1993 - Out On Bail

• Sept. - Dec. 1993 : recording sessions with Easy Mo Bee and friends for a third solo album. 
• The way there was a Thug Life Demo Tape and a shelved Thug Life Original album with some alternate mixes and new songs, Mr. Middle Finger could be considered as a demo for Out On Bail album. So this is the second sequence of what will become Me Against The World.
• What happened ? Presumably planned to be released in spring '94, usually said to have been rejected by Interscope for violent content, mainly after the opening of his two justice cases in November and December 93 for shooting at the police and for rape.
  
• Sources : handwritten tracklists, "Cradle 2 The Grave" demo tape

pictures by Danny Clinch for Rolling Stones, August of 1993

funny to notice that the shirt's picture is from Shawn Mortensen set

famous for 2Pac with a middle finger up and a blunt in the other hand... 

now they are in pocket !

### - WORK IN PROGRESS - We didn't follow the exact track order of the "Cradle 2 The Grave" tape. Of course the Thug Life tracks "Cradle To The Grave", "Judgement Day" and "Introduced 2 The Game" have been taken off, probably included alongside solo album only to show the beginnings of the other project 2Pac was working on. "Who Do U Luv ?" and "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" included in most tracklists were logically added. "Pain Demo" could be also added because it is apparently the evolution of the concept song "B4 U Bust" which appears in last tracklists. - ###

Tracklist - Listen in YouTube

1. Hopeless (Intro)
   
2. Bury Me A G (Rough Mix) feat. Thug Life *
3. Str8 Ballin' (Angry Version) *
4. Open Fire *
5. Temptations (Rough Mix) *
6. Lord Knows (Rough Mix) *
7. My Only Fear of Death (Rough Mix) *
8. Out On Bail (Intro Version) *
9. Nothing To Lose (Chronic Intro) * 
10. Wonda Why They Call U Bitch
11. Runnin' From The Police (Five-O) feat. Dramacydal, Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G. & Lil' Vicious *
12. Dear Mama (Scratched Chorus No Intro) *
13. Who Do U Luv ? feat. Stretch
14. Thugs Get Lonely Too (Lil Some) *
    
15. Outro (Dear Mama Lost Hook)
    
    Bonus Tracks :
    
    
16. Papa'z Song (Da Bastard's Mix) feat. Mopreme
17. Keep Ya Head Up (Madukey Remix)

* NB : tracks from the so-called "Cradle 2 The Grave" demo tape. 

• Producer - Stretch (1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15), Easy Mo Bee (3, 5, 11), LG (8), Akshun (4), Brian G (6), Master Tee (12), Adario Strange (13), Frank Starchak (14)
• Chorus - Natasha Walker & Y?N-Vee (2, 6, 9, 15), AB Money & Rappin' Is Fundamental (5, 8), Macadoshis & Rated R (14)

Out On Bail demo album is the so-called "Cradle To The Grave" tape

It is said that the tape was among 2Pac's personal stuff. This demo tape clearly includes tracks from the solo album 2Pac was working on in late 93, like we can see in his handwritten papers and notebooks.

This tape was commonly named "Cradle 2 The Grave" by the first people who leaked it because of that song being the first track of it - included in its original form (what added to the confusion of the whole thing being a Thug Life demo). In our opinion, the song "Cradle 2 The Grave" was added to that "demo" tape full of Pac's solo material in order to show Interscope or people the new project 2Pac and his team were working on in parallel, Thug Life Volume 1. Other group songs like "Judgement Day" or "Introduced 2 The Game" are probably fresh recorded material also aimed for that new compilation / soundtrack project (cf. Honor Among Thugz).

 

 

Out on Bail : "The album in Stores Spring '94"

The 17th of January '94, when 2Pac released Papa'z Song single, in credits was announced the coming of a new album called Out on Bail, planned to be out in "Spring '94"... Because of the "featuring Mopreme of Thug Life" written just before, many people thought it was an anticipated title for Thug Life vol. 1 group album (and that was also the reason for the fake Out on Bail Thug Life Demo, bootleg created by Dante - what intensified the confusion). It is not the first nor the last time there is a misprinted info... Here it was not misprinted, but just confusing.

In fact, when you consider carefully the handwritten documents 2Pac left in his notebooks, it is perfectly clear that "Out On Bail" was one of his planned title for his new solo album before it turned to "R U Still Down" circa January '94. There are no intermediate step within Out On Bail could be the title for the Thug Life project. Especially if we consider that circa Nov. - December of 93, 2Pac had more or less already found the title "Volume 1" of his Thug Life project and the main topic : Thug Life Vol. 1 : Honor Among Thugz, and the main topic of it : to give dedication to the fallen friends.

