51.50 Illegally Insane (Ryan D & Klark Gable) -1992- Games People Play (ARRogant)

- Ryan D was Tupac partner's in the group One Nation Emcees (1988-1990)
- Klark Gable produced 2Pac's "I Thought U Knew" and "Daze of a Criminal"

See Discogs page, new edition

Listen it in YouTube or there

 

1. 51.50 Intro
2. Jealous MF's
3. They Made Me
4. Games People Play
5. Back on tha Track
6. Steady Stayin' Paid
7. Dorothy
8. Illegally Insane
9. Green & White (Jailstrumental)

Bonus tracks 1999 edition :

10. Do it Right (Remix)

11. We Be Dumpin'

12. You Don't Wanna Battle feat. 2Pac

 
Produced by DJ Klark Gable
Raps by Ryan D, Levy Love, TAC

When Tupac alias MC New York moved from New Jersey to Marin City and was been kicked off from home by his mother, he's been hanging out in the Jungle. There he met Ryan D and his friends. They were eventually forming a group called One Nation Emcees (cf. Straight From The Underground/Benefits of Poverty). In 1990, he was still recording with Ryan D and DJ Klark Gable for "I Thought U Knew" and "All In The Dayz of a Criminal". While 2-Pac left for touring with his new group Strictly Dope and the Digital Underground, then for recording solo, Ryan D and Klark Gable recorded their album.

Ryan D and the group released another albums in 1995, 2000 and 2002. He is highly featured in Assassin's album Hitworks, volume 1 (1996, Liferdef Records), with partner TAC, Ant Dog, Digital Underground, Rated R... and Pac/Dee tha Mad Bitch's song "Real Bad Boyz".

DJ Klark Gable has also produced "Tempo of Boom" in 89 and "Overnight Succe$$" in 90 for Ant Dog. It is said that 2Pac was a huge fan of the first one and promoted the tape to everybody while touring with Digital Underground. Ant Dog was also featured in live version of Pac's "Panther Power" (over Self Destruction beat) the same year.

TAC will released a solo album in 1999, Servin Knock'z (Ping Records) with Yukmouth of Luniz, Marvaless !! and of course Ryan D. Levy Love is not known anywhere else.

In 1990, just before the recording of 2Pacalypse Now, 2Pac was planning to publish a mini album produced by him and Klark Gable titled All In The Dayz of a Criminal, featuring the Jungle Posse ("All In The Dayz of a Criminal", "Young Godfather"), Ray Luv of Strictly Dope (original unleaked "Scared Straight") and Yonnie ("Rushin' 'Em From Richtown"). Unfortunately, the Jungle Posse (Wiz, Playa Playa and Dank, backing voices in the outro of "Trapped") never recorded their part of "All In The Dayz of a Criminal" and the project was given up (cf. Benefits of Poverty)

"You Don't Wanna Battle" is a remix of "I Thought U Knew" recorded in 1990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

O.F.T.B. -1996- I Come Up Hard (Promo Tape) (Death Row)

• OFTB lost album recorded in 95/97 whilst 2Pac was in Death Row

The album knew a promo release in 1996 by Death Row

and was eventually bootlegged in late 90's

The group finally released it as The Missing D.R. Files in 2007

WIDEawake completed the collection with Damn Near Dead in 2011

Promo Cassette - Discogs page ; Listen to the album there

 

1. Intro / Check 'em Remix (incomplete) *

2. That Was Then feat. Kurupt & Snoop Dogg

3. I Come Up Hard feat. Garry Barner

4. World Wide (Time After Time) feat. Kadafi, 2Pac, Kurupt & Michel'le / Kurupt

5. Ladies Nite feat. 6 Feet Deep

6. I'm on One feat. Hurt-M-Badd, Jackpot & Freddie Ranks

7. Doing it in the Spot feat. Big Pimpin'

8. Gone But Not Forgotten (So Long) feat. MC Hammer / Johnny J

9. Gun A Nigga Down * / Brian G

10. I Think of Murder * / Tee KO

11. Penitentiary Bound * / Brian G

12. Do or Die (Damn Near Dead) feat. Amdee of the Watts Profits * / Sandman

13. Better Days feat. 2Pac & Big Syke / Johnny J

14. Check Your Hood feat. Jewell / Sandman

15. Project Kids feat. Nickerson Garden Projects Kids

 

Other songs produced by O.F.T.B.

*not published in The Missing D.R. Files, but in Damn Near Dead

 

After their first album Straight Up Watts in 1992, Operation From The Bottom recorded songs for Death Row's Above The Rim Soundtrack (1994) and for Murder Was The Case Soundtrack (1994), exactly like 2Pac (and like him, their song from Murder was the case was leftover). "Crack 'Em Remix" introduction is a reference to their success in Above The Rim soundtrack (one of their most popular success, like "Pain" for 2Pac).

