- Songs recorded during All Eyez on Me sessions but which were dropped off from the project.
- Could also be titled "Euthanasia", "Supreme Euthanasia", or "Life Goes On"
### This tracklist collects All Eyez on Me leftover tracks from the first sessions until half of November. It is inspired by the first known tracklist of the Death Row album after 2Pac recorded his first songs with Death Row. The album then titled "When I Get Free" was a reminiscence of the idea of a compilation project "1992-1996 Lost Trax" with old tracks or concepts renewed. ###
Tracklist - LISTEN
9. Secretz of War (Rulez Version) feat. Fatal N Felony & Kurupt
10. Better Dayz (Rough Mix)
14. The Struggle Continues (No Sample Mix) feat. Fatal, Big Syke & OFTB
from a remix compilation project to a new album
Initially, 2Pac / Death Row's contract was mentioning an "album to consist of already recorded material to be remixed by Dr Dre". It is not surprising because while he was in jail, before the contract, 2Pac was planning to release a compilation of leftover tracks from Thug Life / Me Against The World eventually called "R U Still Down" or "When I Get Free (1992-1996 Lost Trax)" (that's the reason why Afeni Shakur and his label Amaru chose "R U Still Down" for the first posthumous compilation - the only one to correspond to a real project of Tupac). This sequence is usually known as "Pre-Death Row compilation" (cf. Fuck The World / Exodus). So his first idea was probably to use Death Row producers especially Dr. Dre to give fresh mixes to his old records (also to erase Stretch parts and role). But when he went out of jail, he began to re-record some old songs and mix them with new songs written previously and totally new songs.
Pre-Death Row bootleg is a compilation of raw and unmixed recordings. While he was in jail, in line with Me Against The World final mix, 2Pac eventually gave some of these old recordings to remix. It appears that Moe-Z and Tony Pizarro were in possession of many DAT. "Po' Nigga Blues" given to Shock G could be one of them too... Tupac clearly wanted to see remixed "Don't Make Enemies With Me" : is there a
version ? It didn't appear in Death Row recording timeline but maybe there is a
pre-Death Row mix... could it be the one that has been published in R U Still Down (said to have been remixed by We Got Kidz, which can be a team of Death Row inmates musicians) ? Could also a song like "Changes" have been firstly remixed around this time (nothing could prove that) ?
But even after Pas was freed, he kind of kept the line. Some songs were re-recorded versions of old ones like "Wonda Why They Call You Bitch", "Late Night", "When I Get Free", "Still I Rise" (original unleaked but it appears in a handwritten tracklist of Me Against The World). "Rather Be Ya Nigga" could be as well considered as a remake of the unreleased "I'd Rather Be Ya Lover" with Madonna. Even "How Do U Want It" is a song written in late 94 !
There were as well already produced songs by Dr. Dre and Dogg Pound that have been remixed and given to 2Pac like "California Love", "Can't C Me", "Blunt Time" (unleaked, unrecorded, unused instrumental ?) and "Got My Mind Made Up".
"Snoop Doggy Dogg shall make an appearance". Snoop Dogg will appear in "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" but also in "All About U"
"When I Get Free" was one of the pre-titles for a follow-up to "Me Against the World", that 2Pac planned about whilst he was in prison in 1995. He first chose "Supreme Euthanasia" in September 13, then "Euthanasia" in October 4, then "Euthanasia Supreme", and then "When I Get Free" in November. The tracklists 2Pac wrote show us this transition time between his first project while in jail and the real All Eyez on Me. Some tracks of these lists became songs for All Eyez on Me. Other have been shelved, which we try to gather here.
After having chosen his new album, is it possible that 2Pac was still planning to release a compilation of lost tracks ? In the booklet of the album appears a mysterious "Makaveli Records compilation"... was it still that project, was it already a kind of Thug Pound (maybe already given up) or Lil Homies / Soundtrack project ?
October ?? : "Euthanasia Supreme" 1 & 2
0. These are early tracklists, written before 2Pac started to record songs with Death Row. None of the songs included here were recorded (except of course "Don't Make Enemies" and "Sucka 4 Love" that 2Pac simply thought to put in his new album, probably with a new mix).
