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

• Oct. 95 - Jan. 96 : Outlaw Immortalz supergroup album sessions.
• After having recorded during two weeks 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 ready to be given to Interscope circa January of 96, ready to fulfill his 3 albums contract with Interscope to repay bail. Things became a bit different after Mopreme was kicked off of Death Row in January, but the project might have remained until 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

### - WORK IN PROGRESS. There is no known material sequence / DAT known for this project (except the later Makaveli 2 bootleg). We have only two handwritten tracklists and this photoset by Chi-Modu. We followed the second tracklist of it with all tracks listed being recorded. 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 transferred to the mysterious Thug Pound Death Row promotional project. ###

Tracklist - LISTEN

1. Soon As I Get Home
2. Teardrops and Closed Caskets (Original Mix) feat. Nate Dogg 
3. Hit 'Em Up (Original Version) feat. Storm & Prince Ital Joe
4. Secretz of War (Rulez Version) feat. Kurupt
5. There U Go feat. Mr. Malik & Puff Johnson - mix error/og reconstruction
6. Jack Move (Original Version) feat. Soopafly & Daz
7. Where U Been feat. Danny Boy - mix error/og reconstruction
   
8. He Vs. She (4 My Niggaz) feat. Storm
9. What's Next feat. Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker
10. Play Your Cards Right (Male Version) feat. Hurt-M-Badd
11. Grab The Mic (Thru My Rearview)
12. Fuck 'Em All
13. Fade Me feat. Precious - unleaked Storm version
14. If They Love Their Kidz
15. Letter 2 The President (Original Mix)
16. Still Ballin' feat. Kurupt
    
    Bonus Tracks :
    
    
17. Ambitionz Az A Fighta (Mike Tyson Entrance Song)

DETAILED TRACKLIST down the page.

• Producer - Johnny J, QD3 (1, 2, 15), 2Pac & Johnny J (1, 5, 8, 9)
• Rap - 2Pac, Thug Life (Mopreme & Big Syke), Fatal N Felony (Kadafi & Hussein), Dramacydal (Edi, Kastro & Napoleon)

Bonus Disc : Outlaw Immortalz Sessions :

1. Still I Rise (Rough Mix) feat. Fatal N Felony & Big Syke - AEOM Demo
2. Letter 2 My Unborn (Rough Mix) feat. Natasha Walker - AEOM Demo
3. Don't Stop The Music feat. Fatal, Big Malc & Nanci Fletcher
4. Komradz feat. Storm, Dramacydal & Big Syke
5. Fair Exchange (Synthé Mix) feat. Hurt-M-Badd 
6. Late Night (First Take) feat. Fatal N Felony - AEOM Demo
7. Better Dayz (Rough Mix) - AEOM Demo
8. 6 or 12 (by Dramacydal, Fatal N Felony & Big Syke)
9. U Can Call (Rough Mix) feat. Puff Johnson - AEOM Demo
10. M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) feat. Fatal N Felony, Thug Life & Puff Johnson
11. Fresh Like Celery pt. 1 (by Fatal N Felony)
12. Fresh Like Celery pt. 2 (by Fatal N Felony)
13. There U Go (First Take) feat. Big Syke, K-Dog, Felony, Big Malc, Mr. Malik & Puff Johnson 
14. Play Your Cards Right (Female Version) feat. Michel'le
15. How Do U Want It (Rough Mix) feat. Natasha Walker - AEOM Demo
16. Wonda Why They Call U Bitch (Rough Mix) feat. Faith Evans - AEOM Demo

Unused Mixes : 

. Fade Me feat. Mutah, K-Dog, Storm & Precious - snippet
. When We Ride (First Take) feat. Fatal, K-Dog & Mutah
. Where U Been (No 2Pac) feat. Big Syke, Fatal, Mutah & Danny Boy 
. Fuck 'Em All (No Dear God Sample) feat. Outlawz
. He Vs. She (Alternate Mix) feat. Storm 
. What's Next (Alternate Mix) feat. Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker 

 

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. December 11 of 1995. "Outlaw Immortalz". 

Probably written after 2Pac started to record songs with QD3 in the 10-13 of December. "Letter 2 The Prez" is not included but "Don't U Niggaz have Kidz" (produced by QD3) could be the first concept intended to be recorded at that time over the 3rd QD3 beat (finally recorded one month later).

 "On Top of The World" (a Moe-Z remix, original was produced by Mopreme) is very likely also just an idea in order to make another nod with Volume 1 - like he invited old partners in All Eyez On Me. 

This tracklist also includes some songs 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, instead of having it also in All Eyez on Me.

copy of a known second tracklist

2. circa mid January 1996. "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... Could it mean the song was not really recorded ? More likely 2Pac decided to have another Outlaw Immortalz song instead.

