1994 - Stay True

  • March - August 1994 : Tony Pizarro sessions, essentially consisting of remixes and new versions of songs planned for the album.
  • 4th session of recordings for his 3rd solo album, what will turn into Me Against The World.
  • A sequence of the album is said to have been submitted to Interscope (very probably in late June, eventually in mid August).
  • A kind of mixtape titled Stay True with 2Pac speeches as host was about to be released circa late August of 94. The album was supposed to follow.
  • The release of Thug Life Volume 1 will put an end to the project (with the eponymous song "Stay True" being transferred to it at the last minute). 2Pac had to change the title - so the leading concept of the album - and started to record new songs with Moe-Z and Easy Mo Bee.
  • Sources : Stay True Mixtape ; Tony Pizarro REELs
 
by Chi-Modu, 5th of May 1993 1994, Atlanta
(according to the "Exodus" tattoo)

### - WORK IN PROGRESS - The submitted sequence of the album called "Stay True" is totally unknown... But Banned of Bomb1st said it is way different than the leaked demo, which sounds more like a promo "mixtape" with all these interludes, than like a real album. If we are right, the submitted sequence should include mostly "Manu Tape" R U Still Down '94 versions, with maybe the new Bread & Water songs. Whereas the mixtape includes July-August new mixes and some rejected tracks from the submitted sequence... - ###

MIXTAPE TRACKLIST - Discogs page - Listen in Youtube

  1. Intro-lude (It ain't easy being me...)
  2. When I Get Free II (No Chorus)
  3. Pac-lude (Are you still down ?)
  4. It Ain't Easy (Half Chorus)
  5. Temptations (Recall No Synthé)
  6. No Justice, No Peace-lude
  7. Nothing 2 Lose (Kick Start)
  8. Pac-lude (I got nothing to lose...)
  9. Fuck All Y’All
  10. Amerikkka Eatz Itz Young feat. Young Lay, Ray Luv & Mac Mall
  11. Stay True (Short Mix) feat. Mopreme & Stretch
  12. Dear Mama (Master Tee Version) ?? Dear Mama (No-Reggie Mix)
  13. Pac-lude (Mama told me there'd be days like this...) - unleaked / instrumental
  14. High 'Til I Die (Short Mix) ??
  15. My Only Fear of Death (Short Mix) ??
  16. Lord Knows (Alternate Female Chorus) ??  
  17. ----UNLISTED--- Bitch-lude (What's wrong daddy ?) ?? *
  18. Hellrazor (Chorus) ??
  19. Thug Style (Speaking Version)
  20. Out On Bail (No Intro)
  21. ----UNLISTED--- Soulja-lude (Hold on...) (Long Mix) ?? *
  • Bold : tracks included for sure in the Stay True Mixtape. Only the A-side has been leaked yet but the Discogs Page filled by Banned of Bomb1st shows the full tracklist. Considering the duration we could think that the unleaked B-side includes "Manu Tape" (R U Still Down '94) version of "Dear Mama" and "Hell Razor", Pre-DR compilation (When I Get Free (Lost Tracks)) versions of "Hellrazor", "Out on Bail", "High Til I Die", "Only Fear Of Death" and the long version of "Thug Style" with 2Pac speaking... "Lord Knows" does not fit except if we add the "Bitchin' (Interlude)" which lasts 15-20'' to any of the version... "Hell Razor" could also be the Tony Pizarro remix with chorus, still unleaked. Comparing the duration of both sides (32'49 and only 28'), we could also think that these time indications are fantasist. Or, the interlude "Hold on" (1'30) could be not been listed as the outro...
  • * those interludes were not listed in the Stay True Mixtape B-Side leaked tracklist but could be there still...

Submitted album hypothesis (following late June tracklist)  :

  1. When I Get Free - no hook version ? *
  2. Thug Style - speaking version ? *
  3. Stay True *
  4. My Only Fear of Death - Manu Tape *
  5. Dear Mama - Manu Tape *
  6. Hell Razor - Manu Tape *
  7. Temptation (Hey) - Manu Tape
  8. Lord Knows - Manu Tape
  9. Phuck All Y'All - alternate mix ?
  10. High Til I Die *
  11. Amerikkka Eatz Itz Young *
* All songs are included in this mixtape, or in the Manu Tape (R U Still Down '94), except maybe "Fuck All Y'All" which could be in an alternate mix if the album was submitted before the 30th of June, but it is not sure at all... "When I Get Free" and "Thug Style" could have sightly different mix than on the mixtape, the first one having not the introduction.
 
