- July 91 - Jan. 92 : recording sessions for the project of a sequel to 2Pacalypse Now, which will soon turn into a new album firstly titled Troublesome 21, reworked and released as Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..
- What happened ? This is a complete mystery... A demo of the project could have been presented by 2Pac to Interscope circa late 91 - early 92. They probably didn't like the idea of a follow up.
- Sources : handwritten tracklists ; That's The Way It Is / No Part of Dis cassette trailers ; demo tape rumor
### - WORK IN PROGRESS. Banned of Bomb1st claimed he has a material sequence for the project but the content is unknown (with that supposed subtitle). For our "Yin Side", we followed the last known tracklist before the album was renamed Troublesome, for the "Yang Side" we added the 7 tracks from the cassette with "No Part of Dis", which could eventually be from that time. - ###
Tracklist - LISTEN
- Revenge of a Soulja (Soldier Like Me)
- Troublesome (Original Mix) - live / og vibe
- Backstabbas / Crooked Nigga Too (Early) (?) - snippet
- Crooked Nigga Too (Original Mix) - live / og vibe
- Fade Away feat. Wicked J & Cooley Ranks
Streetlyfe- crusader instrumentalPapa'z Song (First Take ??)Don't U Trust Me (Sista'z Song) feat. Poppi & ?
Side B : Yang Side- No Part of Dis - incomplete
- N.I.G.G.A. feat. Mouse Man & Mopreme
- That's The Way It Is (Changes) feat. Poppi
- Scared Straight ('92 Mix) feat. Ray Luv - incomplete ?
- Tearz of a Clown (Shock G Mix) feat. Schmoovy Shmoov - incomplete / remake
- Dopefiend's Diner (Shock G Mix)
- Minnie The Moocher II - snippet
Bonus Tracks : - Gotta Make A Change (Outro)
- Pass The Mic (Freestyle at Jamaica House) feat. Richie Rich
- Ghetto Gospel (reference for the Kidz)
- Don't U Trust Me (Rough Mix, Male Vocals) feat. Poppi
- If My Homie Calls (Turbo Street Mix)
- U Don't Wanna Battle (Klark Gable Remix) feat. Ryan D
- Dayz of a Criminal (Klark Gable Remix)
- Static (Extended Mix)
DETAILED TRACKLIST down the page.
- Producer - Big D The Impossible (1, 3, 4?, 8, 15, 16), Stretch (1, 4?), JZ (2), Darrin Harris (6), Shock G (4, 10, 11), DJ Fuze (9)
- Chorus - Cooley Ranks & Wicked J (5), Poppi (7, 10, 18), Schmoovy Schmoov (12)
- BOLD : tracks possibly considered for the album.
From Mr. 2Pacalypse to Mr. Troublesome
The 2Pacalypse Now album was even not released that 2Pac already thought to his next album. The second "new album" tracklist we have contains freshly recorded "Part Time Mutha" and "Soulja's Story", which entered the released album at the last minute instead of "Fade Away".
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| 2Pac as Bishop in Juice movie |
Is Tupac starting to turn into Bishop ?
If "Mr. 2Pacalypse" (his nickname in his first album - so somehow the character he plays in the album) was a kind of young black panther, confronting with the Ku Klux Klan (like seen in the cover of the album), "Mr. Troublesome" is more likely inspired by the character of Bishop ("Bishop's Theme" is a subtitle given to the eponymous track of the album), played by 2Pac in Juice movie in 1992...
2Pac appeared for the second time in a movie (after Nothing But Trouble in Jan. of 1991) but this time as the second role of Ernest R. Dickerson's movie (cf. trailer).
He plays Bishop, a young black male becoming crazy mainly because of the cops and the gang rivalry, 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 or 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 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 ("Know The Ledge"), Big Daddy Kane, 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 November, but the soundtrack was already about to be released...
1. c. July-Aug. of 1991. "New Album Ideas & B-Sides Options".
