1987-1990 - MC New York / Dayz of A Criminal EP (The Early Years)

 
Tupac with Money B or... ?

  • Compilation of early recordings from 1987-1990, pre-Interscope
  • Tupac aka MC New-York with his first groups : East Side Crew, Born Busy, Two From The Crew, One Nation Emcees, Strictly Dope, Jungle Posse

### We chose to not follow a chronological order for this compilation. And we thought that shuffling all sessions was a good way to enjoy every songs even the poor quality recordings. ###

Tracklist - Listen in YT
 
1. All In The Daze of a Criminal
2. I Saw Your Girl feat. Ace Rocker - acapella / snippet / big d remix
3. Panther Power (Original) feat. Ryan D
4. That's My Man Throwing Down feat. Ace Rocker - acapella / big d remix
5. I Thought U Knew feat. Ryan D
6. Terrors On The Tables - acapella / remix
7. Never Be Beat (Original) feat. Ryan D
8. Check It Out feat. Ace Rocker - acapella / remix
9. Fantasy feat. Ryan D
10. Babies Having Babies feat. Mouse Man - acapella / remix
11. Tearz Of A Clown (Original)
12. Genocide - live
13. Minnie The Moocher - snippet
14. Freestyles feat. Ace Rocker & Mouse Man (beat box)
 
Jungle Po$$e (1, 5)
One Nation Emcees (3, 7, 9)
Born Busy (2, 4, 6, 8, 14)
Eastside Crew (10, 12)
 
The first act of the Tupac's career is usually known as "Same Song" recorded with Digital Underground in the end of 1990 for the soundtrack of the movie Nothing But Trouble. The Bay Area group formed by Shock G, Money B, Chopmaster J, Dj Fuze... had their first recording in 1987 called « Underwater Rimes » and they signed in on Tommy Boy Records in 1989.
 
Before meeting Digital Underground, touring and releasing "Same Song" with them in the end of 1990, signing with Interscope and preparing 2Pacalypse Now, 2Pac had been a member of various rap groups :
  • Eastside Crew (1985-1987) with Dana Mouse Smith aka Mouse Man. They met at school in Baltimore in late 1984 and started to listen music and write rhymes together. Only the song "Babies having babies" has been leaked in an acapella form with the Born Busy sessions. Probably recorded in Baltimore or New-York. A live version of "Genocide", recorded later circa 1990, has recently been released in the Dear Mama TV serie. Mouse Man has told the story of their early friendship (summarized there).
  • Two From The Crew (No songs have been leaked yet). Probably recorded in N.-Y.
  • Born Busy (1987-1988) with Ace Rocker, Dana Mouse Smith aka Mouse Man and DJ Plain Terror (at this time, they were writing lyrics for Jada Pinkett - there is a home video where Tupac and Jada feign to interpret Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand"). The leaked songs are only acapellas (except for a recently leaked snippet of "I Saw Your Girl"). Probably recorded in N.-Y.
  • One Nation Emcees (1988-1989) with Ryan D and DJ Klark Gable (the two will later form the group 51.50 Illegally Insane). Recorded in Marin City. Many of these songs will be re-recorded with Strictly Dope.
  • Strictly Dope (1989-1990), with Ray Luv, DJ Dize & Chopmaster J (the last one was also DJ for Digital Underground). Recorded at Chopmaster J home studio. 
  • Jungle Posse (1989-1990), with D-Money (Danka), Playa-Playa (Bob), Wiz (Marc). Eventually a Sista (Named Mysta) aka Yonnie Stokes was probably close to 2Pac at that time, maybe Ray Luv and Ryan D too. 2Pac had a project of mini-album titled "All In The Dayz of a Criminal" with them, but it seems they never recorded anything together.
  • Digital Underground (1990-1992), with Shock G, Money B, DJ Fuze...
  • T.N.T. Crew or Force One Network (1990-1991), with Wicked J (aka Julian Brooks of Mod Squad), Coolie Ranks, Chopmaster J...