Another point of confusion, the Interscope serial number of the announced album as "Out on Bail" (#92360) became the Thug Life Volume One's serial number... probably because the solo album being constantly delayed and reworked (retitled R U Still Down, then Stay True), Thug Life group project became the first to get published and obtained that product number... Or Interscope maybe really wanted to announce a Thug Life album coming but was confused with 2Pac working at the same time on two different projects not clearly defined, with the previous solo sequence being originally considered as "Thug Life 2", and with this Demo Tape 2Pac gave them whose title was probably "Out On Bail" (in which there were recordings for Thug Life project)...

Why 2Pac has to give up his original concept album called Thug Life ?

Originally, Thug Life was not the name of the group, but the title of a concept double album : Thug Life / Thug Life 2 : Mr. Middle Finger, mainly a solo project, despise of various guests (West / East). These projects were more or less finished at the end of summer '93. The first one was purposed for publishing in May 93 but delayed by Interscope probably for sample clearance issues or/and also for too violent lyrical content.

According to a Natasha Walker's interview, a tape of that album was leaked maybe circa end of Sept. - early Oct. 93. She told that walking in the studios, she heard the song "Is It Cool 2 Fuck ?" playing ; she entered and discovered that the Dogg Pound who was then recording Snoop's first album, were listening to a Thug Life tape... It was very probably the Thug Life Demo Tape, what would explain the fact the tape and its tracks have been more or less always available in usual bootlegs (whereas the rest of these Echo recordings are almost totally unleaked, except things re-worked later and elsewhere). Natasha Walker told that Tupac was furious and decided to scrap the whole project. That's why the first tracklists of his new project of solo album looks like if he was trying to combine remaining tracks from both projects Thug Life and Mr. Middle Finger.

With the exchange of gunfire with police officers off-duty in Atlanta (last day of October) and then the charges for rape and illegal possession of firearm (in November)... 2Pac and Interscope decided to remake or remove songs with too explicit violent lyrics against police or women. It can sound strange when you think to "Runnin' from the Police" and "Open Fire" but the second one will finally be scrapped from the next sequence R U Still Down. And "Runnin" will be finally rejected from Thug Life Volume 1 promo in August of '94. 

"Easy Mo Bee" sessions (October-December '93 in New York)

Thug Life West oriented original album was mainly leaked. 2Pac was still touring in New York, playing live songs from his solo project, so he concentrated on reworking his solo project, originally mainly produced by Stretch of the Live Squad. He firstly tried to incorporate solo songs from his scrapped album and took off some songs maybe too violent or unsatisfying (so he firstly gave up the title "Mr. Middle Finger"). The project being more open now, he started to record new material with new producers from New York like Easy Mo Bee. 2Pac presumably met him through Biggie who was recording with him since the beginning of the year and his huge hit "Party & Bullshit".

And so the original Mr. Middle Finger project changed a lot to include these new recordings. At the same time, especially after the opening of his fire exchange with two off duty policemen, 2Pac maybe already had to drop some too violent songs like original version of "Death Around The Corner". But later in November, with the opening case for rape, it was his beloved "Wonda Why They Call You Bitch" which was a problem... So he thought to record a softer version of it : "Wonda Why They Call U B-I-T-C-H" (in December) finally replaced by "Hard on a Nigga".

Circa October - November 93, 2Pac also began a whole new Thug Life West Coast oriented project (which was firstly like a soundtrack compilation album). So he could drop the West Coast songs from his solo album to have again a pure East Coast oriented solo album. Thug Life as a group was a featured guest in one song to promote that second project.

====== Full Timeline  ======

1. Circa late Sept. 93. "Thug in Me" incomplete.

 

This tracklist was written down probably right after Thug Life Original was scrapped for having been leaked. It looks like an attempt to combine the two original projects Thug Life and Mr. Middle Finger. The beloved and known to be leaked track "Is it Cool 2 Fuck" is not there, but "Death Around The Corner", "Fake Ass Bitches" and "I'm Getting Money" from Thug Life Original album were added. "Who Do U Love ?" was probably freshly recorded, what gives a new title taken from its chorus. That new title could reflect the new direction of the project ("The Thug In Me" = Thug Life in my solo album ?). Otherwise, it looks like Mr. Middle Finger... without "Mr. Middle Finger", nor "It Ain't Eazy"...

Another important point is the replacement of the solo version of "Bury Me a G" by a group version with Mopreme. The song was recorded earlier (circa July ?) but was presumably aimed to be a B-side for a single of Mr. Middle Finger but 2Pac could have changed his mind to have this song in his solo album to give something to his new teammates in case the first collective Thug Life project was definitely scrapped, and in order to promote an eventually new Thug Life album to come later.

2.-3. circa October. Street Fame.

 

2Pac added a new concept song "Street Fame" that gave a new idea of title to the project in progress (a song presumably never recorded by 2Pac and simply given to Thug Life group a little bit later, maybe whilst he was in jail).

