1992 - 2Pacalypse II

  • Late 91 - May. 92 : recording sessions for a project of sequel to 2Pacalypse Now which will soon turn into a whole new album titled Troublesome 21, finally rejected.
  • Songs not included in Troublesome Promo, and not released in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..

### This compilation does not follow a specific 2Pac's handwritten tracklist, because none of them gathers more than 2 or 3 leftover songs from Troublesome 21 album. So we just tried to have the sequence sounding good. ###

Tracklist - LISTEN in YT

1. Black Starry Night (Intro)
2. Let Them Thangs Go
3. Changes (That's The Way It Is)
4. Tearz of a Clown (Shock G Mix) - snippet / remake
5. No Part of Dis
6. Underground Niggaz (Freestyle)
7. Gaffled Like That feat. The Govenor & Richie Rich
8. Changes (Interlude)
9. Walking Down The Streets of New York (Freestyle)
10. Don't Call Me Bitch (Long Mix)
11. Trapped '92 - snippet / og vibe
12. 16 on Death Row
13. Break' Em Off Some feat. WC, Money B & Debbie D
14. Sweet Black Pussy (Freestyle)
15. Po' Nigga Blues
16. When I Get Free (Souljah's Outro)
17. Pass The Mic (Freestyle) feat. Richie Rich
18. Ghetto Gospel (reference track) *
19. Don't U Trust Me (Sista'z Song) *
20. If My Homie Calls (Turbo R&B Mix)

Bonus Tracks :

21. Lovely Daze feat. The Kidz - snippet *
22. X.Y.Z. ! (The Kidz Song) - instrumental snippet *
23. Bedtime Stories - instrumental snippet * 
 
. Don't U Trust Me (male's vocals) *  
. Holler If Ya Hear Me (First Take) feat. Live squad
 
 
* reference tracks, songs and instrumentals for the Kidz/Mysta Ghetto Gospel album.
  • Producer - Big D The Impossible (3, 4, 8, 13, 18, 19), Darrin Harris (5), DJ Daryl (1, 2, 5, 7, 12, 15), Lay Law (10, 16), Shock G (4, 10, 11), JZ (21, 22, 23), Greg Beasley (20)
  • Chorus - Poppi (4, 19), Schmoovy Schmoov (4), Shock G (10), Cool Russel (12), Roniece Levias (19)
 

From Mr. 2Pacalypse to Mr. Troublesome

The 2Pacalypse Now album was even not released that 2Pac already thought to his next album. The first tracklist we have from his Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A. notebook for a new album contains freshly recorded "Part Time Mutha" and "Souljah's Story", which entered the released album at the last minute instead of "Fade Away".

 
 
2Pac as Bishop in Juice movie

Is Tupac turning into Bishop ?

2Pac appeared for the second time in a movie but this time as of the second role in Ernest R. Dickerson's Juice movie (cf. trailer). He plays Bishop, a young black male becoming crazy, wanting to kill people... Even in the first rule of the ethic code of the thugs (cf. Thug Life Demo), Tupac does not have any illusions. The destiny of a young black male from the ghetto is to go in prison and to end up being killed... The destiny of 1 black man in 21 (cf. Strictly Dope's 1 In 21 back cover).

Unfortunately, he failed to give also a song to soundtrack. He was a unknown rapper at that time they finished the tracklist (his album was maybe just published). A pity because it would have been a wonderful Hip-Hop act to appear among his friends Naughty By Nature ("Uptown Anthem"), his idols Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, old school stars Too $hort and EPMD, R&B stars Guy members Aaron Hall & Teddy Riley, Bomb Squad's soul produced group Son of Bazerk, Latino future superstars Cypress Hill...

But he was probably to busy with his own album to put forward the good record to be in. Tupac really gave a voice to the character of the movie in the lyrics he wrote and rapped in "Troublesome (Bishop's Theme)" in late December, but when the soundtrack was already out. It will be his most important recording of this period.

Like if Souljah was speaking with Tupac... 


 

1. Oct. 1991. "New Album".

"Part Time Mother" and "Soldier Story" were noted "standby" in the last 2Pacalypse Now tracklist (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). So the idea of the second album project could have occurred even before the release of the first album the 12th of November. In fact it could be the evolution of the idea of an EP which appears in some tracklists (titled "Extra Cuts", "Straight From The Underground", "The Underground Railroad", and "Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.").