BONUS DISC : ALTERNATE VERSIONS
  1. When I Get Free (Chorus) feat. Young Hollywood
  2. Temptations (Recall Synthé Mix) feat. AB Money
  3. It Ain't Easy (Complete Chorus Mix) feat. Sweet Franklin
  4. Nothing To Lose (Short Mix) feat. Natasha Walker 
  5. Dear Mama (Tony Pizarro Rough Mix) feat. Sweet Franklin & Reggie Green
  6. High 'Til I Die (Extended Mix)
  7. Lord Knows (What's Going On) feat. Kenyatta Forman (?) & Kim Armstrong
  8. Hellrazor (No Chorus) - snippet / remake
  9. Thug Style (Clean Version)
  10. Soulja-lude (Hold on...) (Short Mix) ***

    Bonus Tracks :

  11. Out On Bail (Live at the Source Awards) feat. Stretch & Mopreme
  12. Pain (Remix at Arsenio Hall) feat. Stretch & Mopreme
   
Unused Tracks :
 
. It Ain't Easy (First Take)
. Stay True (First Take) - UNLEAKED
 

The new album planned for summer, again delayed

Me Against the World has had many sequences and many titles before becoming the album we know. It is a slow evolution from the Thug Life/Mr. Middle Finger lost albums until F.T.W. (Fuck The World). Stay True could be the most advanced project among all sequences. 

The 2nd of April 94, the album R U Still Down was announced to the press to be released the following summer with "Dear Mama" as first single. What happened to that project ? Is it the same project with just a different title that has been delayed, delayed and finally released as Me Against The World ? Or did something make 2Pac change his plans ? Maybe Interscope and 2Pac decided to delay the project pending the trial in November... By delaying, 2Pac was listening to what other rappers were doing giving him new ideas, he also had the occasion to record new songs with new people...

In early April, the album contained original mixes from various producers with Interscope engineers Whitfield Jr. & Nettelsbey (aka Vibe Tribe) final mixdown. This sequence is characterized by a progressive replacement of almost all original songs by remixes made by Tony Pizarro.


2Pac handed over the reins of the album to Tony Pizarro

It has been said that 2Pac was not agreed with the mix of "R U Still Down", but is it the song itself produced by Shock G or the whole album mixed by Norman Whitfield Jr. & Duane Nettelsbey ? The first hypothesis could explain why 2Pac recorded "R U Still Down (Raise Em Up)" maybe to replace the original, and why the song "Fuck The World" totally disappeared after April until Shock G produced the new "So Many Tears". But "R U Still Down" seems to have persisted in the tracklists... The second hypothesis can explain why 2Pac let a new producer give new mixes for all his songs.

Tony Pizarro was mainly known for his engineering work for Ice-T but also for DJ Aladdin, The Poetess, SWV, Intelligent Hoodlum, Champ MC... In March 94, he probably just had finished to produce Sinister's first album Mobbin 4 Life (released in August 94, Interscope). Maybe it is the demo of that album that convinced 2Pac to work with him.

Tupac and Tony Pizarro won't record many new songs together, they will mostly try new mixes for the album, new instrumental, new arrangement, new chorus... "High Til I Die", "It Ain't Easy" and "R U Still Down (Raise Em Up)" are the only new recorded songs but they can also be considered as re-recorded songs...

1. March of '94. R U Still Down.


The first Tony Pizarro song ("High Til I Die") appears in R U Still Down Interscope Project tracklist. It is already a kind of remake of a Thug Life old song (cf. Thug Life Original). Tony Pizarro will particularly be a "second version man" more than a producer of new stuff. Maybe around the same time, he produced "R U Still Down (Raise Em Up)" (which sounds a bit like "High Til I Die"), also a second part for the prior Shock G song of the same name, maybe for a B-Side ("R U Still Down" was listed as planned videos for the album). Let's notice that songs like "Nothing 2 Lose" and "Bury Me A G" have been taken off (the last one because the group version is now in Thug Life project ; the first one probably because the mix was not satisfying).

2. Early May (?). Me Against The World / Exodus / Thug Life

In January - April 94, new recordings have been made by Stretch and 2Pac, perhaps mostly for the Thug Life project (a second East oriented part ?) because it does not seem to impact the R U Still Down tracklists in a first time. Something changes circa April : maybe 2Pac decided to mix East and West material in Thug Life Volume One... "Pain (Remix)" and "Stay True" enter the solo album in replacement of "Hold On, Be Strong" and "Fuck The World" (that one is even scratched on the "Exodus" compilation... What happened ? If there was an argument with Shock G, why was 2Pac keeping "R U Still Down" ?). "Raise Em Up" appears in the B-Sides but the song could have been made earlier in March-April.

