Speed (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Darryl Harper
10. The Good Die Young (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Darryl Harper
    => close to the original but with different Outlawz verses.
11. Killuminati (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Tony Pizarro
12. Teardrops And Closed Caskets (Remix) feat. Outlawz / QD3
    => close to the original
13. Tattoo Tears (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Kurupt
14. U Can Be Touched (Remix) / Johnny J
15. Y'all Don't Know Us (by Outlawz) / Quimmy Quim, Reef

 

Tracks 1,2,7,12 were recorded for Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2 (95/10 - 96/01)

Tracks 3,4,14 were recorded for Outlawz : Troublesome, The Secretz of War (96/04 - 06)

Track 11 was recorded for Makaveli : Mr Killuminati (96/07)

Tracks 5,6,8,9,10,13 were recorded in summer of 96 for Outlawz : Ghetto Starz (96/06 - 08)

This second posthumous project after R U Still Down, is also a fair attempt to release original 2Pac's projects. 2Pac tried to release three different projects with his friends Outlawz while he was in Death Row : Thug Life Volume Two (with Outlaw Immortalz consisting of Thug Life + Dramacydal & Fatal N Felony, around the end of 95) ; Troubesome, Tha secretz of War (almost fully Johnny J produced, around March-June of 96) ; Ghetto Starz (around August-September of 96). So this album compiles songs from these three projects.

 

Outlawz re-recorded verses (except for Kadafi, Big Syke and Storm)

The main problem with this compilation is that Outlawz wanted to record new verses instead of their original ones, maybe because the were young and less good at that time. Instead, they sound patched and not at their place, and even less good that during Pac's lifetime when there was some kind of magic alchemy with his patronage even if they were sometimes clumsier in their verses.

DETAILED TRACKLIST

1. Letter To The President (Remix) feat. Edi, Kastro & Big Syke / QD3 REMIXED by QD3

• 1995/12 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Thug Life Volume 2 sessions. Pac & Syke verses are original. The beat is close to the original.

2. Still I Rise (Remix) feat. Kastro, Kadafi, Napoleon, Young Noble & Ta'He (chorus) / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1995/09 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). All Eyes on Me (When I Get Free) early sessions. Only 2Pac and Kadafi verses are original.
  

3. Secretz of War (Remix) feat. Edi, Kadafi & Young Noble / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/04 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Immortalz 1st LP sessions / One Nation, Volume 1 sessions. Only 2Pac, Kadafi and Val Young parts are original.
  

4. Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up 2) (Remix) feat. Edi, Young Noble & HEAT (chorus) / Johnny J (?) & 2Pac REMIXED Soulshock & Karlin 

• 1996/04 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Immortalz 1st LP sessions / One Nation, Volume 1. The beat is close to the original. The og having no guests, Outlawz verses are obviously new.
  

5. As The World Turns (Remix) feat. Young Noble, Napoleon, Kadafi, Edi & Darryl Harper (chorus) / Darryl Harper REMIXED by Darryl Harper

• 1996/08 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Ghetto Starz LP sessions. Pac & Kadafi verses are original. The beat is similar.
  

6. Black Jesuz (Remix) feat. Kadafi, Storm, Young Noble, Kastro & Val Young / 2Pac REMIXED by L Rock Ya

• 1996/08 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Ghetto Starz LP sessions. 2Pac, Kadafi, Storm & Val Young parts are original.
  

7. Homeboyz (Remix) feat. Young Noble / Daz Dillinger REMIXED by Daz Dillinger

• 1996/01 (?) - 1999 (?) (Noble added). Thug Pound sessions. Original version is still unleaked. The beat could be the exact same (like often with Daz posthumous songs). It was somewhere written that the original has Napoleon instead of Noble but Napoleon can be heard in the backing of the chorus so it could be a 2Pac solo song unfinishe finally dropped maybe because 2Pac recorded "Me & My Homies" with Nate Dogg instead (same thema).
  

8. Hell 4 A Hustler (Remix) feat. Edi, Young Noble & J. Valentine (chorus) / Damon Thomas REMIXED by Damon Thomas

• 1996/09 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Ghetto Starz LP sessions. New Outlawz verses.
  

9. High Speed (Remix) feat. Kadafi & Edi / Darryl Harper REMIXED by Darryl Harper

• 1996/08 - 1999 (new beat). Outlawz' Ghetto Starz LP sessions. Has original verses (Edi re-recorded his). Beat is close to the original.
  

10. The Good Die Young (Remix) feat. Napoleon, Young Noble, Edi, Kastro & Val Young / Darryl Harper REMIXED by Darryl Harper

• 1996/07 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Ghetto Starz LP sessions. Pac  and Val Young original vocals. Beat is close to the original.
  

11. Killuminati (Remix) feat. Edi, Kadafi, Kastro & Quierra Davis-Martin (chorus) / Tony Pizarro REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

• 1996/07 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Makaveli LP sessions. Pac & Kadafi original verses.
  

12. Teardrops And Closed Caskets (Remix) feat. Outlawz, Nate Dogg & Val Young / QD3

• 1995/12 - 1999 (remix, Val Young added). Thug Life : Volume 2 sessions. Has original verses and chorus (but Outlawz could have re-recorded some parts). Val Young's hook was added. Beat is close to the original.
  