"Crooked NiggaS 2" is the follow up to "Crooked Ass Nigga", it firstly appears in the "2Pacalypse Now+Tales of a 904s N.I.G.G.A." tracklist in May. "2Pac Go Ahead & Rock Dis" could presumably be an early concept for "No Part of Dis", considering the lyrics ("Piece or Peace" could . "5 Drunken Styles" is an evolution from the title "20 Drunken Styles"/"This Is the Brain of a 40 Once" with Treach which appears in 2Pacalypse Now tracklists. If the song was not recorded yet, it will finally turn into "Pass The 40" over the same topic and "5 Deadly Venoms" with the same Treach.

2. Nov. - Dec. 1991. "Post 2Pacalyspe Now".

"Fade Away" was a last minute leftover from 2Pacalypse Now. So the album is probably now released.

"Troublesome" has been just recorded or more likely is about to be (the subtitle "Bishop's Theme" will then disappear, it refers to Juice movie that was about to be published in Jan. 1992, where 2Pac plays a character who becomes crazy). Already having a follow-up to "Crooked Ass Nigga", 2Pac plans to record a follow-up to "Souljah's Story". "Backstabbas" was already appearing in 4 2Pacalypse Now tracklists. Nothing says if the song was recorded (with Big D maybe) or just the lyrics written down. 

Unfortunately, "Looking 4 Me In The Whirlwind" will not be recorded, but the idea of the song will reappear in late Strugglin'/Point The Finga tracklist (cf. Fragile).

 
 

3. Dec. 91 - Jan. 92. "2Pacalypse II : Revenge of the Rebel".

"Troublesome" has probably been recorded now. "Soulja II" may already be recorded even if it has not its final title, it has the right producer credit (but it could also be an early concept for "When I Get Free"). 

This draft also 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). 

"Papa's Song" is firstly appearing here (presumably not recorded yet) but will disappear until advanced Troublesome tracklists... So either it was recorded lately either it was firstly intended as a Kidz song (a snippet of a Kid'z version with same music has recently been leaked)...

 
 

4. Feb. 1992. "Troublesome : 2Pacalypse II"

"Uplift The Race" was an alternate title for "Panther Power" in early tracklists of 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.), but very probably for a new version (was the remix with a female chorus the only attempt ?). "Death Row at 18" was an anticipated concept, before "16 on Death Row" got recorded in April. "Oaktown's Anthem" could be an anticipated concept for "Gaffled Like That".

5. March 1992. "2Pacalypse II : Troublesome"

The "DJ D" credit could indicate that these tracks have been recorded or about to be... "Nothing But Love", "16 on Death Row" and "Still Don't Give A Fuck" (another follow up) entered the tracklist for long. But "Backstabbas" will dropped after that... as well as "Revenge of a Lunatic" (which was supposed to have a DJ Daryl beat) and "Souljah II" (Maybe 2Pac returned to "Souljah II" instead of "Revenge" because of "Revenge of a Lunatic").

"Mo' Niggas" is probably an early concept for "Throw Them Thangs" (with Spice 1 or The Gov's backing voices, and many "mothafuckin" and "niggas" words).

"My Suicide Note" and "About The Fame" (early concept for "Don't Call Me Bitch" ?) are probably just concept titles.

 
  
 

6. March 1992. Untitled.

Almost the same songs than the previous tracklist. "Backstabbas", "Souljah II" and "Revenge of a Lunatic" have disappeared.

7. Circa April 1992. "Troublesome"

"Throw Them Thangs", "Po Nigga Blues" and "Keep Ya Head Up" are new DJ Daryl sessions recorded circa March - April 1992. "When I Get Free" is the first Lay Law produced song (maybe here just lyrics written) recorded as a replacement for "Revenge of a Souljah". "5 Deadly Styles" concept returned with new planned guests (only Havoc - probably from South Central Cartel - will be replaced by Majesty).

8. May 1992. "Preview unmixed 2Pac Troublesome"

"Don't Call Me Bitch", "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto", "Strictly 4 My Niggas" and "Trapped 92"  have been recorded. It now clearly looks like the Troublesome 21 album (see that page for the next tracklists of the album).

Another side project lead by 2Pac was the Thoro Headz album that could have included "Flex" (but maybe just a 2 tracks single then, probably more advanced in late 93 with "Runnin' From The Police" and "Introduced 2 The Game"). Known unleaked song could be "Wanna G" with a long intro by 2Pac.


 

Tupac Shakur and Allen Hughes in 92

Allen Hughes and his brother Albert directed two music video of Tupac's first album : "Brenda's Got A Baby" and "If My Homies Call". That's why they gave him a role in their movie Menace II Society. It is said 2Pac wasn't happy with the character of Sharif, a young man who became Muslim and sermonizes his friends but nobody never listen to him... Tupac pretended the character was not logical or veak - what is possible -, Allen Hughes said Tupac wanted a bigger role with more scree exposition, a strong role of gangster, not a character everybody is making fun of... In fact, it could have been a great role for him, to embody such a positive character. In the released movie, Sharif is a bit too in the background. It would have been a real performance if Tupac would have succeed in giving him relief. The movie somewhere beyond the legend lacks of some great side moments. The father of Sharif has more importance than his son.

