== 1992 - TROUBLESOME 21 ==

  • Oct. 91 - Aug. 92 : sessions for a second solo album.
  • Album shelved (in august of 92) after the L.A. riots and the gangsta rap music like Ice-T's "Cop Killer" (which is not a rap song !) being held as responsible for the troubles.
  • Source : handwritten tracklists, Promo Cassette, DAT

Jeffrey Newburn, 1992
this set of pictures was made for Troublesome album 
then re-used for Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. design


Troublesome 21 - LISTEN - Discogs Page

1. Intro
2. Holler If You Hear Me (Riot Version) feat. Live Squad
3. Representin' (Original Version)
4. Troublesome
5. Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (Original Mix)
6. Keep Ya Head Up (Scratched Chorus) feat. Dave Hollister
7. I Wonda If Heaven's Got A Ghetto
8. Don't Call Me Bitch feat. Shock G
9. What Goes On feat. The Wycked & Mouse Man
10. I Get Around feat. Digital Underground * - reference track / death row remix / berocke / moey remake
11. Papa'z Song (Original Mix) feat. The Wycked & Poppi
12. Crooked Nigga Too feat. Stretch
13. Still Don't Give A Fuck
14. The Streetz R Death Row - no horns edit
15. Nothin' But Love feat. Dave Hollister
 
Bonus tracks :

  • Bold : unreleased tracks.
  • #1-15 are the official tracklist of the promo cassette, and from the Interscope tape given the 12th of August '92.
  • * track n°10 was not included in some Promo Cassette, track being given in another material as the first planned single.
  • Tracks 6, 7, 15 have been released as B-sides in 93.
  • Track 4 has been released in Def Jam's How To Be A Player OST in 1997.
  • Track 3 is a shorter version - one verse less - than the '93 released version in Strictly 4 my N.I.G.G.A.Z. 
  • Tracks 5, 11 are very close to the '93 released versions 
  • Tracks 10 and 14 are similar to '93 released versions 
  • Track 12 has been awfully remixed in Eminem's Loyal To The Game album. 
  • Tracks 8, 9, 13 remain totally unreleased.
 



 

"21" is the age of 2Pac in June 16 of 1992

With the release of 2Pacalypse Now in November 91, 2Pac thought to drop an EP companion (eventually titled "Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.") with leftover songs of his album. With the recording of new songs, it naturally turned into a new solo album firstly entitled "2Pacalypse II".

In late 91, around Christmas, 2Pac recorded songs like "Changes" and "Troublesome" with Big D and JZ (future producer for Digital Underground's new member Saafir). But it is in 1992 by recordings with DJ Daryl (Richie Rich's producer), Lay Law (Ruthless producer) and Truman Jefferson (producer for Richmond group C.I.N.) that 2Pac really gave shape to his new solo album.

The sequence was ready to drop and they eventually gave out promo cassettes. But with the L.A. riots and then with Ice-T "Cop Killer" case, Interscope finally preferred to refuse many songs of the album, especially the eponymous track... that represented the concept of the album itself... After what it turned into Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. with 2Pac recording new songs.



 
 

TIMELINE

1. c. December 91 (~). "2Pacalypse II"

This first tracklist still reflects the intermediate project of a follow up to 2Pacalypse Now / compilation of leftovers. Tracks like "Fade Away", "Crooked Nigga Too", "Revenge of a Lunatic", "Papa'z Song", "Backstabbas" are early tracks from January of 91 ("Revenge of a L") to October 91 ("Crooked Nigga Too").

But "Troublesome" and "Souljah's Revenge" have been freshly recorded (in November ?). So we are in late 91 and we could presume that this tracklist and the "2Pacalypse II" concept was written down before 2Pac recorded "Changes"...

2. c. Dec. 91 (~). "Troublesome. 2Pacalypse II"


This second tracklist could also be pre-"Changes"... It is incomplete but does not show obviously new recorded songs. "Uplift The Race" being an old concept for a new version of "Panther Power".

3. c. Jan. 92 (~). "4 2Pacalypse II, Troublesome"

Here 2Pac clearly started to work with DJ Daryl ("Gaffled Like That" was recorded the 28th of November with DJ Daryl, Rich and Gov). It seems that "Still Don't Give A F" and "Nothing But Love" are well recorded, and it could mean that "Backstabbas (Daryl Remix)" and "16 on Death Row (First Version, with leaked alternate lyrics ?)" exist... 

But another way to see the things is to consider the different pen colors of the two parts... I tend to think that this second part could have been added later, after the next tracklist... So it would mean that "Backstabbas"/"16 on Death Row" only planned at that time, like "Oaktown Anthem" which was already appearing in the previous tracklist. 2Pac corrected this tracklist later, so after having recorded "Still Don't Give A F" and "Nothing But Love", so probably after the following tracklist...

4. c. Jan. 92 (~). Untitled two sides for 2Pacalypse II.