Eventually, the album is already planned to be published in the beginning of '94 ("Thugz Get Lonely Too" single in February, the album in Spring ?).

If not forgotten before, the song "Open Fire" is now recorded for sure.

We can recognize the picture used for Until The End of Time compilation album

4. Circa late Oct. 93. Untitled. 

This untitled tracklist still could be Street Fame. Considering "Dear Mama" and "Temptations" have been recorded the 26th of October, so we are very probably in late October. 2Pac has dropped "Death Around The Corner" and "Nothing To Lose" maybe too explicitly against police... or simply because after his "Live at Madison Square Garden", the song was to be given to some external projects...

"Only Fear of Death" was recorded at Echo studios a few days earlier, written and recorded following the death of Mental Illness (of Big Syke's first group Evil Mind Gangsta). Maybe that sad event gave birth to the idea of a new Thug Life group/compilation album+movie around the topic of a dedication to fallen friends : "Honor Among Thugz". Maybe 2Pac switched "Fake Ass Bitches" and "Death Around The Corner" to the new Thug Life project... But what about "Nothing 2 Lose" ??

The 22th of October, 2Pac is on scene with The Notorious B.I.G. at the Madison Square Garden, during the Big Daddy Kane concert. He raps one verse of "Nothing 2 Lose"... Did he then think to give the verse for a new record with B.I.G. ? "Street Fame" is now featuring B.I.G. & Mac Mall. The song is for sure not recorded, but it clearly announces the project of a song with B.I.G. for the album, what finally turned into "Runnin From The Police" a few days later, and on the other hand on the song "Street Fame" recorded by Thug Life without 2Pac.

2Pac strangely thought to include another old song "I'm Losin' It" from his scrapped Thug Life Original album whereas the other West flavored songs had disappeared... "Nothing Like Niggaz" could be an anticipated concept idea for "R U Still Down". "Y'all Don't Know Me" was also just a concept title. He clearly tries to replace the dropped songs.

 

5-6. Circa late Oct. 93. Mr. Middle Finger / Troublesome.

Those two tracklists are almost similar with just the track order of the first side changing and of course the title. Probably because "Street Fame" was now given to Thug Life, 2Pac tried two old beloved titles (even if the eponymous track was given up...).

The main thing is the introduction of two new Easy Moe Bee songs ("Str8 Ballin'" and "Runnin'"), but "Str8 Ballin'" is there with strange titles ("Hustler's theme", "Baller's theme", so maybe it is not recorded yet but only planned or only the beat exists.

"Runnin' From The Police" was probably recorded between the 27th and the 30th of October 1993, because Big Malc (and Thoro Headz) were with 2Pac after the concert in Clark Atlanta University the 31st... B.I.G. was already expected to record "Street Fame" with 2Pac. Stretch was expected to produce the song which was given to Thug Life (probably recorded around these days or why not when 2Pac was in jail...). But 2Pac could also have recorded the song the 31st right after the event with the police... what would explain the changing of topic for the planned song with Biggie. 

 2Pac in Atlanta Municipal Court, the 1st of Nov.

7. Circa early Nov. 93. Out on Bail 1 

This time, "Str8 Balling" appears with its definitive title. Maybe the song has been recorded at the same time than "Out On Bail", with that same angry mood due to the jail time... 

"Out On Bail" was very probably written following his time in jail, over an Easy Mo Bee's brother LG's beat, and with Easy Mo Bee's partner AB Money at the chorus. This last recording with Easy Mo Bee crew was probably scheduled, maybe for the recording of the intended "Nothing Like Niggaz". But the intro reveals 2Pac was just coming out from the court where a case was opened against him... So he was presumably too angry to write the planned song. "Str8 Ballin" recycling most lyrics of "Gettin Money" could also be a back from jail song, 2Pac having no inspiration for writing new lyrics and simply recording old ones.

This first tracklist entitled "Out On Bail" is the most complete we have, with no unrecorded track. But 2Pac decided for a reason to scratch "Who Do U Love", but maybe days after that tracklist... (sample issue ? - or the lyrics became a problem after the opening of rape case in late November...). 

8. Circa 10-14th of Nov. 93. Here Cum Tha Pain.

This fanciful title comes from a famous scene of the just released new Brian De Palma's movie Carlito's Way (the 12th of Nov. 93). 2Pac probably watched the movie (right before or around the day of the official release) and recognized himself in the sad fate of the main character who does not want to remain a gangster but is condemned to his fatal end because of his origins and past. 

The dedication of the album clearly shows the bitterness 2Pac had following his troubles with the justice following the events with the two off duty drunk cops... Are we before or after his arrest for rape (the 18th of Oct.) ? Comparing to the Out on Bail 1st tracklist, this one does not have "Who Do U Luv ?". But the track order is closer to the previous "Mr Middle Finger" and "Troublesome" ones...

