1994 - F.T.W. (Fuck The World)

  • Aug. 1994 - Feb. 1995 : Moe-Z sessions for Me Against The World, leftover tracks and remixes for B-sides.
  • Sources : Fuck The World Promo, Singles
Picture by Reising & Taylor (1994).

### The first disc follows the tracklist of the Fuck The World promo tape (maybe supposed to be one side of a double album F.T.W. / Me Against The World). We replaced songs already released in Me Against The World by alternate mixes or other unreleased from that era. For the second part, we more or less followed a chronological order from Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. remixes to late Me Against The World remixes. ###

Tracklist : F.T.W. (Fuck The World) - LISTEN

1. If I Die 2Nite (Rough Mix) *
2. Me Against The World Me Against The World (Soul Power Remix) feat. Dramacydal & Puff Johnson
3. Out On Bail Nothing To Lose (No Intro Mix)
4. Heavy In The Game Throw Ya Hands Up (Moe-Z Remix)
5. It Ain't Easy My Block (Rough Mix)
6. Young Niggaz Sucka 4 Love **
7. Outlaw (Long Mix) feat. Dramacydal & Rah Rah *
8. Dear Mama Dear Mama (Moe-Z Remix)
9. Hard On A Nigga (Daz Version) feat. Snoop Dogg *
10. So Many Tears (Rough Mix) feat. Stretch *
11. Can U Get Away Can U Get Away (Hot Mix)
12. Old School (Rough Mix) *
13. Fuck The World (Rough Mix) *
14. Pain (Thug Life Remix) feat. Stretch * - remake, snippet
 
Bonus Tracks :
15. Original
16. The Heat (Demo) feat. Stretch, Keith Murray & Waterbed Kev
 
* included in Fuck The World promo tape. 
** included in Pre-Death Row compilation

BONUS DISC : The Remixes
 
1. I Get Around (Battlecat Remix) feat. Digital Underground
2. Holler If You Hear Me (Broadway Remix)
3. Keep Ya Head Up (Vibe Tribe Remix) feat. Dave Hollister
4. Poor Out A Little Liquor (Madukey Remix)
5. Papa'z Song (Vibe Tribe Remix) feat. Mopreme & Poppi
6. Dear Mama (Baby Mama Remix) feat. Reggie Green
7. Temptations (Battlecat Remix) feat. G-Money
8. Let's Get it On (D&D B.I.G. Beats Remix) feat. Heavy D, Grand Puba & The Notorious B.I.G
9. Cradle To The Grave (Madukey Remix) feat. Thug Life
10. Me Against The World (Soul Power Hip-Hop Remix) feat. Dramacydal
11. Can U Get Away (Reggae Remix) feat. Eboni Foster
12. So Many Tears (Easy Mo Bee Remix) feat. Stretch
13. Lord Knows (Moe-Z Remix) feat. G-Money & Killa
14. So Many Tears (Key of Z Remix) feat. Killa & Milia
15. Dear Mama (Black Queen Club Remix) feat. Reggie Green & Sweet Franklin
16. Temptations (Moe-Z Remix) feat. G-Money
 
Bonus Tracks :

Temptations (Battlecat Club Mix)
 
Picture by Reising & Taylor (1994).

"Fuck The World" was one time a planned title for the hardcore version of the album, "Me Against The World" would have been the clean version. With the other planned titles ("America's Crucified" among others, "Amerikkka'z Youthanasia" - already close to the "Euthanasia" which will come back many times as an obsession during Death Row times), it perfectly illustrates the choice of 2Pac to have a pessimistic and dark main direction for the album, what Biggie did with Ready 2 Die - 2Pac said that he took the this album cohesion from him.


 
 
 
 

1. In September '94. "Me Vs The World", single disc album.

2Pac scrapped his Stay True album by giving the eponymous song to Thug Life Volume One. He recorded two new songs with Easy Mo Bee ("If I Die 2Nite", "My Block") in the beginning of the month and also songs with Moe-Z : "Cradle To The Grave Remix" for Volume One, "Lord Knows Remix" for solo album and the new "Throw Ya Hands Up". Soulshock & Karlin also produced "Old School" for him. "The Game Ain't The Same" could be an early concept for "Outlaw".