"Kingpen" concept will be given to The Kidz (cf. Kidz 1st tracklist circa August). "Return of the Wicked" could be a concept song in order to introduce his brother Mopreme aka Mocedes who was then preparing his first solo project called "Too Big 4 The Small Shit".
2. c. Oct. 1991. "New Album".
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"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.). This tracklist is presumable close to it, right before "Part Time Mutha" was also transferred to it.
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. It is presumably not recorded yet, or in a different version that what we know.
"2Pac Go Ahead & Rock Dis" and "Piece or Peace" seem to be early concepts for "No Part of Dis". "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 "5 Deadly Venoms" with the same Treach.
3. c. Nov. 1991. "Post 2Pacalyspe Now".
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"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, a bit like his Soulja alter ego).
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).
4. c. Dec. 91. "2Pacalypse II : Revenge of the Rebel".
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This first 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").
"Troublesome" is probably recorded now. "Soulja II" probably too.
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. 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). It will disappear after that until advanced Troublesome tracklists...
5. c. late Dec. 91 (~). Unknown "2Pacalypse II : Now & Forever"
Banned said he has a material sequence for a so titled album. Consequently, it could be from late December, before the recording of "Changes" because it wouldn't be included in it.
6. Unknown date (Dec. 91 ?). Shock G (?), 7 tracks tape
 |
| a trailer of that tape was leaked, a few years ago |
- Minnie Moocher 2 - Shock G Remix ?
- Dopefiend's Diner - Shock G Remix ?
- Tears of a Clown - Shock G Remix ?
- Scared Straight - Shock G Remix ?
- Make A Change
- Never - N.I.G.G.A. ?
- No Part of This
What is this tape ? Some say it could be a late thing given by Shock G for R U Still Down posthumous compilation. I highly doubt about that. These are only old fashion mixes.
My idea is that this tape was new mixes (tracks 1-4) and new recordings (5-7) intended for completing 2Pacalypse II. The thing was a potpourri of leftovers, remixes, follow ups and a few new things.
So this tape could be a second half of the project presented to Interscope. The first one eventually includes "Soulja 2", "Fade Away", "Revenge of a Lunatic (Shock G Mix)", "Papa'z Song", "Backstabbas" and original mixes of "Troublesome" and "Crooked Nigga Too"...
7. c. early Jan. 92 (~). "Troublesome. 2Pacalypse II"
This tracklist is probably post-"Changes". It is now mainly titled "Troublesome". 2Pac has dropped some songs from the first project, leftovers from 2Pacalypse Now "Fade Away" and "Backstabbaz", as well as "Papa'z Song" which 2Pac maybe gives back for the Kidz project (we should be after the Nuthin' Gold / Only 4 Colored Girlz tracklist).
So the album is incomplete and we have there no new recorded tracks. The tracks noted with a star on side are very likely not recorded yet.
"Uplift The Race" was an old concept for a new version of "Panther Power". "Death Row at 18" is the first concept for a song 2Pac will write down very soon.
READ THE CONTINUATION OF THE SEQUENCE ===> TROUBLESOME 21
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| with Allen Hugues who directed the Video for "If My Homie Calls" |
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 weak - what is possible -, Allen Hughes said Tupac wanted a bigger role with more scree exposure, 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, with his speech about "if Allah can make my son a bigger man...", 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 ("Niggers In The Pen", cf. Thug Life Demo Tape). 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. Revenge of the Soulja (aka Soldier Like Me) / Big D The Impossible & Stretch
- 1991/10-11 (~). Remixed and combined with a verse from "Judgement Day" as "Soldier Like Me" in Loyal To The Game (2004, Amaru).
- Story. 2Pac is rapping here with the Souljah's altered voice, the alter ego he created in "Soulja's Story" in 2Pacalyspe Now. So this song is a follow up to the story of his violent avatar. He will record two other versions of that second part : "When I Get Free" for Troublesome 21, finally leftover, and "Souljah's Revenge" which was released in Striclty 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.. The song is said to appear in an early tape of 2Pacalypse II with "Changes", "Papa'z Song", "Crooked Nigga Too"... Considering the lyrics very rude against the police, it could have been written and recorded not long after "Crooked Nigga Too" (late Oct. 91), around the time of "Troublesome" (circa November).
