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 Mix) - unleaked
2. Lie 2 Kick It feat. Richie Rich - snippet + og vibe + amarog1 remake
3. Thug Life (TL Fly Like An Eagle Version) feat. Big Syke & Prince Ital Joe
4. Death Around Each Corner (TL Original) - snippet
5. Fake Ass Bitches (TL Mix) ????? og vibe
6. Pour Out A Lil Liquor (TL Mix) ????? amarog1 mix
7. Ready 4 Whatever (TL Mix) feat. Big Syke ????? av mix edit / og vibe
8. Is It Cool 2 Fuck (TL Mix) feat. Macadoshis, Rated R & Y?N-Vee - snippet x2 + amarog1 remake
9. I'm Loosin' It feat. Big Syke & Spice 1
10. High 'Til I Die (TL Don Jagwarr Version) feat. Rated R, Macadoshis & Don Jagwarr
11. I'm Getting Money (TL Mix) ???? og vibe
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. Thug 4 Life feat. Stretch - acapella / unfinished / remake
15. Animosity (Freestyle) feat. Warren G, Richie Rich & Big Syke
16. Black Watch (Freestyle)
17. I Get Around (Battlecat Remix Radio Edit) feat. Digital Underground
18. I Get Around (Battlecat Remix Vocal Mix) feat. Digital Underground
 
Producer - Warren G (1, 2, 12), Johnny J (3 - 10, 13, 14), Mike Mosley ? (11)
All tracks recorded in Echo studios, Los Angeles, CA.
- Tracks 1-13 are the official tracklist of the promo tape (revealed by Banned in bomb1st forum in late 2021) when it was rejected by Interscope or delayed due to sample clearance issues.
- Tracks 2, 4, 7, 9 and 12 are 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 Filla and Dominator for samples credits)

 
01. Definition of a Thug Nigga (TL New Version) / Warren G - UNLEAKED
  • 1993/01 - 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 new version had alternate mix and lyrics with 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 music than "Animosity", song and freestyle also with Richie Rich. Was the song recorded the same day, later ? It could be the last song recorded for the album, replacing "Animosity".
  • Samples : 

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

  • 1994/02 - 04 (~). Leaked as a Johnny J Remix. It has been said by Banned of Bomb1st forum to be the first version of the song. In fact, it is more likely that the Demo Tape was a selection of early work : the new sample sounds added over the old one but gives a more West Coast feeling.
  • Samples : 

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

  • 1993/04 (~). This first version is said to have different and more aggressive lyrics and a last verse with the Souljah's voice, but the music itself sounds similar to Me Against The World version. Interscope could have early refused the song because of its lyrics against the police, leading Tupac to record the version we know maybe in October 93 (cf. Out on Bail / R U Still Down Original).
  • Samples : 

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

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

  • 1993/02 (~). 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 Volume One version where instruments replayed the sample. So this O'Jays sample could be also a reason for the album being 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)".

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). This song seems to have been recorded whilst Kato was still alive. Are there any differences with the leaked version that began by the "No Justice No Peace introduction", that could be a remix made for Honor Among Thugz ?

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

  • 1993/02 - 05 (new mix). Original Version in Demo Tape. This version seems to be close but with breaks. The song was really loved by the group. They mention that one when the group went to a party where Kato got killed. And it is also this song that Natasha Walker will hear playing in the studios, in Nov. 93. Luniz will pay homage to that song in their second album 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 of remixing old tracks while he was in jail).
  • Samples : 

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

  • 1993/05 (~). Remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). This original version is probably the exact leaked one (the song being not really included in any other projects or not long after the album being shelved, during Street Fame era (and posse songs are usually not remixed). But it is still not sure, the song could be planned to be in Honor Among Thugz, Spice 1 being a planned guest (except if it is already "Can't Turn Back"...).
  • 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 (~). Banned of Bomb1st forum once said it was the real original. But it is more likely a remix version of the song leaked in Demo Tape. Don Jagwarr was initially a rapper known as Earle The Poet who released the Single "High Noon" in 1990 and a Promo for 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 featured in MC Ren's album and writes "It's On" for Eazy-E. 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 they recorded together around the time 2Pac recorded "Lord Knows" with Brian G... 
  • 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. Only a snippet has been leaked. It is said this version has an alternate voice take. The sample clearance of this hit song is said to be 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").

BONUS TRACKS


15. St. Ides Malt Liquor Commercial '93 (Freestyle) / DJ Pooh

  • 1993/06-10 (?). 2Pac makes a short freestyle with a medley of well-known lines from old songs (you can hear "thug for life", "I gotta get mine"). The song could be from mid or late '93. He will record again for the malt label in early 96 with Snoop. DJ Pooh had already produced "Ghost" for 2Pac, probably in the end of '92 (like the three Bobcat tracks, his comrade from the Boogiemen producing team who worked together for King Tee, Ice Cube, Threat, Yo-Yo...) or around the same time in mid '93 but it is doubtful considering the lyrics are from the end of '92 (for The Kidz project).

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

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

  • 1993/05/01. Recorded during the first Thug Life sessions over "Animosity" instrumental. After that they had also recorded "Lie 2 Kick It" over the same beat (cf. Do U Love The Thug Life ?). Snoop will use the same sample in "Gz And Hustlas" supposedly produced by Dr. Dre... Did anyone copy the other ? Warren G had his last feature with Death Row in Doggystyle (published the 23th of November 93), and Daz alleged they produced most of the album (even if Dr. Dre arranged everything). Warren G will also not record again with 2Pac after that...
  • Samples :
17. I Get Around (Battlecat Vocal Version) feat. Digital Underground / Shock G REMIXED DJ Battlecat
  • 1993/04/09. Released in I Get Around 12'' (the 10th of June 1993). This is a kind of instrumental with background vocals and many voices singing that are not in the Battlecat Remix.
  • Samples :   
18. 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 (they have the same clothes).

 

 
 






No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)