 

2. Early October '94. "Outlaw", single disc album.

2Pac recorded "Outlaw", "Young Nigga" and eventually "Sucka 4 Love" with Moe-Z. Shock G produced new song "So Many Tearz" and Mike Mosley produced "Heavy in The Game" and maybe original "Can U Get Away". Strangely, "Lord Knows" disappeared...! as well as "It Ain't Easy". Maybe "Me Against The World" project album is already planned in parallel...

 
 
 

3. October '94. "F.T.W. / Me Against The World", double disc album.

Then 2Pac will clearly have a double album project "Fuck The World / Me Against The World". First one being the "Thug/hardcore version", the other one being the "clean" version. At the time, 2Pac recorded "Me Against The World" with Soulshock & Karlin, but strangely, "Fuck The World" is not included yet in the eponymous album despite Shock G having produced "So Many Tears"...



 
 

 4. Late October '94. "F.T.W. / Me Against The World", double disc album.

This double album has two "Can U Get Away" (maybe Mike Mosley's retail and the "Hot Mix" supposedly being the original) and two "Dear Mama" (probably Tony P and Original Master Tee versions). 2Pac re-added the old "Death Around The Corner" and "Thugz Get Lonely Too" but "Fuck The World" itself is still not there (what could clearly mean that it was not recorded before, or not in the form we know).



 

5. Circa Oct. Nov. '94. "F.T.W. / Me Against The World", single disc album.

Maybe from that time 2Pac returned from his double album project idea. It looks like a selection taken from both albums. With same tracks, the title just changes from "F.T.W." to "Me Against The World".


 
 

6. Circa November '94. "Me Against The World".

This time, "Phuck The World" has been really recorded. 2Pac also included "Hard on a Nigga" (Daz Version) which is known to have been recorded in August (but the song has been leftover from Snoop's Murder Was The Case Soundtrack, so it became newly available for solo album). The most surprising thing could be the "Pain Remix" : there was already a "Pain Remix" in early "Me Against The World/Exodus/Thug Life" multi tracklists circa April-May. Is it the same mix or a new one ? There is the famous Live Squad Remix and a recently snippet leaked Timbaland Remix...

This tracklist is the closest thing to the F.T.W. promo tape. It has the exact same list of songs, just in a different order.


 

7. Early December '94. "Hard 2 Kill". 

2Pac tried a new album title probably right after the Qad shooting, at Jasmine Guy's house. 

2Pac has a first idea for the group name or for their album : DramacyTal. He is probably still under the choke. He is searching for answers about what happened to him, it looked like a trap. His suspicions are not yet against Stretch but maybe about other people like Puff Daddy or James Rosemond aka Jimmy Henchman (Dexter Isaac recognized in 2011 that Henchman engaged him to rob 2Pac).

8. Circa mid December 94. "Me Against The World". 

2Pac re-added "Lord Knows" instead of "Out on Bail". The tracklist confirms that Young Thuggz are now re-baptized Dramacydal. It means that songs like "Thug Life" and "Don't Make Enemies With Me" are already recorded, and that 2Pac is writing lyrics for the Dramacydal album at Jasmine Guy's house.


 

9. Circa Dec.-Jan. '94 (at least for the scratched marks). "Me Against The World".

2Pac erased all Stretch marks ("So Many Tears featuring" and "Pain Remix"). He also decided to include "Death Around The Corner", could it be because of that topic ? With that, the tracklist is almost the released one (just "Lord Knows" will replace "Hard on a Nigga").


10. Circa Jan.-Feb. '94. "Me Against The World".

For once, we have a tracklist that exactly corresponds to the released album. Maybe it is because 2Pac was then in prison and he send his final choice to Interscope and asked them to released the album following that tracklist.



