== 1992 - TROUBLESOME 21 + FULL TIMELINE ==

  • 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, and above all after a young black man murdered a Texas trooper whilst listening to 2Pacalypse Now.
  • Sources : 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

### - We of course follow the Promo of the album which was leaked, but we try to replace the mixes published in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. - in a identical form - by alternate mixes. - ### 

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 :

    /

DETAILED TRACKLIST down the page.   

  • 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, like the radio friendly "Holler If Ya Hear Me (Solo)".



 
 

FULL TIMELINE

READ THE FIRST DRAFTS FOR A SECOND ALBUM ==> 2PACALYPSE II

0. c. Dec. 91. "2Pacalypse II : Revenge of the Rebel" / Now & Forever

This early tracklist still reflects the intermediate project of a follow up to 2Pacalypse Now. 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").

This draft incorporates the outtakes from 2Pacalypse Now "Phade Away" and "Revenge of the Lunatic", this one supposedly with a new mix with a first appearance of DJ Daryl of Richie Rich's group 415. DJ Daryl produced "Gaffled Like That" very likely recorded in early December with Richie Rich for Govenor's project. 

"Papa's Song" is firstly appearing here but it was initially said to be a Kidz song (even if it appears in no tracklists of that project). It will disappear after that until more advanced Troublesome tracklists... Is the song 2Pac was thinking to have here

0. c. late Dec.  91 (~). Unknown "2Pacalypse II : Now & Forever"

Banned said he has a material sequence for an album so titled. Consequently, it could be from late December, before or after the recording of "Changes"...

1. c. early Jan.  92 (~). "Troublesome. 2Pacalypse II"


This tracklist is post-"Changes". Now the title is mainly "Troublesome".

2Pac dropped many follow up ideas from his first project. But the album is totally incomplete. Tracks noted with a star are very likely unrecorded.

"Uplift The Race" was an old concept from 1990 for a new version of "Panther Power". It seems that 2Pac never recorded it... "Death Row at 18" is the first concept for the song 2Pac will write down very soon.

2. c. Jan. - Feb. 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...

3. c. Feb. 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".

4. 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.

5. 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. 

6. 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.

7. 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...

8. 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. 

9. 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... 

10. 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".