In this tracklist, it appears that "Still Don't Give A F" could be just recorded whereas "Nothing But Love 4 Ya" could be about to be... 2Pac clearly writes "Oaktown Niggas" and adds a new "Mo' Niggas" and another guest song with friends from Digital Underground, what will kind of turn into "I Get Around".

5. c. March-April 92 (~). "4 the upcoming Troublesome album"

 

At this time, "16 on Death Row" has been transferred to Ghetto Gospel project, the G'z part which includes ThoroHeadz, WATM, Mysta, Rich and Gov songs (what could explain the disappearing of all the Bay Area featurings previously planned). Maybe 2Pac considered the topic, especially with the known recorded lyrics were fitting better with The Kidz and young friends compilation...

"Mo' Niggaz" could have turned into "Black Starry Night (Intro)" (2Pac saying "more niggas and more niggas...") and "Throw Them Thangs" with Spice 1 speaking...

2Pac has also just recorded "Po Nigga Bluez"/"Keep Ya Head Up" with DJ Daryl and a new follow up to "Souljah's Story" with Lay Law.

6. c. May of 92 (~). "Troublesome", preview unmixed


As well as "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.", "Don't Call Me Bitch" with Lay Law was very likely freshly recorded following altered "Backstabbas" lyrics. So I tend to think that the DJ Daryl version does not exist and that the idea became this new song, different from the old 91 version of Backstabbas...

"Trapped 92 Remix" is a re-recorded version of "Trapped", made by Shock G who will soon give his unused "I Get Around" beat to 2Pac. 

7. c. June of 92 (~). "Troublesome 21"

We are now for sure after the Riots (04/29 - 05/03), Stretch and Live Squad have just recorded "Holler If Ya Hear Me" and "Streetz R Death Row" with 2Pac (second song could be felt like redundant with "16 on Death Row" what could have led to the immediate dropping of that song...?).

This tracklist is possibly contemporaneous to the Ghetto Gospel tracklist with one side Nuthin Gold aka The Kidz, one side for Mysta. That could be the reason for the re-appearing of "16 On Death Row" here.

8. c. July of 92 (~). "Troublesome 21"


original and a copy of the next page with dedications

The two new Digital Underground produced tracks have been just recorded and added at the beginning of the album. Is the known date of recording of "I Get Around" (August 4th) right ? or both songs are only about to be recorded, instrumentals with given concepts... what could explain that "Love Ya Future" has guests in the next tracklist... 

What is the 50 Niggaz posse ? Is it another name for Digital Underground & friends producing team ? Could it be for the people around 2Pac at that time : Kidz, Mysta & Bitch'z, WATM, ThoroHeadz, Rich&Gov... ? It could be just the Man-Man's team. Man-Man is known as a kind of tour manager who helped 2Pac to make many artistic connections, with him when Ayanna Jackson went in 2Pac's room in November 93...

9. c. July of 92 (~). "Troublesome, 21 yrs later"

2Pac removed the second Digital Underground produced track. The planned guests could indicate the song was not recorded yet... Maybe he just did it and decided to not include it. 

10. c. August of 92 (~). "Troublesome 21"

"What Goez On" with WATM has been recorded and replaces "Trapped 92 Remix" (kind of replacing "Love Ya Future" with guests too).

A bit later, with another pen, 2Pac drops "When I Get Free" and plans a new song with strange title which strangely announces the very late "Against All Oddz (The realest shit i ever wrote)" on Killuminati album... 

7. c. August of 92 (~). "Troublesome 21"


One track missing, "Representin" was probably about to be recorded to fulfill the album. 2Pac will go back to previous track order with 1st track being "Holler If Ya Hear Me".

8. 12th of August 92 (~). Untitled Interscope Cassette.

This is very probably the last sequence presented to Interscope who rejected it following the gangsta rap recent scandals and maybe the case of Ronald Ray Howard having shot to death the Texas Trooper named Bill Davidson, whilst listening to "Souljah's Story"... Vice president Quayle calls to withdraw 2Pac's first album the 23th of September but it is said that as soon as the press knew Ronald Ray Howard was listening to a 2Pacalypse Now tape in his car when he shot at the trooper, 2Pac became the "most dangerous rapper"... At that exact time, Ice-T came to the decision to remove "Cop Killer" from his album due to the controversy and the demand of Quayle... Interscope could have decided to reject 2Pac's new album in order to avoid new troubles, knowing they had enough to do with the now ones... 

2Pac was retained for some months only to really turn into "brother Troublesome"... !


Around the middle of 92, 2Pac was recording songs with his new group W.A.T.M. (Wycked and the Mouse). Mouse Man was his first Hip-Hop partner in his first group East Side Crew (cf. Benefits of Poverty). Mopreme will follow Pac in Thug Life and a short time in the Outlaw Immortalz (cf. Thug Life Volume 2). This could have been a side group project, this is the Thug Life before Thug Life. You can notice a same kind of gangsta imagery. 




Troublesome 21 album was ready to be published. A promo version was even out the 12th of August '92. But in reason of L.A. riots and the campaign against Ice-T's "Cop Killer", Interscope shelved the album and asked 2Pac to scrap violent songs of the album like "Troublesome". 
 
