- Thug Life Volume 1 first sessions : end of 93 - beginning of 94
- Thug Life Live Squad sessions : Jan. - May 94
- circa Nov. 93 : first project of Thug Life as a group or compilation, initially thought as a compilation/soundtrack with a short movie.
- circa May 94 : first project of a compilation of leftover tracks from solo album, what will re-emerge in 1995 whilst 2Pac is in prison.
- sources : Makaveli 6 ; Thug Life Vol. 1 Promo
### These titles refer to the earliest state of two different projects, what respectively became Volume One in mid 94 and R U Still Down / When I Get Free B-Sides Lost Tracks "Pre-Death Row" compilation project in 1995 (what eventually turned into official R U Still Down compilation years later). The first tracklist re-organizes Makaveli 6 bootleg and tries to complete it according to the tracklist we have. The second one follows the available tracklist. ###
TRACKLIST - Listen in YouTube
Pictures of the Promo version of Thug Life Volume One, before "Runnin" being replaced by "Stay True"
From left to right : Mopreme, Macadoshis, Tupac, Big Syke, Rated R
This picture has been modified to have the lyrical content advisory
and the "Surviving In America" kind of title. Who made this ?
A thousand legends about Thug Life Volume 2 - so many fakes...
Many bootlegs have been leaked with the title of "Thug
Life 2". But most of the songs on those are often taken from Thug Life Demo Tape, from Thug Life Original or from these main Thug Life Volume 1 sessions.
Most of the tracks in Thug Life Volume 1 were old tracks renewed
(except "Under Pressure" and "Stay True", which were recently recorded - circa March of 94 - for Live Squad's album Diary of a Poor Man or for 2Pac's solo album Stay True). "Stay True" doesn't even appear in the Thug Life Promo Cassette. 2Pac released it in Volume 1
at the last minute, in replacement of "Runnin' (Memories Version)'
feat. Brown Man, probably refused by Interscope due to his violent
content against the police...
This set of pictures are maybe from a different later session
It has often been used as a cover for Thug Life 2 bootlegs
What could have been Thug Life : Volume II if 2Pac hadn't been shot ?
Tracks that could have made the cut of that Volume 2, among other :
Hopeless, Is It Cool 2 Fuck, High Till I Die, Thug Life, I'm Loosin' It, Read 4 Whatever, Out The Gutta, Anotha Jack, Judgement Day, Hurts The Most, Hold On, Runnin'
Another possibility could be to add some songs recorded with Stretch and Dramacydal, mainly for the project titled Young Thugz EP (cf. Dramacydal) :
The Heat, Late Night (Young Thugz Version), Don't Make Enemies With Me, "Bury Me A G pt. 2, Thug Life (Young Thugz Version), Addicted 2 The Streets, Thug Style, When I Get Free, Runnin' (Moe Z Remix), Killing Fields, Where Will I Be...
From left to right : Big Syke, Mopreme, Tupac, Macadoshis, Rated R
After N-Y Quad shooting, maybe 2Pac could have had the idea of editing out Stretch's verses and remixing his music (like he did for "So Many Tears" or for Dramacydal's "Late Night", cf. Dramacydal). But he was already busy enough with his solo album. And then, he was preparing a compilation of leftover tracks and not a Volume II.
Considering the fact that Thug Life was specifically Big Syke, Mopreme, Rated R & Macadoshis, and that in 94, Rated R and Macadoshis haven't recorded any songs with 2Pac, and Syke only "Hennessey"... the highest probability would be to imagine that 2Pac would have recorded new tracks with his team in 95. And That is exactly what he did when he went out of prison : he and Syke started a full new Thug Life project album called Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2.
THUG LIFE, the movie & the soundtrack : Volume 1 : "Honor Among Thugz"
In the late of 93 / beginning of 94, 2Pac seems to have had the idea of making a short movie+soundtrack to illustrate the concept of Thug Life (idea he already had in early 93, cf. Thug Life Demo). Stretch and Live Squad had tried to release that kind of project in 1992 with Game of Survival but Tommy Boy shelved their album... Snoop will do the same one year later with his Murder was the Case (late 94).
The title figures a kind of dedication to fallen friends like Kato and Mental Illness, respectively killed in Apr.-May and October 93. Tupac also wrote the names of Joshua and Qu'Aid in the back page of a tracklist around that time (cf. Out On Bail) - the second one could be the kid killed by a dead bullet in a firefight in 92, cf. W.A.T.M. project and Ghetto Gospel). Many songs speak about that topic like "Pour Out a Lil Liquor", "How Long Will They Mourn", "Bury Me A G", "Cradle 2 The Grave", "Judgement Day"... And 2Pac was maybe still in this perspective when he recorded "Where Do We Go From Here" and "God Bless The Dead".
Mike Miller's pictures and words from him about that photography session tend to illustrate that short-lived project. To have an idea of the kind of project 2Pac could have, we can also watch the video clip he directed for his friend Mac Mall circa Autumn 93 : Ghetto Theme, where we also have a scene of dice game which ends badly, a burial ceremony, and Stretch and 2Pac about to kill each other...
An argument upon the dice game,
like in Mac Mall's "Ghetto Theme" video clip directed by 2Pac ?
The scenario for the movie "Honor Among Thugz" : in the memory of Kato.
These are the pages following the handwritten concept tracklist/guestlist titled "Honor Among Thugz". It tells the story of Kato's death. Is it close to what really happened ? There are for sure many differences : Mopreme was not with 2Pac and Thug Life in Apr. 96, 2Pac just gave him a role. 2Pac turns that episode happened during Thug Life genesis into a typical ghetto tragedy : party, drug & alcool, gang fuss and traps, car chase, firefight car, police, burial ceremony, pain...
