1996 - Thug Life : Volume 2 (with Outlaw Immortalz)

  • Oct. 95 - Jan. 96 : Outlaw Immortalz supergroup album sessions.
  • After having recorded his first Death Row tracks for his solo album, and notably "When We Ride", 2Pac started to record tracks for a new project to promote his friends and to give a follow up to Thug Life : Volume One.
  • Thug Life Volume 2 the real !!!! Dramacydal replacing Double Jeopardy ; Dogg Pound and Death Row engineers replacing the Live Squad, Pro-Jay, Moe-Z...
  • What happened ? A first version of the album was probably more or less given to Interscope circa January of 96, ready to be the second album of 2Pac's contract with Death Row. Things became a bit different after Mopreme was kicked off of Death Row in January, but it probably remains until being buried when Big Syke left Death Row in April '96.
  • Sources : handwritten tracklists ; Makaveli 2 bootleg
Pictures by Chi-Modu, 1995 December 24
(up) Mopreme, Hussein, Kastro, Big Syke, Edi
(down) 2Pac, Napoleon, Kadafi

### There is no known material sequence known for this project, only two handwritten tracklists. We chose to follow the second one because most of the songs recorded for the project were listed on it. We only switched "Hit Em Up" and "Soon as I Get Home" in order to have a good entrance. We presume that the disappeared tracks from the first tracklist ("Outlaw Immortalz", "Komradz", "Fair Exchange" or "Blunt Time") were scrapped or given to Thug Pound. ###

LISTEN to that album HERE

  1. Soon As I Get Home
  2. Teardrops and Closed Caskets (Rough Mix) feat. Nate Dogg 
  3. Hit 'Em Up (Original Version) feat. Storm & Prince Ital Joe
  4. Secretz of War feat. Kurupt
  5. There U Go feat. Mr. Malik & Puff Johnson
  6. Jack Move (Original Version) feat. Daz
  7. Where U Been feat. Danny Boy - incomplete/mix error/fixed
  8. He Vs. She feat. Storm
  9. What's Next feat. Thug Life, Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker
  10. Play Your Cards Right (Female Version) feat. Michel'le
  11. Grab The Mic (Thru My Rearview)
  12. Fuck 'Em All (Rough Mix)
  13. Fade Me (Extended Mix) feat. Precious
  14. If They Love Their Kidz (Rough Mix)
  15. Letter 2 The President (Rough Mix)
  16. Still Ballin' (Rough Mix) feat. Kurupt
Bonus Disc : Outlaw Immortalz Sessions :
  1. Still I Rise (Rough Mix) feat. Fatal N Felony & Big Syke
  2. Fair Exchange (Synthé Mix) feat. Hurt-M-Badd
  3. Komradz feat. Storm, Dramacydal & Big Syke
  4. 2 My Unborn Child (Rough Mix) feat. Natasha Walker
  5. Don't Stop The Music (Rough Mix) feat. Big Malc, Fatal & Nanci Fletcher 
  6. U Can Call feat. Puff Johnson
  7. M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) feat. Fatal N Felony & Mopreme & Big Syke
  8. 6 or 12 (by Fatal N Felony, Dramacydal & Big Syke)
  9. Better Dayz (Rough Mix)
  10. Late Night (First Take) feat. Fatal N Felony
  11. Outlaw Immortalz (First Take) feat. Fatal N Felony, Big Malc & Big Syke
  1. What's Next (Rough Mix) feat. Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker  
  2. There U Go (First Take) feat. Big Syke, Outlawz, Mr. Malik & Puff Johnson
  3. Where U Been (First Take) feat. Big Syke, Outlawz & Danny Boy
  4. Play Your Cards Right (Male Version) feat. Hurt M Badd
  5. The Struggle Continues (No Sample) feat. Minister Farrakhan, Fatal, Big Syke & O.F.T.B.
  6. Fade Me feat. Napoleon, Kastro & Precious - snippet 
 
  • Fresh Like Celery pt. 1 (by Fatal N Felony)
  • Fresh Like Celery pt. 2 (by Fatal N Felony)
  • When We Ride (First Take) feat. Fatal, K-Dog & Mutah

    •  

    A follow-up to Thug Life Volume One !

    Thug Life Volume 2 was a real project. The Chi-Modu photoset has presumably specifically made for that album cover, booklet and promotion.