- Studio : Hyde Street Studios.
- Samples:
- Isaac Hayes - "Joy" (bassline)
- The Lord’s Prayer : Matthew 6:9-13 ;
- 2Pac – "Soulja’s Story" (vocals interpolation : "all you wanted to be a soulja")
- 1991/11/?. Remixed in Def Jam's How to be a Player OST (Def Jam, 1997).
- Story. The song was presumably recorded around the time of the release of 2Pacalypse Now album. It firstly appears with a subtitle in the "Post-2Pacalypse Now" tracklist. That subtitle reveals that the topic is widely inspired by the character he plays in Juice movie, about to be released in January of 1992. Maybe 2Pac wanted to record the song for the soundtrack of it, was too busy with the release of his album it was maybe too late for the song to be included (soundtrack released in December 31 of 1991). In that movie, Tupac is playing a young black male named Bishop who became crazy. In the song, 2Pac seems to write from the eye of Bishop, but he will then erase the subtitle and adopt Mr. Troublesome as a nickname to illustrate his troubles with police (he was victim of police brutality in Oakland in October 17 of '91) and will chose it as the title for his second album (cf. Troublesome 21), what deeply mixes the role he was playing with his own real personality... When he will record "Troublesome 96" for Me Against The World pt. 2, he is only speaking about himself. The movies he played in changed his life, fully adopting the actor studio style, he tried to become the characters he was playing, until the point that he really become them...
- Differences : ?
- Studio : Hyde Street Studios.
- Samples :
- ESG - "U.F.O." (melody)
- Harry Manfredini - "Overlay of Evil / Main Title" (Friday the 13th Theme) (Movie, 1980) (vocals interpolation : "Kill kill kill")
- King of New York (Movie, 1990) (gunshots, vocals : "they're for the bullet holes, puta")
- 1991/01 (?) or 1991/10-12 (?).
- Story. This snippet was leaked by Banned of Bomb1st. It is probably the speaking intro of a song. The beat is not really sounding like DJ Daryl, more likely a New York thing. The topic is about traitors speaking behind, so it could be "Neva Surrenda", "Backstabbas" or why not an alternate early version of "Crooked Nigga Too", before 2Pac being arrested and beaten up by the police... All appearing in the process of 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). Or eventually the legendary "Crooked Cop Killer" or the mysterious "Crooked Wit A Crown". We have a handwritten lyrics for the song Backstabbaz specifically noted for 2Pacalypse II, but the beat is not sounding like a DJ Daryl thing, so maybe more likely a Big D or a N.Y. Stretch's kind of thing.
- 1991/10-11 (?). Remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004, Amaru).
- Story. The concept appears at the same time as "Crooked Ass Nigga" in an early 2Pacalypse Now tracklist from May-June of 1991 (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). Did really 2Pac record a first version at that moment ? In this case, it is not impossible that he recorded over the same "Crooked Ass Nigga" beat like a second part of the song for a B-side... But the lyrics we know (especially the intro) were very likely written after he was beaten by Oakland police (October 17). It is rumored the first take wouldn't have Stretch who is not credited in first tracklists (for the first time circa February). Nevertheless, the version with Stretch included in Troublesome 21 promo could be from the 6th of December 1991... 2Pac rapped one verse of the song for the Above The Law opening act of a Brotherhood Creed concert at the Jamaica House, circa Feb.-March of 1991, over Das EFX's beat of "They Want EFX (Solid Scheme Remix)" (single freshly released the 28th of January). That night, 2Pac also recorded "Pass The Mic" freestyle with Richie Rich, in the backstage, where Shock G was shooting an "Underground Mix" promo video.