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Kato was a kind of music manager for Evil Mind Gangsta and maybe also for Thug Life. After his death, in late 93, 2Pac got close to The Haitian Jack and Jimmy Henchman, who were half gangsters, half music managers. Both have a decisive role in the troubles 2Pac got in... The first one was one of the people who for sure raped Ayanna Jackson in Shakur's hotel room, and was finally not sentenced for that... Jimmy Henchman admited to have organized the Quad studios ambush in November 94 where 2Pac was shot and after what he totally fell in paranoia, began the war with B.I.G. and the East coast... 2Pac won't forget them in the lyrics of "Against All Odds", speaking of revenge... We could assume that Tupac greatly lacked a trustful protecting figure in music business following the death of Kato. Not sure Suge Knight was the perfect guy for that... Big Syke after leaving Death Row will return to T.N.T. Recordings, maybe a more secured label, led by Atron Gregory who managed Digital Underground and 2Pac two first albums.
A Volume 2 original idea also a movie+soundtrack about Mental Illness ?
Considering the scenario of this Volume 1, we could imagine that 2Pac would have wanted to dedicate the second volume to the memory of their other died friend, Mental Illness, whose voice appears in "Only Fear of Death" but also in "Street Fame". Mental was a member of Syke's group Evil Mind Gangsta and not of Thug Life. But his death and his lyrics had a strong influence on Shakur's writing and evolution, notably his obsessional pre-feeling of death. It has been said Mental committed suicide. So this second volume could have tried to capture life in the ghetto in a more intimacy point of view : loneliness, paranoia, friendship betrayal, love deception, deceptive fame...
TIMELINE
There
are very few known tracklists for this project, but it is possible to reconstruct the story of that album by considering carefully the parallel evolution of the solo
album from Mr. Middle Finger to Out On Bail, then to R U Still Down '94 and Stay True, and the various events who occurred in 2Pac's life.
1992. The birth of the concept.
Memories : the concept of "thug" gained place in 2Pac's life in April 1992 when he helped his stepfather Mutulu Shakur to write down and communicate the "Thug Code" in order to set peace between Blood and Crips (cf. Thug Life Demo Tape). Then, 2Pac met Big Syke at the Snoop Dogg's birthday the
20th of October (and probably Prince Ital Joe too who had just recorded
his first hook in a hip-hop record with Dr. Dre for "Mr. Officer", original
unreleased version of "The Day The Niggaz Took Over" for The Chronic, released a few days later the 15th of December). Days later, they were recording the first "Thug Life" song together over a Johnny J's beat (who was already the main producer for Big Syke's group Evil Mind Gangsta).
1993. The first original concept solo album with guests.
Of course, the Volume 1 album took its roots into the Thug Life Original
solo album which was started to be recorded in late 92 - early 93 and
was purposed to Interscope in May 1993. The album is said to have been
delayed because of sample issues (notably for "Pour Out A Lil Liquor" and "How Long Will They Mourn Me" which were replayed and cleared later). Mopreme was not with the rest of the group yet.
August 93. Mopreme joined the group for the "Thugz 4 Life" tour.
During Mr. Middle Finger sessions, Mopreme met up 2Pac and the other Thug Life members to start touring with them. The 19th August, they were playing at The Sheraton, Washington DC, in September or October, at the Bowie State University in Maryland, in late October in Atlanta. They also recorded the song "Bury Me A G (Thug Life Version)", the first song with the five members of the group. But at that time, the song was only intended to be a B-side for the eponymous single (the solo version was recorded earlier or during the same session).
Late Sept. 93. The Thug Life demo had been leaked...
In late September, 2Pac had just recorded a hand of new songs for his Mr. Middle Finger solo album : "Open Fire", "Who Do U Luv ?", "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" with Natasha Walker speaking. And also "Don't Leave" for Y?N-Vee album, "It Hurts The Most" for Live Squad second album... or was into the recording of one of these, when Natasha Walker from Y?N-Vee (as she declared in an interview), walking by the corridor of Interscope studios, heard the song "Is It Cool 2 Fuck" (with her chorus) playing inside a room. She surprised the Dogg Pound who were listening to the Thug Life Demo cassette... Natasha said 2Pac was so mad that he scrapped the whole album...
Consecutively, 2Pac changed his both projects. Thug Life Original and Mr. Middle Finger were more or less two solo albums around the concept of thug life, one West Coast oriented, the othe East Coast oriented. Then they became a pure solo album, and a pure group/compilation album.
- "Shit Don't Stop" with Thug Life & Y?N-Vee is recorded in late Sept. - early Oct., maybe the day 2Pac recorded "Don't Leave" with Y?N-Vee (the 30th of Sept.), maybe the exact day they discovered the Thug Life Demo had been leaked. The song was maybe intended to be a B-side for "Here We Go" (a song from his solo album which was sharing the same beat), like "Bury Me A G", or a new Thug Life song for an advanced version of the Thug Life Original, or the first record of the new Thug Life album...
- Consecutively, "Here We Go" disappeared from his solo album but Thug Life Original solo songs "Death Around The Corner", "Fake Ass Bitches" and "Getting Money" entered his solo album (cf. Out On Bail).
- "Fake Ass Bitches (Y?N-Vee Version)" featuring Nic Nam (the main rapper of Y?N-Vee) could be from mid-late October when the song was dropped from Out On Bail solo album sequence. Or a bit later after 2Pac went out of jail the 2nd of November, it has same kind of angry speaking than "Str8 Ballin" and "Out On Bail". Or less probable, when Natasha Walker recorded her chorus for "Pain" the 16th of Nov. Y?N-Vee didn't record any other things with 2Pac at that period. 2Pac maybe kind of gave the song to Nic Nam after he dropped "The Uppercut" from his solo album (where she was also featured). The lyrics could now be felt as a replica to what happened to the demo tape - in this case the fake ass bitches would be Death Row inmates or Echo studios engineers (2Pac will only record one more song in these studios after that event : "Only Fear of Death" in mid October, and the song appears when "Fake Ass Bitches" disappeared from his solo album). Maybe 2Pac had already recorded the song "Mind of a Bad Boy" with Dee The Mad Bitch, considering that he could be indicating that she was expected to do the second verse...