 




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

01. Intro / ?
  • 1992/04-08 (?). It is surprising that 2Pac chose this skit instead of "Black Starry Night" recorded in March... (cf. 2Pacalypse II)
02. Holla If Ya Hear Me (Riot Version) feat. Live Squad / Stretch
  • 1992/07 (~). Original version, re-recorded in december 92 without the Live Squad and released in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993). There is another version with alternate mixdown and alternate Majesty's vocals take (probably the first take of the song).
  • Samples : 
03. Representin' / Truman Jefferson (Big Tru)
04. Troublesome (Bishop's Theme) / Jeremy Jackson (JZ)
  • 1991/12. Released in Def Jam's How to be a Player OST (Def Jam, 1997). This track gave name to these recording sessions and is also known as Troublesome 92' by retrospective reference to "Troublesome 96" from 2Pac's Greatest Hits (Death Row, 1998). "Troublesome" was after "2Pacalypse" a new nickname chosen after the media troubles following his first album and after Juice movie (January of 92), in which Tupac was playing a character becoming crazy. The song could be a leftover from the soundtrack (but it got released in December of 91), but more likely the song was inspired by the movie.
  • Samples : 
05. Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (Original Mix) / Lay Law
06. Keep Ya Head Up (Original Version) feat. Dave Hollister / DJ Daryl
07. I Wonda If Heaven's Got A Ghetto / Lay Law
08. Don't Call Me Bitch (2Fly4Me Version) feat. Shock G (backing) / Lay Law
  • 1992/05 (~). An alternative title for this song could also be "Backstabbas" considering the chosen sample, but there could be also another song (appearing in many early 2Pacalypse tracklists), maybe featuring Money B. Banned of Bomb1st forum says that earliest version of Don't Call Me Bitch has 2Pac singing at the chorus : "I know you think im talkin to yoooou but some of these niggas are bitches too...", line taken from Ice-T "Bitches 2" or Geto Boyz "Size ain't shit"
  • Samples : 
09. What Goes On feat. The Wycked (Mopreme) & Mouse Man / Truman Jefferson.
  • 1992/08 (~). Seems to be the second recorded song by the trio (2Pac & W.A.T.M.) after "Hymn of a 90's N.I.G.G.A." (where Mopreme is still Mocedes). When Troublesome was about to be released, 2Pac helped to record a full album with them. After Marin City incident, and troublesome being refused, the project was given up, Mouse Man going back to Baltimore. It's a pity to think that his first partner, Dana Mouse Man has never release an official song with 2Pac, even today... 
  • Samples : 
10. I Get Around feat. Digital Underground I Get Around (with reference verse for Money B) feat. Shock G / Shock G - DEATH ROW REMIX / Berocke's Reconstruction Mix
  • 1992/08/04 (?) or 1992/05-06 (?). Released in Death Row's Greatest Hits (1996), but presented as a remix (with live instrumentation). Troublesome 21 was including the exact same "I Get Around" mix than in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. So we chose to replace it by this pre-version or reference track remade with the Death Row's remix. It features a short unheard 2Pac verse, in fact a reference written for Money B, who finally didn't use it. 2Pac also wrote Shock G's verse. A first take could be with Pac rapping all verses. 2Pac early had Stretch invited to rap with him in live so it is said that there could also be a Stretch demo version (maybe more in 93).
  • Samples :   
11. Papa'z Song (Original Mix) feat. The Wycked (aka Mopreme) & Poppi / Big D The Impossible
  • 1991/09 (?) or 1992/05-06 (~). Released in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. with a slightly different mix and then in Papa'z Song 12'' with a radio version and two remixes (one of it titled "Da Bastard Mix" made by Stretch could be the original version, like the B-side New York Stretch Mix for "Holler If Ya Hear Me"). Poppi was already the singer of "Part Time Mutha" and is the original singer of "Changes" (could also be singing on "Don't You Trust Me"). With an effect similar to the Soulja's voice, Tupac imitates the father's voice. 
  • Samples :
12. Crooked Nigga Too feat. Stretch / 2Pac & Big D The Impossible
13. Still Don't Give A Fuck / DJ Daryl
14. Streetz R Death Row (Original Mix) / Live Squad
  • 1992. Identical to  Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. version. It is said that there is an alternate mix with a hook saying "I wanna change but I can't find a way". Was it the original version or a second version made after Troublesome being scrapped ?
  • Samples : 
15. Nothin' But Love feat. Dave Hollister / Dj Daryl
  • 1992/03 (~). B-side from I Get Around 7' (1993, Interscope). Re-released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). Dave "Black Angel" Hollister was the main singer of Chopmaster J's group Force One Network who released their first album The MMA Program 1 in 1992, before becoming a member of Blackstreet, and was also featured in "Brenda's Got A Baby" and of course "Keep Ya Head Up".
  • Samples :  
 BONUS TRACKS :
 
 






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