1993 - Thug Life Original : Do U Love The Thug Life ?

  • Recorded from late 92 until mid 93.
  • Very first Thug Life album like it was ready to be released circa May of 93. 
  • For a long time, the Thug Life Demo Tape was the only remaining source of the album, before Banned from Bomb1st forum revealed the full tracklist and leaked snippets of what he pretends to be the final sequence of the album.
  • Delayed probably due to sample issues.
  • Shelved by Tupac around October '93 for having been leaked (probably the Demo Tape) and then because of his justice troubles.

 Pictures taken by Chi-Modu, 5th of May 1993, Atlanta

### The title was simply "Thug Life" - even if we don't know what 2Pac and Interscope would have finally decided if the album would be released. We added the subtitle "Do U Love The Thug Life" following the title of the only available handwritten tracklist, in order to distinguish it from the other Thug Life projects. ###

THUG LIFE Original Album : "Do U Love The Thug Life ?" (May of 93)
Discogs page - Listen in Youtube

1. Definition of a Thug Nigga (TL Alternate Version) - unleaked
2. Lie 2 Kick It feat. Richie Rich - snippet + og vibe + amarog1 remake
3. Thug Life (Fly Like An Eagle Version) feat. Big Syke & Prince Ital Joe
4. Death Around The Corner (Original) - snippet
5. Fake Ass Bitches (TL Mix) ?????
6. Pour Out A Lil Liquor (TL Mix) ?????
7. Ready 4 Whatever (TL Mix) feat. Big Syke ??????
8. Is It Cool 2 Fuck (Breaks Mix) feat. Macadoshis, Rated R & Y?N-Vee - snippet x2 + amarog1 remake
9. I'm Loosin' It (TL Mix) feat. Big Syke & Spice 1 ???
10. High 'Til I Die (Reggae Version) feat. Rated R, Macadoshis & Don Jagwarr
11. I'm Getting Money (TL Mix) ?????
12. How Long Will They Mourn Me (TL Mix) feat. Big Syke, Rated R, Macadoshis & Nate Dogg - snippet + amarog1 remake
13. Time 2 Get My Drank On (TL Mix) feat. Y?N-Vee - unleaked

Bonus Tracks :
 
14. Animosity (Freestyle) feat. Warren G, Richie Rich & Big Syke
15. Black Watch (Freestyle)
16. I Get Around (Battlecat Remix Radio Edit) feat. Digital Underground
17. I Get Around (Battlecat Remix Vocal Mix) feat. Digital Underground
  • Producer - Warren G (1, 2, 12, 14), Johnny J (3-11), Stretch (13), Shock G (16, 17).
  • All tracks recorded in Echo studios, Los Angeles, CA, except "Lie 2 Kick It", "Animosity", "Animosity (Freestyle)" and "Black Watch (Freestyle)" at Paramount Studios, also in Los Angeles.
  • Tracks 1-13 is the official tracklist of the promo tape (revealed by Banned in bomb1st forum in late 2021) as it was purposed to Interscope in May of 93 and delayed due to sample clearance issues.
  • Tracks 2, 4, 7, 9 and 12 were not included in the Thug Life Demo Tape, even in an alternate mix. 
  • Tracks 3 and 10 are the only confirmed leaked tracks. Track 9 is also probably similar to the leaked version.
  • Nothing says if tracks 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 are close or not to the known leaked versions.  The "Is It Cool 2 Fuck" snippets could indicate that the final mixes of these songs could have more breaks and effects than the rough mixes included in the Demo Tape.
 
We can recognize the picture used for Better Dayz album in 2002

Starting on new bases : from a soundtrack to a new album project

2Pac started to record songs around the concept of Thug Life in the end of 92, he firstly had a project of a kind of soundtrack or concept compilation (cf. Thug Life Demo Tape). The project turned into a new solo album with guests.

What is noteworthy is that 2Pac wanted to work with a whole new team, in comparison of his two first albums : no Shock G, no Pee Wee, no Big D, no DJ Daryl, no Bobcat, no Truman Jefferson, no Lay Law... and probably not any engineers of TNT Recordings. The step brother Mopreme and the old partner Mouse Man have also disappeared. Even Stretch seems to not be here (maybe he has some involvement in production) but 2Pac decided to record another whole album with him (cf. Mr. Middle Finger). The only remaining links with the 2Pacalyspe / Troublesome times is Richie Rich and the Soulja avatar.