This title also announces the soon to be recorded "House of Pain" and "Pain". The interlude "Mama Used 2 Say" could be something related to the famous song by Junior from 1981. It could also remind of the outro of "Black Cotton" : "Mama told me there'd be days like this but I'm pissed, straight pissed. They claim that I'm violent. Rotten black cotton in God's eyes". Song which has also the same Star Trek movie sample than "Pain" at the begnning...

The intro could possibly be the new version of "Hopeless"... 

9. Circa 15 to 18th of Nov. 93. Out On Bail 2 and dedications.

This second tracklist entitled "Out On Bail" presents a similar track content with "Who Do U Luv ?" being replaced by the planned concept song "B4 U Bust" (what will turn into "Pain" and "House of Pain").  

2Pac wrote at the foot of the page the planned singles : surprisingly "Bury Me A G" and "Runnin" (which were not marked in the previous states). In the back page he wrote a dedication to his fallen friends Big Kato and Mental Illness from Evil Mind Gansta (first group of Big Syke and Johnny J). He added a dedication to Joshua Torres, a sick kid, fan he went to meet in the Maryland in mid October who died 45mn after he left, and one for Qa'id, the kid who was killed by a lost bullet when a firefight opened during a concert of 2Pac in August 92 in Marin City. 2Pac always felt bad about that and was suited by the family in March of 93. Moreover, Mopreme seems to refer to it in his "Bury Me A G" verse, the concert was right after his 25th birthday... 

That dedication remind of the parallel advance of his Thug Life Vol. 1 : Honor Among Thugz, as a concept movie+soundtrack, album dedicated to the fallen friends... with 2Pac having written a short movie script around the killing of Big Kato. So it could mean they recorded many songs for it like notably "Cradle To The Grave".

7. Circa 18th of Nov. 93. "Troublesome" 2

This tracklist sees the come back of the beloved title "Troublesome" and the other one of "Nothing To Lose" which could be a new recording with new lyrics (which is included in the Cradle2TheGrave tape). Maybe the Brian De Palma recent movie with Al Pacino pushed him to take it back (lyrics directly referring to the previous Brian de Palma's Scarface movie : "say goodbye to the bad guy"). The first verse also refers to the pain "can't get the pain out"...

The album is now planned to have 14 tracks (what will stay in 1st R U Still Down 94 tracklist). It is waiting for the track "B4UBust" to be recorded (and maybe for Mac Mall to come to New York - awaited since "Street Fame" in October...), but the song will turn into "Pain" (almost same lyrics), which would have been recorded right after the jail time for rape, so circa 19-20th of November. Same topics from "B4UBust" and "Pain" are also in "House of Pain", recorded probably around the same time. "Pain" will be given to Above The Rim Soundtrack and the second one to The Notorious B.I.G.'s first album (finally leftover).

What would the 14th track have been ? This tracklist is the closest to the "Cradle2theGrave" tape where there is some erased parts of "Here We Go" (old Mr. Middle Finger song), so maybe he thought at a time to include it... More likely instead of the Mac Mall planned song (it has been said he couldn't come because of his mama...), 2Pac recorded "Can't Turn Back" for finally having a Bay Area featuring in his album (one Thug Life feat, one East connection, one Bay Area). And around that same time, he recorded new versions of "Death Around The Corner" and "Hell Razor"

2Pac is arrested for rape, the 18th of November   

8. Circa November 20-30. Untitled "Cradle2TheGrave" tape. 

1. Cradle to the Grave (Pro-Jay Original) feat. Thug Life * 

2. Judgement Day feat. Dee Tha Mad Bitch, Mopreme & Stretch *
3. Str8 Ballin' (Angry Mix)
4. Open Fire (Laughing Mix)
5. Out On Bail (Rough Mix) feat. AB Money
6. Only Fear Of Death (Rough Mix)
7. Temptations (Rough Mix) feat. AB Money
8. Dear Mama (Rough Mix)
9. Lord Knows (Rough Mix) feat. Y?N-Vee
10. Thugs Get Lonely Too (Lil Some) feat. Macadoshis & Rated R
11. Nothing To Lose (Poets Intro) feat. Y?N-Vee
- Here We Go (small overwritten part, 2 sec.) **
12. Bury Me A G (Rough Mix) feat. Thug Life
13. Runnin' from the Police (5-O Version) feat. Thoro Headz, Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G. & Lil Vicious
- Here We Go (small overwritten part, 1 sec.) **
14. Introduced to the Game (by Thoro Headz) *

 

* Bold tracks 1, 2 & 16 are Thug Life Volume 1 intended recordings, cf. Honor Among Thugz.
** Tracks 12 & 15 are probably the remainings of an old copy of a Mr. Middle Finger demo tape

The tape doesn't include "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch". With his recently opened case for rape (the 18th of November), 2Pac had a problem with that song in which he repeats "bitch" many times and depicts a situation that strangely recalls the case... So 2Pac didn't include the song but could be still intending to record an alternate polished version for the album... what he will soon do over a sample of Led Zeppelin (which is said the same as "Hard On a Nigga").