"Fuck All Y'All" appears in Exodus B-Sides. The song is supposed to be from May (following the Reel date) but maybe the first take of the song is from earlier and Tony Pizarro gave a finalmix to it in May. The song could also be considered as a replacement for "Fuck The World". Both songs express the same bitterness against medias, justice, music industry...

The anticipated title "Me Against The World" also reflects this context but it is also a mystery at that time... The eponymous song will be recorded in October so maybe six months later. So 2Pac already had that concept in mind (it looks like a derivation of "Fuck The World" song).

3. May '95. Me Against The World

"Fuck All Y'All" enters the album and "Hold On Be Strong" re-enters in replacement of "Pain (Remix)" and "Thugz Get Lonely Too". Those ones will completely disappear until the double disc project Me Against The World (Clean Version) / F.T.W. (Dirty Version). At that time, the impact of Tony Pizarro is still very limited to "High Til I Die".

4. Late May '95. Amerikkka Eatz itz Young / Stay True

2Pac probably just recorded "Amerikkka Eatz itz Young" that as well fits the topic of the old album title and so replaced it as it replaced "Hold On" in the track list at the end of the album. "Stay True" is also considered as a potential new title (a totally new connotation, more classical Hip-Hop). 

5. 1st of June '94. Stay True

 

The tracklist seems more or less stable and the title chosen. The "Temptations (Hey)" means that Tony Pizarro might be already about to make a remix for it (only made the 30th of June ?). It was probably aimed for a single B-side. But anyway, 2Pac would probably prefer the original - how to drop an Easy Mo Bee shit !?

6. c. June 18 of '94. Stay True.


2Pac has just recorded "When I Get Free" and "Thug Style" with Bread & Water (so he added them just after the planned opener of the album "Out on Bail"), but there is no "It Ain't Easy" yet with Tony P (recorded one month later, again a new version from an old song, cf. Mr Middle Finger) neither any "Dear Mama" remixed by Tony P (as well in July)...

The "Easy Moe Bee" credit for "Out on Bail" is certainly a mistake. These two new recordings replace "Str8 Ballin" (that probably entered Thug Life project at that time) and "R U Still Down" (was 2Pac more or less decided to drop the song because of a kind of dispute with Shock G ? or did the song simply not fit the new boom bap direction ?). 

Closest thing to the Stay True Mixtape, but we are still 2 months time before it !!

Another hypothesis is that, according to Banned, a sequence titled "Stay True" was submitted for a release... It is not impossible that it was right before or right after these two new recordings. More likely after... If like it is said, "Dear Mama" original version sample was not cleared, it is not impossible that it leaded 2Pac to give the decisive mission to remix "Dear Mama" and maybe to try another things with the rest of the album... 

7. c. late June (?) or mid August (?). Stay True submitted album.

NO TRACKLIST KNOWN

Banned claims he owns a final version submitted to Interscope, but we don't know exactly at what time it was submitted, with which content...

He notably said there is a different mix of "Stay True" (but it could be the real demo and not the submitted version). But more or less he said the final version was way better than the Stay True Mixtape which was leaked.

What could be the reasons for the album to be rejected, if it is not for "Dear Mama" key track sample...?

8. Second half of August '94. Stay True mixtape. 

NO HANDWRITTEN SHEET.

Not a lot of things were recorded by 2Pac in that summer of 1994, out of "It Ain't Easy" in late July.

"Nothing To Lose" reappears, "Temptations" and "Fuck All Y All" have their Tony P mixes. "It Ain't Easy" is in a version with a chorus (by Natasha Walker ?) but there is also a first take with an alternate intro ("muthafuckers....") and no female chorus. It is still the first versions of "When I Get Free" and "Thug Style". But considering the duration indicated for the rest of the mixtape, it does not include the new Tony P version of "Dear Mama" (known date for that mix is the 14th of July), neither the Tony P version of "Lord Knows" (known as alternate chorus, probably from August). It seems to have the no intro version off "Out on Bail" and the short mix from "Only Fear of Death" (probably made by Tony P).