So the brother Hughes were also about to receive a song from Tupac and his friends Wicked & The Mouse. It would have been a very great promotion for their album.


DETAILED TRACKLIST

(Special thanks to Dominator & Filla of Bomb1st Forum for sample credits)

01. Black Starry Night (Against All Odds) (Intro) / DJ Daryl

  • 1992/05 (~). Remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). 2Pac announces the featuring of Above the Law, The Underground Railroad... and Treach (for the song recorded in the end of 92 or for another unleaked song presumably recorded in 91 ?).
  • Samples :
02. Let Them Thangs Go feat. Spice 1 (?) (speaking) / DJ Daryl
  • 1992/04 (~). Fairly remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). DJ Daryl is a member of Richie Rich's group 415. "Mo' Niggaz" ("Mo-therfucking Niggaz" or "More Niggaz") was an early title for the song. Between the two verses, it could be Spice 1 speaking. We can hear an excerpt of "Talk like sex" from Kool G Rap's Wanted Dead or Alive album (1990, Cold Chillin').
  • Samples : 
03. That's The Way It Is (Changes) feat. Poppi (chorus) / Big D The Impossible
  • 1991/12/25. Remixed in Greatest Hits (1998, Death Row) with a new hook and a slowed voice (to make Pac sound older). 2Pac says 1992 in the song but it is known to have been recorded around the Christmas day, like "Troublesome" and maybe the reference track version of "Ghetto Gospel". Poppi was already a singing voice on "Part Time Mutha" in 2Pacalyspe Now and will also sing in "Papa's Song".
  • Samples: 
04. Tearz Of A Clown '92 (Shock G Remix) / Big D The Impossible REMIXED by Shock G
  • 1990 - 1992 (new mix). Leaked in the sampler tape with incomplete "That's the Way it Is (Changes)", "No Part of Dis" and "Scared Straight 91". I tend to think that Pac re-recorded over a new Big D production this early song recorded in 90 (maybe with Kendrick Wells, cf. Straight From The Underground). He presumably added a new first verse and took off the third one (like in "R U Still Down (Raise Em Up)", cf. Exodus). This new verse mentions Nelson Mandela's freedom (February of 1990), the old one mentioned the assassination of young Yusef Hawkins (August of 1989). But it is used to find an edited mix combining the four verses (in a very poor quality, with a clear change of sound between the two versions).
  • Samples : 
05. No Part of Dis / Darrin Harris
  • 1991/07 (?). 2Pac talks about the Flavor Unit - Treach's posse - in the beginning (like he did at the end of "Funky Freestyles" and in "Black Starry Night"). The production comes from a producer who was working with Richie Rich's group 415 alongside with DJ Daryl who will produce many songs for 2Pac in 1992. The song is a part of an untitled tape leaked with incomplete versions of "Tears of a Clown", "Scared Straight 91" and "That's Just The Way It Is", the latter one having been recorded in late 91. Strangely, none of them appear in any tracklist of 2Pacalypse II (except if "2Pac Go Ahead & Rock Dis" is "No Part of Dis")... It is said to feature a 3rd verse by Money B, or maybe just a speaking outro.
  • Samples : 
06. Underground Niggaz (Freestyle) / -
  • 1991 (?).
07. Gaffled Like That feat. The Govenor & Richie Rich / DJ Daryl
08. That's the Way It Is (Interlude) / Big D The Impossible (?)
  • 1991-1992 (?). Nothing is known about this interlude made with elements of "Changes". Is it an original thing or a fanmade ? The end doesn't seem to be taken from the song...
09. Walkin' Down The Streets of New York (Freestyle) / -
  • 1991 (?). Taken from a video of 2Pac in New York for Juice movie in 1991.
10. Don't Call Me Bitch (Long Mix) feat. Shock G (backing) / Lay Low
  • 1992/05 (~). Sounds like a Digital Underground mix but it is probably the Lay Law plain demo. It could also be an alternate version aimed for the single/radio version (2Pac already had the t-shirts - cf. MTV interview for Ghetto Gospel recording - ; I absolutely want one !), or a new mix made after Troublesome 21 album being shelved (but fact that the song totally disappeared after that led to think that it could have been rejected by Interscope).
  • Samples : 
11. Trapped '92 (Shock G Remix) / Shock G (?) - SNIPPET / AmarOG1 REMAKE
  • 1992/05 (?). New recorded vocals with different music. But this mix could be the same than the one 2Pac planned to release in his Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A. EP in 1991.
  • Samples :  
12. 16 on Death Row feat. Cool Russell (chorus) / DJ Daryl
13. Break 'Em Off Something feat. Dub-C (aka WC), Money B & Debbie D / Big D The Impossible
  • 1992/01-07 (?). Released in a promo cassette single in 92. New posse freestyle over the same music than "Funky Freestyle" (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.GA.). With Dub-C/WC from Low Profile (with DJ Aladdin) / The Maad Circle (with Coolio and Sir Jinx), future Ice Cube's partner in Westside Connection, here replacing Del the Funky Homosapien. WC had just published his second album Ain't A Damn Thang Changed (the 17th of Sept. 91). The song was probably recorded after 2Pac re-used his lyrics from "Funky Freestyles" in "Tha Lunatic" (more likely after the release of the album) and was then given to Deb-E ("Funky Freestyles" was firstly dropped from 2Pacalypse Now to Deb-E's Drop The Grease EP).
  • Samples : 