It also does not have the planned "B4UBust" neither the song "Pain" or "House of Pain" recorded instead and given to Above The Rim soundtrack and Ready To Die B.I.G.'s album. So we only have 11 songs from the album Out On Bail. Maybe 2Pac had to show the advancement of his projects to Interscope, or somebody else, and he copied three tracks of Thug Life Volume 1 project to fill the 14 tracks album.

After the 16th of December, 2Pac is officially arraigned for rape case, Interscope probably rejected the whole demo album which had many obvious problems : any version of "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" sounds as 2Pac is speaking about the case ; "Open Fire" is too violent against police ; "Out On Bail" intro is aggressive against the justice... 

And so the solo album will be given to Interscope engineers Duane Nettlesbey and his partner Norman Whitfield Jr. in order to remix it wisely.

Tupac sitting in Atlanta court, the 1st of December

Big Malc and Mopreme behind him

Was Out on Bail ready to be released in December of '94 ?

It has been said that Interscope rejected the Out On Bail Demo. 2Pac could have showed them a sequence of his album, probably the Cradle2TheGrave tape. With 2Pac and Interscope officially announcing the album, we could expect that the project was more or less ready...  

In fact, like we saw, 2Pac was maybe not totally satisfied with the title "Out On Bail"... Way too contextual, too provocative... Many songs of the Cradle2TheGrave tape had probably not received a final mixdown (the intros of "Str8 Ballin'" and "Out On Bail" were obviously to be taken off). Samples were probably not cleared yet (the intro of "Nothing To Lose" with a sample taken from The Chronic was maybe also a problem).

2Pac had already dropped "Who Do U Love ?" (sample issue ? could be understood as related to the rape case ?) and "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" was not in the Cradle2TheGrave tape. 2Pac knew the song will be a problem... So he tried a few days later with "Wonda Why They Call U B-I-T-C-H" (we have the handwritten new lyrics). But either Interscope refused it even, either 2Pac was not satisfied and recorded "Hard on a Nigga" over a Led Zeppelin beat, and a bit later "Peep Game II" upon the same topic...

2Pac had probably also to drop "Open Fire". The rape case was accompanied with a charge of illegal possession of weapon... Even if the charges for aggravated assault against him were dropped the 1st of December, but it could be remembered by the court... In December, he recorded "R U Still Down" with Shock G (maybe he met his old friend and mentor because of his troubles...). It gave his album a new title and a new artistic direction.

From Mr. Middle Finger to Out On Bail

During the process, 2Pac had moved from a violent and political Mr. Middle Finger album (very Live Squad oriented), to a full new thing with a much more chaotic and desperate content.

Tupac will keep on dropping songs from Thug Life original sessions in his next R U Still Down tracklists ("Open Fire", "Wonda Why They Call"), then in Stay True ("Thugs Get Lonely Too"), until Me Against The World album where only "Lord Knows" remain (supposedly in Mr. Middle Finger as "If I Wasn't High"). Some other will reappear but in totally new versions like "Death Around the Corner" or "It Ain't Easy"). 

 

This pic definitely gives the impression of an arrested man...

DETAILED TRACKLIST : 

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

01. Hopeless (Interlude) / Stretch (?)

• 1993/08 - 11 (?) (new mix). 
• Story. Leaked in Makaveli 6 Bootleg with other Thug Life unreleased songs, it could be the mysterious "Thugz Theme" listed in early Volume One tracklists... (cf. Honor Among Thugz) This interlude song 2Pac used to play live was supposed to be included in Mr. Middle Finger album in its original form. This new version doesn't have the Cypress Hill sample in the beginning ("time for some action"), and the lyrics are in the far background so the track now sounds more like a short musical interlude.
• Samples : 
• Funkadelik - "How Do Yeaw View You" (bassline/vocals)

02. Bury Me a G (Rough Mix) feat. Mopreme, Rated R, Big Syke, Macadoshis & Natasha Walker (chorus) / Stretch & 2Pac

• 1993/07 (~). Released in Thug Life : Volume 1 (1994, Interscope). 
• Story. Almost identical to the released version (slightly different singing backing mix). Included in Cradle 2 The Grave demo tape. Solo version was intended to be in Mr. Middle Finger (around Sept. of 93), but both versions would have been recorded at that time. The song is then listed as a Thug Life featuring song around oct.-nov. in Street Fame / Out on Bail tracklists, it then re-appeared as a solo track in early tracklists of R U Still Down Original (Jan.-Feb.). When the Thug Life Volume One project turned into a real group project 2Pac finally decided to have the group version in it, circa March of '94. And so the solo version was transferred to Exodus B-Sides compilation project.
• Samples : 
• The Isley Brothers - "For The Love of You" (melody)
  