Mid Oct. A new concept : dedication to the fallen friends
After the subsequent deaths of Joshua Torres (a sick kid from the Maryland, whose family asked 2Pac to fullfill his last whishes to spend the day with him...) and Thug Life close friend Mental Illness (a member of Big Syke's first group Evil Mind Gangsta), knowing that the death of Big Kato in May (also a close friend to Big Syke and his group) had already marked the recording of the Thug Life Original, 2Pac and Thug Life probably got the central idea for their new Thug Life project. They will give honor to their lost friends. Especially that some of their old songs also perfectly fitted to the topic : "Pout Ou A Little Liquor", "How Long Will They Mourn Me". Maybe 2Pac already thought about a 2 parts album, one for Kato, one for Mental...
- "Death Around The Corner", "Fake Ass Bitches" and "Getting Money" are probably transferred back from his solo album to the new project - especially "Death Around The Corner" which fits particularly well the new concept.
- Instead of recording the planned "Street Fame" with The Notorious B.I.G. for the solo album, 2Pac recorded "Runnin' From The Police" with Stretch, Thoro Headz & Lil' Vicious - but then still for his solo album. Probably around these days (or when 2Pac was in jail for having shot at two off-duty cops), Thoro Headz recorded "Introduced 2 Tha Game" and Thug Life recorded "Street Fame" (probably the beat Stretch had prepared for the solo song).
.jpg)
1. Circa December 93. Volume 1 "Honor Among Thugz" (the movie & the soundtrack)
The five listed songs are Thug Life Original + 2 new songs recorded circa November with the full group (with Mopreme) and produced by Pro-Jay : "Don't Get It Twisted" and "Cradle 2 The Grave" (so he could be the main producer at that time for the group songs).
The guest list indicates it could include songs like "House of Pain" with Biggie (or already "Runnin" but it was still in 2Pac's solo tracklists at that time), "Introduced 2 The Game" with Thoro Headz (Dramacydal), "Lie 2 Kick It" or "Animosity" with Richie Rich & The Gov (or why not, the Gov version of "Po Nigga Blues" but it has probably been recorded much later), "I'm Loosin' It" with Spice 1 ("Can't Turn Back" was recorded in December), "Fake Ass Bitches" with Y?N-Vee ("Where Do We Go From Here" recorded in January)...
The Havenotz is a new name for the Kidz (who with he had the Ghetto Gospel project in 1992). "Thug 4 Life" and "Ghost" could be reference tracks recorded for them in 93 (that's why 2Pac say "Havenotz in this muthafucker" in "Thug 4 Life")... "How Long Will They Mourn Me" does not appear here, neither Nate Dogg as a guest, so maybe the song was not remixed yet (to avoid sample clearance issues - cf. Thug Life Original).
Tupac laughing, Yonnie in the background
Let's notice that this guest list doesn't mention Yonnie, the girl who
is with them
during the Mike Mille shooting... Yonnie is probably not among the
scrapped names neither. She would have appeared more likely in the starring
section with other Thug Life members ; and her name and known nickname
"A Sista Named Mista" don't look like what is written.
Yonnie Stokes watching the dice game
On the other hand, Dee The Mad Bitch of Bo$$ could be one of those scrapped guests... A possible version of the story could be that 2Pac firstly intended to have Dee on his Thug Life project (they had recorded "Judgement Day" at that time, included in Cradle2TheGrave demo tape, cf. Out On Bail). But something happened and she was finally removed : the song "Judgement Day" totally vanished and Stretch re-used the beat for "Wrong Nigga" for his album (cf. Ghetto Blues).
Yonnie Stokes drinking whilst men are along the wall...
Therefore, this is maybe right after this tracklist and Dee being out of
the project that 2Pac invited Yonnie Stokes to join the project (he
knew her from his beginnings with the Dayz of a Criminal EP and she was part of 2Pacalypse Now and from Ghetto Gospel
project). During the Mike Miller shooting, she was a kind of member,
like Storm will be for the Outlawz. So the song "Thug Bitch" was
recorded after this tracklist being written. But finally, Yonnie was not
signed with the group (the 24 of July 94), so she probably didn't stay with the group for a long time (already apart on the pictures...).
This strange place with these tomb and prayer drawings tend to illustrate the topic of Thug Life : death, life after death, beliefs...
.JPG)
2. Circa Apr.-May of '94. Thug Life / Exodus (EP tracks & B-sides)
While Tony Pizarro started to produce songs for 2Pac ("High Til I Die" and "R U Still Down (Raise Em Up Remix)" - the two having similar kind of sound), Stretch produced new songs : "Stay True", "God Bless The Dead", "Pain Remix", "Under Pressure", "Peep Game 2"... "Hold On" is also a new song ("Fuck the World" is scrapped, is the song really exist at that time ? maybe just a lyric, or maybe a Pizarro beat and not a Shock G's one...?).
The Thug Life album is starting to look like the final product mixing the old west coast project with the new east oriented Stretch productions. "Bury Me A G" has been transferred from solo project to the group album. Why are "Ready 4 Whatever" and "God Bless The Dead" finally scrapped ? Maybe the first had too violent lyrics whereas the other one was too dark... or Stretch wanted to have it in his album... Maybe there would have been too many songs about death... Anyway it is now a group album, most of the guests have disappeared except Y?N-Vee, The Notorious B.I.G., Thoro Headz and Nate Dogg.
"EP tracks & B-Sides 4 2Pac". With all these aborted projects and these new sessions modifying his solo album, 2Pac felt the need of a compilation companion to collect the songs he will not put in his album. But most of them are taken from the beginning of 94 Stretch/Duane/Pizarro sessions. The fact that "God Bless The Dead" now appears in this 2Pac compilation, that "Runnin'" has made the reverse way, indicate how everything could be switched from one project to the other.
.JPG)
3. Circa April-May '94.
Same list but different track order. "Thug'z Theme" (maybe "Hopeless") is still here. Pro-Jay still appears as producer with his two songs ("Twisted" and of course his version of "Cradle 2 The Grave" - Moe-Z's remix is from August), but not Warren G nor Easy Mo Bee...