13. Tattoo Tears (Remix) feat. Young Noble, Napoleon, Kadafi & Kastro / Edi & Kurupt REMIXED by Edi & Kurupt

• 1996/06 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). One Nation, Volume 1 sessions and Outlawz' Ghetto Starz LP sessions. Pac & Kadafi original verses.
  

14. U Can Be Touched (Remix) feat. Napoleon, Edi, Kastro, Young Noble & Kadafi / Johnny J

• 1996/04 - 1999 (new verses, new beat). Outlawz' Immortalz 1st LP sessions. Pac & Kadafi original verses.
  

15. Y'all Don't Know Us (by Young Noble, Napoleon & Edi) / Quimmy Quim, Reef

• 1999. New song recorded by the Outlawz to promote their actual activity.
  

 

2Pac -1998- Greatest Hits (Death Row / Interscope)

• 1998, November the 24th.
• Last 2Pac album on Death Row, released without Amaru entertainment. 
• 2Pac had a first project of a Greatest Hits compilation in early 1995, when he was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5. years to prison... cf. R U Still Down '95 first tracklist.

Discogs Page

Listen to it in Youtube

CD 1 :

1. Keep Ya Head Up
2. 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
3. Temptations
4. God Bless the Dead feat. Stretch / Stretch & 2Pac
   ==> original version
5. Hail Mary feat. Outlawz & Prince Ital Joe
6. Me Against the World feat. Dramacydal
7. How Do U Want It (Uncensored) feat. K-Ci & Jojo  
   ==> vocals were censored in some original editions of the album
8. So Many Tears
9. Unconditional Love / Johnny J
   ==> original version
10. Trapped (Uncensored)
    ==> vocals were censored in some original editions of the album
11. Life Goes On
12. Hit Em Up feat. Outlawz / Johnny J
    == > already available in How Do U Want It 12''.

CD 2 :

1. Troublesome 96' / Johnny J
   ==> Slightly shorter mix than the second original version.
2. Brenda's Got a Baby feat. Dave Hollister
3. I Ain't Mad At Cha feat. Danny Boy
4. I Get Around feat. Digital Underground
5. Changes (Remix) feat. Talent / Deon Evans, 2Pac
   ==> Pac's voice has been slowed down to give the sound of his late voice.
6. California Love feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman / Dr. Dre
   ==> already available in California Love (12'') and in most European editions of All Eyez on Me.
7. Picture Me Rollin' feat. Danny Boy, CPO & Big Syke
8. How Long Will They Mourn Me ? feat. Thug Life & Nate Dogg
9. Toss It Up (Altered Mix with altered lyrics) feat. K-Ci & Jojo, Danny Boy & Aaron Hall
   ==> No diss introduction, altered singing takes
   
10. Dear Mama
11. All About U (Top Dogg Version) feat. Nate Dogg, Outlawz & Top Dogg
    ==> the main mistake of this edition, a posthumous remix with an unwelcome featuring of Top Dogg replacing Snoop Dogg... Wheras in video version, we could have the same different mix but with a new 2Pac verse !!
    
12. To Live & Die in L.A. feat. Val Young
13. Heartz of Men

Tracks 1.1, 1.10, 2.2 are taken from 2Pacalypse Now

Tracks 2.4 are taken from Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Track 2.8 is taken from Thug Life : Volume 1

Tracks 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, 2.10 are taken from Me Against the World

Tracks 1.2, 1.7, 1.11, 2.3, 2.7, 2.13 are taken from All Eyez on Me

Tracks 1.5, 2.9, 2.12 are taken from Makaveli the Don Killuminati : The 7 Day Theory

A typical compilation leaning too much to All Eyez on Me

This compilation is a typical Greatest Hits album that compiles all singles released by the artist. But they omit singles "If My Homie Calls", "Holla If Ya Hear Me", "Papa'z Song", "Cradle 2 the Grave", "Pour Out A Little Liquor" and above all the underground superhit "Pain", played as the ending of the soundtrack Above The Rim.

They chose to not include posthumous songs from R U Still Down, nor from Gridlock'd OST and Gang Related OST. No songs from Soundtracks at all nor from compilation : no "Runnin'", no "My Block", no "High Til I Die", no "Definition of a Thug Nigga"... No featuring singles neither : no "Same Song", no "Call It What U Want", no "Gotta Get Mine", no "Smile"...

Some of them could have replaced some of the too numerous All Eyez on Me songs (two non-singles songs : "Heartz of Men", "Picture Me Rollin'"), or merely complete the short tracklists of these two CDs. 

Four exclusive songs

"Changes", "God Bless The Dead", "Unconditional Love" and "Troublesome '96" were totally unknown at that time (maybe in the Makaveli bootlegs, but not sure at all). These are great songs ! The two first from Pre-Death Row era, the two other from the last period. Of course, they could release a lot more but it wouldn't be a Greatest Hits anymore.