 
Tupac is very young here. Probably a Born Busy picture with Mouse Man... at the left (or top right) ?

The only sessions that have been officially published are almost the closest to the Digital Underground / 2Pacalypse Now sessions : Beginnings : The Lost Tapes with Strictly Dope (first available in 1997 by AIM as 1 in 21 : A Tupac Shakur Story and then by ZYX as The Lost Tapes in 2000). According to Chopmaster J, these tracks have been long time lost in reason of a firestorm in his home studio. The last 2 mixes of "Static" are from 1991 and contain a sample of Shock G’s line taken from "Same Song" ("Tupac, go ahead and rock") which was originally spoken immediately before Tupac’s verse in that "Same Song".

The late 90's Klark Gable sessions have been more or less leaked from the Makaveli bootlegs era in 1997-1998. The Marin City sessions and the Born Busy sessions have been leaked later in the 2000's.
 
For the rest, there was a late project called "Early Years" (Project – The Early Years), but it seems to have been shelved, blocked by Amaru (if it has ever really existed). This project would have compiled a lot of tracks from these various times. There was also a project of remixing the acapella tapes of Born Busy called "Shakurspeare" (after the name of the famous dramatist that Pac enjoyed to play at the art school in New York - cf. this trailer song), but the project seems to have been shelved as well.

All in the Daze/Dayz of a Criminal - project with the Jungle Po$$e

In these handwritten papers and tracklists, we can see that the project was really well planned. It has indifferent title "Dayz" or "Daze" (that fits well with the lyrics). Apparently, the project was Tupac writing and recording a reference song over a beat made by Kendrick Wells one day and the next day his friends D-Money, Playa-Playa and Wiz were recording their verses. But they were supposed to pay (1000 $ each ??) and they never came to record and the song was left unfinished.

You can see in the right paper that 2Pac also thought to "The Underground Railroad" as title
the same name of the producing team he had for 2Pacalypse Now

The mini album was also including a solo song by D-Money ("Young Godfather"), eventually a song by the Jungle Po$$e without 2Pac ("3 Dangerous Niggas"), the original of "Scared Str8" with Ray Luv (maybe just an early mix, cf. 2Pacalypse leftovers) or "I Thought U Knew" (here titled "Leave Me The Fuck Alone"), and one song by Yonnie Stokes aka Sista named Mysta ("Rushin' Em From Richtown" / "Hear Me Tough"), a girl who will give some vocals in 2Pacalypse Now, will record some songs for the project Nuthin' Gold/Ghetto Gospel with The Kidz in 1992 and will even record with Thug Life in late 1993.


Because the Jungle Po$$e didn't come in studio, maybe 2Pac used the studios (already payed ?) to record the mentioned songs "Scared Str8" with Ray Luv or "I Thought U Knew" with Ryan D.

 
 
2Pac & Digital Underground

1990 : Tupac & the Digital Underground : how do they meet ?

Tupac was recording as MC New York in Stricly Dope with Ray Tyson Luv, produced by Chopmaster J, who was then also a DJ for Digital Underground. He eventually made Shock G listen to the tracks he was doing with Strictly Dope and Shock G decided to invite Pac to tour with them. Pac firstly danced for them, backed them... The first album of the group, Sex Packets (Tommy Boy, 1990) was a huge success and the live tour was big and successful. Then Tupac dropped up his alias for a plain 2Pac (maybe first spelled 2-Pac) or 2Pacalypse. 

After the tour, Shock G and Money B were recording new material and they decided to record « Same Song » with 2Pac. They gave the song for the movie "Nothing But Trouble" in late 1990. "Same Song" marked the first time a verse recorded by Tupac was actually released. With the success of it, Pac probably presented to Interscope demo tapes of his early work and started to record tracks for his first album. This bootleg, alongside with The Lost Tapes, could be these demo tapes 2Pac showed to Interscope.