    As in jail, 2Pac was thinking to release a compilation album with leftover tracks from Me Against The World (cf. When I Get Free (Lost Tracks) / R U Still Down '95), but he was also thinking about giving a follow-up to the first volume of Thug Life initially also with leftover songs (cf. Honor Among Thugz). Being freed, he could give a fresh new album. But part of the original line-up of the group has disappeared (Rated R was in jail for murder... Macadoshis ? it is said there was a kind of defiance from 2Pac against him...). The concept of "Outlaw Immortalz" as a supergroup gathering the rest of Thug Life, Dramacydal and Fatal N Felony firstly appears in "Outlaw Immortalz" in which Pac started to give nicknames to his partners after famous (or infamous) dictators. But it was not fixed yet. In "When We Ride" appears the complete group. And finally "Hit 'Em Up" is a song which is specifically recorded for that second project 2Pac started in parallel of All Eyez On Me.

    Old Thug Life partners like Natasha Walker from Y?N-Vee, Prince Ial Joe (who was on the first song called "Thug Life", Nate Dogg (in the TL's hit "How Long Will They Mourn Me") added their part to find back the taste of the first Thug Life. But 2Pac also needed to replace Stretch/Live Squad as producer/guest that was an important part of the identity of the first volume. Dogg Pound Gangsta (Dogg Pound, Daz as a producer, Kurupt as a rapper) became the new touch, the Death Row signature. Danny Boy as Baby Face was announced in the known tracklists but he's finally rare. The real new unpredictable point is the appearance of Storm, the female rapper, maybe not as a full time member of the group, but as a regular partner (like Tupac tried to have Dee Tha Maad Bitch or Yonnie in Thug Life Volume 1, cf. Honor Among Thugz). 


     
     
     
     handwritten draft tracklist of the project 
     

    1. Mid December of 95. Title "Outlaw Immortalz". 

    Probably just after the recording session with QD3 in the 10-13 of December. "Letter 2 The Prez" is strangely not included. "Don't U Niggaz have Kidz" (produced by QDIII) and "On Top of The World" (Moe-Z mix, original is produced by Mopreme) are not recorded yet (maybe 2Pac will record Letter 2 The President" and Moe Z will remix "Where Will I Be". It includes some songs that were left over during All Eyez on Me process : "Outlaw Immortalz", "Fade Me", "Secretz of War", "Fair Exchange" and "Blunt Tyme". Could it mean that this "Blunt Time" features also Outlaw Immortalz members on side of Lady of Rage ? Anyway, it indicates that 2Pac really took this project seriously by giving it another Dre production, whereas he still could have added it to All Eyez on Me (final mix was not over).


    copy of a known second tracklist

    2. Mid of January of '96. "Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume II". 

    Probably just after the recordings of "Grab The Mic" and "He Vs. She" circa 12-13 of January, before the This Life I Lead/Dumpin sessions the 18th of January with the Dogg Pound. It does not have "Blunt Tyme" anymore... Coult it mean that the song was not really recorded (it could be just an instrumental or a version with just Lady of Rage and Dre awaiting for guests...). "Fade Me" does not credit Storm so her verse could have been added later in January as she recorded new songs with 2Pac but not that much later because she disappeared after that month until June One Nation sessions (unless it was recorded circa May for Outlawz first album). It does neither include "Still I Rise", nor "Late Night", nor "Initiated".

    None of these tracklists are satisfying. The track order doesn't looks good. I decided to not include "Secretz of War" here, but more likely in When I Get Free compilation, because it was a really early track (with Fatal N Felony feature) and because the song was in every early Euthanasia/Me Against The World/When I Get Free tracklists (and because we have only one mix of this "Rules" version). And I made a double CD tracklist because there were also a lot of unused tracks / alternate mixes. The difficult part is to make a difference with the Thug Pound (Thug Life + Dogg Pound) album project.