 

205. Changes (Remix) feat. Talent (chorus) / Big D The Impossible & 2Pac REMIXED by ?

• 1991/12/25 - 1998 (~) (new mix). This is a remixed version of a Dec. '91 unreleased song, with a new chorus by the Kansas City trio Talent (replacing Poppi who was singing on "Part Time Mutha" and "Papa'z Song") and a slowed Pac voice for making him sound as old as in All Eyez on Me. The original song appears nowhere in Tupac's handwritten papers... Nobody knows why this song was recorded for, why 2Pac recycled part of his 3rd verse in "I Wonder If Heaven's Got A Ghetto" a few months later. At that time, 2Pac was considering a follow up to his first album. We lack info about this 2Pacalypse II, so "Changes" was maybe intended for that short-lived project. Unless it was recorded as a reference track for the side project Ghetto Gospel (songs written by him, rapped by a group of kids), and that the song disappeared as soon as he recorded "Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto". Who gave this new mix of the song ? Is it possible that 2Pac himself (credited as producer in Greatest Hits), worked at it during his time at Death Row...?
• Samples: 
• Bruce Hornsby – "The Way It Is". (melody, bassline, drums)
• Strafe - "Set It Off" (drums interpolation)

104. God Bless The Dead feat. Stretch / Stretch

• 1994/03. Thug Life Volume One sessions. This is a tribute to Biggie Smalls aka Big Dric from Live Squad Posse, a graffiti artist close to Stretch, who died at that time (nothing to do with B.I.G. nor with Biggy Smallz, young white rapper from Los Angeles, produced by Johnny J). Christopher Wallace when he makes his first records under the name of "Biggie Smalls", had risks of being sued by the young Biggy Smallz (who has published some 12'' under this alias since 91) so he changed his name to The Notorious B.I.G.. The fact that this song starts by "Biggie Smalls rest in peace" in 1998, just a few months after Notorious B.I.G's death is for sure not a coincidence. Death Row kept on feeding the feud with Bad Boys records and the rumor of 2Pac being alive and speaking through death like a Black Jesus. Bomb 1st member Banned who owns a lot of lost material said the song was at a time a Live Squad's song intended for their second album titled Diary of a Poor Man / Ghetto Blues in 94, but maybe more likely in a different version with a Majesty verse... or after 2Pac dropped the song from Volume 1.
• Samples : 
• The Monkeys - "Mary, Mary" (drumline) 

109. Unconditional Love feat. Nanci Fletcher (chorus) / Johnny J

• 1996/02/02. Me Against The World pt. 2. This song is often mistakenly considered as a reference for MC Hammer because 2Pac finally sold the song to him for his album Too Tight, what he also wrote two songs for (eponymous song and a very probably unrecorded "Make It Rain On Em"). In fact, this song was one of his title track, probably considered for a single, appearing in many tracklists of that second Death Row solo album project, and having many mixes (you don't make 4 mixes just to give a reference track to somebody...). The song is almost untouched in comparison of the original.
• Samples : 
• Bell & James - "Just Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love)" (melody)
  

201. Troublesome '96 / Johnny J 

• 1996/04/08 - 06 (~) (chorus added, new mix). This mix is supposedly the second mix of the song with 2Pac singing a "lalala" chorus, strangely incorporating behind the first verse a hidden verse known as "Criminal Timez" (what is probably a first version of "Made Niggaz"). 2Pac recorded this song for Me Against The World pt. 2 aborted 2nd Death Row solo album project, then planned to release in a new mix in 2Pac+Outlawz project (cf. Immortalz). The song is the follow up of the 92 title track of the blocked Troublesome 21 album (song finally released the 5th of August 1997 in Def Jam's How to be a Player OST).  This mix is slightly shortened in comparison of the second Outlawz mix. In the released single, Death Row also gave a short alternate mix of the song probably made a bit later during the One Nation 1st sessions or in the beginning of July '96 (cf One Nation, Volume 1). 
• Samples : 
• Whodini - "Friends" (drums, bassline interpolation)
  
• Louchie Lou & Michie One - "Rich Girl" (vocals interpolation)

B-sides and Alternate versions

They also chose to include two b-sides : "California Love (Original)" and "Hit 'Em Up". They could release in a CD quality a lot of other b-sides like "If Heaven's Got a Ghetto", "Flex", "Nothing But Love", "Loyal 2 The Game", original "Cradle 2 The Grave"... "Toss It Up (Alternate Version)" is interesting for itself but not necessary. The real mistake is to have included a posthumous remix version of "All About U" with Top Dogg instead of Snoop Dogg, whereas the video version has the same mix and a new 2Pac verse...

 

They could also release a lot of alternate radio or video versions of the known songs. Some of them have new verses (like "How Long Will They Mourn Me", "All About U"), remixed beat ("Brenda's Got A Baby", "2 of Amerikaz"), remade music ("I Ain't Mad at Cha", "Life Goes On") but some clean lyrics could have weaken the album (like video version of "Hit 'Em Up").

There were also remix versions of these hits that could have be very interesting for fans like "I Get Around (Battlecat Remix)", "Me Against The World (Soul Power Mix)", "Temptations (Batttlecat Remix)", "Dear Mama (Death Row Remix)"...

206. California Love feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman / Dr. Dre

• 1995/11/02. Released in California Love single and in European versions of All Eyez on Me. It was initially a full Dr. Dre's song featuring Roger Troutman, probably intended to be in Dr. Dre's Chronic II aborted project. When Suge Knight enrolled 2Pac, he kind of forced Dr. Dre to give the track to promote the new star of the label... The principle was that everybody had to give his best current things for the next project of the label... But Dr. Dre was the founder of the label with Suge...
  