So, in comparison of the Demo Tape, 2Pac removed every trace of his old work. The remixed songs sound more West Coast : "Thug Life" got a total g-funk stylish sound, the addition of Don Jagwarr is a re-orientation of "High Til I Die" towards a fresh reggae cool sound...

What's the difference between a gangsta and a thug ?

So the purpose was to record a pure West Coast album produced by Warren G & Johnny J (also maybe with Mike Mosley of The Click - and initially maybe with Dobbs The Wino, cf. Demo Tape...), but with the nuance of "thug" instead of "gangsta". This difference is materialized by the avatar of Soulja, a pure gangsta character, the voice of Tupac distorted by hatred, anger, selfishness, desire... A temptation for Tupac. The thug is a man living in the hood, assuming his bad side, but trying to keep a human figure despite all the temptations... cf. the Thug Life code.

 


Do U Love The Thug Life ? probably a first sketch of the album 
with the addition of "Death Around Each Corner", maybe in March

The project ready to release in May but delayed
 
That resulted in a new solo album with many guests, a ready to release sequence that Pac gave to Interscope around May of 93. But the release of the album was delayed because of sample clearance issues, mainly for "How Long Will They Mourn Me" but maybe for other tracks like "Pour Out A Lil' Liquor" too (the sample is replayed live for Thug Life Volume One), maybe also because - as usual - the lyrics were very offensive against the police (what makes Tupac record a new version of "Death Around The Corner" circa Oct. of 93 or even before, cf. Out on Bail, R U Still Down Original Project). 
 
Waiting for the album to be released, 2Pac was recording a second Thug Life album, more east coast oriented (mainly produced by Stretch), that was entitled Nothing To Lose / Mr. Middle Finger. He was probably also recording b-sides and single versions for the album like (maybe "Is It Cool 2 Fuck (Short Mix)" and maybe "Thug 4 Life", "Animosity"...).

 

A shelved project

Unfortunately, the project will be finally given up by Pac himself ! according to Natasha Walker of Y?N-Vee (in a recent interview), who was then recording vocals with him for the second Thug Life East part around September of 93 (?), she was in studios with Dr. Dre and Death Row (also distributed by Interscope) while they were working at Snoop's album. And she heard the Dogg Pound listening to "Is It Cool 2 Fuck"... They had a tape of Thug Life ! So Somebody had leaked it to them (Warren G ? that could explain why 2Pac never worked again with him ; more probably an Interscope member...). Natasha Walker said that Tupac was mad, so he decided to scrap the whole Thug Life album...

 

sketch for a new solo project (circa Oct. 93)
probably right after both Thug Life Original albums being shelved

In fact, he didn't really scrap everything only because of that. But in November, with his two trials (for having shot at a cop and for rape), he had to drop off his most violent songs or to re-record them (it is still today the most unleaked part of his work). But he tried to incorporate some of them in his next Thug Life projects, firstly entitled 4 The Thug In U / Street Fame (cf. Out on Bail), before conceiving a new Thug Life project, again as a short movie+soundtrack : cf. Honor Among Thugz, Thug Life Volume One.

 

Aftermath of the project : Thug Life Volume One

In late 93, he will record new songs with guests (Syke, Macadoshis, Rated R, Y?N-Vee, Mopreme and some others), leading to form the group Thug Life (what could be a demand of Interscope). He gave "Pour Out A Little Liquor" to Above The Rim Soundtrack (Death Row, March of 1994) to promote the album. "Ready 4 Whatever" and "Is It Cool 2 Fuck" were still in it (in the leaked form we have ?). He let the group record songs without him. He also tried to have women rapping in his album, giving the song "Fake Ass Bitches" to Y?N-Vee female rapper Yesz, inviting Dee Tha Mad Bitch (half of Bo$$) and Yonnie aka a Sista Named Mysta (cf. Honor Among Thugz).
 
In summer of 94, he finally released a short LP Thug Life Volume 1. From the first project, only "Pour Out A Little Liquor" and "How Long Will They Mourn Me" were still in it. "Death Around The Corner" ended up with new lyrics in Me Against The World. Tupac was surely thinking to include other recorded tracks in a "Thug Life : Volume 2" but the project was stopped after New-York Quad Studios shooting and Pac thrown to prison. After Pac being freed, he started a full new Thug Life volume 2 with Big Syke, Mopreme & Dramacydal... unfortunately also shelved !!!!!!