9. August of '94. No tracklist.

The new mixes of "When I Get Free" with a chorus by Young Hollywood and a final version of "Thug Style" (with or without intro-outro speeches ?) could have been made at that time. We usually consider those are from the time 2Pac recorded two songs with Dramacydal and Bread & Water for the Young Thugz project (the 18th of August). But these new mixes could have been made by somebody else or for another project. Both songs totally vanished from album project and re-appear only in prison compilation projects in 95...

Sept. '94 : Thug Life Volume One being released : Death of the project ?

When Interscope refused the song "Runnin From The Police" (Thug Life Version with with Pac's alternate verse and Brown Man at the hook) included in Promo versions of Thug Life Volume One (circa August ?), 2Pac chose to replace it by "Stay True". So he had to change again his plans for his new solo album. Eventually this is at that time (August) - after the original album being dead - that it became a kind of mixtape/album hosted by 2Pac with speaking interludes, and why not only with alternate versions of the songs not for the final album... For instance, out of the alternate versions, Bread & Water songs, "Fuck All Y'All" and "Amerikkka Eatz Itz Young" will also be dropped from the album...  

9. Early September '94. Untitled.

 

"Stay True" has disappeared, as well as "When I Get Free", "Thug Style", "Fuck All Y'All", "Amerikkka Eatz", "Only Fear of Death" (for a Thug Life Volume Two ? for Young Thugz EP ? for the mixtape ?). New Easy Mo Bee sessions ("If I Die 2Nite"/"My Block") have been made, known date being the 3rd of September. But "The Game Ain't The Same" is probably not recorded and will eventually turn into "Outlaw" at the end of September. 

10. Early September '94. Short lived title Crucified/Kkkrucified.


That new topic re-used a clear Bible topic (after Exodus), but more likely announces "Euthanasia" and Makaveli's "7 Day Theory" topics from Death Row era. Same tracks, just 2Pac re-added "Out on Bail", Nothing 2 Lose" and "Amerikkkaz Eatz Itz Young" (but with indication of "remix" on side - is it already the one published as "I Gotta Survive" in Young Lay's album in 95 ?).

The other title purposed "Me Vs. The World" announces the return of "Me Against The World / Fuck The World" concept that will finally win.

 11. September '94. Me Vs. The World.

"Throw Ya Handz Up" appears as well as "Nothing Like The Old School" (maybe not yet recorded). "The Game Ain't The Same" is still here. But let's notice in this one that Tony P is credited for "Dear Mama" and Moe-Z for "Lord Knows". In following tracklists, the title will evolve in "Outlaw" with the recording of the song and then in F.T.W. / Me Against The World.

"Nothing To Lose" is scrapped again... 2Pac thinks to record new songs. It is surprising the way everything is again turned upside down... The Notorious B.I.G.'s album Ready To Die has been released the 13th of September (with six Easy Mo Bee produced songs). Once 2Pac said that his album was originally sounding a bit darker like Biggie's one, that he considered that Biggie's album was heavily inspired by his work. Maybe the release of the album led 2Pac to deeply change his plans.

 
DETAILED TRACKLIST
(Special thanks to Bomb 1st members Filla and Dominator for sample credits)
 