     

    An expected project vanished

    In January of 96, Mopreme argued with Suge Knight (is it about money for his work, like Syke and Johnny J later, or is there a Blood & Crips issue ?). It is said Mo was drunk and Suge's men beat him up or forced him to strip outside in the snow and he after that left the label and the group. Mopreme was not in many songs of the project but as Tupac's stepbrother and original Thug Life member, he was important and it probably made Tupac change his plans after his departure. Maybe some tracks could be given to Thug Pound project. Then 2Pac started to record his second solo album (cf. All New Heat & 100% Black Gold). He still uses the concept of "Outlaw Immortalz" in February ("Changed Man", "If There's a Cure") but it disappeared after. When Syke signed elsewhere for his solo album (around april of 96) the initial project was definitely buried and the group turned into the shorten Outlawz (no more members of Thug Life), some songs being remade for that new project ("Hit Em Up" of course, but "Secretz of War", "Thru My Rearview" (and maybe  "There U Go"). "Soon As I Get Home" and "What'z Next", "Fade Me" also appear in early tracklists of that album. Some songs, which have alternate mixes could have been made for a Lil Homies intermediary project Syke+Outlawz in February-March.

     
     
    The Outllaw Immortalz are :
    - 2Pac => Makaveli (16th century italian philosopher)
    Thug Life :
    - Big Syke => Mussolini (Benito Mussolini, Italia),
    - Mopreme => Komani (Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran)
    Dramacydal+Fatal N Felony :
    - Big Malc => Edi (Idi Amin Dada, Uganda)
    - K-Dogg => Kastro (Fidel Castro, Cuba)
    - Mutah => Napoleon (Napoléon Bonaparte, France)
    - Young Hollywood (Felony) => Kadafi (Mouammar Kadhafi, Lybia)
    - Fatal => Hussein (Saddam Hussein, Iraq)
     
    Close partners :
    old partners already in Thug Life vol. 1 sessions : 
    - Johnny J
    - Natasha Walker of Y?N-Vee
    - Prince Ital Joe
    - Nate Dogg
    new :
    - Storm aka Mabavek (????)
    - Hurt-M-Badd
    - Danny Boy aka Baby Face (american bank robber)
    - Daz & Kutupt aka Dillinger & Young Gotti (John Dillinger & John Gotti Jr.)
    - Snoop Dogg aka Corleone (boss of the Sicilian mafia)

     

    DETAILED TRACKLIST

    (Special thanks to Bomb1st members Filla and Dominator for samples credits)

    DISC ONE

    01. Soon As I Get Home feat. Kadafi / QD3
    • 1995/12/10. Released in its original form in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). The song will reappear in early Outlawz 1st LP tracklists (cf. Immortalz). It is the very first 2Pac's song produced by QD3. Quincy Jones III is the son of the famous jazz/rhythm & blues trumpeter and producer of the same name. He started to produce in late 80's for Special K, his father's hip-hop album Back On The Block, Tairrie B of Bardeux/Ruthless, before releasing his Soundlab album in 91 with artists Justin Warfield, Poet Society, Jazzy D, 213 and Kenyatta (maybe not one of the credited voices of "Lord Knows" in Me Against The World). Then he produced for Justin Warfield solo album, for Da Lench Mob on Menace II Society and Panther soundtracks, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, Yo-Yo, LL Cool J, Naughty By Nature, Too $hort, Mexakinz, Coolio, for Don Jagwarr's album Faded where 2Pac was also featured and even for Prince "Letitgo remix"...
    • Samples :
    02. Tear Drops & Closed Caskets (Rough Mix) feat. Outlawz & Nate Dogg / QD3
    • 1995/12/11. Fairly remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Interscope). This song can clearly be seen as a follow up to "How Long Will They Mourn Me" from Thug Life : Volume One : same funeral topic and a same lightful chorus by Nate Dogg. An alternate known date of recording for the Reel (22th of February) could be an advanced mix of the song (maybe for the Thug Life-Outlawz intermediary project Lil' Homies).
    • Samples :
    03. Hit 'Em Up (Original Version) feat. Napoleon, Edi, Hussein, Kadafi, Storm & Prince Ital Joe / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/10/31. UNRELEASED.
    • Story. The song doesn't appear anyhere in All Eyez on Me tracklists and sequences so it could be understood as the real beginning of Thug Life Volume 2 project (whereas for "Outlaw Immortalz", "M.O.B." and "When We Ride", 2Pac could have hesitated). In early bootlegs, you used to find the title "Hit 'Em Up 2" but it is the real original first version of the song. You can hear a piece of Edi and Storm original verses not yet erased in the Demo version of the second version (cf. Me Against The World pt. 2).
    • Samples :