• Samples : 
• Joe Cocker - "Woman To Woman" (melody)
• Ronnie Hudson & The Street People - "West Coast Pop Lock" (vocals interpolation)
• Zapp - "Dance Floor" (vocals interpolation : "shake, shake it baby, shake it")

112. Hit Em Up feat. Outlawz / Johnny J 

• 1996/03/29 - 04/19 (final mix). Released as a B-side to How Do U Want It (12'') the 4th of June 1996. This is in fact the second version of a song initially recorded in late October 95 for 2Pac's leftover project Thug Life : Volume 2 with Outlaw Immortalz. He re-recorded the song with a new Johnny J beat for his Me Against The World pt. 2 aborted project, before giving the song to the Outlawz Immortalz first LP project, including the song in the B-side of his album 3rd single in order to promote this forthcoming album, unfortunately shelved because of a dispute between Johnny J and the label concerning the royalties.
  
• Samples : 
• Dennis Edwards - "Don't Look Any Further" (bassline, melody, drumline, concept)
  
• Junior M.A.F.I.A. - "Player's Anthem" (concept)
• Junior M.A.F.I.A. - "Getting Money (Remix)" (concept, vocal interpolation)
• MC Lyte & Audio Two - "10% Dis" (vocals interpolation : "beat biter, dope style taker")

 

 

2Pac -1997- R U Still Down ? [Remember Me] (Amaru / Interscope)

• 1997, November 25.
• First totally posthumous project.
  
• Compilation very likely inspired by a real project of compilation of leftover tracks 2Pac had when he was in prison in 95, eventually titled R U Still Down / When I Get Free (Lost Track 1992-1996), cf. R U Still Down '95 (Lost Tracks).
• Source : Discogs page.

 

Listen to the album in YouTube or get it here and there

CD 1 :

1. Redemption
2. Open Fire 
3. R U Still Down ? (Remember Me) 
4. Hellrazor (Remix)
5. Thug Style (Remix) 
6. Where Do We Go From Here (Interlude) feat. Y?N-Vee 
7. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Remake) *
8. Nothing To Lose
9. I'm Gettin' Money (Remix) *
10. Lie To Kick It feat. Richie Rich (Remake) *
11. Fuck All Y'all (Remix)
12. Let Them Thangs Go (Remix)
13. Definition Of A Thug Nigga 

CD 2 :

1. Ready 4 Whatever feat. Big Syke 
2. When I Get Free (Remake)
3. Hold On Be Strong
4. I'm Losin' It (Remix) feat. Big Syke & Spice 1
5. Fake Ass Bitches (Remix) *
6. Do For Love (Remix) feat. Eric Williams (Blackstreet) *
7. Enemies With Me (Remix) feat. Outlawz
8. Nothin But Love feat. Dave Hollister (Blackstreet)
9. 16 On Death Row (Remix) *
10. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Hip-Hop Version) feat. Maxee
11. When I Get Free II  
12. Black Starry Night (Interlude)
13. Only Fear Of Death

• BOLD : very close to the original.
• * These remix/remake are also close to the original but they lack some essential elements (guests, music and sample elements)
• "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto" was available in its original form in I Get Around 12'' B-side.
• "Nothing But Love" was released in Keep Ya Head Up 12'' B-Side.
• "Definition of a Thug Nigga" was included in Poetic Justice OST in a very close mix.
  
• Included in R U Still Down '95 (Pre-Death Row Compilation) : CD1 : 3,4,6,8 CD2 : 3,6,11,13
• Recorded for 2Pacalypse II or Troublesome 21 : CD1 : 7,12 ; CD2 : 2,8,9,10,12
  
• Recorded for Thug Life Demo or Thug Life Original : CD1 : 9,10,13 CD2 : 1,4,5
• Recorded for Out On Bail project (Cradle Tape) : CD1 : 2,8,13
• Recorded for R U Still Down '94 project (Manu Tape) : CD1 : 3,4,6,8 ; CD2 : 13
• Recorded for Stay True project : CD1 : 3,4,5,8,11 ; CD2 : 3,11
• Recorded for F.T.W. / Me Against The World project : CD2 : 6
• Recorded for Young Thugz EP / Dramacydal project : CD2 : 7

• Original Producers - Johnny J (1.9?, 2.1, 2.5), Tony Pizarro (1.3, 1.6 ?, 1.8?), Bread & Water (2.11), DJ Daryl (2.8, 2.12), Warren G (1.10, 1.13), Live Squad & Duane Nettlesbey (1.6?, 1.8, 2.3, 2.13), Akshun (1.2), Mike Mosley (1.9?), DJ Choo (2.3)
• New Producers - We Got Kidz & Ricky Rouse (1.1, 1.5, 1.11, 1.12, 2.2, 2.7, 2.9), Soulshock & Karlin (1.7, 2.6, 2.10), Tony Pizarro & Def Jef (2.4), Mike Mosley (1.9?), QD3 (1.4) 
  

portrait by Ramiro Fauve, in a Van Gogh style

2Pac was a great fan of the Dutch painter who shot himself to death

whose last words were : "Sadness will last forever" 

1997, Afeni Shakur chose this symbolic title : R U Still Down 

Released about one year after Killuminati, The 7th Day Theory (giving some reality to Tupac's black Jesus resurrection fantasy), this first posthumous compilation was titled following the name of a song produced by Shock G in December 93 and still unreleased, speaking about the rough fall of the media critics towards him after the two justice cases (for having shot at two drunk off duty cops harassing a black man during the Halloween night in 93 and of for having let a girl named Ayanna Jackson being sexually assaulted in his hotel room the 18th of November). The 21st of November, the charges for rape being confirmed, 2Pac says to the medias :

Merry Christmas & Thanks 4 destroying everything I've ever worked for.