DISC TWO : STAY TRUE MIXTAPE
 
01. Intro (It ain't easy being me...) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1993 - 1994/08/05. It uses the same instrumental than the "Hold on interlude" and the first lines of "Thugz Get Lonely Too". But 2Pac vocals were extracted from the end of the song "It Ain't Eazy (TL Original)" (a totally different song than the released one, cf. Mr. Middle Finger).
  • Samples : 
    • George Clinton - "Batty Batty Batty" (Sample Some of Disc... Vol. 2, track 68) (melody) 
02. When I Get Free II (No Chorus) / Bread & Water
  • 1994/06/16 - 08/05 (?) (added intro). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru) in a slightly remixed form. Included in Stay True mixtape. This demo doesn't have the chorus by Young Hollywood (aka Kadafi) but has a different intro with a voice answering 2Pac's questions and a slightly more dynamic beat. It seems Bread & Water gave a new mix to "When I Get Free" and "Thug Style" when they came to produce "Where I Will Be" and "Killing Fields" for Young Thugz (cf. Dramacyde).
  • Sample :
03. Interlude (Are you still down...?) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1994/03 - 08/05. There is no speech here but just a line which could be extracted from the Raise Em Up version of "R U Still Down" (cf. Honor Among Thugz).
04. It Ain't Easy (Half Chorus) feat. Sweet Franklin & Kim Armstrong (?) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1994/07/26 - 08/09 (chorus added, new mix). Released in Me Against the World (1995, Interscope) without the chorus. 
  • Story. There are many states of the song, with an alternate speaking intro and no chorus (probably the first take), with the known intro with just a backing chorus, with intro and a half chorus (in Stay True tape) and finally with a full chorus singing the title between the verses. 2Pac/Interscope finally chose to have no chorus.
  • Samples :
05. Temptations (Recall No Keys) feat. AB Money / Easy Mo Bee REMIXED by Tony Pizarro
  • 1993/10 - 1994/06/30 (new mix). Original version released in Me Against the World. There are many REELs for this song, with many mixes, one "No Keys" (just the keys off), this one labelled "Mix#3", and the instrumental titled "T.V. Mix". That instrumental was released in Temptations 12'' as Temptations Instrumental.
06. Interlude (No justice, no peace...) / Johnny J
  • 1994/01 - 08/05 (edit). Originally introducing "Ready 4 Whatever", song which was the first of Volume One in early tracklists (cf. Honor Among Thugz). The interlude could also be in the Thug Life Original version.
07. Nothing 2 Lose (Kick Start) feat. Sweet Franklin (?) / Stretch REMIXED by Tony Pizarro
  • 1993/11 - 1994/07/31 (new mix, new intro). Released in R U Still Down (1997). With the retail lyrics (different from Mr Middle Finger version) and a new dynamic start of the sample with Pac laughing and saying "Nothing To Lose". 
  • Story. The song had been removed from the album since January. 2Pac presumably wanted a new version and notably recorded a new intro for it. Tony Pizarro's REEL Slave has various elements, and various singing vocals takes. In post-Stay True tracklists, 2Pac specifically noted "Y.N.V." on side the track, so he was unhappy Pizarro took off his friend. And the same happened with "Lord Knows" which was finally released with her vocals.
  • 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)
08. Interlude (Nothing to lose) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1993 - 1994/08/05. This interlude is a 2Pac's speech extracted from the outro of unleaked "Nothing To Lose (Clean version)" (cf. Mr. Middle Finger). 
  • Samples : 
    • George Clinton - "Let's Keep It Upstairs" (Sample Some of Disc... Vol. 2, track 29) (melody)  

09. Fuck All Y’All / 2Pac & Duane Nettlesbey, Tony Pizarro (final mix)

  • 1994/05/17 (~) - 1994/06/30 (mixdown). Remixed in R U Still Down (1997).
  • Story. Duane says the song was recorded right after 2Pac spent 7 days in jail (May 10 - May 17). 2Pac asked a beat with a George Benson "Breezin" sample. But he totally surprised everybody when he started his delivery on that love beat by screaming "Fuck all y'all". The topic also tends to reuse "Don't Call Me, Bitch" concept about fake friends, backstabbers... It also symbolically replaced "Fuck The World" produced by Shock G at a time the two friends were maybe in bad terms. The sample will be re-used for "Me Vs She" featuring Storm for Thug Life Volume II, re-produced by Johnny J (like "Where Do We Go From Here" and What'z Next").
  • Samples : 
    • George Benson - "Breezin'" (melody)
    • Geto Boys - "Street Life" (vocals : "I thought I had friends but i ain't got no fuckin friends")

10. Amerikkka Eatz Itz Young feat. Young Lay, Ray Luv & Mac Mall / Khayree

  • 1994/05. Original version of "I Gotta Survive" remixed later for Young Lay's album Black 'N Dangerous (1996, Atlantic), album mainly produced by Khayree.  
  • Story. The song fits the concept 2Pac will choose after "Stay True" : "Amerikkka's Crucified" (in which the song is noted "remix"). It somehow announces the concepts of "Euthanasia", "Youthanasia" that will obsess 2Pac in his prison drafts and during his whole Death Row era (early title for All Eyez on Me, last title for 2Pac's second Death Row solo project Me Against The World pt. 2 when turning into the first state of a 2Pac+Outlawz album, finally materialized by considering himself as a "Black Jesus" as pictured on Killuminati's front cover). Bay Area connection. Mac Mall released his album Illegal Business in July 1993, also produced by Khayree, with the single "Ghetto Theme" featuring Eboni Foster, video directed by 2Pac, with Stretch and 2Pac playing characters becoming enemies and about to shoot at each other at the end (very inspired by 2Pac's "Honor Among Thugz" screenplay)... Mall was already a planned guest in Out on Bail project (circa Nov. 93). Ray Luv was Pac’s partner in Strictly Dope, before Digital Underground (cf Beginnings/The Lost Tapes), he will release his second album Forever Hustlin' in 1995, mainly produced by Khayree and featuring Mopreme and Rated R. Maybe around the time of this song, 2Pac also directed the video of Ray Luv's single "Last Nite". The title also refers directly to a song by Tragedy Khadafi, "America eats the Young", with Chuck D at the backing vocals, released in 1991 in Marley Marl's In Control Volume II, and that Tragedy had his most successful single "Street Life" released in Feb. 94 with the wonderful "Return of the life" remix, with a Tony Pizarro's remix as B-side !