4. Circa June-July. Thug Life Promo.
This time, "Thug's Theme" has been replaced by "Str8 Ballin'" (which disappeared around that time from Stay True tracklists).
5. August of '94. Retail album.
Interscope probably rejected "Runnin' From The Police" and 2Pac replaced it quickly with another east oriented song and one of the best songs he had : "Stay True". Moe-Z was also starting to produce for him and Tupac was probably impressed by his remix of "Cradle 2 The Grave".
6. Late 94 - 95.
It is possible that Stretch and 2Pac keep on thinking to make a Volume Two until the Quad shooting in November of 94. The Exodus compilation then turned into the "R U Still Down / When I Get Free" pre-Death Row compilation (cf. F.T.W.).
DISC ONE : HONOR AMONG THUGZ (WESTSIDE)
- 1993/11 (?). This interlude will be included in Stay True mixtape (mid 94). But it was obviously recorded as an introduction for "Ready 4 Whatever" (which is not in the mixtape). Was this interlude recorded for Thug Life Original in early 93 (The song is listed in Thug Life Original promo tape with the same duration than the song without the intro... but these credits are not that sure), or for an early version of Volume 1 in late 93 in which "Ready 4 Whatever is often the opener ? Pro-Jay in November was working on Volume 1, similar kind of "life in the street" interludes can be heard in "Anotha Jack" (probably him) and in his Tha Nayborhoodz album Afta Dark... Illa Than Expected (1995), and they could be accurate for an early project of short movie+soundtrack about of Big Kato, Thug Life's friend.
- 1993/04 - 11 (~) (edit with the intro ?). Released in R U Still Down (1997). The song was in Thug Life Original album in early '93, and was then planned to be released in Thug Life Vol. 1 (leftover because of its aggressive lyrics ?). The "No justice, no peace" interlude can be heard in the beginning of this song, the song itself could have been reworked for that occasion. Johnny J didn't rework his material after May of 93 (busy with his own album I Gotta Be Me), so his tracks are probably very similar to the original (but the vocals could have been changed).
- samples :
- Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "1980" (melody)
03. Judgement Day feat. Dee Tha Mad Bitch (Bo$$), Mopreme & Stretch / Stretch
-
1993/11 (~). 2Pac's verse has been re-used for the Eminem's remixed song "Soldier Like Me" in Loyal To The Game (2004,
Amaru). Included in "Cradle2TheGrave" tape, the song recycles a part of a 2Pac's verse from "Who Do U Luv ?" dropped from his solo album in November (cf. Out On Bail). Dee Tha Mad Bitch was the original partner of Lady the Boss in
Bo$$, but she left (it is said Lady was getting paranoiac... like 2Pac) before the release of the album (that's why she is
just featured only in a hand of songs, cf. Born Gangsta). It is said 2Pac wanted to have her in
his Thug Life project (that's probably why he's inviting her to rap before the
second verse of "Fake Ass Bitches (female version)"). She could have declined or she recorded this song instead... 2Pac always wanted to
promote female rapping (like Yonnie Stokes since Dayz of a Criminal EP project) and to form a female rap group (like he will do with Ganksta Bytch Mentality with Sylk-E Fyne
in 1996, cf. Lil'Homies Compilation project). The music of this song will be re-used by Stretch in "Wrong
Nigga" for his unreleased Live Squad's Ghetto Blues album recorded in 93-94.
- Samples :
- George Clinton - "Atomic Dog" (drums)
- James Brown - "The Soul of J. B." (horn)
- 1993/11 (~). You can hear the song "I get around" playing in the background at the end. This song has probably been recorded at the time of other Thug Life without 2Pac songs : "Street Fame" produced by Stretch in the end of October, "Don't Get It Twisted" like "Cradle 2 The Grave" produced by Jay in November, "Out Tha Gutta" probably recorded close to the foundation of the sub label of the same name the 13th of November 93. The beat is sounding like the Pro-Jay things.
05. I Get Around (Hot Wicked Mix) feat. Digital Underground / Shock G REMIXED By Edwin Bautista for Wicked Mix & Dr. Mix for Hot Mix Show
- 1993/04 - 07 (~) (new mix). Released in Wicked Mix Promo and then played at the radio Hot Mix in a slightly remixed form released in Hot Mix Show #43 (Oct. 93). The mix of the song tends to sound like what can be heard at the end of "Anotha Jack"...
- Samples :
- Zapp - "Computer Love" (vocals)
- Gang Starr - "Step in The Arena" (vocals : "Step Up !" sampled from Thunder & Lightning - "Bumpin' Bus Stop")
- Prince - "The Ladder" (vocals interpolation)
- Parliament - "Flash Light" (synthesizer)
- Al Green - "Love & Happiness" (guitar interpolation)
- The D.O.C. - "It's Funky Enough" (vocals : "Hey")
06. Fake Ass Bitches (Y?N-Vee Version) feat. Nic Nam & Rated R (chorus) / Johnny J
-
1993/10-11 (~). As "Po' Nigga Blues" for The Govenor, and later "Until The End of Time" for Big Syke or "Unconditional Love" for MC Hammer, 2Pac
has firstly recorded the song for himself (cf. Thug Life Demo Tape) and he finally offered it to Nic Nam, one of the woman rapper of Y?N-Vee (Vayne has a totally different style but it could be also Yesz whose voice is kind of similar, a bit lighter, but she doesn't have experienced rap skills). Maybe 2Pac gave her the song because he had previously dropped "Uppercut" where she was featured from his solo album (cf. Mr. Middle Finger). Here 2Pac is only speaking between the verses ; this speech will be added to the remix of Pac's version in R U Still Down (1997). Listening to 2Pac adlib sounding like "Dee doing the second verse", maybe Nic Nam rapped the second verse as a reference track for Dee Tha Mad Bitch (like 2Pac in "I Get Around Demo", cf. Troublesome 21). Either Dee never came (and it was the end of her in the project), either she recorded a verse for "Judgement Day" instead.
