2Pac -2001- Until The End of Time (Amaru / Interscope)

•  2001, march the 27th

Stylized picture from the 18th of August 93 shooting with David Clinch

 

Discogs page

Listen in Youtube 

 

CD 1 : 

1. Ballad of a Dead Soulja
2. Fuck Friends (Remix)
3. Lil' Homies (Remix)
4. Let Em Have It (Remix) feat. SKG
5. Good Life feat. Big Syke, Edi
6. Letter 2 My Unborn (Remix)

7. Breathin' (Remix) feat. Outlawz
8. Happy Home (Remix) feat. Yusef Sharid
9. All Out (Remix) feat. Outlawz
10. Fuckin' Wit' The Wrong Nigga
11. Thug N U Thug N Me (Remix) feat. K-Ci & Jojo
12. Everything They Own (Remix)
13. Until the End of Time (Remix) feat. RL
14. M.O.B. (Remix) feat. Outlawz, Thug Life
15. Worldwide Mob Figgaz (Remix) feat. Outlawz

 

CD 2 :
1. Big Syke Interlude (by Big Syke)
2. My Closest Road Dogz (Remix)
3. Niggaz Nature (Remix) feat. Lil'Mo
4. When Thugz Cry (Remix)

5. U Don't Have 2 Worry (Remix) feat. Outlawz
6. This Ain't Livin' (Remix)

7. Why U Turn on Me ? (Remix)
8. Last One's Left (Remix) feat. Outlawz
9. Thug N U Thug N Me feat. K-Ci & Jojo
10. Words 2 My First Born (Remix) feat. Above The Law
11. Let Em Have It (Remix) feat. Lisa Left Eye Lopes
12. Runnin' on E feat. Outlawz
13. When I Get Free II (Remix)
14. Until the End of Time (RP Remix) feat. Richard Page

 

Close to the original in bold.

Tracks 1.6, 1.15, 2.13 was recorded for When I Get Free or All Eyez on Me or Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2

Tracks 1.15 was recorded for 2Pac & Dogg Pound : Thug Pound

Tracks 1.1, 1.3, 1,5, 1.11, 2.6, 2.9 were recorded for Lil' Homies or Death Row's Original Gridlock'd soundtrack

Tracks 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 2.2, 2.4, 2.10 were recorded for 100% Black Gold, Me Against The World pt. 2

Track 2.8 was recorded for Outlawz : Troublesome, The Secretz of War

Tracks 1.2, 1.4, 2.2, 2.5 were recorded for Makaveli : Mr. Killuminati

Tracks 1.9,2.5,2.7,2.12 were recorded for One Nation part 2 or Outlawz : Ghetto Starz

 

   

Third posthumous project, "Until The End of Time" could have been a good title for an attempt to release the scrapped second Death Row solo album before Makaveli : The 7 Day Theory. But it finally compiles and mixes randomlessly songs from other projects with it and it gave no coherence, no soul to that compilation, instead of 2Pac's original intention that was to have an album sounding like a follow up to Me Against The World with introspective themas and lyrics, a more accoustic vibe.

Like Still I Rise posthumous album Outlawz verses are mostly new ones... In addition of that, many original featured artists are replaced with new artists, often totally irrelevant like SKG, Yusef Sharid, Lil' Mo, Lisa Left Eye... The main problem is that very few songs are here in their original forms nor even sounding like... Some remix works are totally unfair, trying to make sound 2Pac 1996 songs like 2001 productions, but with cheap samples and partying vibe. The worst thing is often the adding of very weak chorus by unknown cheap singers. The result is mainly rubbish even if there are some good moments like "Until the end of time", "My Closest Road Dogz", "Breathin" or "Lil Homies" that could eventually compete the originals.

DETAILED TRACKLIST

CD 1 : 

1. Ballad of a Dead Soulja / Johnny J

• 1996/01-02 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. This remix version is very similar to the second version of the original song. It is more like if Johnny J just tried to fairly finished the mix of the original song. This is strange because this song never appeared nowhere in 2Pac's papers whereas it is a really good song. Maybe it was intended to be a b-side for a single.
  