11. Stay True (Short Mix) feat. Stretch & Mopreme / Stretch

  • 1994/04 (~). Released in Thug Life : Volume 1 (Sept. of 1994, Interscope). 
  • Story. This Mixtape version is similar to the released version, but shorter. Banned said once that there is an unleaked demo with no guests... The song has been chosen at the last moment by 2Pac in late August to replace "Runnin" (initially included in the Promo version, cf. Exodus), song rejected by Interscope. The fact that this mix is shorter than the retail one could indicate that it has been made after and that the Stay True mixtape could be in fact posterior to the decision to report the song to Thug Life Volume One. It could explain why it contains many alternate mixes that 2Pac very probably didn't want for his final album (Recall of "Temptations" - alternate chorus for "Nothing To Lose") and songs he couldn't include (like "Dear Mama" original...). It could as well explain why "Stay True" is in the last position of the tape, like "Out On Bail", like promo songs given to the people for the forthcoming albums of Thug Life and 2Pac.
  • Samples :

12. Dear Mama (No Reggie Mix) feat. Sweet Franklin / DF Master Tee REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

  • 1993/10 - 1994/07/14 (new mix). Released in Me Against the World (1995) with added Reggie Green vocals on the chorus. The song is mistakenly labelled "No Lady Mix" on the REEL whereas Reggie is a man...
  • Story. The famous scratched phrase of Yo-Yo ("Wouldn't be a damn thing without a woman") is there replaced by backing singing by Sweet Franklin. It was said 2Pac hesitated between the two versions but still preferred the original (like for "Temptations"). On the other hand, DJ King Assassin who pretends to have made the sratches, said the sample was refused by the right holder. Maybe this remix was simply not finished yet, or Pac chose the original for Stay True mixtape and this remix for his forthcoming solo.
  • Samples : 

13. Interlude (Mama told me there'd be days like this...) / Tony Pizarro - UNLEAKED / Instrumental (?)

  • 1992 (??) - 1994/08/05 (~). This line interpolates the famous song from Van Morrison "Days Like This". 2Pac speaks this line in "Black Cotton" outro : Mama told me there'd be days like this, but I'm pissed ! - Why ? - They claiming that I'm violent. Rotten black cotton in God's eyes". So Tony Pizarro could have extracted it to paste it on a new beat, for instance the unused beat we can find in the interludes REEL, which is funkier than other ones but lasts only 8 secs.
14. High 'Til I Die (Short Mix) / Tony Pizarro  
  • 1994/03/19. Released in Sunset Park OST (1996, EastWest) in an alternate mixdown, a little bit longer. 
  • Story. It contains some lines of 1993's "High Till I Die" Thug Life version (cf. Do U Love The Thug Life ?). So in a way, it is also a second version of an old song. It is very likely the first song produced by Tony Pizarro for 2Pac ("Where Do We Go From Here ?" being very doubtful or just an engineer thing).
  • Samples : 

15. Only Fear of Death (Short Mix) / Live Squad REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

  • 1993/10 - 1994/08/05 (?) (short mix). Previous mix released in R U Still Down (1997). This mix was later included in pre-DR compilation project, cf. When I Get Free (Lost Tracks). 
  • Story. It is strange that this new mix sounds in-complete in comparison of the Cradle2theGrave and Manu Tape mixes of the song, almost sounding like a pre-version (as if the original sample in the hook couldn't be cleared)... It has less effects and let the voice of 2Pac goes alone with the beat and a musical background.
  • Samples : 

16. Lord Knows (What's Going On) feat. Kim Armstrong & Kenyatta Forman (?) / Brian G REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

  • 1993/08 - 1994/08/09 (~) (new chorus). 
  • Story. Once again, Tony Pizarro seems to want his own version of every Pac songs of the album. The music and the mix are kind of similar to the released version in Me Against the World (1995), but the chorus orchestrated by Pizarro is more repetitive and invasive. Kim Armstrong is singing in two songs produced by Pizarro from Sinister's album Mobbin' 4 Life in 1994. The male's voice could eventually be Kenyatta Forman who had a solo eponymous album in 1991 before working for a Def Jef's second album in 1992, but it could be another guy, the Kenyatta credited could also be a Moe-Z friend...
  • Samples : 