The "R U Still Down" version included here is a new version from March of 1994, following many trials and notably a sentence of 15 days given to him the 10th of March for having assaulted the Hughes Brothers in March 93 (because he was fired from Menace II Society cast).

I wrote this for my critics and my enemies
Last year ya used to love me, huh, remember me
Now ya hate me with a passion... ("R U Still Down", verse 3)

The released version emphasizes on "remember me" lyric, giving a real impression that Tupac is speaking to us about his own death (and not about the fact medias destroyed his reputation). But "R U Still Down" is also the title of a real album project Tupac had in 1994 and again in 1995. Firstly, it was a short lived title for an anticipated sequence for his third solo album (Me Against the World) between Dec. and March of '94 (from the moment he recorded the song with Shock G), between Out on Bail in the end of 93 and Stay True in Spring of 94. Then when 2Pac went in jail, and after his 3rd solo album was released, he and Interscope were thinking about a compilation of unreleased tracks from 1993-1994 and the title "R U Still Down" came back alongside "When I Get Free (1992-1996 Lost Trax)".

 

Primary ambitions of Amaru publishing were high and respectable.

Thug Life / Me Against The World leftovers fair compilation + Strictly 4 my N... irrelevant remixed tracks

It seems that for her first project, Afeni Shakur decided to give form to this project of compilation 2Pac had in prison but didn't release because he was freed from jail by getting a record deal for three albums with Death Row. Even if one of the planned title mentions "1992", there was in fact originally no 1992 tracks planned to be included, except "When I Get Free" and "Sucka 4 Love (Do 4 Love)" which were re-recorded songs and not the 1992 versions. And no doubt that it is the main mistake of this first posthumous compilation...

Except "When I Get Free" with Souljah pitched voice (and "Nothing But Love", already available as a b-side), all 1992 songs recorded for Troublesome / Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z are clearly not in their place here. Voice and style of 2Pac were very different, closer to his original Digital Underground funk vibe. All remixed songs of that time are failures for the simple reason that the producers try to give a more typical mature 2Pac vibe.

The biggest failure is of course the remixed version of "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto". Even if the first mix stays close to the original, we don't really understand why they didn't just re-release the original version of the song published in Keep Ya Head Up 12'' b-side, like they made for "Nothing But Love" or "Definition of a Thug Nigga". Soulshock & Karlin who produced "Me Against The World" and "Old School" for 2Pac (and some songs for Dramacydal shelved album), are a relevant choice for producing/remixing 2Pac's 94 songs, but maybe not for old 1992 songs.

On the other hand, their remix of Moe-Z produced "Do 4 Love", still close to the original, is a huge success and even an improvement of the original... And even the presence of Eric Williams of Blackstreet at the chorus instead of G-Money stays relevant because 2Pac had worked a lot with another Blackstreet member Dave Hollister (here in "Nothing But Love"), and will work in summer of 96 with Aaron Hall (ex-partner of Blackstreet's leader Teddy Riley in his first group Guy), for "Toss It Up".

QD3, We Got Kidz & Ricky Rouse : a discrete touch of Death Row's vibe ?

Out of these 1992 wrong moves, most of the compilation clearly tries to respect the original 93-94 songs 2Pac recorded. Many songs sound almost untouched (maybe just a final mix or just a clean sound) or the original song seems to have been kind of finalized by the original producers (Johnny J, Warren G or Mike Mosley (?)...) or by We Got Kidz (group of musician who replay the planned samples). Most of the remixes try to stay close to the original, keeping many elements of the beat (like "16 on Death Row").

 

We Got Kidz was a mysterious name. The fact that they are associated to Ricky Rouse who was a musician for live instrumentation in Death Row in many songs while 2Pac was recording for the label, that QD3 (Quincy Jones Jr.) also worked in Death Row for 2Pac, and that their work here is mainly instrumentation, could indicate that they are an instrumentation team, gathered for the occasion, maybe around some guys already together in Death Row, and that they were in charge for an important part of this compilation. By entrusting the compilation to them, maybe Afeni Shakur tried to make these old 92-94 sound more like the successful 96 Death Row album. 

 

Anyway, it was a really good way to clear the original samples like Bob Marley's "No More Troubles" without paying too much... A pity that they didn't use that strategy for more songs and in the next posthumous compilations. If they clearly missed remixes of "Let the Thangs Go", "Fuck All Y'All", "Enemies With Me", too far from the original, their work in "Thug Style" and "Fake Ass Bitches" is great. The other great remix is clearly "Hell Razor" by Quincy Jones' son QD3.

DETAILED TRACKLIST

(Special thanks to Bomb1st members Filla and Dominator for samples credits)

DISC ONE

01. Redemption (Intro) / We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse 

• (?) - 1997 (music). We have no idea about how this track was created, but the instrumentation is a 1997 thing by Ricky Rouse & We Got Kidz. Maybe a DJ is among the group and put together elements taken here and there.