- 1991/05-06 (~). UNRELEASED.
- Story. Wicked J is not Mopreme aka The Wycked but Julian Brooks from The Mod Squad (also featured in "Static (Original)" and in Funky Aztecs "Don Quixote", cf. Chicano Blues). Cooley Ranks is featured in Raw Fusion's "Ah Nah Go Drip" and could be the same person than Coolie Ranx who has the song "New York Hot" in the compilation Modern Girl : Shi is Mine
(1988) and later sang for the ska groups Toasters and Pilfers. Both were 2Pac labelmates at T.N.T. recordings. The beat
of that song is really close to Raw Fusion's "Do My Thing" (cf. Live From The Styleetron).
so it could be a reason for the track for being taken off from the album
(probably at the very last moment, circa Sept. - October 91). The song
then re-appears in 2Pacalypse II early tracklists.
- Samples :
- The Bar-Kays - "Holy Ghost" (melody)
- The Brothers Johnson - "Strawberry Letter 23" (chorus melody)
- Junior Byles - "Fade Away" (vocals interpolation)
- 1991/10/03 (REEL ?). Released in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..
- Story. 2Pac would have recorded the song firstly as a reference track for The Kidz Ghetto Gospel project, before taking back the song for his album.
- Samples :
- Norman Connors - "You Are My Starship" (bassline)
- Skull Snaps - "It's A New Day" (drumline)
- Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" (vocals interpolation : "my biological didn't bother, yeah")
- 1991/12/11.
- Story. This is a three verses solo song recorded for 2Pac's follow up to 2Pacalypse Now. After the project was given up, 2Pac presumably gave the song as a reference for The Kidz Ghetto Gospel album, but it is not known if they really recorded the thing.
- Samples :
- The Crusaders - "Street Life" (melody interpolation)
- 1991/10/24 (~). UNRELEASED.
- Story. This cut song is a part of the trailer 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 we consider that "2Pac Go 'head & Rock Dis" and "Piece or Peace" were anticipated concept titles for "No Part of Dis" (2Pac plays with "want peace / get a part" of "Dis" ; and interpolates "2Pac go hit rock bitches")... It is said it could feature a 3rd verse by Money B, or maybe just a speaking outro. The production comes from Darrin Harris, engineer/producer who was working with Richie Rich's group 415 alongside with DJ Daryl who will produce "Gaffled Like That" in December for Govenor's Taxin' 12'', and many songs for 2Pac in early 1992. At that time, Darrin Harris was doing engineering work on all T.N.T. records, for Digital Underground, Raw Fusion, Force One Network, Mod Squad and Funky Aztecs.
- Studio : Hyde Street Studios.
- Samples :
- Mountain – "Long Red (Live at Woodstock)" (drumline)
- Digital Underground - "Same Song" (vocals)
- 1991/12 (~). Awfully remixed on Loyal To The Game (2004, Amaru) as "N.I.G.G.A. [Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished] feat. Jadakiss".
- Story. "Learn 2 Be A Nigga" as appearing in early Ghetto Gospel tracklists could be a first concept for the song (which clearly depicts the content of the lyrics). Mopreme says "92" but like often he is very probably anticipating the release of the project. He here uses his first nickname "Mocedes" - which he was already using in two songs of Tony! Toni! Toné! album The Revival (1990, Wing) - not yet The Wycked (funny to notice that Mopreme appeared on an official record before Tupac). The song was often confounded with "Hymn of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.", title appearing in many early 2Pacalypse Now tracklists (cf. Tales of a 90's NI.G.G.A.) but Mouse Man reunited with 2Pac only circa December of '91. The song was maybe intended to promote Mopreme's solo project titled I'm Too Big 4 This Small Shit, before he formed a group project with Mouse Man.
- Differences. There is a rare mix (incomplete ? fanmade ?) with different arrangements and no hook at the end, letting us hear clearly to adlibs like "fuck the po***" and to the 2Pac speaking outro.