• The Meters - "Groovy Lady" (drumline)

03. Str8 Ballin' (Angry Version) / Easy Mo Bee

• 1993/11/02-03 (~). Released in Thug Life : Volume 1 (1994). 
• Story. Included in Cradle 2 The Grave demo tape. It has an alternate introduction with Souljah voice and a normal voice announcing nervously "we will definitely do the Thug violent shit" and eventually a more aggressive voice than the retail. It recycles most of the "Gettin Money" verses (cf. Thug Life Original). The song firstly appears in "MrMiddleFinger2nd" and "Troublesome1st" tracklists but with concept titles : "Hustler's Theme" and "Baller's Theme", what could mean the song was not recorded yet but just planned (maybe Easy Mo Bee gave the beat or the sample). It appears with its final title only in "Out On Bail" first tracklist at the same time that the eponymous song. So 2Pac could have recorded both songs around the same day, right after having spent one day in jail because of the two off duty drunk cops he exchanged fire shots with. Probably too angry to write the songs he was thinking about, he wrote about his new situation for one and recycled "Getting Money" lyrics modified to fit the topic for the second (the old solo song was not fitting well the new Thug Life Volume 1 early compilation project topic, cf. Honor Among Thugz). 2Pac will eventually re-record some vocals and a new intro in normal voice for his solo R U Still Down '94 Original album (around Dec.-Jan.) before choosing to transfer the song to Volume One after June of 94 (with a new soulja voice intro in Volume One Promo).
• Samples : 
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "What's a Phone Bill ?" (melody, vocals)

04.  Open Fire (Laughing Outro) / Akshun  

• 1993/09 - 10 (finalmix with less adlibs). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru) without major changes (laughing outro cut). 
• Story. Included in Cradle 2 The Grave demo tape. Akshun had already produced "Guess Who's Back" for 2Pac in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (with his partner Special Ed). There are leaked mixes with or without the laughing outro and an acapella with more adlibs that would have been used for Mr. Middle Finger early demos.
• Samples : 
  
• Cal Tjader - "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" (bassline interpolation)
• N.W.A. - "100 Miles and Runnin" (sound effects)
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "Mickey's Monkey" (vocals)
  
• the movie New Jack City (1991) (movie sequence)

05. Temptations (Rough Mix) feat. AB Money (chorus) / Easy Moe Bee

• 1993/10/26. Mix very close to the released version in Me Against the World.  
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape. We long time thought it was G-Money (Moe-ZMD's teammate) singing but it is much more logical to have again AB Money from Easy Mo Bee's group giving a chorus here.
• Samples :
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "What's a Phone Bill ?" (melody troncated)
• Zapp - "Computer Love" (bassline/chorus interpolation)
  
• Avalanche - "Overnight Session" (drums)
• Sly & The Family Stone "Sing a Simple Song" (drums)
• Detroit Emeralds - "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" (drumline partially)
  
• Redman & Erick Sermon - "Watch Yo Nuggets" (vocals : "Heyyy")

06. Lord Knows (Singing Version) feat. Natasha Walker (chorus) / Brian G

• 1993/07 (?) - 09 (new vocals ? new beat ?). Released in Me Against the World (1995, Interscope) with less singing but a close beat remixed by Moe-Z.
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape. There could be an earlier version of the song titled "If I Wasn't High" recorded in July, eventually over a different Stretch beat - as appearing in Mr Middle Finger early tracklists. Or the song was not recorded yet... 2Pac probably met Brian G after having recorded "Skank Wit' U" with him and Don Jagwarr, probably around the same period (Aug. - Sept. 93).
  
• Samples : 
• The Blackbyrds - "All I Ask" (melody)

07. Only Fear of Death (Rough Mix) / Stretch & Duane Nettlesbey

• 1993/10. Released without major changes in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). 
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape with damaged intro and in Manu Tape with a cleaned background. Remixed in a shorter version for Stay True, and included in Pre-DR Compilation in 1995. The recording of the song is consecutive to the death of Mental Illness of Evil Mind Gangsta's (Syke's original group).
• Studio : Last track recorded at Echo Sound Studios, LA.
  
• Samples : 
• Gabor Szabo - "Breezin" (melody)
  
• Detroit Emeralds - "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" (drums)
• ---not sure---Lafayette Afro Rock Band - "Hihache" (drums ?)
  