2. Fuck Friends (Remix) feat. Tiffany Villareal (chorus) / QD3 REMIXED by QD3

• 1996/07 - 2001. Makaveli sessions. QD3 is the original producer. This new beat is very different and doesn't fit at all to Pac's vibe and the chorus is absolutely awful. What could be the purpose except to give the opportunity to promote a burgeoning artist who will drop an album in 2004 ? A clear opportunity to make money over Pac's heritage.
  

3. Lil' Homies (Remix) / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/01 - 2001. Thug Pound sessions or Lil' Homies project sessions. Johnny J chose to give a totally new beat to this song. We don't know why this song was initially recorded for. In All New Heat handwritten tracklist, the song Thugz Mansion is credited with "featuring Lil'Homies" and it is said that the song is taken off of the solo album project and will be given to another project called "Lil'Homies", so it could be an intermediate group name for Outlawz or just the name of a compilation project at that time gathering Outlawz and other featured artists.
  

4. Let Em Have It (Remix) feat. SKG & Honey (chorus) / L.T. Hutton REMIXED by L.T. Hutton

• 1996/07 - 2001. Makaveli sessions. The original features Storm & Val Young and was also produced by L.T. Hutton, who is mainly known to be the producer of the L.B.C. Crew. Original vibe was kind of strange, dirty and obsessive. This one is very different, not that bad but without any taste. The singing chorus by an unknown girl is again totally out of place. And the substitution of Storm, 2Pac's partner, by SKG (Suge Knight Girl), an anecdotal female rapper from Death Row at that time, tend to prove that this remix was only the occasion to put aside 2Pac's name and an unknown artist that the label had the idea to promote... Not only a mistake but a disrespectful attempt to Tupac's heritage.
  

5. Good Life feat. Big Syke, Edi / Mike Mosley

• 1996/03 - 2001. Black Gold sessions and Troublesome, The Secretz of War sessions. This is the rough mix of the song straight from the studio recordings (like it can be seen in a footage of that song and "Hit Em Up"). This is the last song recorded by Big Syke with 2Pac. After that, he signed in another label for recording his solo album.
  

6. Letter 2 My Unborn (Remix) feat. Anthem & Tena Jones (chorus) / Johnny J REMIXED by Tone & Franky Nitty Pimental

• 1995/11 - 2001. When I Get Free / Euthanasia / All Eyez on Me sessions or Outlaw Immortalz Thug Life Volume 2 sessions. This remix stays in the same kind of vibe than the original, with same background hypnotic effects but a less catchy rhythm. The new singing voices replace usual Pac chorist Natasha Walker of Y?N-Vee, but trying to stay as well not that far from the original state of mind. Not a success but Tone and Frank Pimental gave a decent remix.
  

7. Breathin' (Remix) feat. Young Noble, Napoleon, Kastro & Edi / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/03 - 2001. Black Gold sessions or Lil'Homies / Gridlock'd original soundtrack sessions. The original song was initially leaked with original beat and a Bizzy Bone verse recorded for his solo album in 1998 (finally leftover). Then was leaked a first take of the song with empty space for guests and a little freestyle. More recently was leaked a completed version (but with a poor mix) with Kadafi, Edi and Sylk-E Fyne's female group Ganksta Bitch Mentality. This version is keeping the same beat but remade and modernized, restricted to 2Pac and new Outlawz verses. So it is a really worth song to listen even if it could have been better to have the original Kadafi and Edi verses.
  

8. Happy Home (Remix) feat. Yusef Sharid / Johnny J REMIXED by Crooked Eye, Dareen Vegas, Jim Gettums

• 1996/04 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. The original was produced by Johnny J and features Michel'le at the chorus. The song was said to be dedicated to his sister Sekyiwa Shakur. The new accoustic arrangement and the new singing voice stay in the spirit of the original, but in a more insipid way.
  

9. All Out (Remix) feat. Edi, Napoleon & Kastro / Damon Thomas REMIXED by Damon Thomas

• 1996/09 - 2001. Ghetto Starz Outlawz LP. Last song recorded by 2Pac with "Hell 4 A Hustler", the night before he got shot. Outlawz probably wanted to give new verses because they think they improve their skills with time... a clear mistake here where they sound cacophonic and where they totally invaded 2Pac's original to make an Outlawz poor song. At the contrary, new music made by Damon Thomas is more interesting than the original dark, dirty but a bit boring original.
  