"Fade Me" does not credit Storm so her verse could have been edited off earlier or 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 not include anymore "Fair Xchange", nor "Komradz". No "Still I Rise", nor "Late Night", nor "Initiated", no "Homeboyz"... 

At that time, some of these leftover tracks could possibly have been transferred to that mysterious Death Row project commonly named Thug Pound. If we think this project as a collective one mainly built around 2Pac and Dogg Pound, many of these tracks could fit it. 

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 just 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 more 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 late March - early 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" (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' Homiez 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)

01. Soon As I Get Home feat. Kadafi / QD3

• 1995/12/10. Released in its original form in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). 
• Story. 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 :
• Timex Social Club - "Rumors" (melody interpolation)
  
• Chaka Khan & Rufus - "Ain't Nobody" (bassline interpolation) 
• Whodini - "Five Minutes of Funk" (melody interpolation)
  

02. Tear Drops & Closed Caskets (Rough Mix) feat. Outlawz & Nate Dogg / QD3

• 1995/12/11. Fairly remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Interscope). 
• Story. 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). The song will later be transferred to the first Gang Related project (97/02/17 DAT).
• Samples :
• Jeffrey Osborne & L.T.D. - "Love Ballad" (vocals interpolation)
• Zapp - "Computer Love" (drumline interpolation)
• Prince - "If I Was Your Girlfriend" (violins interpolation)
  

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 :
• Dennis Edwards - "Don't Look Any Further" (melody)
  

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

• 1995/10/19. UNRELEASED.
• 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 - maybe without Kurupt - 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". 2Pac will record a new version of the song in early April for his project of solo album then for the new 2Pac+Outlawz project Immortalz, but without Kurupt... Was it still because of their dispute ?

05. There U Go (Wrong Start) feat. Big Syke, Kastro, Kadafi, Edi, Puff Johnson & Mr. Malik (Illegal) / 2Pac & Johnny J

• 1995/10/24-30 (new mix). Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru).  
• Story. Mr. Malik is one half of the Hit Squad affiliate group Illegal with Jamal, before they argued. He got the single Malik Goes On / Hennessee in 1995 (prod. Dallas Austin and Ant Banks), not with Death Row. His whole album with Rowdy Records would be shelved. Malik was featured in the albums of Snoop Dogg (93), Warren G (94) and Dogg Pound (95). So why not with 2Pac ? His part was said to have been added a few days after but the mixes without him are said fanmade. There is an unfinished mix starting with the bass wrong note and with Puff Johnson singing during each verse, and a more advanced mix without but with a fall down during Malik's speaking. 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 Soopafly, 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 new project (cf. Dogg Shit / West Coast Aftershock). 
• Story. The song was very probably recorded specifically for the Outlaw Immortalz' project in exchange of "Initiated" being originally recorded for Dogg Pound's Dogg Shit original (project of a second album or kind of Dogg Pound & friends companion to Dogg Food). In this early version Soopafly 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 :
  
• Slip Capone featuring CPO & Kurupt - "The Eulogy"

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. UNRELEASED.
• Story. 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. The one with a damaged Syke verse sounds to be the most advanced one.
• Samples :
• Michael Jackson - "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (melody, vocals interpolation)
  

08. He Vs. She (4 My Niggaz) feat. Storm / 2Pac & Johnny J

• 1996/01/13. UNRELEASED.
• Story. 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 / 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 (who got into a dispute with Syke at Interscope office when 2Pac was in prison). 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 :
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "May the Force Be With You" (melody)

10. Play Your Cards Right (Male Version) feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Edi, Kadafi & Hurt M Badd / Johnny J

• 1996/01/10 - 11 (new chorus). Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). 
• Story. 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 backing gave a new chorus for the final version maybe when 2Pac decided to give "Wonda Why They Call You Bitch" to Michel'le the 11th of January.
• Samples :
• Alicia Myers - "If You Play Your Cards Right" (melody, chorus interpolation)

11. I Grab The Mic (Thru My Rear View pt. 1) / Johnny J

• 1996/01/12. UNRELEASED.
• Story. The concept will be re-used in the 2Pac/Outlawz song "Staring Through My Rear View", recorded for Outlawz LP and not long later given to Gridlock'd soundtrack in May and later to Gang Related soundtrack (late 96 or early 97).
• Samples :
• Patrice Rushen - "Givin' It Up Is Givin' Up" (melody)
  
• Public Enemy  - "Caught, Can We Get a Witness ?" (vocals)
  
• Parliament - "Bop Gun" (vocals interpolation : "we got to get over the hump")
  
• Eric B. & Rakim - "Microphone Fiend" (vocals : "i grab the mic and try to say yes yo")
  
• Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - "La-Di-Da-Di" (vocals)
  

12. Fuck 'Em All (No Dear God Mix) feat. Kadafi & Edi / 2Pac & Johnny J

• 1995/12/12. Fairly remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru).  
• Story. 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.
  