- Samples :
- The Commodores - "Funny Feelings" (melody)
- Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)
- James Brown - "Funky President" (guitar)
- Ice Cube - "Us" (vocals : "break em off something")
07. I'm Losin' It feat. Big Syke & Spice 1 / Johnny J
- 1993/04. Remixed in R U Still Down (1997). The song was in Thug Life Original album in May '93, and was after that included in early tracklists of Street Fame/Out on Bail in late '93. Spice 1 being announced as a featured artist in Honor Among Thugz tracklist,
the song was probably supposed to be in Volume 1 ("Can't Turn Back" was
recorded only in December). The mix was probably very similar to the original (Johnny J material was probably untouched and the featurings songs are rarely modified after the guest heard the result).
- Samples :
- Ohio Players - "Far East Mississippi" (melody)
- Kool & The Gang - "N.T." (drums)
- Scarface (Movie, 1983) (vocals : "you need people like me", "you wanna play rough ? OK. Say helle to my little friend")
08. Cradle 2 The Grave (Original) feat. Mopreme, Rated R, Macadoshis & Big Syke / Pro-Jay & Big Syke
- 1993/11 (~). Released in Papa'z Song single (in Jan. of 1994). It was also included in the "Cradle2TheGrave" tape, and then in the Promo version of Volume One (circa June of 94), but was finally replaced by a Moe-Z remixed version in Thug Life Volume One (Sept. of 94). Pro-Jay, also responsible for "Don't Get It Twisted", is the main producer of the group Da Nayborhoodz who had their album Afta Dark in 1995 with two tracks featuring Macadoshis & Rated R aka Double Jeopardy.
-
1993/12 (?). Syke introduces a female rapper "The name's Mysta" (we can see her in Mike Miller pictures). The
track was presumably recorded around the time of that photo shooting because she seems to not have stayed a long time with the group... She is the same than Yonnie Stokes aka "a sister named Mystah", who was supposed to record a song in 2Pac's first unreleased project with the Jungle Posse (cf. Dayz of a Criminal) and then in his album/compilation Ghetto Gospel project with also The Kidz aka The Havenotz who were also announced in this Volume 1 early project. But above all, Yonnie is credited for additional vocals in "Rebel of The Underground" in 2Pacalypse Now. But there is only a female voice with light singing... is it really her...? or should we exchange with "Part Time Mutha" - which wrongly credits Angelique for "background vocals" instead of rap vocals ? Banned said Angelique has also the singing part of "It Ain't Necessarily So", no raps... cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). After that, Yonnie will be only credited for the rap hook of "Beefy Thangs" by the Mafiosos in 1996. After the 18th of December, after the charges for rape being confirmed and Interscope asking 2Pac to restrain the project from a compilation to a group album, it is possible they tried to enroll Yonnie to have a girl in the group. Unfortunately, Thug Life didn't record anything after December, except video versions.
- 1993/04 - 11 (?) (new mix). Included in Thug Life Volume One Promo version, it is almost similar to the version released in Thug Life Volume One (1994, Interscope), with slightly different effects on the vocals take. It seems to have the same vocals take than the Thug Life Original original version which had a less elaborated beat over the same sample (what is said to have been a problem to clear). Nate Dogg is also credited as a producer... did he make this new mix ? Did Warren G come to remix the song ? Pro-Jay is credited in some editions of Volume One, is it a mistake or could he have a responsability in this remix ?
- Samples :
- One Way - "Don't Stop (Ever Love Me)" (melody)
- Little Feet - "Fool Yourself" (drumline)
- 1993/10-11 (~).
Released in a close mix in Kadafi's posthumous compilation Son Rize Vol. 1 (2004). Included in Cradle2TheGrave tape (cf. Out on Bail). 2Pac wrote the name of the group in his "Honor Among Thugz" draft so the song was probably intended for the compilation. The group was with 2Pac in a concert in Clark Atlanta University the 30th of October and during the night 2Pac exchanged fire with the two off-duty cops. So maybe they recorded this song and "Runnin" around that day (or the day after when 2Pac was in jail but maybe the studio was booked...).
- Samples :
- Biz Markie & T.J. Swan - "Make The Music with Your Mouth, Biz" (drumline)
- Isaac Hayes - "Ike's Mood" (piano)
- 1993/09-12 (?). Released in Assassin's Hitworks vol. 1 (1996, Liferdef Records). The
hook is an interpolation of Inner Circle's "Bad Boys" by an unknown dancehall
artist named "Edi" or Eddie - not Big Malc -, a Jamaican immigrant that Assassin says to have met in the streets of L.A., at the corner in front of the studio. The song could eventually have been intended for Bad Boys OST (1995, Columbia) or more likely for another unpublished movie titled Scenes for the Soul,
by Tillman Jr. (1995).
We don't know if the original recorded song sounds exactly like this one
and if it
was even an Assassin production or a Dobbs the Wino's one (at that time
Dobbs was also working on Y?N-Vee's album ; DJ King Assassin he claims to have a part in the Master T production of "Dear Mama" recorded in late October...). It is a Dee tha Mad
Bitch's
song featuring Tupac. Dee
after having left Bo$$, was probably preparing her solo career. It has been said 2Pac admired the group and would have invited Dee to be a member of Thug Life... Maybe 2Pac recorded the song with her because he loves her rap skills (we know he had love for women rapping and wanted to promote them), and so he invited her to record for his project in return. Either the Dee's song was also intended to be in the compilation but 2Pac wanted her to record more with Thug Life. But she only recorded this song and "Judgement Day". Assassin also made a remix of that song as a Bad Boy diss song (with
the anthem "Bad Boy can't stop Thug Life"), available in the
compilation 3 Beam Circus (1998, Swerve) and in the unofficial The Here After (1999, ZYX) 2Pac album. Dee will also record the song "Gangsta Funk" for Assassin in 1998 with Sh'Killa and Shock G (cf. Armed & Dangerous). Assassin kind of launched/pushed the carreer of Sh'Killa and Bloody Mary (cf. Strictly For The Streets, released in 1995 with also South Central Cartel, Rated R and Lil Big's group A.M.W.).