10. Fuckin' Wit' The Wrong Nigga / Hurt-M-Badd REMIXED by Hurt-M-Badd

• 1996/03 - 2001. Black Gold sessions and Troublesome, The Secretz of War sessions. Hurt-M-Badd clearly remade his original beat, remixing the importance of the various elements. Not really a success in my opinion, loosing a part of original energy, but it is a fair attempt to give a definitive form to Pac unreleased material.
  

11. Thug N U Thug N Me (Remix) feat. K-Ci & Jojo / Johnny J REMIXED by Jamie Jones, Jason Pennock

• 1996/03-04 (~) - 2001. Black Gold sessions or Soundtrack sessions. K-Ci & Jojo were in a second original made by Johnny J, probably when he was still in Death Row, maybe when the group came to record "How Do U Want It" video. But it is a really strange idea to give a second version of this song here totally different, with a modern vibe very strange. It totally misses the sensual and sexual vibe of the song.
  

12. Everything They Own (Remix) feat. Timothy (chorus) / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/04 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. The original used an old Johnny J beat released in his own solo album in 1994 ("It's a Wonderful Day" in I Gotta Be Me). But this original seemed totally unfinished, not really appreciated. So Johnny J tried to give a new beat, with a dark and oppressive vibe that stick to the lyrics describing slavery, but that doesn't really fit to the kind of irony tone of 2Pac's voice. Fair but not a success.
  

13. Until the End of Time (Remix) feat. RL / Johnny J REMIXED by Tone, Franky Nitty Pimental

• 1996/02 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. For sure the most successful piece of this remix album. The JJ original was more accoustic, jazzy, not as powerful of this one who gives a perfect form to the Pac's intimate verses, and a very good taste to what was the original goal of 2Pac for his second solo in Death Row : a kind of Me Against The World 2.
  

14. M.O.B. (Remix) feat. Hussein, Mopreme, Big Syke & Kadafi / Kurt Kobane REMIXED by Ant Banks, Sonny B

• 1995/10 - 2001. When I Get Free / Euthanasia / All Eyez on Me sessions or Outlaw Immortalz Thug Life Volume 2 sessions. This remix keeps all the original Outlawz and Thug Life verses and many elements from Kurt Kobane original beat. Original was clearly not a great song. That Ant Banks remix tries to improve the song by keeping the strange mood. A very good beat, a fair and welcome attempt but the result doesn't fit to Pac's verse and chorus (better to other rappers verses). So it stays a not very interesting song. A pity.
  

15. Worldwide Mob Figgaz (Remix) feat. Edi, Napoleon, Young Noble & Ta'He (chorus) / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/01 - 2001. Thug Pound sessions. Recorded the same day than "This Life I Lead" and "Um Dumpin" featuring Dogg Pound, Gonzoe & Nutt-So, the original has Syke, Kadafi and Edi over a very special Johnny J beat that sound more Daz vibe than Johnny's with gangster vibe more than a funk vibe. The chorus was made of excerpts of mafia movies. Nothing from the original has been kept here except of Pac's verse. This remix is totally invaded by Young Noble's voice, doing verse and chorus.

 

CD 2 :
1. Big Syke Interlude (by Big Syke) / Cold 187um

• 2001. Some words given by one of the most regular partner of 2Pac.
  

2. My Closest Road Dogz (Remix) / Johnny J

• 1996/02 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. This is a full solo version of a duet with Big Syke (the closest road dog). But we don't know if the song has been recorded before Big Syke came to record his part (like many other times) or like a solo song speaking about all his road dogs (plural), if 2Pac's second and third verses were intended to be a reference for Big Syke (especially because he wrote that he sold the song to Big Syke), or if he re-recorded a solo version of the song after Big Syke left Death Row.
  

3. Niggaz Nature (Remix) feat. Lil'Mo / QD3 REMIXED by QD3

• 1996/07 - 2001. Makaveli sessions. Is it possible to do worst ? The original had a wonderful interpolated Michael Jackson chorus "Human Nature" made by Val Young, over a very catchy beat. Instead we have this poor tasteless chorus over a disgusting beat.
  

4. When Thugz Cry (Remix) / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/02-07 - 2001. Black Gold sessions and Makaveli sessions. A fair attempt to give a new beat to this wonderful original that could hardly clear the original Sting sample. The result is good but the new chorus by an uncredited girl (is it Capucine Jackson, Johnny J's wife ?) is disappointing in comparison to the original Nanci Fletcher's one.
  