DETAILED TRACKLIST

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


01. All in the Daze of a Criminal (with reference for the Jungle Posse) / Kendrick Wells & Klark Gable
  • 1990. Jungle Posse Sessions. Remixed in the unofficial compilation The Here After (1999, AIM). It is said the song was planned to feature the Jungle Po$$e. 2Pac wrote his part and other people's verses (D-Money, Playa-Playa & Wiz) and recorded the full song the first day awaiting for his friends to come the following day, but they never came to record their parts. The song was the main song of a never achieved mini-album project (eponymous or titled "The Underground Railroad"). The project had also songs by the Jungle Posse, 2Pac & Ray Luv (with "Scared Straight") & Yonnie (with a solo song ; same girl rapping in "Part Time Mutha" and backing in "Rebel of The Underground" in 2Pacalypse Now ; then with The Kidz with in Ghetto Gospel project ; probably also the same girl recording one song or two with Thug Life in late 1993, cf. Honor Among Thugz).
  • Samples :
    • Ice-T - "Colors" (bassline, melody interpolation)
02. I Saw Your Girl feat. Ace Rocker / Dj Plain Terror - ACAPELLA / SNIPPET / Big D REMIX
  • 1988. Born Busy sessions. There are also the so-called "Shock G" remix (maybe a Chopmaster J thing) and a good remix with just a piano playing behind the voice, but both are incomplete without Ace Rocker's verse.
03. Panther Power (Original Version) feat. Ryan D / Klark Gable
  • 1989, One Nation Emcees sessions. Tupac re-recorded the song with Strictly Dope (cf. The Lost Tapes) and it appears in 2Pacalypse Now early tracklists as "Uplift The Race" (Tales of 90's N.I.G.G.A.). The song was clearly one of his favorite at that time, 2Pac rapped it many times in live events.
  • Samples :
    • James Brown - "Funky Drummer" (drums)
04. That's My Man Throwing Down feat. Ace Rocker / Dj Plain Terror - ACAPELLA / Big D REMIX
  • 1988. Born Busy sessions. Recorded at a friend's home.
05. I Thought U Knew feat. Ryan D / Klark Gable & DJ Dizzy
  • 1990. Jungle Posse sessions. Included in early tracklists of 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of 90's N.I.G.G.A.). This is a kind of battle/freestyle song that will be remixed as "U Don't Wanna Battle", probably circa 1991-1992, and released in 51.50 Illegally Insane album Games People Play 2nd edition as a hidden bonus track after the last song. Recorded at Ryan D's mother house. 
  • Samples :
06. Terrors On The Tables / Dj Plain Terror - ACAPELLA / [unknown remix]
  • 1988. Born Busy sessions.
07. Never Be Beat (Original Version) feat. Ryan D / Klark Gable
  • 1989, One Nation Emcees sessions. Tupac re-recorded the song with Strictly Dope (cf. The Lost Tapes).
08. Check It Out feat. Ace Rocker / Dj Plain Terror - ACAPELLA / [unknown remix]
  • 1988, Born Busy sessions. 
09. Fantasy feat. Ryan D / Klark Gable
  • 1989, One Nation Emcees sessions.
  • Sample : 
10. Babies Having Babies feat. Dana Mouse Smith (aka Mouse Man) / DJ Plain Terror - ACAPELLA / [unknown remix]
  • 1987. Leaked with Born Busy sessions but Mouse Man said it is an East Side Crew session. It is said they recorded the song in his homeroom (so in Baltimore ?). Tupac will re-use the topic for his big hit "Brenda's got a baby" in 2Pacalypse Now in 1991.
11. Tearz Of A Clown (Original Version) / DJ Klark Gable (?), Big D (?)
  • 1990. The song has probably been remixed/re-recorded in 91 for 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of 90's N.I.G.G.A.), eventually replacing the 3rd verse (mentioning Yusuf Hawkins death) by a new first one (which mentions Nelson Mandela's freedom).
  • Samples : 
12. Genocide (Us Killing Us) / ? - LIVE
  • 1987 (?) - 1990 (live). Mouse Man confirmed it was an early song they recorded together. 2Pac replayed it live probably in late 1990 (in front of Interscope alongside with a verse of "Panther Power" ?) and that live appeared in the recent Dear Mama TV serie - and we can hear in the background the later music of "Changes".
13. Minnie The Moocher (Alternate Version) / ? - SNIPPET
  • 1989-1991 (?). Released in The Lost Tapes (2000) in an alternate mixdown. Nothing is known about this "original" version. It could be a One Nation Emcees recording or a Strictly Dope alternate mix, or even a Force One remix...
14. Freestyles feat. Ace Rocker / Dj Plain Terror & Dana Mouse Smith (human beat box)
  • 1987-1988, Born Busy sessions. Unfortunately in a very poor quality. We can hear that Dana Mouse Smith aka Mouse Man was initially doing beat box for the group. Maybe some other Born Busy's acapellas could fit well over that kind of beat box instrumentals.
 