- Samples :
- The Tymes - "Hypnotized" (bassline/guitar interpolation)
- Sly & The Family Stone - "Sing A Simple Song" (drums)
- Inner Circle - "Bad Boys" (vocals interpolation)
13. Animosity feat. Richie Rich & The Govenor / Warren G - EDIT REMAKE
- 1993/05/01.
Recorded during the Thug Life Original
sessions over the same instrumental than
"Lie 2 Kick It". Maybe this was a first intended song for the album
before it turned to "Lie To Kick It". The song itself, or at least
Rich and Gov' verses with Pac hook appear in the video footage of this day of recording
(made by Blackwatch TV). Richie Rich and The Govenor are listed among the guests in "Honor Among Thugz" tracklist (but it could be for another
songs, maybe "Lie 2 Kick It", "Gaffled Remix", "Po Nigga Blues (Gov
Version)"...). Would 2Pac have only a hook in this song ? Some
remakes added his freestyle verse from "Animosity freestyle" but it does not
fit very well (but maybe it was more or less the same lyrics...). It is said they were waiting for Snoop Dogg to record a verse but never arrived... maybe they decided to record "Lie 2 Kick It" instead. But the Warren G beat was kind of "given" to Snoop Dogg for his "G'z & Hustlas" (all credit to Dr. Dre...), so we could imagine that 2Pac wanted to have the track mixed over a new beat...
- Samples :
14. Is It Cool 2 Fuck (Cutie Intro Short Mix) feat. Macadoshis, Rated R & Natasha Walker / Johnny J
-
1993/01 - 08 (?) (new mix). This is almost the same mix than on Thug Life Demo, but in a short version, with a sampled voice in the intro. The song was probably a planned single, so maybe this mis was a single edit. Thug Life Original version has a different mix with breaks. In the script 2Pac wrote for the short movie, the song is playing when Kato is killed in a nightclub...
- Samples :
- The Time - "Get It Up" (melody)
- Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean" (snare)
- The Hollywood Edge - "The Premiere Edition 1" (1990) (vocals : "come here, cutie")
- 1993/11/13 (~). It’s the name of the sub-label where will be published Thug Life vol. 1 and Me Against The World, founded the 13th of November 93. So the song was probably recorded around that time. The kind of production remind of other Pro-Jay work.
16. It Hurts The Most feat. Stretch & Mopreme / Stretch
- 1993/09/30. Released in Live Squad's The Tribute (2010, Grand Imperial) with Majesty and E-Money Bags later verses added. Originally recorded for Live Squad's second album Diary of a Poor Man / Ghetto Blues (unreleased), included in its tracklists. Maybe there is in an alternate version with an original Majesty verse. The song is said to be in the same REEL than "Don't Leave" by Y?N-Vee...
- Samples :
- Skull Snaps - "It's A New Day
- 2Pac – "The Streetz R Deathrow"
- 1993/09/30. The track was recorded for Y?N-Vee album Y?N-Vee (released the 18th of October '94). Maybe like the song "I'd Rather to be
Ya Lover" was taken off of Madonna's album, this song was scrapped because of the
allegations of rape...
- Samples :
- Skull Snaps - "It's A New Day" (drums)
-
1992/04 - 1993 (?). From Keep Ya Head Up (12'')
(1993, October 28). 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 low probability.
- 1993/10/22. Famous live freestyle recorded during the Budweiser Superfest that took place in New York in October. Mister Cee (who released the song restricted to Biggie and 2Pac parts in a Biggie best of mixtape in '95), organized the show with Big Daddy Kane and Scoob Lover. They invited Shyheim who was about to release his first single (November the 30th) and Biggie Smalls who had released a successful single "Party & Bullshit" (the 29 of June). Biggie asked to come with his new homie 2Pac he was touring with in October (cf. Live in Maryland). Mister Cee pretended the movie Poetic Justice was out one week earlier (the 23th of July) but he was probably meaning the hype around the movie was very high at that time. The success around that freestyle probably led 2Pac and Biggie to record three songs together the next months : "House of Pain" for Biggie's album, "Runnin'" for 2Pac's album and "Let's Get it On" for Eddie F's eponymous project.
- Lyrics :
- Big Scoop - "Niggaz Can't Hang"
- B.I.G. "Come On"
- 2Pac - "Nothing To Lose"
- Shyheim "On and On"
DISC TWO : EXODUS (EASTSIDE)
- 1994/04-05 (~) (?). Included in Exodus tracklist. Remixed in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). The song will be given a final mixdown by Tony Pizarro for Stay True
album. That early state could be the second beat 2Pac worked at
himself (with "Where Do We Go From Here"), maybe with the help of Pizarro. In its original form,
the beat really sounds like "He Vs. She (4
My Niggaz)", 2Pac probably later asked Johnny J to remake a beat with that
sample he loved (cf. Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2). Strange that this song appears in tracklists exactly when "Fuck The World" disappeared...
- Samples :
- George Benson - "Breezin'" (melody)
- Geto Boys - "Street Life" (vocals : "I thought I had friends but i ain't got no fuckin friends")
- 1993/12/01 (~). Included in R U Still Down '94 (Interscope Project) early tracklist (c. Jan. 94) and then in Exodus tracklist (c. May 94). Released in 1996 in Blackjack's Addicted to Drama sampler promo tape (in which you also have The Notorious B.I.G. featured... for "Young G's Perspective"). The official album also features Luniz, MC Breed, MC Eiht... Blackjack (Posse) is a group from East Palo Alto, California, who had a first album in 1993 titled Street 2 Da Grave. Spice 1 was written as featured guests in Volume One : Honor Among Thugz draft but more likely for "I'm Losin' It".