It is funny to notice that half part of their first album was produced by Brian G, the producer of "Lord Knows" in mid '93, one of the greatest hits of 2Pac. Brian G still produced songs for this second album. The other half was produced by Tee KO who is just also known for having produced two songs for Mel-Low's album Return of The Player in 1993 like... Johnny J ! who there produced the eponymous song with a beat that he will try to re-use for 2Pac's "Penitentiary Bound" in late 95. Funny to notice that a song of the same title appears here...

"World Wide" and "Better Dayz" have both been recorded in March of 96, but 2Pac's verse was recorded earlier for All Eyez on Me. In fact, 2Pac recorded more or less the same day (1995/10/23-24) "Better Dayz Solo" and "The Struggle Continues" with OFTB and Big Syke. But he finally left them both over (cf. When I Get Free / All Eyez On Me lost tracks). O.F.T.B. were in studio when he recorded "Better Dayz" (that's why 2Pac shoot out OFTB at the beginning of the original song). OFTB were in love of the song so 2Pac erased two of his verses and gave it to them for their album.

Of course, we find back the Death Row artists here as guests. Kurupt was also featured in another OFTB song recorded around the same period with L.B.C. Crew : "Verbal Shots", maybe recorded for Dogg Pound's West Coast Aftershock. Other DPGC close friend but less known Big Pimpin' Delemond also recorded with 2Pac and Kadafi for "Who Do U Believe In ?" (cf. Troublesome, Tha Secretz of War). Huge star MC Hammer was also working with 2Pac for his album and 2Pac wrote him a song (the eponymous "Too Tight") and also gave him a song from his scrapped second solo album : "Unconditional Love" (he didn't write it for him but sold it, cf. Me Against The World 2).

You have chorists who have recorded many songs with 2Pac : Michel'le, Jewell, 6 Feet Deep and Hurt-M-Badd aka Tyrone Wrice of B-Rezell. Jewell and B-Rezell have released songs in both Above The Rim & Murder Was The Case soundtracks like OFTB and 2Pac. Michel'le of course in "Wonder Why They Call U Bitch" and Run Tha Streetz", but also in "Play Ya Cardz Right" original (cf. Thug Life Volume 2) and "Happy Home" for 2Pac's given up Me Against The World project. 6 Feet Deep has especially recorded chorus for original "Until The End of Time", "Ballad of The Dead Souljah" (cf. Me Against The World 2) and "U Can't Be Touched" (cf. Troublesome, Tha Secretz of War). Jewell was of course in "Thug Passion" but recorded two songs for One Nation and one for Killuminati original album. Hurt-M-Badd was one of the most regular producers and singer for 2Pac in Death Row, from "Fair Exchange" recorded for All Eyez on Me, "Fuckin' Wit The Wrong Nigga" for Me Against The World 2, and 4 songs for Makaveli album ; he is singing in the original version of "Play Ya Cardz Right" (cf. Thug Life Volume 2) and in "Hold Ya Head" in Makaveli...

 

 

The Missing D.R.Files (2007, O.F.T.B. self released) replaces the 4 missing tracks by these songs probably recorded at the same period - Listen there

. I Trust Nobody feat. Street Damage

. Still a Mistery (2Pac '96 Tribute) feat. Napoleon, Kurupt, Kadafi, Edi, Young Noble, Storm & Kastro

. Lost Souls feat. Hugg, Hurt-M-Badd & Big Rolo

. Sooner or Later feat. Amdee of the Watts Profits

I definitely think these songs are less good than the other they have taken off from the album... So i chose to add them in Damn Near Dead compilation in replacement of the songs taken from the Promo Tape.

Damn Near Dead (2011, WIDEawake) has three songs in common with The Missing D.R. Files, 4 songs from the Promo Tape and it also adds :

. Hot One (Bonus track in Murder Was The Case OST cassette releases, 1994)

. Niggas Going Down / Brian G

. Check 'em (Remix)

. Who Got The Hits

. What Should I Do / Tee KO

. Girl Ain't Got No Time / Chilly Chill

 

Other songs recorded around the same period :

 

. O.F.T.B. / Brian G (Slangin' Dope single, Straight Up Watts promo cassette, 1992)

. Justice For The Hood feat. Juvenile Committee / Shane (Free Us Colored Kids, 1993)

. Crack 'Em / Tee KO & DJ Quik (Above The Rim, 1994)

. Where The Party At / Daz (Unreleased)

. Verbal Shots feat. LBC Crew & Kurupt (Unreleased, 1995)