- Samples :
- The Meters - "Dry Spell".
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- 1991/12/25. Remixed in Greatest Hits (1998, Death Row) with a new hook and a slowed voice (to make Pac sound older).
- Story. 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".
- Studio : Hyde Street Studios.
- Samples:
- Bruce Hornsby – "The Way It Is". (melody, bassline, drums)
- Strafe - "Set It Off" (drums interpolation)
- Last Poets "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution" (vocals interpolation : "changes, changes")
- Run DMC - "It's Like That" (vocals)
- Ice Cube - "Us" (vocals : "Dope dealers you're as bad as the police cause you kill us")
- 1990/12 - 1991/12 (?) (new mix). Remixed on Pac's Life (2006, Amaru) as a japan bonus track.
- Story. That mix comes from the 7 tracks tape with "No Part of Dis", "Tearz of a Clown (Remix)", "That's The Way It Is". The mix itself is different from the "Goin' Way Back Show" leak and it only keeps one verse by Ray Luv and one by 2Pac, unless the fade out was made by the person who made the trailer tape. It also have a fresh new speaking intro by 2Pac, what gives the idea that this tape was not a late posthumous thing but is well a late 91 thing for 2Pacalypse II project. In this perspective, it confirms the idea that the project was a potpourri of leftovers, old work refreshed, follow ups to 2Pacalypse Now songs and new material.
- Samples :
- Billy Squier - "The Big Beat" (drumline)
- X Clan - "Grand Verbalizer, What Time Is It ?" (vocals : "fighting wars in the street")
- 1990/12 (~) - 1991/12 (~) (new mix).
- Story. Very important track in the process of 2Pacalypse Now. Leaked in the sampler tape with incomplete "That's the Way it Is (Changes)", "No Part of Dis" and "Scared Straight", this new mix was presumably made circa late 91 for the project of a follow-up to 2Pacalypse Now.
- Samples :
- The Isley Brothers - "Coolin' Me Out" (main melody)
- Bill Withers - "Kissing My Love" (drumline)
- Southside Movement - "Save The World" (drumline)
- Grover Washington Jr. - "Black Frost" (melody)
- Kool & The Gang – "Too Hot" (melody)
- Wilson Pickett - "Engine N°9" (vocals : "Owww !")
- Public Enemy – "Shut 'Em Down" (vocals : "Come on !")
- 1991/01 (~) - 1991/12 (?) (Remix).
- Story. That mix could also come from the 7 tracks tape with "No Part of Dis", "Tearz of a Clown (Remix)". The song was not anymore in Nuthin' Gold / 4 Colored Girlz Only tracklist, so maybe 2Pac wanted the track to be remixed for 2Pacalypse II.
- 1989 - 1991/12 (?). Alternate version with Ray Luv's verses released in The Lost Tapes (2000).
- Story. This snippet comes from the 7 tracks tape with "No Part of Dis", "Tearz of a Clown (Remix)", so it could also be a remix from late 1991. They removed the Ray Luv's verses so it is like the purpose was to have a concentrate of 2Pac old work refreshed.
- 1991/12/25.
- Story. Big D would have confirmed this interlude was made the same day than "Changes".
- 1992/01-02 (?).
- Story. Richie Rich & 2Pac kicking a freestyle in the backstage of a concert (It is said it would be a Brotherhood Creed 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").
- Samples :
- Tom Tom Club - "Genius of Love" (playing in the background)
- 1991/12 (~). Awfully remixed in Loyal To The Game featuring Elton John (2004, Amaru).
- Story. This first version is said to be a reference track recorded for the Kidz album. 2Pac re-recorded another version with Jesse The Kid for A Very Special Christmas 2 but it was leftover from the final product maybe due to the murder of a Texas trooper murdered by a guy listening to "Soulja's Story" and above that due to the death of the young boy named Qa'id by a dead bullet coming from 2Pac's revolver (presumably not held by him, maybe more Mopreme or Mouse)... during the exchange of fire occurred during the Marin City concert in Aug. 22 of 1992.