02. Open Fire / Akshun 

• 1993/09. The song is a Mr Middle Finger/ Out on Bail leftover. The version here is almost identical to the original, except for some 2Pac adlibs removed.
• Samples : 
  
• Cal Tjader - "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" (bassline interpolation)
• N.W.A. - "100 Miles and Runnin" (sound effects)
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "Mickey's Monkey" (vocals)
  
• the movie New Jack City (1991) (movie sequence)

03. R U Still Down ? (Remember Me) / Tony Pizarro

• 1993/12 - 1994/03 (new recording, new verse, new beat). Also known as "Raise Em Up Remix" in 2Pac's handwritten tracklist "Me Against The World/Thug Life/Exodus EP & B-Sides" (cf. Stay True / Honor Among Thugz). Straight from the unreleased vault : it seems the song was absolutely retouched (it was leaked in this form in the early Makaveli bootlegs in 1997-1998). This version has a totally different music from the original Shock G produced version (6'). It has a new 3rd verse and doesn't have the first one. It has been said that this second version could have been recorded because Shock G and Tupac had a little argument in the beginning of 94. More surely it was recorded as a B-side for a single of the album.
• Samples : 
• Curtis Mayfield & Fishbone - "He's a Fly Guy" (bassline interpolation)

4. Hellrazor (Remix) feat. Stretch (chorus) & Val Young (chorus) / Live Squad REMIXED by QD3

• 1993/12 - 1997 (remix, Val Young added). The song was recorded for R U Still Down '94, with maybe two verses from the early concept song titled "Dear Lord" intended for Mr Middle Finger project, still unleaked or unrecorded. Tony Pizarro will give a remix of the song for Stay True project. This is a fair remix that clearly tries to respect the original vibe. QD3 gave a blink by sampling the song he produced for Gang Related soundtrack for J-Flexx and the Realest aka 2Pac copycat in one of his first act (under his first nickname Tenkamenin). Stretch vocals are from the original Live Squad version, Val Young vocals have been added in 97.
• Sample :  
• J-Flexx & Tha Realest - "Free 'Em All"

5. Thug Style (Remix) / Bread & Water REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse

• 1994/06-08 - 1997 (remix). The song was recorded for Stay True project. It was then included in some early R U Still Down '95 Pre-Death Row compilation handwritten tracklists, and was also included in Makaveli 6 bootleg, what could have been a rough sequence for a Thug Life "Volume 2 : Lost Tracks" project in early 95 (cf. Honor Among Thugz).
  

6. Where Do We Go From Here (Interlude) feat. Y?N-Vee / 2Pac & Duane Nettlesbey (?), Tony Pizarro (?)

• 1994/01. The song was initially recorded for R U Still Down '94 original project. It was then included in Exodus compilation project (cf. Honor Among Thugz) and then in Pre-Death Row compilation. This beat will be reused in late 95 for the song "What's Next", produced by Johnny J, featuring Thug Life, but the song is there said produced by Tony Pizarro... The sample was presumably an original idea of 2Pac, working with the help of Interscope engineers Duane Nettlesbey or Norman Whitfield, er eventually already Tony Pizarro.
  
• Samples : 
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "May the Force Be With You" (melody)

7. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Remix) / Lay Law REMIXED by Soulshock & Karlin

• 1992/05 - 1997 (remix). The song was originally recorded for the unreleased Troublesome 21 album. The song was then released in its original form as a b-side for Keep Ya Head Up 12'' (1993). Strangely, 2Pac recycled in this song half part of "Changes" 3rd verse, a song he recorded five months earlier (the 25th of December of 1991, cf. 2Pacalypse II).
• Samples :  
• Cameo - "Two of Us"
  
• Roger Troutman - "Do It Roger"
  

8. Nothing To Lose feat. Natasha Walker / 2Pac & Live Squad, Duane Nettlesbey REMIXED By Tony Pizarro (?)

• 1993/11 (Pac's take) - 1994 (?) (new mix by Duane or Pizarro) - 1997 (new mixdown ?).  The song was firstly recorded for Mr Middle Finger project (only snippet leaked), then 2Pac very likely recorded new vocals in mid November for Out On Bail album. Duane Nettlesbey possibly made another version for R U Still Down '94, and then Tony Pizarro made a remix with another singer for Stay True. It seems 2Pac wanted his friend Natasha on the track, so a new mix was possibly made for F.T.W. (Fuck The World) - unless they took back the Duane version - and it was included in Pre-Death Row compilation in 95. This mix could be the lost Duane's version, an alternate mix made by Tony Pizarro in Autumn 94, or a new mix made specifically for the posthumous compilation...
  
• Samples : 
• Mica Paris - "I Wanna Hold on to You" (drumline/melody)
• Ice Cube - "Summer Vacation" (vocals : "my homie got shot he's a goner, black")
• Ice Cube - "Us" (vocals : "That's why I got gang related rhymes")
• The D.O.C. & N.W.A. - "The Grand Finale" (vocals : "I got robbed when I came to Cali)

9. I'm Gettin' Money (Remix) / Johnny J (?), Stretch (?) or Mike Mosley (?) REMIXED by Mike Mosley & Natures Fynest

• 1993/01 (~) - 1997 (remix). The song was one of the first record of the early Thug Life Original sessions (cf. Thug Life Demo). It was then included in Thug Life Original concept shelved album (but that mix unleaked could be different). Then 2Pac re-used the lyrics of it for "Str8 Ballin" (cf. Out On Bail) finally released in Thug Life : Volume 1. The original is said produced by Mike Mosley but it could be more likely a Johnny J beat or a Stretch's one. This remix stays close to the original with a similar sample.