17. Bitch-lude (What's wrong daddy...?) feat. Capucine Jackson / Tony Pizarro

  • 1993 - 1994/08/05. Released in Me Against the World as an intro for Death Around The Corner", vocals playing during the beginning of the beat. 
  • Story. This interlude has the quite similar beat to "Are you still down" and "Nothing to lose" interludes from the A-Side. It is said to feature the voice of Capucine Jackson, Johnny J's wife. If so, that skit is very probably in the original 93 version of "Death Around The Corner" (cf. Thug Life Original). Then, Tony Pizarro extracted the vocals from the song and pasted them on a new instrumental but he didn't used it for the Stay True mixtape - except if it is not listed and it follows "Lord Knows" which has not the same duration than expected on Discogs page...
  • Samples : 
    • George Clinton - "Let's Keep It Upstairs" (Sample Some of Disc... Vol. 2, track 29) (melody)  

18. Hellrazor (Chorus Version) feat. Sweet Franklin (?) / Stretch REMIXED by Tony Pizarro SNIPPET / AmaroG1 REMAKE

  • 1994/02 - 1994/07/29 (~) (new mix & chorus added). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru) with different beat and a new chorus by Val Young.  
  • Story. Original version was recorded for Mr Middle Finger as "Dear Lord" and probably re-recorded or slightly altered for R U Still Down Original. A snippet has been leaked with woman's voice singing the title and backing. The leaked Pizarro's "Main" from the Reel has just Pac's voice in the hook. It seems Tony Pizarro took the original vocals (with "Dropped 2 cops" in the 3rd verse, instead of "shellshocked"), and instead of the Stretch vocals and samples of movies at the hook he chose to have a new chorus similar to the original backing singing voice. Pizarro probably asked the singers who were working with him on "Dear Mama" (Sweet Franklin) or "Lord Knows" (Kim Armstrong). The voice being light, it could be more likely Sweet Franklin...
  • Samples : 

19. Thug Style (Dirty Version) / Bread & Water 

  • 1994/06/16. Fairly remixed in R U Still Down (1997) without the intro, outro nor the adlibs.
  • Story. Bread & Water presumably made an advanced shorter mix without 2Pac speaking at the beginning and at the end of the song... This mix is not included in Pre-Death Row compilation but we can hear the end of the song at the beginning of "Out On Bail" (cf. When I Get Free (Lost Tracks)) in one of the two demo leaked, song which was probably directly taken from that Stay True Mixtape where one track follows the other. Banned confirmed it was this version into the mixtape, but he also used to refer to it as "final version", maybe because it is also the version included in the submitted sequence... if not, is the speechless version the very first in the Bread & Water REEL ?

20. Out on Bail (No Intro) feat. AB Money / LG

  • 1994/04/25. Remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004).
  • Story. "Out On Bail" Stay True mixtape version seems to be identical to the one included in the "Manu Tape" (cf. R U Still Down Original). Tony Pizarro seems to have not made any new mix for it.
  • Samples : 
21. Outro-lude (Hold on...) (Long Mix) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1994/04 - 08/05. Souljah's speech is extracted from the end of "Hold On, Be Strong" (cf. Exodus B-Sides compilation). It has the exact same beat and background than the "Interlude (It ain't easy)". Maybe Pizarro firstly tried one speech with that beat before choosing the other... or this one has simply been forgotten to be listed...
  • Samples : 
    • George Clinton - "Batty Batty Batty" (Sample Some of Disc... Vol. 2, track 68) (melody)
 
ALTERNATE VERSIONS
 
01. When I Get Free II (Chorus Version) feat. Young Hollywood (chorus) / Bread & Water
  • 1994/06 - 08/18 (?) (final mix & backing added). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). Demo version without Young Hollywood was included in Stay True mixtape. This one is included in Pre-Death Row Compilation. The song totally disappeared from 2Pac solo album's tracklists after Stay True. Maybe it was then aimed for the Young Thugz EP project... It then appears in all prison tracklists for a compilation of leftovers. 2Pac will re-record the song for Death Row right after being freed but will finally scrapped it (cf. When I Get Free).
  • Samples :

02. Temptations (Recall #3 Mix) feat. AB Money / Easy Mo Bee REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

  • 1993/10 - 1994/06/30 - 08/06 (final mix). Original version released in Me Against the World. On the REEL of the song, there are three mixes, one "No Keys" (synthé keys off) and this one labelled "Mix#3", with the instrumental titled "T.V. Mix". That instrumental was released in Temptations 12'' as Temptations Instrumental.