11. 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. MC New York (The Early Years)). Mopreme will follow Pac in Thug Life and for 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 oriented 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 / ?
  • 1992/05-08 (?). 
  • Story. It is surprising that 2Pac chose this little skit instead of "Black Starry Night" recorded in March (cf. 2Pacalypse II and Ghetto Gospel).
02. Holla If Ya Hear Me (Riot Version) feat. Live Squad / Stretch
  • 1992/07 (~). New solo version with new lyrics recorded in November of 1992 and released in  Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..
  • Story. This version with Live Squad is subtitled "Riot Version" in the late "Christmas Bootleg Album" tracklist (cf. Ghetto Gospel). The song was presumably inspired by the L.A. riots (April 29 - May 03) and could be one of the first tracks rejected by Interscope. This version shares a similar sample with "Lovely Daze", a song recorded in late 1991 for the Kidz part of the Ghetto Gospel project.
  • Samples : 
03. Representin' / Truman Jefferson (Big Tru)
04. Troublesome / Jeremy Jackson (JZ)
  • 1991/11 (~) - 1992/05-08 (?) (new mix). Released in Def Jam's How to be a Player OST (Def Jam, 1997). 
  • Story. This song gave its name to the album and is also known as Troublesome 92' by retrospective reference to "Troublesome 96" released in 2Pac's Greatest Hits (Death Row, 1998). The original mix of the song, made for 2Pacalypse II project and possibly played at the Live at Glam Slam in late April. "Mr. Troublesome" was after "Mr. 2Pacalypse" a new nickname chosen after the media troubles following his first album and after his Juice movie character (January of 92), in which Tupac is playing a young black male named Bishop who became crazy. Did 2Pac record that song for the soundtrack ? It got released the 31st of December '91 so more likely the song was inspired by the movie. The movies 2Pac will play in, kind of changed his life, he became the characters he played in a confusion between his own real personality and his character in art... the events of his real life inspiring his characters, his characters emphasized influencing his personality in return...
  • Differences. There could be an earlier alternate mix of the song, possibly like 2Pac played the song at The Glam Slam in April 11 (cf. 2Pacalypse II).
  • Studio : Hyde Street Studios.
  • 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
  • 1992/03 (~). Alternate mix of the released version of Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., with a scratched chorus, released in some versions of the single.  
  • Story. Dave Hollister was already the lead singer on "Brenda's Got A Baby" in 2Pacalypse Now. Around the time of this new recording, he was the vocal leader of Force One Network who released the album The MME Program Vol. 1 produced by Chopmaster J and his team, who were working on the first Strictly Dope album, and presumably introduced 2Pac to Digital Underground (cf. This One's 4 Tha Suckaz).
  • Samples : 
07. I Wonda If Heaven's Got A Ghetto / Lay Law
  • 1992/05 (~). B-side from Keep Ya Head Up (12'') (1993, Interscope). Remixed in a vibe style and in a modern way, clipped for R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). 
  • Story. 2Pac here re-used for his third verse half of the second verse of "Changes", recorded in December of 1991. Why 2Pac totally dropped that song which became his most famous successful posthumous song ? (cf. Greatest Hits) Maybe 2Pac wanted more ambitious beats like DJ Daryl and Lay Law could do, the first one being the producer for Richie Rich and 415, the second one being a well known West Coast producer for Ruthless, Above The Law, Ice Cube, Yo-Yo... 
  • Samples : 
08. Don't Call Me Bitch (2Fly4Me Version) feat. Shock G (backing) / Lay Law
  • 1992/04/29 - 1992/05-06 (~) (new vocals). 
  • Story. Considering the chosen sample, the song is an evolution of "Backstabbas", early 2Pacalypse Now leftover song (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). 2Pac wrote new lyrics for such a titled song circa Dec. - Jan. 1992 and enlisted a DJ Daryl remix of it in first Troublesome 21 tracklists. "Don't Call Me Bitch" recycles the first verse of that unleaked song and part of the first verse of "Neva Surrenda", a leftover song from 2Pacalypse Now, but firstly written down (recorded ?) for Strictly Dope as "This One's 4 Tha Suckaz" (planned title for the Strictly Dope album, cf. The Early Years), which 2Pac played live at the African Liberation Day in late May of 1991. Banned of Bomb1st forum said that the earliest version of "Don't Call Me Bitch" has 2Pac singing at the chorus : "I know you think i'm 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".
  • Studio : recorded at Echo Studios. 
  • Samples : 
09. What Goes On feat. The Wycked (Mopreme) & Mouse Man / Big D (?) or Truman Jefferson (?).
  • 1992/07-08 (~). 
  • Story. The trio recorded together for the first time "N.I.G.G.A." circa Dec. of 1991 (Mopreme was still calling himself Mocedes) for Ghetto Gospel or for 2Pacalypse II projects. The group Wycked & The Mouse (W.A.T.M.) was possibly formed in early 1992, maybe to be 2Pac's backing band, notably at The Glam Slam in April 11. They appear with that group name in "32 Bottles to Ghetto Heaven" (a Ghetto Gospel tracklist) in June with the song "Broken Branches" and then in Troublesome tracklists. This song in Troublesome album was probably thought to promote their future project of State of Emergency, recorded with the help of 2Pac, Stretch and Truman Jefferson... circa August-October of 1992. After a Marin City concert in August 22, a firefight burst and a kid named Qa'id was killed by a lost bullet. The gun was owned by 2Pac but according to witnesses, he had lost his gun. The police's investigation eventually involving Mouse or Mopreme could have damaged their friendship and the project was given up ; Mopreme disappeared for almost one year (cf. Mr. Middle Finger) and Mouse Man went back to Baltimore. It's a pity to think that 2Pac's first partner, Dana Mouse Man (cf. MC New York - The Early Years) has never released an official song with 2Pac, even today... 
  • Samples : 
10. I Get Around (Rough Mix) feat. Digital Underground I Get Around (with reference verse for Money B) feat. Shock G / Shock G - DEATH ROW REMIX / Berocke or Moey REMAKE
  • 1992/08/04 (?) or 1992/05-06 (?). Released in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. and remixed by Daz in Death Row's Greatest Hits (1996), with live instrumentation and reference verse for Money B finally unused. 
  • Story. Troublesome 21 promo is including the exact same "I Get Around" mix than Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.. So it is interesting to replace it by the remake of the pre-version reference track which has a short unheard 2Pac verse, reference written for Money B, who finally didn't use it. 2Pac also wrote Shock G's verse. A first take could have Pac rapping all verses. 2Pac early had Stretch invited to rap with him in live so 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
  • 1991/10/03 (~) - 1992 (new mix). 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 from late 1993 ("Da Bastard Remix" made by Duane Nettlesbey, and a "Vibe Tribe" one). 
  • Story. The song was firstly intended for the Kidz project Ghetto Gospel. The 2Pac took the song for his solo album, eventually made a new version. Poppi was already the singer of "Part Time Mutha" in 2Pacalypse Now and is the original singer of "Changes" (cf. 2Pacalypse II), he is also singing in "Don't You Trust Me (Sista'z Song)" and probably in many Kidz songs of Ghetto Gospel recorded in Aug. - Dec. 1991. With an effect similar to the Soulja's voice, Tupac here imitates the father's voice. 
  • Samples :
12. Crooked Nigga Too feat. Stretch / 2Pac & Big D The Impossible
  • 1991/11-12 (?) - 1991/12/06 or 1992/02 (?) (remix, Stretch verse ?). Awfully remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004).
  • Story. The song appears for the first time in Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A EP tracklist at the same time than "Crooked Ass Nigga". We ignore if 2Pac recorded a first version at that time. But there could be an earlier version/mix of this song from October-December, eventually without Stretch (who appears credited as a guest only in February), cf. 2Pacalypse II. The intro of the song indicates this version was recorded after 2Pac was beaten by Oakland police for having crossed a street out of a crosswalk (Oct. 17). The rumors "Crooked Cop Killer" and "Crooked wit a Crown" could be alternate titles/versions/mixes for "Crooked Ass Nigga" or "Crooked Nigga Too".
  • Studio : Hyde Street Studios.
  • Samples : 
13. Still Don't Give A Fuck / DJ Daryl
14. Streetz R Death Row (Original Mix) / Live Squad
  • 1992/04/29. Released in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..
  • Story. Identical to Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. version. It is said that there would be 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). 
  • Story. Dave "Black Angel" Hollister was the main singer of Chopmaster J's group Force One Network who released their first album The MME 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 :
 

BONUS DISC - Early Mixes :

. Holler If Ya Hear Me (Alternate Take) feat. Live Squad
. Don't Call Me Bitch (Alternate Mix) feat. Shock G
. I Get Around (with reference for Shock G & Money B) - Daz remix
. What Goez On (Rough Mix) feat. Wycked & The Mouse
. Crooked Nigga Too (Rough Mix) feat. Stretch
. Still Don't Give A Fuck (Rough Mix)

. When I Get Free (Rough Mix) 
. Point The Finga (Original Mix) - snippet
. Strugglin' (Original Mix) - snippet
. The Hell Raiser (Rough Mix)

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