Pictures by Reising & Taylor (1994).

The pictures from Reising & Taylor, the white part of the shooting (with the ones illustrating Me Against The World), show 2Pac behind a window with glasses, like the well known illustration of Malcolm X feeling like a menacing plot against him... or like Boogie Down Productions (By All Means Necessary). It perfectly illustrates the main topic of the album : the pre-feeling of death. Like on Me Against The World, we can feel a mood of stress and paranoia.



Picture by Reising & Taylor (1994).



Fuck The World
(Special thanks to Bomb 1st members Filla and Dominator for sample credits)
 
01. If I Die 2nite (Rough Mix) / Easy Mo Bee
  • 1994/09/03. Released in Me Against The World (1995, Interscope). The mix is different with a more rough beat. Maybe the song was initially recorded to replace "Stay True" which was transferred from solo album to Thug Life's album.
  • Samples : 

02. Me Against The World (Soul Power Remix) feat. Dramacydal & Puff Johnson / Soulshock & Karlin

  • 1994/09 - 1995 (?) (remix). Released in Me Against The World (12'') (1995, Promo in US, single in Europa). There is also a radio mix of this mix.

03. Nothing To Lose (Draft Mix) feat. Natasha Walker / Stretch REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

  • 1993 - 1994/08 (?) (new mix). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru) in a slightly shorter mix. Included in the Pizarro Reel as "Draft Mix 3", it sounds a bit unfinished in comparison of other mix like the Stay True mixtape one or the mix chosen for Pre-Death Row Compilation. Intermediate state ? The song starts straight in 2Pac's first verse, has the beat of the background vocals of the first, the beat of the second... 
  • Samples : 
    • Mica Paris - "I Wanna Hold on to You" (drumline/melody)
    • 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)

04. Throw Ya Handz Up (Moe-Z Remix) feat. Killa & Ronnie Love / Moe Z

  • 1994/09 - 11 (~). Released on Pump Ya Fist OST (1995) with alternate mixdown and alternate adlibs and speeches. 2Pac is saying "That's the remix" circa 4:50. He is also singing the hook after his three verses (an edit has been made from that part to have it singing in every hook).
  • Samples :
05. My Block (Richie Mix) feat. Richie Rich (speaking) / Easy Mo Bee
  • 1994/08/30 - ? (Richie added). Released in The Show OST (1995, Def Jam) in a very close mix (Richie's voice in a further background). The first take of the song recognize Richie Rich at the end, maybe Too $hort or MC Breed at the beginning, probably The Govenor... nothing sure. In fact, we can hear them also in the released version, but really in the far background.
  • Samples : 