- 1994/03 (~). Included in Exodus tracklist. Released in Greatest Hits (1998). This is a tribute to Biggie Smalls aka Big Dric, a graffiti artist, close friend/member of the Live Squad, from New-York, who died at that time. According to Majesty, 2Pac really got on with him. Not to be confused with Biggy Smallz, a young white rapper from Los Angeles produced by Johnny J. Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G., made his first records under the name of "Biggie Smalls", had risks of being sued by that young Biggy Smallz (who had published 12'' under this alias since 91) so he adopted a new artist name. Banned said the song was initially included in Stretch/Live Squad's Diary of a Poor Man aborted second album project, before being given to Thug Life Volume One. At the same time, Stretch has only one verse and 2Pac two... Maybe there is another version of the song with Majesty. Or it was initially a Stretch solo album project...
- Samples :
- The Monkeys - "Mary, Mary" (drumline)
- 1994/03 (~). Included in Exodus tracklist. Released in its original form in R U Still Down (1997). It appears in solo album tracklists in the end of March 94 (still titled R U Still Down, cf Original Interscope Project)
and was scrapped from it in May. With its Stretch backing vocals, it
reminds of
the other songs recorded with him at that period ("Hellrazor", "Peep
Game 2", "Stay True", "Under Pressure"...). Banned from Bomb1st says the
first original is
different (maybe produced by Pizarro ?), so this one could be a later
mix. Choo The Specialzt said that
this is the voice of Anita Baker sampled during the chorus, but the
sample was not cleared and it was replaced by a digital thing in the
1997 Amaru compilation (Could be the song initially also dropped from
2Pac
solo album because of that ?).
- Samples :
- James Brown - "Funky President" (drumroll)
- Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)
- Earth, Wind & Fire - "I'll Write a Song for You" (vocals)
- Anita Baker - (vocals)
1993 - 1994/01 (?) (new mix). Included in most pre-Death Row Compilation tracklists but not in the leaked material sequence. Released in R U Still Down (1997) without major changes. This mix sounds slightly different than the Cradle2TheGrave one (but it could be just the quality of the rip...), it could have been made for the Original Interscope Project before being taken off the project.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)
- 1993/12 (~). Released in a re-recorded version in All Eyez on Me
(1996). Probably because of the accusation of rape (the 18th of Nov.), 2Pac recorded this version with slightly alternate lyrics but a clean chorus (handwritten lyrics with the same trick than "N.I.G.G.A." to weaken the provocative word), in order to include it in Out On Bail (that's probably why the original was not in the "Cradle2TheGrave" tape). There was an old rumor 2Pac had a whole Led Zeppelin concept project... In
fact, Duane Nettlesbey said Led Zeppelin purposed to 2Pac to make a reprise (?) of one
of their songs and opened their whole catalog for that. 2Pac firstly recorded a freestyle (unleaked) over a Led
Zeppelin sample of "Ten Years Gone" (people somewhere were speaking about a "Kashmir" beat and "The Rain Song" one, but it seems totally false - a pity). Then, he
recorded this new version of "Wonda Why" he has written the lyrics for. After the 16th of December where 2Pac was arraigned for rap charge, the song was probably definitely dropped and 2Pac recorded "(Life's so) Hard on a Nigga" instead (cf. R U Still Down '94 Original).
- Samples :
- Led Zeppelin - "Ten Years Gone" (melody)
- 1994/08 - 10 (?) (new mix). Included in Pre-DR compilation project. Released in R U Still Down
(1997, Amaru) with a slightly different mix and less singing. This version doesn't have the kick start and is shorter than the Stay True mixtape version, it has the original Natasha Walker chorus with all her adlibs (whereas Stay True version has a different singer). But it has some elements similar to that version... Either Tony Pizarro made this version before asking his chorist to give a new chorus to it (but the song does not appear in tracklists between May and August) - the thing could have even been made earlier for R U Still Down '94 Original eventually by someone else. More probably 2Pac asked Pizarro to keep Natasha Walker into the song like we can see clearly labelled "Y.N.V." in F.T.W./Me Against The World tracklists.
- 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)
- 1994/01. Included in Exodus tracklist. This song is an answer to the accusation of rape, as well as a sequel to the song from Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993).
It could also work as a sequel for "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch", considering it has some elements and lines referring to it. It's the same woman's voice "bitching" (and it could be Natasha Walker, she recorded "Where We Go From Here" with 2Pac around the same time). In fact, this new song kind of says that "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" perfectly depicted beforehand the type of girl who is accusing him of rape, so well that the song couldn't be released after that without being against him on court...
- Samples :
- Albert King - "Don't Burn Down The Bridge (Cause You Might Wanna Come Back Accross)" (bassline, guitar, piano)
- Sly And The Family - "You Can Make It If You Try" (drumline)
- NWA - "Straight Outta Compton" (vocals : "Don't make me act a muthefucking fool")
- 2Pac - "I Get Around" (vocals interpolation)
- 1994/03 (?). Remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004) with Obie Trice instead of Syke. The Red Spyda OG Vibe (probably also made it for Loyal To The Game) was for a long time the only decent version with both Big Syke & Mopreme (hard to hear) verses. It was using the beat of "Shit, Damn..." of D'Angelo (prod. by Bob Power), out in late 1994... A more recent Parish OG vibe is said to use the original sample.
- Samples :
- Carlito's Way (Movie, 1993) (vocals interpolation : "Hey, remember me ?")
- 1994/03-04. Appears in Exodus tracklist as "Raise 'Em Up Remix". Released in R U Still Down
(1997). This
version has a totally new beat and a new 2Pac verse at the end instead of the first one of the Shock G original version (cf. R U Still Down '94 Interscope Project). It is
exactly similar to the released version, that's why it is hard to find the demo (leaked in Makaveli 6 Bootleg, 1998). It has been said
that this version could have been made to replace the Shock G
version at a time 2Pac wasn't agree with him upon the mix of the song or
album
(when 2Pac scrapped "Fuck The World" from his tracklist). More probably, this version was produced for a B-side of an eponymous planned
single circa March. The song sounds like "High Til I Die Solo" (recorded the 19th of March, maybe to replace "Nothing To Lose").