. The Struggle Continues feat. 2Pac, Hussein & Big Syke (Unreleased, 1995)

. Christmas in the Ghetto / O.F.T.B. (Christmas on Death Row, 1996)

. Keep Your Eyes Open / Brian G (Gang Related OST, 1997)

. Body & Soul feat. Jewell / Brian G (Gridlock'd OST, 1997)

Force One Network (Chopmaster J & Dave Hollister) -1992- The M M E Program 1 (Qwest)

• Produced by Chopmaster J from Strictly Dope & Digital Underground
• Main voice by Dave Hollister of Blackstreet
• features Saafir
  

Discogs page

Listen to the album here

 

1. Introduction

2. Force One Theme

3. Force One Sign On - interlude

4. Sista Sista feat. O'Shun (written by Money B)

5. Love Vapors feat. Saafir

6. Pick 'N' Choose feat. E Divine

7. Somethin' About You

8. Miss You

9. Another Night

10. What About the Children - interlude

11. Big Brutha's Theme

12. Back 'N' the Dayz feat. Saafir

13. Network Shouts - interlude

14. One Drag

15. Is It Wet ? - interlude

16. Knock A Lot
17. E.W.T.B.B. (Part 1)

18. Losing You

19. Insecurity

20. Spirit (Does Anybody Care ?)

Produced by Chopmaster J, Ocea & Willi Mac

Force One Network is :
- Jimi Dright aka Chopmaster J from Digital Undergroun / Strictly Dope
- Dave Hollister aka "The Black Angel", member of Blackstreet in 94
- Will Waller aka Willi Mac aka "Big Brutha Soul", producer and singer (strong voice).
- Darrell Savage aka Ocea, producer and singer (?)

 "Spirit" will be the theme song of Boyz N The Hood John Singleton movie, out in July of 1991. So the album has probably been recorded mainly in 1991, at the time of 2Pacalypse Now.

 

Early times : a producer team ?

Force One Network has probably been first conceived as a Digital Underground side project for Chopmaster J. He produced part of Strictly Dope songs in 1989. And Willi Mac and Ocea seem to have something to do with the production of  "Static" and "Case of the Misplaced Mic" (cf. The Lost Tapes). Maybe at that time they were only producers or maybe the reggae rappers of "Static" and chorus of "Fade Away" Cooley Ranks & Wycked J were also members (eventually forming with Strictly Dope a "Force One Crew").

Dave Hollister as main singer

Dave Hollister had a good radio single with Larry Heard and Blakk Society in 1989 : "Just Another Lonely Day". In 1990, he is backing some R&B albums by Glenn Jones, Hi-Five and Father MC. He got a great single hit as a featured artist for Groove B Chill : "Swinging Single". In 91-92, he recorded a hand of superb songs with 2Pac : hit singles "Brenda's Got A Baby" and "Keep Ya Head Up", B-side "Nothing But Love" and unreleased song "Don't U Trust". Chopmaster J convinced him to join the group to be the main singer. After the fail of the album, he formed Blackstreet with Teddy Riley and will have a great success. But he will also leave them to have a solo career that will never be successful...

Digitial Underground side project

In addition of Chopmaster J being the leader, if you listen carefully to the album, you will have the feeling that it has some Digital Underground funk kind-a-like sound (Humpty Hump aka Shock G speaks a few words at the end of "Somethin' About You"). Saafir who was initially a dancer for the group, appeared in Raw Fusion album credits for backing vocals and had his first verse in the 2Pac/Raw Fusion side song "Pass the 40", has two new verses here before becoming a member of Digital Underground for their third album Body-Hat Syndrom in 1993. The group also is credited in "Network Shouts".

The female rapper O'Shun featured in "Sista Sista" has been ghostwritten by Money B. If you think to the time of this album composition, could it be the same girl than the unknown Mysta/Sista/Yonnie who was supposed to work with Tupac and The Kidz (project called Ghetto Gospel / 4 Colored Girlz Only) ?

Willi Mac is probably the producer of "Static" (original or remix version ?). He will release albums (or compilations) in 1997 and in 2002 under the name of Big Brutha Soul. Ocea has not been credited a lot elsewhere, except for producing some spare songs like the comic "Rap to Me" by The Rapping Grand Mommas or a b-side for an Oakland rapper called Premo.

Interesting fact is that the album is published in Qwest records, the label of Quincy Jones, not with Digital Underground's TNT recordings. It has some importance because Quincy's son QD3 will produce a bench of songs for the late 2Pac and his two daughters Kidada Jones and Rashida Jones will have respectively an argument and then a friendship with Pac and the last love affair with him...

They will publish another albums in 1997 and 2000 but there are more kind of compilation of old records than albums of new material.