Queen Latifah & 2Pac

List of (maybe existing) songs from that time :

Produced by East Side Crew
Rock On feat. Dana Mouse Smith (1985)
Nigga Please feat. Dana Mouse Smith (1985)
You Can't Stop Me feat. Dana Mouse Smith (1986)
You're Talkin, That Bullshit feat. Dana Mouse Smith (1986)
Babies Having Babies feat. Dana Mouse Smith (1987) - acapella
Genocide (Us Killing Us) feat. Dana Mouse Smith (1987) - live
Breakin Thru (Breakin Through) (1987)
U Don't Wanna Battle Me (1987)

Produced by Born Busy

 You're A Hot Bitch (Reference for Jada Pinkett & Linda) (1987)
When Will You Learn feat. Ace Rocker (Dedicated To Darren Berret) (1987)
Stay Focused (1987) (?)
 Born Busy (1987) (?)
Freestyles feat. Ace Rocker & Dana Mouse Smith (1988) - acapella
Check It Out feat. Ace Rocker (1988) - acapella
That's My Man Throwing Down feat. Ace Rocker (1988) - acapella
Terror On The Tables feat. Ace Rocker (1988) - acapella
 I Saw Your Girl feat. Ace Rocker (1988) - acapella
 We Work Hard feat. Ace Rocker (1988)

Produced by Two From The Crew
 
Get Some For Girls (1988)
Let's Get It On (1988)
Lifestyles Of The Poor and Homeless (1988)
Girls Be Tryin' To Work A Nigga (1988)
 T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. (The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fucks Everybody) (1988) (?)

Produced by One Nation Emcees

Fantasy feat. Ryan D (1989)
Never Be Beat (That's My Nigga) [original] (1989)
Panther Power [original] feat. Ryan D (1989) 
 One Nation Emcees feat. Ryan D (1989)
 
Produced by Strictly Dope

The Case of The Misplaced Mic feat. DJ Dizzy (1989)
Panther Power feat. Ray Luv (1989)
Minnie The Moocher feat. Ray Luv (1989)
Never Be Beat feat. Ray Luv (1989)
A Day In The Life feat. Ray Luv (1989)
Let Knowledge Drop feat. Ray Luv (1989)
My Burnin Heart feat. Ray Luv (1989)
 
Static feat. Wicked J & Cooley Ranks (1990-1991)
The Case of The Misplaced Mic [remix] feat. DJ Dizzy (1990-1991)
Let Knowledge Drop [remix] feat. Ray Luv (1990-1991)
Panther Power [remix] feat. Ray Luv & Tasha Lambert (chorus) (1990-1991)
Static [remix] (1991-1992)

Produced by Kendrick Wells

​​You Don't Wanna Battle (I Thought U Knew) feat. Ryan D (1990)
Dayz Of A Criminal feat. Jungle Posse (1990) - reference
 Leave Us Kids Alone (1990) (?) - Kidz song ?
 This One's 4 Tha Suckaz (1990) (?) - Do 4 Love freestyle ?
 Scared Straight [original] (1990) (?) - identical without intro ?
Tearz of a Clown [original] (1990)
Bad Mutha... (?)

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