- Samples :
- Tracy Chapman - "Crossroads" (melody)
- Simtec & Wylie - "Bootleggin'" (bongos)
- Sly & The Family Stone - "Sing A Simple Song" (snare)
- Main Source - "Looking At The Front Door" (vocals : "I don't think that I can take it anymore")
- The Family Stand - "Ghetto Heaven" (vocals : "ghetto heaven")
- Prince - "Let's Go Crazy" (vocals : "dearly beloved")
- The D.O.C. - "Is It Funky Enough" (vocals : "heyy")
- Bill Withers - "Grandma's Hands" (vocals inspired)
- 1991/10 (~). Remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004).
- Story. There is an incomplete mix without the woman's voice chorus. People usually find it better because the full chorus is not sounding well. Maybe it is only this first version which was the reference track for The Kidz/Tha G'z project. Was Mysta supposed to rap the three verses ? Was she supposed to add her verse, her point of view of the story ? Or was it just a solo song and the B-I-T-C-H'z were just asked to give a chorus ?
- Samples :
- Ronnie Laws - "Saturday Evening" (melody, chorus interpolation)
- 1991/06/27 (~) - 09-12 (?) (remix).
- Story. Possibly intended for the single If My Homie Calls released in February of 92 (but finally including "Brenda's Got A Baby", instrumentals or radio versions). The Radio Version of the song was made in October 1991. This version is slightly different than the "Turbo R&B Mix" in which 2Pac is saying "well it's 92" in the beginning of his third verse. So this one could be a first mix of it... If the song didn't appear in the 2Pacalypse II tracklists, it fits however well the project... Greg Beasley is known for his remix work as "Metro Mix" on many mixtapes and especially for MC Hammer, Ziggy Marley, Public Enemy ("Party For Your Right to Fight" Metromixx) and Domino ("Ghetto Jam").
- Samples :
- Ronnie Laws - "Friends And Strangers" (sax interpolation)
- Digital Underground - "Same Song" (vocals : "2Pac go ahead and rock this")
- 1990 - 1991-1992 (?) (remix). Unofficially published in The Here After (1999, ZYX).
- Story. Is it a real remix from the old times by Klark Gable from One Nation Emcees & 51.50 Illegally Insane (like he seems to have also remixed "U Don't Wanna Battle"), or a later remix by Hitworks (but there is another version that sounds more modern) ? The song appears once in a 2Pacalypse Now early tracklist "Updated : subtitled Tha Rebel of The Underground") as a bonus track. It was initially supposed to feature the Jungle Po$$e : D$ aka Dank, Wiz & Playa-Playa (that we can hear in 2Pacalypse Now background vocals), but it is said they never came to record their verses the day the studio was booked. Maybe at a time, 2Pac thought about inviting them again to record the song, or to include the remix of his reference track in his album...
- Samples :
- Ice-T - "Colors" (bassline, melody interpolation)
- 1990 - 1991-1992 (?) (remix). Released in the Ryan D/51.50 Illegally Insane's album of 1992 Game People Play (but only in the 1999 re-edition as a hidden bonus track).
- Story. This is a remixed version of the battle song "I Thought U Knew" 2Pac recorded with his old partner Ryan D of One Nation Emcees (cf. The Early Years). The title "I Thought U Knew" appears a few times in early 2Pacalypse Now tracklists but it is probably the original version 2Pac planned to include in his album and finally gave to Klark Gable.
- Samples :
- S.O.S. Band - "No One's Gonna Love You" (melody, chorus interpolation)
- 1991 - 1992 (remix). Released in 1997 in Force One Network second album compilation Soul Force Network II (Blue Dolphin) and in 1 in 21 - A Tupac Shakur Story (Blue Dolphin, unauthorized). Shorter mix released in The Lost Tapes (2000).