10. Lie To Kick It (Remix) feat. Richie Rich / Warren G REMIXED by Warren G

• 1993/05 - 1997 (remix). Originally recorded for Thug Life Original concept shelved album. Warren G tried to remake or finalize the original song whose beat was given to Snoop Dogg for "Gz & Hustlas" for Doggystyle. 2Pac and Richie Rich also recorded an unleaked or unfinished song and a freestyle both known under the title of "Animosity" (cf. Thug Life Original).
• Samples : 
• Bernard Wright - "Haboglabotribin" (melody)
• James Brown - "Funky President" (drumline ?)

11. Fuck All Y'all (Remix) / 2Pac & Duane Nettlesbey REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse

• 1994/05 (~) - 1997 (remix). The song was recorded by 2Pac freshly freed from county jail after 10 days the 17th of May (but it could be a little bit before...). Duane told the story of 2Pac entering the studio, writing down a text for the planned George Benson's beat he was programming, and throwing surprisingly his first words : "fuck all y'all !".  The song was eventually reworked by Tony Pizarro for Stay True. This remix is completely different from the original, but We Got Kidz and Ricky Rouse tried to keep the same peaceful and ironic vibe of the original. That original Benson's sample was very likely loved by 2Pac who very probably asked Johnny J to reuse it for "He Vs. She" in Thug Life Volume 2.
• Samples : 
• Original sample : George Benson - "Breezin'" (melody) 
  
• Geto Boys - "Street Life" (vocals : "I thought I had friends but i ain't got no fuckin friends")

12. Let Them Thangs Go (Remix) / DJ Daryl REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse, Quimmy Quim

• 1992/03 (~) - 1997 (remix). The song was recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21 then totally forgotten.
  
• Samples : 
• Parliament - "Flash Light" (melody interpolation ?)

13. Definition Of A Thug Nigga / Warren G & 2Pac

• 1993/03. The song was originally recorded for the first Thug Life album project (cf. Thug Life Demo). It was then given by 2Pac & Warren G to Poetic Justice OST. Then 2Pac would have recorded a new version for Thug Life Original but it is still unleaked. This mix is almost identical to the original with just a recurring sample taken off from the beat. The Donald Byrd's sample will be reused by DJ Quik for 2Pac's "Late Night", leftover from All Eyez on Me (cf. When I Get Free / Thug Pound).
  
• Samples :
• Donald Byrd - "Wind Parade" (melody)
• James Brown - "Funky President" (drumline) 
• Main Source - "Looking At The Front Door" (drumline)
  
• Al Green - "Love And Happiness" (guitar)
• Detroit Emeralds - "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" (drums)
• Roxanne Shanté & Biz Markie - "Freestyle Live" (vocals : "Here's the reason to be servin")
• Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Daz & The D.O.C. - "Nothin' But a G Thang (Freestyle Remix)" (vocals : "mobbing like a muthefucker every single day")
  
• Willie Hutch - "Brothers Gonna Work It Out"
  
• The Last Poets - "Die Nigga !!" (vocals)

DISC TWO

01. Ready 4 Whatever feat. Big Syke / Johnny J

• 1993/04. Originally recorded for Thug Life Original then included in early versions of Volume 1 (cf. Honor Among Thugz) and in Makaveli 6 bootleg. The original intro of the song was also used by Tony Pizarro as an interlude ("No justice, no peace-lude") for Stay True project.
• Samples :  
• Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "1980" (melody)

02. When I Get Free (Remake) / Lay Low REMADE by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse 

• 1992/03 (~) - 1997 (remake). The song was recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21 in 1992 as a follow-up to "Soulja's Story" (cf. 2Pacalypse Now). Like on that one, 2Pac altered his voice by pitching it, in order to incarnate his alternate demonic personality named Soulja, a typical gangster no faith no god alter ego who ended up in prison in the first episode. Nos he's in cell, waiting to be freed and thinking about a violent revenge. This remake is very similar to the original but the original Bob Marley sample was probably replayed live by We Got Kidz.
• Samples : 
• Bob Marley & The Wailers – "No More Trouble" (melody replayed)

03. Hold On Be Strong feat. Stretch (chorus) / Stretch & Duane Nettlesbey, DJ Choo (scratch)

• 1994/03 (~). The song was initially recorded to complete R U Still Down '94 album right before it turned into Stay True but the song was soon dropped (cf. Honor Among Thugz). Included in Pre-Death Row compilation sequence. 2Pac's speech at the end was also used by Tony Pizarro for an interlude ("Outro-lude") for Stay True project.
• Samples :
• James Brown - "Funky President" (drumroll) 
• Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)
• Earth, Wind & Fire - "I'll Write a Song for You" (vocals)
• Anita Baker - (vocals)

04. I'm Losin It (Remix) feat. Big Syke & Spice 1 / Johnny J REMIXED by Tony Pizarro, Def Jef, Levant Marcus

• 1993/04 - 1997 (remix). Remixed from an original version intended to be in Thug Life Original scrapped album, which was also included in original Volume 1 soundtrack project (cf. Honor Among Thugz). Def Jef is a rapper who released two conscious solo albums in 1989 and 1991 and was the main producer of Bo$$ album in 1993 (cf. Born Gangstas).
  