    04. Secretz of War (Rulez Version) feat. Hussein, Kadafi & Kurupt / Johnny J

    • 1995/10/19. 
    • Story. Included in early All Eyez On Me October version (cf. All Eyez On Me Demo). There would be an alternate first take of the song but it is still unleaked. The same sample was used the same year of 1995 by G Side of Sacramento, produced by Bumpin T : "Gots To Keep My Scratch On".
    05. There U Go (Wrong Start) feat. Big Syke, Kastro, Kadafi, Edi, Puff Johnson & Mr. Malik (Illegal) / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/10/24-30 (Lil' Malik added ?). Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). Mr. Malik (of the group Illegal) is featured in the albums of Snoop Dogg (93), Warren G (94) and Dogg Pound (95). So why not with 2Pac ? His part is said to have been added a few days after the other but the mixes without him could be fanmade. There is an unfinished mix with Nanci Fletcher singing during each verse, and a more advanced mix without but with a fall down during Malik's speaking verse (maybe made for Lil' Homies intermediary project). The song will reappear in Outlawz 1st LP tracklists, cf. Immortalz, eventually in a Johnny J remix version without Syke.
    • Samples :
      • Keith Sweat - "(There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again" 
    06. Jack Move (Original Version) by Daz, Big Syke, Kadafi, Kastro, Hussein & unknown speaking (?) / Daz
    • 1994/10/17 (?) (original beat) - 1995/12/22 (verses). Released in Tha Last of Tha Pound (2002, DPG) with an additional Kurupt verse (presumably added in February 27 of 96 for Dogg Pound second album project (cf. Dogg Shit / West Coast Aftershock). In this early version he only gives a bar at the beginning of the song (like the beginning of a verse mistakenly omitted...). Could it be the remaining of the song recorded in 94...? The instrumental would re-use an unused Murder Was The Case beat (maybe an alternate version of the beat used for Slip Capone's "The Eulogy"). In this version the speaking intro is different (not from Syke) and there is also another voice speaking after Hussein's verse. Probably Death Row inmates...
    • Samples :
    07. Where U Been (Error Mix) feat. Big Syke, Hussein, Napoleon, Edi & Danny Boy / Big Syke & Johnny J - ERROR MIX, EDIT, REMAKE
    •  1995/11/06. All leaked mixes are corrupted, with error in middle of Syke's verse, without Syke or without 2Pac's verse, or with an unsatisfying mixdown.
    • Samples :
    08. He Vs. She (4 My Niggaz) (Rough Mix) feat. Storm / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1996/01/13 - ? (Final Mix). Sort of allegiance to the new 2Pac's Thug Life concept : "My enemies your enemies" ; "Fuck Bad Boy"... Another link with Thug Life Volume 1 : this song uses the same sample than "Fuck All Y'All", recorded for Stay True with Duane Nettlesbey (but later intended for a short lived Thug Life Lost Tracks compilation project, cf. Honor Among Thugz / Exodus / Makaveli 6). The sample was probably the idea of 2Pac and he asked Johnny J to make a new beat with it, like for "What'z Next"...
    • Samples : 
      • George Benson - "Breezin'" (melody)
    09. What's Next feat. Mopreme, Big Syke, Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker (chorus) / Johnny J
    • 1995/11/16. Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru).  
    • Story. Maximum line-up of the old Thug Life formation : Prince Ital Joe from the first song of the original project & Natasha Walker from YN?-Vee were already in the first Thug Life Demo in 1993. It still lacks Macadoshis, Rated R (then condemned for murder) and of course Stretch. Like "He Vs. She", the song re-uses a sample 2Pac already used for "Where Do We Go From Here ?" (cf. Exodus). The sample was probably an original idea of 2Pac who asked Johnny J to produce another beat with it.
    • Samples :
    10. Play Your Cards Right (Female Version) feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Edi, Kadafi & Michel'le / Johnny J
    • 1996/01/10. Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). This version is probably the first take of the song. The next day Michel'le will give a new chorus for "Wonda Why They Call U Bytch" for All Eyez On Me. Could it be the reason why Tupac recorded a second chorus with Hurt-M-Badd ? Maybe at that time he decided to transfer "Fair Exchange" to Thug Pound.
    • Samples :
    11. I Grab The Mic (Thru My Rear View pt. 1) (Rough Mix) / Johnny J - SNIPPET
    12. Fuck 'Em All (No Dear God Mix) feat. Kadafi & Edi / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/12/12. Fairly remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). It seems to be an echo of "Fuck All Y'All" but all the world as an enemy has been replaced by a concrete enemy, "them" : Biggie and the Bad Boy crew (Me Against Them). The song re-uses the sample and many elements from "Gangsta P Funk" by Radio & Roc Chill, produced by Jerrel Mosley, Roc Chill and... Moe Z (credited as a co-producer and for the bass). Radio's album Recognize Da Real (Interscope, 1994) was mainly produced by Moe Z., and Radio is the ragga voice in "Runnin'" released in One Million Strong.
    • Sample : 
    13. Fade Me (Long Mix) feat. Kastro, Napolean & Precious (chorus) / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/11/16 - ? (new mix). Appears firstly in All Eyez on Me tracklists (cf. All Eyez On Me (Demo)). The chorus is not from Jewell nor Nanci Fletcher nor Storm herself (they denied), but from a lesser known girl named Precious (maybe this girl). There is a still unleaked version with Storm : it could be an early take (even without 2Pac ?), or a late version made for Lil' Homies or Outlawz 1st LP.
    • Samples :
      • D'Angelo - "Lady" (melody, bassline)
      • George Clinton - "Atomic Dog" (sound effect)