DETAILED TRACKLIST

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

 
01. Definition of a Thug Nigga (Alternate Version) / Warren G - UNLEAKED
  • 1993/02 - 05 (~) (new mix, new take). Original Version from Demo Tape has been released in Poetic Justice OST and slightly remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). It is said that this version had alternate mix and lyrics with notably a Kato shoutout. Poetic Justice soundtrack being about to be out (the 29th of June), maybe 2Pac decided to have an alternate version in his album (like "Me Against The World" in Bad Boys Soundtrack). Or maybe Kato's death and this song being the album opener, it had to be slightly different.

02. Lie to Kick it feat. Richie Rich / Warren G - SNIPPET / OG VIBE / AmarOG1 REMAKE

  • 1993/05 (~). Fairly remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Interscope). First of many songs dedicated to Mike Tyson. It is clear that the original song (we have a snippet) re-uses the same beat than "Animosity", song and freestyle also with Richie Rich. Was the song recorded the same day or later ? It could be the last song recorded for the album, replacing "Animosity"... It is said they were waiting for Snoop Dogg to come and record but he never came. Maybe they recorded "Lie 2 Kick It" instead. The song mainly disappeared after that because the beat was kind of given (taken ?) to Snoop Dogg for "G'z & Hustlas" in Doggystyle (published the 23th of November 93 with credits to Dr. Dre and not Warren G...). Maybe the beat was from the first moment intended to be given to him.
  • Samples : 

03. Thug Life (Fly Like An Eagle Remix) feat. Big Syke & Prince Ital Joe / Johnny J

  • 1993/01 - 04 (~). It was first said by Banned of Bomb1st forum to be the first version of the song. In fact, the Demo Tape was more likely a selection of early work (but it was very probably leaked later in Sept. - Oct., what created a confusion). The new sample sounds added over the old one but gives a more West Coast feeling.
  • Samples : 

04. Death Around The Corner (Original Version) / Johnny J - SNIPPET

  • 1993/04 (~). This first version is said to have different and more aggressive lyrics and a last verse by the Souljah's voice. The music itself sounds similar to the Me Against The World version. Interscope could have later refused the song, like "Open Fire" because of its lyrics against the police, leading Tupac to re-record the version we know in Dec. or Jan. 93 (cf. R U Still Down '94 (Interscope Project)).
  • Samples : 

05. Fake Ass Bitches (TL Mix) / Johnny J ???? - Basically Vevo EDIT

06. Pour Out A Little Liquor (TL Mix) / Johnny J ????? - AmarOG1 REMAKE

  • 1993/01-02 (~). Released in Above The RIM OST (March of 1994, Death Row) and in Thug Life Volume 1 (1994, Interscope). This version is probably closer to the Demo Tape one with the O'Jays sample, than to the Above The Rim / Volume One version where instruments replayed the sample. So this O'Jays sample could be a reason for the album to be delayed. This mix could be different with for example more breaks and effects like "Is It Cool 2 Fuck", "Thugs Get Lonely Too (TL)", "Bury Me A G (TL)", what would be cancelled in the retail mix.

07. Ready 4 Whatever (TL Original) feat. Big Syke / Johnny J - ???????? AV OG Vibe

  • 1993/04 (~). Slightly remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru) if same mix than the commonly leaked version. This song seems to have been recorded whilst Kato was still alive. The beat being Johnny J's, and because Johnny J didn't work later on 2Pac's material, there is few probability for that mix being really different than the common leaked version, maybe just the "No Justice No Peace introduction" which could have been specially added for Volume 1 : Honor Among Thugz in late 93.

08. Is it Cool 2 Fuck (TL Mix) feat. Macadoshis, Rated R & Natasha Walker (Y?N-Vee) / Johnny J (?), Stretch (?) - SNIPPETx2 / AmarOG1 REMAKE

  • 1993/02 - 04 (new mix). Original Version included in Demo Tape. This version seems to be close but with breaks (like "Bury Me A G" Original and RUSD94 version). The song was really loved by the group and was probably one of the planned singles. It is also the song Natasha Walker will hear playing in the studios, circa Sept.-Oct. 93. Luniz will pay homage to that song in their second album Lunitik Muzik in 1997 with the superb "Is It Kool" featuring Mokenstef, using parts of the music and some lines (the song being leaked at that time or maybe Numskull heard the song with Shock G when they were charged by 2Pac or later by Interscope of remixing old tracks while he was in jail or after his death for R U Still Down...
  • Samples : 