05. Fake Ass Bitches (Remake) feat. Natasha Walker (talking) & Rated R (hook) / Johnny J REMIXED by We Got Kidz

• 1993/01 (~) - 11 (~) (2Pac's speeches added) - 1997 (remake). Originally recorded for Thug Life Original Concept album (cf.  Thug Life Demo / Thug Life Original). It shortly appears in Out On Bail sequence before being re-recorded by Nic Nam of Y?N-Vee with 2Pac speaking between the verses instead of Natasha Walker (cf. Honor Among Thugz). This remix recycles many elements of the original versions and combines original vocals with 2Pac new speeches from the second version.
  

06. Do For Love (Remix) feat. Eric Williams (Blackstreet) / Moe-Z REMIXED by Karlin, Soulshock

• 1994/10 (~) - 1997 (remake). This remix uses the song "Sucka 4 Love" from late 1994 recorded for F.T.W. (Fuck The World), not the 1992 early song recorded during 2Pacalypse Now early sessions (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). The music stays very close to the original but the original singer G-Money (Moe-Z's friend) is here replaced by Eric Williams. This choice is not totally disconnected to history because 2Pac used to work with Dave Hollister in 91-93, who was also a member of Blackstreet. He also worked with Aaron Hall in 96, member of Guy with Teddy Riley who founded Blackstreet and invited him at a time to be with the group. On the other hand, the song 2Pac recorded with Aaron Hall in 96 was a clear diss/pastiche towards Blackstreet...
• Samples :
• Bobby Caldwell - "What You Won't Do For Love" (melody, chorus interpolation) 
  

07. Enemies With Me (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Live Squad REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse

• 1994/11 - 1997 (remix). Recorded for Young Thugs EP / Dramacydal with Live Squad and Sh'Killa as featured artists. The song then appears in many early Euthanasia / All Eyez On Me tracklists (cf. When I Get Free), later in Outlawz "Euthanasia" tracklist (cf. Immortalz) but seems to have not been re-recorded nor remixed at that period in Death Row (even if there are some OG vibe floating in).
  

08. Nothin But Love feat. Dave "The Black Angel" Hollister / 2Pac & DJ Daryl

• 1992/03 (~). Released in I Get Around 12'' (1993). The song was firstly intended to be released in Troublesome 21 scrapped album in 1992. 2Pac already had worked with Dave Hollister in 91 for "Brenda's Got A Baby", cf. 2Pacalypse Now. But their most famous collaboration was onto "Keep Ya Head Up" recorded around the same time of March 92.
• Samples :  
• Lakeside - "Everyday Man" (melody, chorus interpolation) 
• Syl Johnson - "Different Strokes" (vocals)
  
• 2Pac - "If My Homies Call" (vocals)

09. 16 On Death Row (Remix) / DJ Daryl REMIXED By Ricky Rouse

• 1992/02 (~) - 1997 (remix). Initially recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21. This remix keeps many elements of the original but the synthé thing giving a live instrumentation feeling is not very welcome and distort the original dark mood of the song.
  

10. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Hip-Hop Version) feat. Maxee / Lay Law REMIXED by Soulshock & Karlin

• 1992/05 - 1997 (remix). Difficult to understand the choice of this second remix particularly irrelevant.
  
• Samples :  
• Cameo - "Two of Us"

11. When I Get Free II feat. Kadafi (chorus) / Bread & Water

• 1994/06-08. The song was initially recorded for Stay True sequence. It was eventually given to Young Thugz EP (with an added backing by Young Hollywood aka Kadafi at the chorus) and included in Pre-Death Row compilation sequence before being re-recorded among very early Death Row recordings (cf. When I Get Free).
• Sample :
  
• Stanley Clarke - "Concerto for Jazz/Rock Orchestra, Part I" (melody)
  
• Roy Ayers - "The Boogie Back" (main drumline)
  
• Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)

12. Black Starry Night (Interlude) / DJ Daryl

• 1992/01-03 (~). Supposedly recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21. Also known as "Against All Odds (interlude)". Some say there could be another version with Above The Law and Richie Rich, or it was planned but never recorded.
• Samples
• Roger Troutman - "Do It Roger"

13. Only Fear Of Death / Live Squad & Duane Nettlesbey

• 1993/10. Recorded right after the death of Mental Illness (member of Evil Minded Gangsta, the first group of Big Syke, cf. All Hell Breakin' Loose), it was then in all Me Against The World sequences :  Out On Bail, slightly clean in R U Still Down '94, remixed in a short version by Tony Pizarro for Stay True (also included in Pre-Death Row compilation sequence). This retail mix is very close to the original.
• Samples : 
• Gabor Szabo - "Breezin" (melody)
  
• Detroit Emeralds - "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" (drums)
• ---not sure---Lafayette Afro Rock Band - "Hihache" (drums ?)
  
• Mental Illness & Evil Mind Gangstas - "Livin' In The Edge" (vocals : "my only fear of death is coming back, reincarnated")
• Thug Life - "Shit Don't Stop (Rough Mix)" (unleaked) (vocals : "them ghetto niggaz is a full")