- Story. Remix initially supposed to be included in Force One Network album The MME Program 1
(1992), finally leftover maybe in reason of Chopmaster J's house
firestorm (also the studio where Strictly Dope recorded their songs).
Chopmaster J said in the back cover of The Lost Tapes
that he long time believed he had lost 2Pac old material in the fire
before finding the recordings elsewhere probably at the death of 2Pac.
This "extended mix" was aimed for the clubs and for a single version.
- Samples :
- Digital Underground - "Same Song" (vocals : "2Pac go ahead and rock this")
- 1992 (remix). Released in 1997 in 1 in 21 - A Tupac Shakur Story. Instrumental, probably aimed to be a B-side of a Force One Network first album.
- Samples :
- Digital Underground - "Same Song" (vocals : "2Pac go ahead and rock this")
- 1991/03-04 (~). Taken from a video of 2Pac in New York for Juice movie (shot in March-April 1991).
. Sweet Black Pussy (Freestyle) / -
- 1991/03-04 (~).. Taken from a video of 2Pac in New York for Juice movie (shot in March-April 1991).
- 1991 (?).
- 1992/01-02 (?). Presumably recorded before the Brotherhood Creed concert, Kokane, Above the Law and 2Pac were probably opening for them. In the backstage, Shock G will shoot a video "Underground Mix" where we can see Shock G himself talking with 2Pac and Brotherhood Creed. The "Pass The Mic" freestyle with Richie Rich is from the same Shock G full video.
. 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 :
- B.T. Express - "You Got Something" (melody)
- John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - "I Can't Stop" (drums)
- Syl Johnson - "Different Strokes" (vocals)
- Scarface - "Born Killer" (vocals : "cause i'm about to square it off")
TUPAC AS FEATURED ARTIST :
. Break 'Em Off Somethin' feat. Dub-C (aka WC), Money B & Deb-E / Big D The Impossible
- 1991/10-12 (?). Released in a promo cassette single (the 7th of July, 1992) for Deb-E forthcoming solo project (never released).
- Story. The song was recorded for Deb-E, in order to replace "Funky
Freestyles" (included in Deb-E's Drop The Grease EP promo, also unreleased), over a slightly renewed instrumental, consecutively to 2Pac
re-using his lyrics from "Funky Freestyles" in "Tha Lunatic" (c. July -
Aug. 91), and after the chorus from "Drop The Grease" was re-used in
"Brenda's Got A Baby" circa September-October (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.GA.). Considering the verse of Money B
"Wicked, wicked, in a Oak Town fashion", that song could also be the
evolution of the concept "Oaktown Niggas" which appears in some
tracklists in early 92. 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 replaces Del the Funky Homosapien. WC had recently
published his second album Ain't A Damn Thang Changed
(the 17th of Sept. 91).
- Samples :
- The Leading Zone - "Can I Dedicate" (piano)
- The Fatback Band - "Love Spell" (bassline interpolation)
- Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)
- Naughty By Nature - "Uptown Anthem" (vocals : "Hit a nigga, kill a nigga")
- Nice & Smooth - "Hip Hop Junkies" (vocals : "With a funky, funky style")
. Call It What U Want feat. Above The Law & Money B / Above The Law
- 1991/07 (~). Single from Above The Law's Black Mafia Life (1993,
Ruthless). The video of the song appeared on the 2nd of february 1992.
2Pac shot out to them in his interlude "Black Starry Night" in 1992, and
will plan to invite them to record for One Nation, it will only be close partner Kokane who will record "Fame" with him in August of 96 (cf. One Nation, Volume Two).
- 1992/05 (?). Published in Funky Aztecs Chicano Blues (1992, TNT). The Funky Aztecs (Pee-Wee of The Underground Railroad is a member of the group) was signed in the same label 2Pac recorded his two first albums with. When they recorded their second album Day of the Dead (1995), Pee Wee wanted to have 2Pac in it but he was then in prison, so he allowed them to re-use his verse for "Slippin' into Darkness".
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