- Samples :
- Curtis Mayfield & Fishbone - "He's a Fly Guy" (bassline interpolation)
- 1994/03 (?). Clean version of Me Against The World song. It does not have 2Pac vocals during the chorus... Could it be the original version of the song appearing on R U Still Down Original tracklists circa April ? Tony Pizarro owned a Westlake Studios REEL 2 tracks with listed him as the engineer, "Fuck The World Insturmental" (sic.) and "Fuck The World Clean" which is very probably the origin of this snippet. Is it possible 2Pac and Shock G have argued just about the 2Pac phrase on the chorus ? Not sure but maybe 2Pac was extremely irritated after having been found guilty of assault against Hugues brothers in February and the bad articles in the newspapers.
- Samples :
- Alexander O'Neal - "Innocent" (melody inspired)
- Skull Snaps - "It's A New Day" (snare)
-
1993/11 - 1994/03 (~) (new hook and new Pac verse ?). The One Million Strong (1995,
Solar) version uses the first version of the song (cf. Out on Bail) with the other Pac verse. This alternate Pac verse will be used in "Runnin' Dyin' To Live remix" published in Resurrection OST. This Brown Man version was supposed to be released in Thug Life Volume 1 (included in the Promo tape, in summer of 94), that's why it is known as "Thug Life Version". Easy Mo Bee said both Pac verses were recorded the same
day (Pac would have recorded a second verse because he felt unsatisfied with the first one - but rap style sound very different in each...). We
long time thought the hook was by the reggae superstar Buju Banton because Dante who first leaked it
told so and because the voice was kind of similar. Brown Man is a ragga guy who appeared as a sideman for Joe's first single "I'm In Love" published in July 93 whilst Joe appears in his first single "Rude Boy Love". He will also appear in the successful C+C Music Factory second album Anything Goes (Aug. 94), notably in their superhit "Do You Wanna Get Funky".
- Samples :
- Bootsy's Rubber Band - "Munchies for your Love" (melody)
-
1994/01/07 or 31 (?). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). 2Pac here has
his Souljah pitched voice. The sample will be re-used for "What'z Next" in late 95 (for Outlaw Immortalz Thug Life Volume II),
but produced by Johnny J. Maybe 2Pac asked him to re-produce a song
with a sample he liked. That tends to confirm that he
originally produced the beat, maybe with the help of an engineer like
Duane
Nettlesbey more likely than Pizarro (as credited in R U Still Down ?) considering the date of recording
(It is said Pizarro hadn't met 2Pac yet, started to work with him only in March).
- Samples :
- Bootsy's Rubber Band - "May the Force Be With You" (melody)
- 1993 - 1994/02 (new take ?). Released in its original form in Above the Rim OST cassette version and in Regulate
single (1994, Death Row), but without the scratched Stretch line "Don't Get
Too Close Cause You Might Get Shot" during the chorus. It is commonly said the song was rejected from the
soundtrack by Dr. Dre himself - jealous of 2Pac recording songs with Natasha, a girl he was dated then - but then recut and remixed by Isaias Gamboa to be
included in the movie. Sweet Sable who was in Above The Rim soundtrack with her song "Old Times' Sake"
is also credited in nu-mixx version of the song, so she could do some
backing vocals here. An interesting thing to notice is that Stretch also
used the beat and background vocals of her song for "Hellrazor" (cf. Mr. Middle Finger or Original R U Still Down).
- Samples :
- Earl Klugh - "Living inside your Love" (melody)
- Intro from the movie Star Trek V : The Final Frontier (1989) (vocals)
- 1994/03 (~). Released in its original form in Above the Rim OST cassette version and in Regulate single (1994, Death Row) (cf. Radio & Soundtracks). Awfully remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004). Censored
version with a slightly different rough mix. Reginald Heard is not very
well known, he is only credited for producing the track "Hangin" in
Jade's second album Mind, Body & Song (1994, Giant Records), alongside notably two
songs by Dave Hall from Eddie F's Untouchable. So maybe the song was
produced circa March around the time of "I'd Rather Be Ya Lover" (prod.
Dave Jam) and "Let's Get It On" (prod. Eddie F).
- Samples :
- Elton John - "Benny & The Jets" (piano interpolation)
- The Honey Drippers - "Impeach The President" (drumline)
- Cameo - "Sparkle" (chorus interpolation)
- 1994/03 - ? (remix). Original released in Eddie F's Let's Get It On (The Album) (1994 Oct. 18, Motown). Remix unofficially released in Let's Get It On (D+D Lab Remix) single. This mix reuses a very well known beat (?). There is another "jackin for beats" unofficial mix also leaked as "D&D Lab Mix" (cf. Fuck The World, Alternate Versions & Remix).
- Samples :
- SOS Band - "No One’s Gonna Love You"
- 1994/02. Recorded for Live Squad's second album Diary of a Poor Man / Ghetto Blues (unreleased), included in its tracklists.
- Samples :
- Joe Sample - "Invitation" (melody)
- Live Squad - "Heartless" (vocals)
- 1994/04/04. During an interview with Blackwatch TV, two good friends in front of the camera. Biggie is giving the verse of his well known song.
- 1994/03. Leftover track from Madonna's Bedtime Stories (1994). The
track has been taken off because 2Pac was then charged for sexual
assault. The end of this demo is sexually explicit about the
relationship between the two stars. In the final mixdown of the song
2Pac's speech was of course cut off : "a ghetto nigga fucking Madonna,
God damn !". Dave "Jam" Hall of The Untouchables has been producing for
Brand Nubian, Heavy D., Mary J. Blige, Shinehead, Joe, Mariah Carey,
Usher...
- Samples :
- Lou Donaldson – "It’s Your Thing" (melody)
- 1993 - ? (remix). A
snippet has been leaked in 2023 in a poor quality, labelled as
"Timbaland Remix". Where does it come from ? Was it a legit remix
intended to be for a 2Pac project ? either was it for a Timbaland
mixtape ? Banned from Bomb1st confirmed that there were two different
remix of "Pain" (one with the live instrumentation, maybe the other
being this one).
- Samples :
- Intro from the movie Star Trek V : The Final Frontier (1989) (vocals : "I couldn't help but notice your pain")
No comments:
Post a Comment