. My Block (Rough Mix) / Easy Mo Bee

  • 1994/09/03 (?). Released in The Show OST (1995, Def Jam) and included in Pre-Death Row Compilation. This early mix has 2Pac screaming at the beginning of the song and doesn't have the guests speaking between the verses, only 2Pac. The mix is slightly different.
  • Samples : 
06. Sucka 4 Love feat. G Money & Killa / Moe-Z
  • 1994/09-10. Fairly remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). The song re-used lyrics from the 91 2Pacalypse Now unreleased song "What U Won't Do 4 Love" (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). Planned to be in Pre-Death Row Compilation, the song is included in some Euthanasia / When I Get Free early tracklists.
  • Samples :
07. Outlaw (Rough Mix) feat. Dramacydal & Rah Rah / Moe-Z
  • 1994/10. Shortened - without the Rah Rah (raggamuffin artist) conclusion and 2Pac's speaking about his trial verdict approaching, in Me Against The World (1995, Interscope).
08. Dear Mama (Moe Z Remix) feat. Reggie Green & Sweet Franklin / Master Tee REMIXED by Moe-Z
  • 1993/10 - 1995/01 (?). Released in Dear Mama (12'') (1995, February 21). Like Pizarro, Moe-Z gave his own mix of the song but it was probably always aimed for a b-side.
09. Life's So Hard (Daz Version) feat. Snoop Dogg (backing) / Daz
10. So Many Tears (Rough Mix) feat. Stretch / Shock G
  • 1994/09 (~). Edited without Stretch's verse in Me Against The World (1995, Interscope), probably in January of 95.
  • Samples :
    • Stevie Wonder - "That Girl" (melody)
    • Quincy Jones - "The Dude" (guitar interpolation)
    • The Bible, Psalm 23 (quote interpolation : "Though I walk through the valley of death")
11. Can U Get Away (Hot Mix) feat. Anya Pinto / Mike Mosley (?)
  • 1994/09/20. Remixed in Me Against The World (1995, Interscope). It is known as a "mix", not a remix. The way it sounds, it could be the first version of the song, or an alternate first version. Maybe it is also produced by Mike Mosley...
  • Samples : 
12. Old School (Rough Mix) / Soulshock & Karlin, co-prod. Ezi Cut & Jay B
13. Fuck The World (Rough Mix) feat. Shock G / Shock G
  • 1994/11 (~). Released in Me Against The World. This leaked demo is very similar to the retail version. The song with the same title appears in March-April tracklists of R U Still Down original project, but the song re-appeared only in late tracklists in November. It was usually thought that the song was originally recorded in March and then put aside -because of a disagreement between Shock & Pac - until Shock G produced "So Many Tears" in September. In fact, it led to think more likely that there is a still unleaked early version maybe produced by Live Squad (either it was just a concept or a written not-recorded song yet). This version could be a remixed or re-recorded version.
  • Samples :
14. Pain (Thug Life Remix) feat. Stretch / Stretch (?) - UNLEAKED / LIVE / D-Ace's REMAKE
  • 1994/03/22 (?). Still unleaked. An original vibe mixed over the Live at the Arsenio Hall version has been released in Live Squad's The Tribute, The Forgotten Chapter (2010, Grand Imperial). But there could be two different remixes : one from March 94 for Thug Life sessions, one from late 94 for 2Pac's solo album.
  • Samples :
    • Eazy E - "Any Last Werdz" (vocals : "and still niggas ain't got no satisfaction")
BONUS TRACKS 
 
15. Outro (You Thought I Was D...) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1995/01/15. First draft of the intro of Me Against The World with another beat playing at the end and above all an unknown voice (Reggie Green ?) singing repeatedly "you thought I was dead", replaced by excerpts of radio news about 2Pac having being shot.
16. The Heat (Representin' 4 Ron G) feat. Stretch, Keith Murray & Waterbed Kev / Ron G
  • 1994/11/30. Released without major changes in Ron G's The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (1997, Tape Kingz). It is known as the last track 2Pac recorded in the New-York Qad studio a few hours before being robbed and shot while going out of the building. The song is dominated by a very long verse of Keith Murray from the Hit Squad (he will later regarded as an enemy by 2Pac because he is featured in B.I.G. "Who Shot Ya ? original version, recently leaked but probably known at the time). Waterbed Kev was the main rapper of the Fantastic Five, old school rap group which was with DJ Grand Wizard Theodore, mainly known for their battle with the Cold Crush in 1981 and for their raps in Wild Style movie and soundtrack. Ron G re-used 2Pac's verse for the track "Deadly Combination" on the Big L's posthumous album Big Picture (2000, Rawkus).
  • Samples : 



Picture by Reising & Taylor (1994).