14. Sweet Black Pussy (Freestyle) / -

  • 1991 (?). Taken from a video of 2Pac in New York for Juice movie in 1991.
15. Po' Nigga Blues / DJ Daryl
  • 1992/04 (~). Remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004). It is often mistakenly said a reference track for Govenor. But it appears in some early tracklists. More probably after the released of his 2nd album 2Pac gave the unused song to his friend who will use it with the same music in his album Floss Mode in 1995. Later in '95 (?), probably while he was in jail, Shock G was asked to remix it (what is known as "Cause I Had To") maybe for the compilation album then titled R U Still Down / When I Get Free, either it has been remixed by Shock G after Pac died.
  • Samples : 
16. When I Get Free (Souljah's Outro) / Lay Law
17. Pass The Mic (Freestyle at Jamaica House) feat. Richie Rich / Black Watch
  • 1992 (?). Richie Rich & 2Pac kicking a freestyle in the backstage of a concert. You can hear "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club playing in the back (later in 95 sampled by Dave Jam Hall for Mariah Carey's "Fantasy").
  • Sampless :
18. Ghetto Gospel (reference for The Kidz) / Big D The Impossible
19. Don't U Trust Me (reference for Sista Yonnie) feat. Roniece & Dave Hollister (Poppi ?) (chorus) / Big D The Impossible
  • 1992/01 (~). If it is Dave - the voice is maybe different -, the two singers were already together in "Brenda's Got A Baby". There are another takes with only Dave (Poppi ?) or only Roniece. In common versions, Dave (Poppi)'s soulful voice is mostly covered by the Roniece'one, what is often not really appreciated and a pity. But the Dave (Poppi)'s version sounds clearly incomplete... This song could be a reference track for A Sista named Mista aka Yonnie Stokes (cf. Dayz of a Criminal), for the The Kidz/Tha G'z album (what would explain the fact the song is not finished).
  • Samples : 
20. If My Homie Calls (Turbo R&B Mix) / Big D The Impossible REMIXED by Greg Beasley
  • 1992/10 (~) (new vocals, new mix). Maybe aimed for a b-side of the eponymous single but 2Pac has there some alternate vocals (saying "it's 92" in the beginning of his 3rd verse). It is possible that the "Turbo Street Mix" was intended for a Greg Beasley Metro Mix compilation and the 2Pac and him made this version for 2Pac.
  • Samples : 
BONUS TRACKS
 
21. Lovely Daze feat. The Kidz / Jeremy JZ Jackson (?), Big D (?) - SNIPPET 
  • 1991/12 (?). "I get Hype when i think about the Lovely Daze". The only remaining of the Kidz project...
22. Bedtime Stories / Jeremy JZ Jackson (?) - Instrumental SNIPPET
23. X.Y.Z.I / Jeremy JZ Jackson (?) - Instrumental SNIPPET



. Holla If Ya Hear Me (First Take) feat. Live Squad / Live Squad

  • 1992/07 (~). Unfinished and shorter mix mix and alternate Majesty's vocals take.
  • Samples : 

. Don't U Trust Me (Male Take) feat. Dave Hollister / Big D The Impossible

  • 1992/01 (~). It is a demo version without the Roniece chorus. Some people could find this version better than the complete one because the full chorus is not sounding very good. But there is something missing in this demo. Maybe it is just this version which was the reference track for A Sista named Mysta's song for The Kidz album.
  • Samples : 
 
 

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