• Mental Illness & Evil Mind Gangstas - "Livin' In The Edge" (vocals : "my only fear of death is coming back, reincarnated")
• Thug Life - "Shit Don't Stop (Rough Mix)" (unleaked) (vocals : "them ghetto niggaz is a full")

08. Out on Bail (Intro Version) feat. AB Money (chorus) / The LG Experience 

• 1993/11/02-03 (~). Awfully remixed in Loyal 2 The Game.  
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape. This version has an intro very aggressive against justice and police. The recording session was probably planned and 2Pac was supposed to record over the concept of "Nothing Like N...", but after the event with the two cops in Atlanta, he just couldn't write anything else that in anger. Producer for Sister Souljah, Big Daddy Kane, MC Serch... LG is the younger brother of Easy Mo Bee. AB Money and Easy Mo Bee formed the group Rappin' Is Fundamental. They released together the well known album The Doo-Hop Legacy in 1991. 
• Samples : 
• The Meters – "Oh, Calcutta !" (bassline, melody)
• Freddie Foxxx - "Rev. Glock (D.I.T.C. Version)" (vocals : "got a nice fat glock that he stole from the police")

09. Nothing 2 Lose (Chronic Intro) feat. Natasha Walker / Stretch

• 1993/07 - 11 (?) (new vocal take). Released with an alternate mix in R U Still Down (1997). 
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape. This version has different lyrics and vocals take but presumably the same beat than Mr. Middle Finger original first version (only a snippet was leaked). The song was included in early "ThugInMe"/"Street Fame" tracklists before disappearing around the time 2Pac gave a verse live at the Madison Square Garden Freestyle (the 22th of Oct.), before including it again in "Troublesome2nd" last Out On Bail tracklist in late November. So he probably re-recorded the song at that time, close to the "Cradle 2 The Grave" sequence. Duane Nettlesbey could have given a new mix (maybe without the Chronic intro sample) for R U Still Down 94 project album, before Tony Pizzaro gave his own remix for Stay True in August of '94.
  
• Samples : 
• Mica Paris - "I Wanna Hold on to You" (drumline/melody)
• Ice Cube - "Summer Vacation" (vocals : "my homie got shot he's a goner, black")
• Ice Cube - "Us" (vocals : "That's why I got gang related rhymes")
• The D.O.C. & N.W.A. - "The Grand Finale" (vocals : "I got robbed when I came to Cali)
• Dr. Dre - "Chronic Intro" (sampling Gylan Kain of the (Original) Last Poets - "The Shalimar") (vocals : "like we always do about this time")

10. Wonda Why They Call U Bitch feat. Natasha Walker (speaking) / Stretch

• 1993/09 (~). Re-recorded for Death Row's All Eyez on Me (1996, Death Row). 
• Story. Originally recorded for his solo album Mr Middle Finger, included in Pre-DR compilation in 1995. The song is said to have an alternate version with a Led Zeppelin sampled instrumental (probably the same as "Hard on a Nigga" with the sample of "Ten Years Gone") with an alternate chorus saying "Why They Call U B-I-T-C-H" made by Stretch (probably recorded circa December of 93, cf. Exodus). This song was in the last Out On Bail "Troublesome" tracklist we have but not in Cradle 2 The Grave tape... What could mean that the chorus repeating "bitch" could be a problem for his recent rape case (after the 19th of Nov.), so maybe he wanted a new softer version to replace it, or it was simply for a b-side... "Hard on a Nigga" over the same Led Zeppelin sample will finally replace the song in the next sequence of the solo album (cf. R U Still Down '94).
• Samples :
• Paul Simon - "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" (melody/drums)
  
• Parliament - "Bop Gun" (vocals) 

11. Runnin' From the Police (Five-O Version) feat. Thoro Headz (Dramacydal), Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac & Lil' Vicious / Easy Mo Bee

• 1993/11/30-31 (~). Released in One Million Strong (1995, Solar) with a new hook by Radio (Long Beach rapper who can also do ragga, friend of Moe-Z who produced major part of his first album). 
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape. Lil' Vicious is a young raggae/dancehall singer (then 14 years old) discovered by Doug E Fresh who released his album in November 1994 : Destination Brooklyn. The 30th of November, 2Pac and Thug Life had a concert in Atlanta, just before encontering the two off-duty cops later in the night... Thoro Headz were also there with him. Around that day Biggie was awaited to record "Street Fame" for the solo album. They probably recorded "Runnin' From The Police" together instead and 2Pac let "Street Fame" Stretch's beat to Thug Life (maybe whilst he was in jail...). And Thoro Heads have probably also recorded "Introduced 2 Tha Game" these days...
  
• Samples : 
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "Munchies for Your Love" (melody)

12. Dear Mama (Scratched Chorus Version) / DF Master Tee & Moses (?), DJ King Assassin (?)

• 1993/10/26. Remixed in Me Against the World (1995).
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape. With "It wouldn't be a damn thing without a woman" and "What did you say about my mother" samples as scratched hook. Firstly Duane Nettlesbey probably made a short mix for Original R U Still Down '94 album, then Tony Pizarro remixed it and recorded a singing chorus for Stay True / Me Against the World in July of 94. DJ King Assassin, who could be also the producer of "Real Bad Boys", pretends to have had a role in this original version... He said the Ice Cube sample couldn't be cleared.
  