09.  I'm Losin' It feat. Big Syke & Spice 1 / Johnny J

  • 1993/04 (~). Remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). This version is probably very similar to the common leaked one. Johnny J didn't rework his material later and posse/featuring songs are not often remixed. The song is very shortly included in Out On Bail in October 93 (cf. Street Fame / Out On Bail), before being very probably added to the new Thug Life compilation project : Volume 1 : Honor Among Thugz, Spice 1 being announced among the planned guest ("Can't Turn Back" being not recorded yet).
  • Samples :  
    • Ohio Players - "Far East Mississippi" (melody)
    • Kool & The Gang - "N.T." (drums)
    • Scarface (Movie, 1983) (vocals : "you need people like me", "you wanna play rough ? OK. Say helle to my little friend")

10. High 'Til I Die (Jagwarr Version) feat. Rated R, Macadoshis & Don Jagwarr / Johnny J

  • 1993/02 - 05 (~). Like for "Thug Life", Banned of Bomb1st leaked it as the real original, but it is more likely a remix version of the Demo Tape version. Don Jagwarr was initially a rapper known as Earle The Poet who released the Single "High Noon" in 1990 and a promo tape of his first album titled For Your Listening Pleasure. In 1992, he was featured as a reggae artist in Ice Cube's "Wicked". Strangely, in 1993, he is also featured in MC Ren's album and writes "It's On" for Eazy-E. After that hook, he will invite 2Pac to drop a verse in "Skank Wit U" for his album Faded, mostly produced by Brian G. So it leads us to think 2Pac at that occasion asked Brian G to produce "Lord Knows" (probably circa Sept. 93).
  • Samples :
    • Jr. Walker & The All Stars - "These Eyes" (melody)

11. I'm Gettin' Money (TL Mix) / Mike Mosley (?), Johnny J (?), Stretch (?) ???????????? UNLEAKED

12. How Long Will They Mourn Me (TL Original Sample Version) feat. Big Syke, Rated R, Macadoshis & Nate Dogg / Warren G - SNIPPET / AmarOG1 REMAKE

  • 1993/04/16 (?). The sample is less sophisticated than the retail version of Thug Life Volume 1, in a pure Warren G style, reminding of his album Regulate (Nate Dogg is credited for having some responsibility as a producer, so maybe he helped to remix the thing...). Only a snippet has been leaked yet. It has been said this version could also have an alternate voice take. The sample clearance of this song could have been the main reason for the album being delayed... It would take more than a year to release the song. Combo Warren G / Nate Dogg was of course the main ingredient for the super hit song "Regulate" (out in March of 94).
  • Samples :

13. Time To Get My Drank On (TL Original) feat. Y?N-Vee (interlude) / Stretch (?), Johnny J (?) - UNLEAKED

  • 1993/04-05 (~). Original Version is included in Demo Tape. The final version is supposed to have a Notorious B.I.G. introduction (interpolation from "Party & Bullshit", but out only in June 29...).

BONUS TRACKS

14. Animosity (Freestyle) feat. Warren G, Richie Rich & Big Syke / Warren G

  • 1993/05/01. Recorded during the original Thug Life sessions over "Animosity" instrumental. After that they will also record "Lie 2 Kick It" over the same beat. Snoop will use the same sample in "Gz And Hustlas" supposedly produced by Dr. Dre... Was it the beginning of the end between the cousins ? Warren G had his last feature with Death Row in Doggystyle (published the 23th of November 93), and Daz alleged they produced with Warren G most of the album (even if Dr. Dre arranged everything). Warren G will also not record again with 2Pac after that...
  • Samples :

15. Blackwatch (Freestyle) / -

  • 1993/05/01. Recorded during an interview for the TV show of the same name, the day 2Pac was recording "Animosity" with Richie Rich.

16. I Get Around (Battlecat Radio Edit) feat. Digital Underground / Shock G REMIXED By DJ Battlecat  

17. I Get Around (Battlecat Freestyle Singing Version) feat. Digital Underground / Shock G REMIXED DJ Battlecat
  • 1993/04/09. Released in I Get Around 12'' as "Vocal Version" (the 10th of June 1993), but this is a kind of instrumental with background vocals and many voices singing that are not in the Battlecat Remix.
  • Samples :   

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