.jpg)
.jpg)
1. Oct. '95, circa the 15th. "When I Get Free" was the title of the planned compilation while 2Pac was still in jail, it is patched to the new sessions he started to record as soon as he went free. You can observe the songs enter in the tracklist as they are recorded with as well some planned songs unrecorded yet.
"How Do U Want It" feat. Natasha Walker of Y?N-Vee ; "When I Get Free II" new version re-recorded ; "Come With Me" interlude. "Secretz of War" and "Life Goes on" are not recorded yet. "Til I C L.A." concept will vanish when 2Pac will record "California Love" (but will return in "2 Live & Die in L.A." in Makaveli).
2. Oct. '95, circa the 19th. New title "All Eyez on Me".
.jpg)
.jpg)
3. Oct. '95, circa the 2Oth. Untitled. This time "Secretz of War" is recorded, as well as "Still I Rise".
4. Oct. '95, circa the 23th. Untitled. "Outlaw Immortalz" is a new song. "Court In Tha Streetz" is a planned song never recorded.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
- 1995/10/19. Remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Death Row). Fatal N Felony was the name of the combo Fatal (Hussein) & Felony aka Young Hollywood (Kadafi), active in 1994-1995 mainly while 2Pac was in jail. It is said they have many tracks recorded with Spice 1, Luniz, Mic Geronimo (the released "Fresh Like Celeri" freestyle in its original form)... A song with the same name was in some Me Against The World / Fuck The World tracklists. Banned confirmed the existence of that song recorded in 94, that would be totally different from that one. So this compilation starts by a new song recorded after an old concept.
- Samples :
- Walter Beasley - "Tenderness" (melody)
- The Isley Brothers - "Choosey Lover" (snare, kick)
02. How Do U Want It (Rough Mix) feat. Natasha Walker / Johnny J
- 1995/10/15-19 (Natasha Walker added ?). Remixed with K-Ci & Jojo at the hook in All Eyez on Me (1996, Death Row). Natasha Walker of Y?N-Vee was Pac's favorite chorist in 1993/1994, almost a member of Thug Life. It is said that the very first version from the 15th could have Danny Boy trying vocals. The song has been written in the end of 94, just before 2Pac went to jail, maybe at Jasmine Guy's home (where he also wrote parts of the Dramacydal album).
- Samples :
- 1995/11/13 (?). Released in Death Row compilation Chronic 2000 : Still Smokin' (1999) and then in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). Probably as usual, 2Pac recorded firstly with his homies, awaiting for AMG and DJ Quik to come and record their parts (like for "I Get Around"). When the song firstly appears in All Eyez on Me tracklists circa mid November, it does not have AMG listed as featured artist, but Playa Hamm... So the final song was probably not recorded yet. AMG appears only circa mid December (same time than Jodeci for "How Do U Want It"). This Outlawz version was as well firstly known as "Pre-Mix Version" (It has that typical demo beginning - trembling beat), but the music has also a kind of flute sound added during the chorus... DJ Quik didn't know about that version before its release and was upset that Pac made another version without his agreement (but he didn't say if he recorded his verse in November right after 2Pac or later... and nothing is said about that flute). Consequently, this alternate version is sometimes said to have been recorded in December (maybe for a b-side, for Thug Life Volume 2, or for Thug Pound). Quik also says that his name had to be erased from the intro due to contract reasons but the fact is that there is no version with him and AMG with his name censored... More likely he took off his name from the intro when he gave the beat (with the flute) to 2Pac who recorded a first take with his friends, and then almost one month later Quik recorded the final song and gave a final mix over the unedited beat but without the flute. In his verse Hussein also calls himself "Hussein Fatal", exactly like in "When We Ride" (recorded the 27th of October), what could indicate that early period when he was still using both alias together like in "Don't Stop The Music" (but separated, the 22th of November)...