5. U Don't Have 2 Worry (Remix) feat. Young Noble, Edi, Napoleon, Kastro & Kadafi / QD3 REMIXED by QD3

• 1996/07 - 2001. Makaveli sessions or One Nation (Part Two) sessions. The original was clearly a new anthem to One Nation project, recorded just before starting recording Makaveli. QD3 seems to try new things with this japanese vibe. It keeps last Kastro&Noble and Kadafi verses, maybe the only interest of this remix.
  

6. This Ain't Livin (Remix) feat. Vanessa (chorus) / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/03 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. The lyrics have been written and put here as a reference for a Snoop Dogg & 2Pac duet intended to be in Snoop Dogg's Doggfather. Some lyrics are here erased like Snoop Dogg's name... A pity. The chorus, instead of 2Pac's words, is also disappointing. Otherwise, it was a good idea because the original beat being already used by Tyson entrance song "Road To Glory".
  

7. Why U Turn on Me ? (Remix) feat. Yusef Sharid (chorus) / 2Pac REMIXED by Crooked Eye, Dareen Vegas, Jim Gettums

• 1996/06 - 2001. Makaveli sessions or One Nation (Part Two) sessions. Recorded at the same time as "Untouchable" / "My Only Fear of Death is Reincarnation", a few days before One Nation sessions beginning. This is a clear diss to Wendy William. The added chorus and this new gangsta beat are clearly totally irrelevant ironic and mocking 2Pac's voice and vibe.
  

8. Last One's Left (Remix) feat. Napoleon & Kastro / Johnny J REMIXED by Johnny J

• 1996/04 - 2001. Troublesome, The Secretz of War sessions. This remix is very close to the original but Outlawz verses are unfortunately totally new. A huge pity because otherwise it would have been a wonderful final version.
  

9. Thug N U Thug N Me feat. K-Ci & Jojo / Johnny J

• 1996/04 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. First version of the song featured Jewell instead of K-Ci & Jojo and had a totally different sample from Michael Jackson's "Liberian Girl". Probably when K-Ci & Jojo came to shot the video for "How Do U Want It", they recorded a second version over this other Johnny J beat (maybe in reason of the sample being impossible to clear, or for a b-side of the first version...). Johnny J re-worked the song for K-Ci & Jojo's album in 2000 (X) and then for this compiulation.
  

10. Words 2 My First Born (Remix) feat. Above The Law / DJ Quik REMIXED by DJ Quik

• 1996/03 - 2001. Black Gold sessions. What a shame to replace original Nutt-So verse (even if Above The Law recorded with 2Pac in late 1991, cf. Featurings) and the fabulous original sample ! Not a bad new beat but 2Pac seriously wanted this song for a single for his second Death Row solo, an album he wanted to sound like a sequel to Me Against the World with an introspective mood. Instead of this, it turns to be an average partying song with cacophony. Very curious choice to distort 2Pac's dark vibe to force him to sound more light and radio friendly...
  

11. Let Em Have It (Remix) feat. Lisa Left Eye Lopes / L.T. Hutton REMIXED by L.T. Hutton

• 1996/07 - 2001. Makaveli sessions. Strange choice to give two remixes for an ordinary screpped song. This second one is for sure a bit better than the first one and keeps something from the original sexual vibe. 
  

12. Runnin' on E feat. Hussein, Kadafi, Young Noble & Nutt-So / 2Pac

• 1996/08 - 2001. Initially recorded for One Nation (Part Two) with an outro dedication to Buckshot and Boot Camp Clik, then intended to be in Ghetto Starz Outlawz LP. A remake of the song was initially intended for this compilation, with new Napoleon & Storm verses instead of Hussein's one. Finally, we have the song in its totally original form, just with a finished polished mix.
  

13. When I Get Free (Remix) feat. J. Valentine (chorus) / Johnny J or Daz (?) REMIXED by Cold 187um

• 1995/11 - 2001. This remix is very close to the original Death Row version re-recorded for When I Get Free / Euthanasia / All Eyez on Me sessions. The chorus is just a bit too invasive.
  

14. Until the End of Time (RP Remix) feat. Richard Page / Tone, Franky Nitty Pimental

• 1996/02 - 2001. All New Heat sessions. Very similar to the version from the first CD, difficult to know the reason of this presence here.