    14. If They Love Their Kidz (Rough Mix) feat. Napoleon & Kastro / Johnny J

    15. Letter To The President (Long Mix) feat. Edi, Kastro & Big Syke / QD3

    • 1995/12/11. Remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Amaru). Like for "Teardrops and Closed Caskets", an alternate known date of 96/02/22 seems to be an error or the date of an advanced mix of the song.

    16. Still Ballin' (Rough Mix) feat. Kurupt / Johnny J

    • 1995/12/18. Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). This is a follow-up to the song of Thug Life Volume 1 album, "Str8 Ballin'", which was closing the album. Kurupt seems to appear as a substitute for Stretch.
    • Samples :

    BONUS TRACKS :



    BONUS DISC : Outlaw Immortalz sessions

    01. Still I Rise (Rough Mix) feat. Fatal N Felony & Big Syke (chorus) / Johnny J
    • 1995/10/19. Remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Death Row). 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, which would be totally different from that one... So this compilation starts by a new song recorded after an old concept. Fatal N Felony was the name of the duet Fatal (Hussein) & Felony aka Young Hollywood (Kadafi), active in 1995 mainly when 2Pac was in jail. It has been said they could have some recorded tracks with Spice 1, Luniz, Mic Geronimo... but there is no proof of that.
    • Samples : 
    02. Komradz feat. Storm, Edi, Napoleon, Kadafi & Big Syke / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/11/28. Storm is speaking in the beginning.
    • Samples : 

    . Fair Exchange (Synthé Version) feat. Hurt M Badd (B-Rezell) & Capucine Jackson (chorus) / 2Pac & Johnny J

    • 1995/11/13 - 11/20 (new mix). Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). Said to have been recorded late at night after "Thug Passion" and eventually "Late Night" (with Fatal & Felony), it has been said that Tupac was tired and that both him & Johnny J didn't like the song. However Johnny J gave a second mix and the song appears in All Eyes on Me tracklists (cf. When I Get Free), and also in Thug Life Volume 2 tracklist, so topic and lyrics were kind of important for Tupac.
    • Samples : 

    . 6 or 12 (by Kastro, Hussein, Big Syke, Edi & Kadafi) / Mike Mosley & Rick Rock (?)

    • 1995/11/28. Recorded the same day than "Komradz" (produced by Johnny J) and "Tradin' War Stories" and "Ain't Hard 2 Find" (both produced by Mosley & Rock). This song seems to be incomplete. Maybe 2Pac was on it but never recorded his verse, maybe Mopreme for a whole Thug Life thing, maybe a Dogg Pound member, maybe another Outlaw member like Storm who was in other songs recorded that day, maybe a Bay Area rapper or another Death Row artist like Sam Sneed...
     