- Samples :
- Donald Byrd - "Wind Parade" (melody)
- Esther Williams - "Last Night Changed It All (I Really Had A Ball)" (vocals)
- Eddie Bo - "Hook and Sling pt. 1" (vocals : "yeaah")
- Richard Pryor - "Have Your Ass Home by 11:00" (vocals)
- 1995/11/06-16 (?). Appears in All Eyez on Me tracklist at the same time than "Got My Mind", "Fade Me", "Fair Xchange", "Letter 2 My Unborn" and "Late Night". Eventually,
it was supposed to feature Big Syke, Kadafi & Napoleon, with Danny Boy and Natasha Walker at the chorus. Just an instrumental has been leaked yet, but we have a handwritten lyric of a Tupac's verse under this title. It is said that handwritten lyric is a complete fake... so nothing is known about the song existing or not...
05. Holla At Me (Original Sample) / Bobcat
- 1995/10/31. "412 (Retail 456) - Alternate beat with different sampled drums. No singer through out song and extra 2Pac hooks at the end." Remixed in All Eyez on Me (1996, Death Row). Also known as "pre-Death Row version" but it is just the original sample used before the final mix (November the 4th) like for many other songs like "Shorty Wanna Be A Thug", "What'z My Number" or "All Eyez on Me" (cf. All Eyez on Me Demo).
- Samples :
- The New Birth - "Keep On Doin' It" (drums)
- 1995/11/16. Appears in All Eyez on Me November tracklist. The chorus is not from Jewell nor Nanci Fletcher, but from a less known girl named Precious. There is a still unleaked version with a Storm verse. The song will be then enlisted in Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2 tracklists.
- Samples :
- D'Angelo - "Lady" (melody, bassline)
- George Clinton - "Atomic Dog" (sound effect)
- 1995/11/14. Remixed in Until The End of Time (2001, Amaru). Appears in All Eyez on Me November tracklist.
- Samples :
- Roger Troutman (Zapp) - "Do It Roger" (melody)
- 1995/10/27. Appears in All Eyez on Me November tracklist. The following day, Puff Johnson recorded the hook for "Rather Be Ya Nigga" and probably also for "M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches)". Notice that she was already singing in "Me Against The World".
- 1995/10/19. Remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Interscope). You can hear "1995" in the song and a first explanation about Makaveli concept. The text "Rules" may be one of the only text written down in jail. Supposed to be in all previous tracklists of Euthanasia/When I Get Free firstly just as an introduction and then with a song with changing guests. It is also included in Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2 tracklists. The song will be re-recorded circa March of 96 with new verses from 2Pac, Hussein and Kadafi (cf. Black Gold / Troublesome, Tha Secretz of War).
- Sample :
- Willie Hutch - "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" (melody)
- 1995/10/23. Released in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). It is said that OFTB and Big Syke added their verses only in march of 96 (for O.F.T.B. shelved album I Come Up Hard or for the Death Row Soundtrack compilation project, cf. Lil' Homies). The "OFTB up in this biatch" introduction asserts the group was in the studio with him when he recorded the song. They recorded together "The Struggle Continues" the same day or the day after. But OFTB were in love with "Better Dayz" beat so they finally got the song. There is another shorter mix (bad quality) with an alternate mixed ending with Pac's speech easier to listen to.
- Samples :
- The Isley Brothers - "Lets' Fall In Love pt. 1 & 2" (melody)
- 1995/10/31. This version seems to be the first take with all three verses from 2Pac, before the usual known demo version of "Run Tha Streetz" with the same mix but with an Edi verse instead of Pac's first and "Black Queen" verse instead of Storm's (cf. All Eyez on Me Demo).
- Samples :
- Guy - "Piece of My Love" (melody interpolation, chorus interpolation)
- 1995/10/14. Remixed in Until The End of Time (2001, Amaru). Re-recorded version of the ’94 song supposed to be released in Stay True album. Included in many Euthanasia/When I Get Free/All Eyez on Me tracklists. Pac's vocals seem to have been re-recorded like in "Wonda Why They Call U B..." but it sounds like that also in "Po Nigga Blues" which is presumably a remix with Pac's voice pitched.
- Samples :
- Al B Sure ! - "Night & Day" (bassline interpolation, sound effect interpolation)
- 1995/11/13. Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). This first version without the synthé is good but it definitely sounds strange... That's probably the reason why 2Pac & Johnny J didn't love the song. Tyrone Wrice aka Hurt-M-Badd was linked to Death Row since his group B-Rezel with MGM appeared in Murder was the Case and Above The Law compilations. He said in an interview that he was even working on "California Love" chorus before Dre contacted Roger Troutman (so in first Dr. Dre solo version). After his important implication in Makaveli LP, he will work for Willie D of the Geto Boys around 2000. Capucine Jackson is the wife of... Johnny J !