• Samples : 
  
• Joe Sample - "In All My Wildest Dreams" (melody)
  
• Ice Cube & Yo-Yo - "It's A Man's World" (vocals : it wouldn't be a damn thing, without a woman")
• Richard Pryor - "Jesse" (taken from Are You Serious ? album) (vocals : "What you say about my mama, hey ?")

13. Who Do U Luv ? feat. Stretch  / Stretch, Adario Strange (?) & Arzie (?)

• 1993/09 - 11 (?) (new mix, new vocals ?). Remixed in Loyal 2 The Game (2004, Amaru) in a remixed version without Stretch, with slightly different vocals. 
• Story. The song was originally intended to be in Mr Middle Finger and is said produced by Stretch. Maybe Adario Strange or Arzie gives an engineer hand on it at a time. The song is scrapped from Out On Bail sequence circa early November (because 2Pac didn't want a second Stretch featuring ? to be put as a B-side ?), and 2Pac recycled part of his first verse for the Thug Life song "Judgement Day" in late November (cf. Honor Among Thugz). It is said there is another version, final mix, with many adlibs during the verses.
• Studio : Recorded at Skyline Studios, Manhattan. 
  
• Samples : 
• The Gap Band – "Jam The Motha" (melody)

14. Thugs Get Lonely Too (Lil' Some Version) feat. Rated R & Macadoshis (chorus) / Stretch - SNIPPET x2 / joehaindl REMAKE with alt vocals

• 1993/07 - 09 (~) (new vocals). Awfully remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004, Amaru) with a Nate Dogg chorus instead of Prince sampled voice, with a Pac low pitched voice but with the original vocal take (lyrics "best friends at your WIFE's house" like in the handwritten lyrics), intro "you're a fool, you're crazy" and outro "sweatin me when i'm on tour" speeches. 
• Story. Included in Cradle2TheGrave tape (so in Out on Bail), but partially erased or overwritten. The song was originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger. This version is very likely a re-recorded version with an alternate vocal take (with the lyrics "best friends at your WOMAN's house" and the little introduction "it's a little something about...". Same vocals will be also used for the "Gigolos" remix (later included in Pre-Death Row Compilation, cf. When I Get Free (Lost Tracks)), which could have originally been made for a b-side to this album or a bit later for R U Still Down '94. 2Pac could have re-recorded his vocals around the same period he did "Noting 2 Lose" but with a mistake (the written lyrics say "Wife's house"), the word "woman" being used later in his same verse, but he sings it also in live in September... So maybe he was unsatisfied with his first vocals delivery so he could have re-recorded this version sooner in September...
• Samples : 
• Prince - "If I Was Your Girlfriend (Sign 'O' The Times Tour, 1987)" (melody, vocals)
• 2Pac - "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z." (vocals interpolation)

15

•  
  

16. Dear Mama Lost Hook (Outro) / DF Master Tee

• 1993/10/26. This is a small hook where 2Pac is mumbling, what could be heard in the acapella of the song.

BONUS TRACKS : 

17. Papa'z Song (Dabastard's Remix) feat. Mopreme / Big D REMIXED By Stretch & Duane Nettlesbey

• 1993/09-11 (~) (new vocals ?). Released in Papa'z Song (12'') (1994, Jan.). 
• Story. Duane said Stretch bring him the idea and he produced the thing. Considering the low quality of it - especially compared to the Vibe Tribe Remix -, we firstly thought it was an earlier version of the Striclty 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. song (like the "New York Stretch mix" in the Holla If Ya Hear Me single which was the original of the album version), or even a reference track for the Kidz album (cf. Ghetto Gospel). This mix has no singing chorus by Poppi, only scratches and 2Pac speaking some words during the hook ("your daddy's home now"). Duane said they previously tried the same beat for an unreleased remix of "Keep Ya Head Up" (single out the 28th of October 93).
• 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")

18. Keep Ya Head Up (Madukey Remix) feat. Dave Hollister / Lea Reis & Moe Doe

• 1992 - 1993/06-10 (?). Released in Keep Ya Head Up (12'') (1993, Oct. 28). 
• Story. This remix has probably been made in mid 1993 for the single, but it could also be an earlier mix produced in the last Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. sessions or for the early Thug Life soundtrack project (cf. Thug Life Demo Tape). This said, the other Madukey mixes are more likely 94 so there is a very low probability.
  

 

. I Get Around (Live at the Sheraton) feat. Stretch / Shock G 

• 1993/08/19. Live at the Sheraton, Washington DC. It has been said that there could be a studio version with that Stretch verse... Stretch probably wrote his verse to replace Digital Underground during the Thugz 4 Life tour.