    . What's Next (Rough Mix) feat. Mopreme, Big Syke, Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker (chorus) / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/11/16. Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). Maximum line-up of the old Thug Life formation : Prince Ital Joe from the first song of the original project & Natasha Walker from YN?-Vee were already in the first Thug Life Demo in 1993. It still lacks Macadoshis, Rated R (then condemned for murder) and of course Stretch. Like "He Vs. She", the song re-uses a sample 2Pac already used for "Where Do We Go From Here ?" (cf. Exodus). The sample was probably an original idea of 2Pac who asked Johnny J to produce another beat with it.
    • Samples :

    . Still Ballin' (Rough Mix) feat. Kurupt / Johnny J

    • 1995/12/18. Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). This is a follow-up to the song of Thug Life Volume 1 album, "Str8 Ballin'", which was closing the album. Kurupt seems to appear as a substitute for Stretch.
    • Samples :

    . Fuck 'Em All (Dear God Sample) feat. Kadafi & Edi / 2Pac & Johnny J

    • 1995/12/12 - ? (movie sample added). Fairly remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). It seems to be an echo of "Fuck All Y'All" but all the world as an enemy has been replaced by a concrete enemy, "them" : Biggie and the Bad Boy crew (Me Against Them). The song re-uses the sample and many elements from "Gangsta P Funk" by Radio & Roc Chill, produced by Jerrel Mosley, Roc Chill and... Moe Z (credited as a co-producer and for the bass). Radio's album Recognize Da Real (Interscope, 1994) was mainly produced by Moe Z., and Radio is the ragga voice in "Runnin'" released in One Million Strong.
    • Sample : 
    . Don't Stop The Music feat. Edi, Hussein & Nanci Fletcher / Johnny J
    • 1995/11/22 or 96/01/09 (?). Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). The song is dissing Delores Tucker because of her advice upon rap music and violent influence ; Tupac will again diss her in "Why U Turn On Me", but more because what she said upon him specifically.
    • Samples :

    . He Vs. She (Short Mix) feat. Storm / Johnny J & 2Pac

    • 1996/01/13.
      • George Benson - "Breezin'" (melody)
    08. Play Your Cards Right (Male Version) feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Edi, Kadafi & Hurt M Badd / Johnny J
    • 1996/01/10. Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). Last song recorded by Mopreme and Pac together. The first version is probably the one with Michel'le at the chorus. Hurt M Badd and 6 Feet Deep with additional vocals made another chorus for the this version.
    • Samples :
    09. Fade Me (Storm Version) feat. Kastro, Napoleon, Storm & Precious / 2Pac & Johnny J - SNIPPET
    • 1995/11/16 - 1996/01 (?) (Storm added). The song appears firstly in All Eyez on Me tracklists (cf. When I Get Free), then in Outlaw Immortalz and later in May in Outlawz LP tracklist. So the song was probably loved by 2Pac. This snippet of Storm verse let think that out of Storm verse, the mix could be identical to the leaked one included in Thug Life Volume II.
    • Samples :
      • D'Angelo - "Lady" (melody, bassline)
      • George Clinton - "Atomic Dog" (sound effect)

    10. Outlaw Immortalz (Rough Mix) feat. Kadafi, Hussein, Edi & Big Syke / Sam Sneed

    • 1995/10/26 - 1996/01/03 (new mix ?). Initially recorded for All Eyez On Me (cf. When I Get Free). Then included in the first Thug Life Volume 2 tracklist but not in the second one... 2Pac very probably transferred the track to Thug Pound, the kind of beat fitting more to that project, and the song offering promotion to another Death Row artist who was also preparing his album at that time : Sam Sneed (cf. Street Scholars). Gonzoe of Kausion said there was another version with him, which could have been recorded in January, like his other features for Thug Pound project, or later in May or August for a new Outlawz version, why not in replacement of Big Syke (Gonzoe appears in Ghett Starz guests list). It could also be a complete different song recorded for an Edi project (DAT with also "Don't Stop The Music" being credited to him).
    • Samples : 
    11. Fair Exchange (No Synthé Mix) feat. Hurt M Badd & Capucine Jackson / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 1995/11/13 - 11/20 (?) (new mix). Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). Said to have been recorded late at night after "Thug Passion" and eventually "Late Night" (with Fatal & Felony), it has been said that Tupac was tired and that both him & Johnny J didn't like the song. However Johnny J gave a second mix and the song appears in All Eyes on Me tracklists (cf. When I Get Free), and also in Thug Life Volume 2 tracklist, so topic and lyrics were kind of important for Tupac.
    • Samples : 