- Samples :
- 7th Wonder - "Daisy Lady" (melody interpolation)
- 1995/10/24. This song starts with a long live speech from the 16th of October by Minister Farrakhan from Nation of Islam. Johnny J will add the sample of "Thug Life" original song (the one with Syke and Ital Joe, cf. Thug Life Demo Tape) over the beat for the final version intended for All Eyez on Me or later for Outlaw Immortalz or Thug Pound.
- Samples :
- The Commodores - "Cebu" (melody)
- Run DMC - "Jam Master Jay" (drumline)
- Louis Farrakhan - "Million Man March Speech (Oct. 16th, 95)" (quotes)
- 1995/10/15. Supposed to be in many Euthanasia/When I Get Free/All Eyez on Me tracklists.
- Samples :
- Barry White - "Playing Your Game, Baby" (melody)
- 1995/10/17-19 (Faith added ? or just a second mix). Remixed with Michel'le at the chorus in All Eyez on Me. 2Pac really loved this song he recorded in 1993 for Mr. Middle Finger aka Thug Life 2. He gave it a new mix with a Led Zeppelin sample probably for Out on Bail before wanting to release the original in Exodus / Pre-DR compilation project. Then he re-recorded the song with Biggie’s wife a few days after being freed from jail (we have a picture when he met her, maybe the day of his liberation, still hairy, with Treach and other friends). Death Row finally imposed his protégée Michel’e. So we would have at least five versions plus a final mix of this Faith version.
- Samples :
- Paul Simon - "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" (melody/drums)
- 1995/10/27. This first take has no special effects on the voice of 2Pac, and it lacks the other verses by Syke, Edi, Kadafi and Mopreme.
- Samples :
- Black Heat - "Zimba Ku" (drumline)
- Funkadelik - "Knee Deep" (vocals interpolation)
- Dogg Pound - "What Would You Do ?" (vocals)
- 1996/01/16.
- 1992 - 1995-1996 (?). Remixed in Loyal To The Game (2004, Amaru). It has been said (by Numskull) that 2Pac asked Shock G to remix the song he recorded in 92. At the same time, the voice seems also to be different, older. He finally gave the song to The Govenor for his album Floss Mode in 1995 (with a beat very close to the original produced by DJ Daryl). Shock G was then working with Numskull of Luniz.
- Samples :
- Bill Withers & Grover Washington Jr – "Just The Two Of Us" (melody) - re-used by Cocoa Brovaz in "Wrekonize Remix"
. Don’t Make Enemies With Me (DR Remix) feat. K-Dog, Mutah, Big Malc & Young Hollywood / Stretch REMIXED by Daz (?) - OG VIBE, REMAKE
- 1994/10 - 1995-1997 (?). Released in R U Still Down (1997, Amaru). Is this Death Row remix appearing in many tracklists really exist ? Erasing the Live Squad’s part sounds as a threat towards Stretch who will be killed the 30th of November...). This song will reappear in some Outlawz Troublesome, Tha Secretz of War tracklists. It is said that the leaked versions we have are just OG Vibes. At the same time, the fact that Amaru released a version edited without Live Squad and Sh'Killa could indicate that such a version exists...
- Samples :
- Love Unlimited Orchestra - "Makin' Believe That It's You" (melody)
. Dear Mama (DR Remix) feat. Reggie Green & Sweet Franklin / DF Master Tee, Tony Pizarro REMIXED by Daz (?)
- 1995/?.
- Samples :
- Joe Sample - "In All My Wildest Dreams" (melody)
- The Spinners - "Sadie" (vocals interpolation)
- 1992 - 1997 (?). Fanmade mix that allows to hear the text of the first part of the song with 2Pac speaking with a normal voice - reminding that 2Pac chose to pitch his voice to express a dark evil incarnation and to mean the difference with himself...
-
1995/10/24. Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). Is there a first version without Lil' Malik ? without 2Pac ?
No comments:
Post a Comment