2Pac : Archeology of a Thug: 1995 - Hard 2 Kill (Prison Drafts Album Project)

Jan. - Oct. 1995 : prison concept album.
The project was totally re-thought when 2Pac signed with Death Row. Some songs were released in All Eyez On Me but the project was also adapted in the second solo album project 2Pac had on Death Row, Me Against The World pt. 2.
Source : handwritten tracklists.

Mugshot in Clinton Correctional Facility, the 8th of April 1995

#### - These are just handwritten tracklists... But the idea is : this project could see the light in a sort of way by using the AI to give vocals to the never recorded lyrics from that time - and maybe from other times. For the instrumentals, we can follow 2Pac's wish by using known producers beats or more likely by remaking some beats in their way. - ####

Hard 2 Kill : The Prison Concept Album

Hard 2 Kill
Just Cuz A Nigga Locked Down
2Late '95
Touchdown 97
Enemiez With Me (1995, lost verse)
Makin' Movez

Character Assassination (Holla At Me)
I Ain't Dead Yet (Only God Can Judge Me)
Outta Control (09/17/95)

Other unrecorded lyrics

Untitled (1996, "Though my life is good deep inside my hood")
Make It Rain On 'Em (1996, for MC Hammer)
California Love (1995, unused small verse)
Shellshock (1994)
Too Strong (1993, for Y?N-Vee)
B4U Bust (1993, alternate "Pain" lyrics)
My Suicide Note (1992, just a spare bar)
Never Surrenda (1990)
Backstabbaz (1991)
Lovely Daze (1991, for The Kidz)
The Street Got Ya Babiez (1991, for The Kidz)

TIMELINE

1. c. Jan.-Feb. of 1995. "2PAC IV".

On this first draft, 3 known handwritten lyrics probably written before going to prison : "Hard 2 Kill", "Just Cuz A Nigga Locked Down" and "Character Assassination". The last one will become "Holla At Me".

Another interesting thing to notice is that 2Pac decided to include again "Troublesome", maybe to re-record the song or more likely to write a new version, what could prefigure "Troublesome 96", more than one year later...

"Still Love My Sistas..." is a kind of answer to the justice case.

2. c. Feb. (?) of 1995. (Ideas Album IV) 2Pac "Relentless".

We still have the three known lyrics ("Just Cause a Nigga Locked Down", "Character Assassination" and "Hard 2 Kill") as well as a second occurrence of a Sista topic, "Blacksistaz" (it was very probably an important concern for him to prove he has respect for women at that time the medias were presenting him as a rapist...)

"Take Care of these Babiez" could be seen as a reminiscence of old The Kidz' concept. "Smile Now, Cry Later" is a first occurrence of the Smile concept and will reappear literally in an Outlawz' Immortalz tracklist before being recorded in August for One Nation Volume 2 / Ghetto Starz.

3. c. Feb. 95 (??). "Notorious IV".

We have again "My Sistaz" and "Character Assassination". And a first occurrence of "California Love" into "California Dreaming" concept.

Three concepts will be recorded much later : "Until The End of Time" (Me Against The World pt. 2 / Lil Homiez), "Runnin On E" (One Nation Volume 2, Ghetto Starz) and "God'z Eyez" (Outlawz, Retribution album).

4. c. March 95 (??). "A Scared Man Can't Win".

Here we still have "Hard 2 Kill" with the well known Nation of Islam/Black Panther personality Khalid Muhammad, probably doing a speech (what will become "The Struggle Continuez" with Louis Farrakhan "Million Man March" speech).

Also "Runnin On E", "My Sistaz", "California Dreaming", "Until The End of Time".

Another concept which will find its way into Me Against The World pt. 2 is "Mama's Just A Lil Girl", what could be seen also as a reminisce of "Babies having Babies" (old 1987 Mouse Man / MC New York concept) and the famous "Brenda's Got A Baby" (in 1991). "Everything They Owe" will also be recorded at the time of Me Against The World pt. 2, we think it was the planned introduction of the album. "Jawz Tight" will find a way into One Nation Volume 1 and Ghetto Starz.

"Character Assassination" was kind of morphed into "Scared Man Can't Win", having the same Scarface planned featuring. Could this concept have something to do with "Changed Man" from Me Against The World pt. 2 ? Logically, Tupac was very scared after what happened to him in New York, he had to change...