    12. M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) feat. Hussein, Mopreme, Big Syke, Edi & Puff Johnson / Kurt Kobane

    • 1995/10/28. It has been said the song was supposed to be on All Eyez on Me, but the mix wasn't ready on time. In fact the song never appears in All Eyez on Me tracklists and has been recorded early... 2Pac raps some bars in spanish, and kicks about the famous name of a gang : MOB (Member of Blood). We could think at the difference with the first conception of "Thug Life" as a code of honor in order to appease the gang war... Now 2Pac have made a choice, entered the war... There is another version without the female chorus (maybe Puff Johnson who recorded a chorus for "U Can Call" and "I'd Rather Be Ya Nigga" around the same days).

    13. There U Go (Final Mix) feat. Big Syke, Kastro, Kadafi, Edi, Mr. Malik & Puff Johnson / 2Pac & Johnny J - NO MALIK UNDERDOG EDIT

    • 1995/10/24-30 - ? (new mixdown ?). Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). Mr. Malik (of the group Illegal) is featured in the albums of Snoop Dogg (93), Warren G (94) and Dogg Pound (95), also in unreleased Dr. Dre's sessions, so why not with 2Pac ? His part is said to have been added a few days after the other but the mixes without him could be fanmade. There is an unfinished mix with Nanci Fletcher singing during each verse, and a more advanced mix without but with a fall down during Malik's speaking verse and without 2Pac's outro. The song will reappear in Outlawz 1st LP tracklists, eventually with a Johnny J remix version without Syke (cf. Immortalz).
    • Samples :
      • Keith Sweat - "(There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again" 

    14. Still I Rise feat. Hussein, Kadafi & Big Syke (chorus) / Johnny J

    • 1995/10 - ? (final mix). Remixed in  Still I Rise (1999, Interscope). After having been dropped from All Eyez on Me, the song was kind of forgotten, why does it not appear in Thug Life Volume II project...?

    15. If They Love Their Kidz (Short Mix) feat. Napoleon & Kastro / Johnny J

    • 1996/01/12. This first take has 2Pac taking a deep breath before the beginning of the beat, and no outro.
    • Samples : 
    17. I Grab The Mic (Thru My Rear View pt. 1) (Short Mix) / Johnny J - SNIPPET

    . Ambitionz az a Fighta (Mike Tyson Dedication) / Daz
    • 1995/12/14. Tyson really loved "Ambitionz az a Ridah" and used to listen to it before a fight OR during training. So 2Pac recorded this alternate version for him and it was played live during the entrance of Mike Tyson for his for his fight against Buster Mathis Jr. (95/12/16)
    • Samples :
    . Thug Life (Moe-Z Remix) by Moe-Z (?) / Moe-Z Remixed - SNIPPET
    • 1995 (?). Moe-Z gives a verse over the beat he gave 2Pac in late 94 for the Young Thugz song "Thug Life" (cf. Young Thugz EP), finally unreleased. Is it a real remix from 95 or a later mix from Moe-Z ?
    07. Letter To My Unborn (Rough Mix) feat. Natasha Walker  / Johnny J
    • 1995/11/14. Remixed in Until The End of Time (2001, Amaru). Appears in All Eyez on Me November tracklist.
    • Samples : 
    08. Fade Me (Rough Mix) feat. K-Dog, Mutah & Precious (chorus) / 2Pac & Johnny J
    • 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. The song will be then enlisted in Thug Life Volume 2. There is a still unleaked version with a Storm verse, which could be the first take, or the final mixdown... 
    • Samples :
      • D'Angelo - "Lady" (melody, bassline)
      • George Clinton - "Atomic Dog" (sound effect)
    . M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) feat. Fatal N Felony, Thug Life & Puff Johnson (?) / Kurt Kobane
    • 1995/10/28. 
    • Story. It has been said the song was supposed to be on AEOM, but the mix wasn't ready on time, even that the song was replaced by "When We Ride", what is probably untrue... The song has been recorded earlier and never appeared in any tracklists (only in one DAT). In this song, 2Pac plays with the famous name of the gang (MOB : Member of Blood), giving it a new meaning. In fact, lyrics can clearly be seen as an apology of gangsta life. So we could think at the difference with the original conception of "Thug Life" as a code of honor in order to appease the gang war... Now 2Pac made a choice, he entered the gang war...
     