DISC TWO : The Remixes


01. I Get Around (Battlecat Hip-Hop Remix) feat. Digital Underground / DJ Battlecat
02. Holler If You Hear Me (Broadway Remix) / Stretch
03. Keep Ya Head Up (Vibe Tribe Remix) feat. Dave Hollister / Vibe Tribe
04. Poor Out A Little Liquor (Madukey Remix) / Lea Reis & Moe Doe
05. Papa'z Song (Vibe Tribe Remix) feat. Mopreme / Vibe Tribe
  • 1992 - 1993 (new mix, new vocals). From Papa'z Song (12'') (1994, January 17).
06. Dear Mama (Baby Mama Remix Extra Clean Version) / Tony Pizarro (?)
  • 1993/10 - 1994-95 (?). Released in Dear Mama Remixes (Promo 12'') (1995, ?). This promo maxi is really rare and more or less unofficial. But the remixes are really good, especially this one. Even in a censored version - some words (just some hard words, because there are almost no bad words in the song) are not pronounced (maybe to use the song at school...) - the song sounds really good. Is it a real remix by Tony Pizarro himself ? Does he have made this at the time he was working on Stay True album or after when he produced the intro in early 95 ?
07. Temptations (Battlecat Hip Hop Remix) feat. G-Money / DJ Battlecat
  • 1993 - 1995 (?). From Temptations (12'') (1995, August 29). Interesting to notice that the single and the video with Coolio and Ice-T were out at the time 2Pac signed in on Death Row.
08. Let's Get it On (D&D 3 Beats Mix) feat. Heavy D, Grand Puba, The Notorious B.I.G. & Spunk Bigga (hook) / Eddie F. & Willy Gunz REMIXED By Eddie F. (?) 
  • 1994 (?). From an alternate unofficial Let's Get It On (12''). This remix seems to have been made for a mixtape or something like that, maybe something around the promotion of the Notorious B.I.G. album (released in Sept. 94, whereas Eddie F album was released in October 94)
  • Samples : 
09. Cradle To The Grave (Madukey Remix) feat. Thug Life / Lea Reis & Moe Doe
10. Me Against The World (Soul Power Hip-Hop Remix) feat. Dramacydal / Soulshock & Karlin
  • 1994/09 - 1995 (?) (remix). Released in Me Against The World (12'') (1995, Promo in US, single in Europa). This version has a totally different music and a scratched chorus instead of Puff Johnson singing.
11. Can U Get Away (Reggae Remix) feat. Anya Pinto / Mike Mosley (?)
  • 1994. It is said to be intended for an unreleased single : Can U Get Away (12''). Who made this remix ? Maybe it is Mike Mosley himself... Anyway, this version is really interesting and the reggae style fits well with the song.
  • Samples : 
12. So Many Tears (Easy Mo Bee Mix) feat. Stretch / Easy Mo Bee
  • 1994/08 - 12 (~) (remix). Unreleased. Probably initially aimed for the B-side of  So Many Tears (12'', June, the 13th) and leftover when 2Pac decided to edit out Stretch verse just before the release of the album (March, the 14th). It was then replaced in it by Dramacydal's "Hard 2 Imagine" track in order to promote their forthcoming album.
13. Lord Knows (Moe-Z Remix) feat. G-Money & Killa / Brian G remixed by Moe-ZMD 
  • 1993 - 1994/09 (?). Remained unreleased. The Me Against The World released mix gathers elements of all three versions (Brian G, Pizarro remix and this Moe-Z remix). It has been said that this one was been made right after Moe-Z took in hand the mix of the album. But his new mix was not loved by 2Pac - and the song disappeared from the album -, so they finally came back to a mix close to the original (cf. Out on Bail) but with a light singing by Natasha Walker (cf. Original R U Still Down)
14. So Many Tears (Key of Z Remix) feat. Killa & Milia / Moe-ZMD
  • 1994 - 1995. From So Many Tears (12'') (1995, June 13). Small variations in comparison with "Reminizm' Remix", there is another sample playing from the beginning and the other dark samples are more in the background.
  • Samples : 
15. Dear Mama (Black Queen Club Remix) feat. Reggie Green & Sweet Franklin / Moe-ZMD
16. Temptations (Moe-Z Remix) feat. G-Money / Moe-Z
  • 1993 - 1995. I don't know where it is from.

BONUS TRACKS :

 . So Many Tears (Reminizim’ Remix) / Shock G REMIXED By Moe-Z

  • 1994/08 - 1995/?. From So Many Tears (12'') (1995, June 13). Small variations in comparison with "Key of Z Remix".
  • Samples : 





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