03. It Ain't Easy (Chorus Version) feat. Sweet Franklin (?) / Tony Pizarro

  • 1994/07/26 - 08/21 (?) (chorus added, final mix). Released in Me Against the World but without any chorus. The Stay True mixtape has a lighter chorus than the final Pizarro mix, especially during the first hooks.  
  • Story. This version is closer to the retail version of the album, 2Pac maybe hesitating until the last moment.
  • Samples :
05. Nothing 2 Lose (Short Mix) feat. Natasha Walker / Stretch REMIXED By Tony Pizarro & (?)
  • 1993 - 1994/07/31 - 08/13 OR 09 (?) (new mix). Included in Pre-DR compilation project. Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru) with a slightly different mix and less singing. 
  • Story. This version doesn't have the kick start of Stay True Mixtape, but it seems to start right after the 2Pac added intro, and it shares many elements of it. It is shorter and it has the original Natasha Walker chorus (whereas Stay True version has a different singer). It sounds like a new last mix answering to the wish 2Pac had to keep Natasha Walker vocals in it : we can see the song clearly labelled "Y.N.V." in F.T.W./Me Against The World tracklists. If we consider that 2Pac recorded extra vocals for the Tony Pizarro version intro in late July, it is possible that he asked him and nobody else to make a new version of the song but with Natasha Walker.
  • 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)
08. Dear Mama (Master DAT) feat. Sweet Franklin & Reggie Green / DF Master Tee REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

09. High 'Til I Die (Extended Mix) / Tony Pizarro  

11. Lord Knows (Alternate Female Chorus) feat. Kim Armstrong / Brian G REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

  • 1993 - 1994/07/31 (new chorus). This version has the same woman's voice than the other Pizarro remix but gives a different singing.
  • Samples : 

12. Hellrazor (No Chorus) / Stretch REMIXED by Tony Pizarro

13. Thug Style (Clean Version) / Bread & Water
  • 1994/06/16 - 08/18 (?) (clean mix). Fairly remixed with another old school sample in R U Still Down (1997). This mix was leaked into Makaveli 6, what was probably a demo tape for a Thug Life Volume 2 at the time 2Pac went to prison. The dirty version being included in the Mixtape, this clean version could have been made / or simple chosen later for the album (but it does not appear in 2Pac album tracklists) or more likely for Volume 2 (what was mostly filled with lost Volume 1 songs, cf. Honor Among Thugz).
14.  Souljah-lude (Hold on...) (Short Mix) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1994/04 - 08/05. 2Pac as Souljah's speech is extracted from the end of "Hold On, Be Strong". It has the exact same beat and background singing than "Interlude (It ain't easy)". Maybe Pizarro firstly tried this speech with that beat before choosing the other. 
  • Samples : 
    • George Clinton - "Batty Batty Batty" (Sample Some of Disc... Vol. 2, track 68) (melody)
 
BONUS TRACKS

. Out on Bail (Live at the Source Awards, Paramount Theater, NY) feat. Stretch (chorus) & Mopreme (backing) / LG

  • 1994/04/25. "Out On Bail" Stay True mixtape version seems to be identical to the one included in the "Manu Tape" (cf. R U Still Down Original), same duration. Tony Pizarro seems to have not given a new mix for it so we chose to include this live version instead, which has been given during these Tony Pizarro sessions.
  • Samples : 

 .  I'd Rather Be Ya Lover feat. Madonna / Madonna & Dave "Jam" Hall
  • 1994/03-06/15 (~). Leftover track from Madonna's Bedtime Stories (1994). This is the final version refused by Madonna's label because 2Pac was sentenced for rape allegation.
  • Samples : 
. It Ain't Easy (First Take) / Tony Pizarro
  • 1994/07/26. Released in Me Against the World in a very close form without any chorus. In this first demo, the speaking intro is different (starting by "Muthafuckin..."). In the next step Pizarro will try a singing chorus (turning into the version included in the Stay True mixtape) but 2Pac/Interscope will finally go back to a musical hook with just 2Pac speaking.
  • Samples :
. Nothing To Lose (Draft Mix) feat. Natasha Walker / Stretch REMIXED by Tony Pizarro
  • 1993 - 1994/08-09 (?) OR 1995/01 (?) (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)

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