    09. Late Night (Outlawz Version) feat. Fatal N Felony / Dj Quik
    • 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 : 
    12. Outlaw Immortalz (First Take) feat. Fatal N Felony, Edi & Big Syke / Sam Sneed
    • 1995/10/23-24 - 30 (?) (Edi added ?).
    • Story. Considering the intro with 2Pac announcing "Syke aka Mussolini, Yaki Kadafi... Fatal Komani and 2Pac Makaveli", it is usually said Edi added later... Maybe initially 2Pac was expecting Mopreme aka Komani to record a verse (he recorded with the same team the 28th) and Edi finally completed the track instead... Or, 2Pac initially gave "Komani" nickname to Fatal... or more likely to Big Malc who became Edi ! Anyway, the song was quickly replaced by "When We Ride" and was transferred to Thug Life Volume 2, then very likely to Thug Pound promotion project due to the Sam Sneed beat.
    • Differences : There is no break at the beginning of 2Pac's verse and the beat is going on after Big Sykes's one.
    • Samples : 
     
    Immortal (by Fatal N Felony)
    . Immortal (by Fatal N Felony) / 187um (?) - REMIX
    • 1995/?. Outside of the 2Pac intro and outro that have been patched later, Fatal N Felony vocals seem to be prior to Death Row, but at the same time the title of the song is strangely anticipating the future name of their group in late 95.
    . Fresh Like Celery pt. 1 (by Fatal N Felony) / ? - SON RIZE REMIX
    • 1995/10/19 (~). Remixed in Son Rize Vol. 1 (2007) in two parts. This is a freestyle and not a song. It was recorded over "Still I Rise" instrumental. Donny Rizzo who mixed the project patched the bad quality vocals over well known beats but the result is ugly and does not help to listen to the raps.
    . Fresh Like Celery pt. 2 (by Fatal N Felony) / ? - SON RIZE REMIX
    • 1995/11/06 (~). Remixed in Son Rize Vol. 1 (2007) in two parts. This second part has been recorded over "Where U Been" instrumental. Donny Rizzo who mixed the project patched the bad quality vocals over well known beats but the result is ugly and does not help to listen to the raps. 







    2 comments:

    1. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM

      Outlawz Immortalz: Thug Life, Volume 2 [2CD's]

      CD 1 :-

      1.Still I Rise (1995/10/19)
      2.Secretz of War (Rulez Version)(1995/10/19)
      3.Better Dayz (1995/10/23)
      4.The Struggle Continues (1995/10/24)
      5.U Can Call (1995/10/27)
      6.M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) (1995/10/28)
      7.There U Go (1995/10/24) 10/30
      8.Where U Been (1995/11/06)
      9.Late Night (Outlawz Version)(1995/11/13)
      10.Fair Exchange (1995/11/13) 11/20
      11.Letter 2 My Unborn (1995/11/14) 11/27
      12.Penitentiary Bound (1995/11/16)
      13.What's Next (1995/11/16)
      14.Fade Me (1995/11/16)
      15.Don't Stop The Music (1995/11/22)
      16.Komradz (1995/11/28)

      CD2 :-

      1.Soon As I Get Home (1995/12/10)
      2.Teardrops and Closed Caskets (1995/12/11)
      3.Letter 2 The President (1995/12/11)
      4.Fuck 'Em All (1995/12/12)
      5.Still Ballin' (1995/12/18)
      6.Initiated (1995/12/22)
      7.Immortal (1996/01/03)
      8.Homeboyz (1996/01/09)
      9.Me & My Homies (1996/01/09)
      10.Play Your Cards Right (1996/01/10)
      11.If They Love Their Kidz (1996/01/12)
      12.Grab The Mic (1996/01/12)
      13.4 My Niggaz (He Vs. She) (1996/01/13)
      14.This Life I Lead (1996/01/18)
      15.World Wide M.O.B. Figgaz (1996/01/18-21)
      16.Never Be Peace (1996/01/30)

      ReplyDelete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2025 at 6:15 AM

      The chronological order does not sound good. It is much better to follow the original concept of the album. The second tracklist of the album Thug Life Volume 2 gather tracks logically : a part with Mopreme, part given to Napoleon & Kastro...

      ReplyDelete

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