• Samples : 
• Chaka Khan - "The Message in the Middle of the Bottom" (melody)
• LaWanda Page - "Watch It Sucker !" (vocals : "that's right bitch, fuck 'em all")
  
• Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg - "Lil' Ghetto Boy" (vocals : "Dear God I wonder, can You save me ?")

13. Fade Me feat. Kastro, Napolean & Precious (chorus) / 2Pac & Johnny J

• 1995/11/16 - ? (Sorm edited out). Appears firstly in All Eyez on Me tracklists (cf. All Eyez On Me November Demo).  
• Story. 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 feat. Napoleon & Kastro / Johnny J

• 1996/01/12. UNRELEASED. 
• Story. The song firstly appears behind the concept of "Don't U Niggaz Got Kidz" in the first Outlaw Immortalz tracklist but it was then supposed to be produced by QD3. 2Pac very likely recorded "Letter 2 The President" instead, what allows us to give the date of November 11 to that tracklist.
• Samples : 
• Rhythm Heritage - "Language of Love" (melody)
  
• A Tribe Called Quest - "Bonita Applebum" (drumline)

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

• 1995/12/11. Remixed in Still I Rise (1999, Amaru).  
• Story. 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' feat. Kurupt / Johnny J

• 1995/12/18. Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru). 
• Story. This is an obvious follow-up to the song of Thug Life Volume 1 album, "Str8 Ballin'", which was closing the album. Kurupt seems to be a substitute for Stretch.
• Samples :
• The Ohio Players - "Far East Mississippi" (melody)

BONUS TRACKS :

17. 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 :
• The Champes - "Tequila" (melody interpolation)
  
• Joeski Love - "Pee-Wee's Dance" (drums interpolation)

 

17. Fair Exchange (No Synthé Alternate Mix) feat. Hurt M Badd & Capucine Jackson / 2Pac & Johnny J

• 1995/11/13 - 11/20 (?) (new mix). Remixed in Better Dayz (2002, Amaru).  
• Story. Said to have been recorded late at night after "Thug Passion" and "Late Night" (Fatal & Felony version - AMG & Quik recorded circa 1st of Dec.), it has been said that Tupac was tired and Johnny J didn't like the song. However Johnny J gave new mixes, the song appears in All Eyes on Me tracklists (cf. Life Goez On), also in Thug Life Volume 2 "Outlaw Immortalz" tracklist, so maybe 2Pac liked the song and it could have been then transferred to Thug Pound at the same time than "Blunt Time", "Outlaw Immortalz" or "Komradz".
• Samples : 
• 7th Wonder - "Daisy Lady" (melody interpolation)

BONUS DISC : Outlaw Immortalz sessions

01. Still I Rise (Rough Mix) feat. Fatal N Felony & Big Syke / Johnny J

• cf. All Eyez On Me Demo 1 : Life Goez On. 

02. Letter 2 My Unborn (Rough Mix) feat. Natasha Walker / Johnny J

• cf. All Eyez On Me Demo 2 : Euthanasia 1 & 2.  

03. Don't Stop The Music (Rough Mix) feat. Edi, Hussein & Nanci Fletcher / Johnny J

• 1995/11/22 or 96/01/09 (?). Remixed in Pac's Life (2006, Amaru). 
• Story. 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 :
• Yarbrough & Peoples - "Don't Stop The Music" (melody, bassline, drumline, chorus interpolation)

04. Komradz feat. Storm, Edi, Napoleon, Kadafi & Big Syke / 2Pac & Johnny J

• 1995/11/28. Released in Until The End of Time (2001) with new Outlawz verses.
• Story. Storm is speaking in the beginning. This song included in first tracklist of the album could have been transferred to Thug Pound with "Blunt Time", "Outlaw Immortalz" and maybe "Fair Exchange", considering the kind of beats.
• Samples : 
• Slick Rick - "Cuz It's Wrong" (melody)

05. Fair Exchange (Synthé Mix) 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). 
• Story. The song appears in All Eyez On Me tracklists and DATs of 2nd half of November (cf. Demo 2 : Euthanasia 1 & 2). The song then received a new mix and was enlisted in Thug Life Volume 2 first tracklist in mid December. So topic and lyrics were kind of important for Tupac. The song could have been then transferred to Thug Pound at the same time than "Blunt Time", "Outlaw Immortalz" or "Komradz".
• Samples : 
• 7th Wonder - "Daisy Lady" (melody interpolation) 

06. Late Night (First Take) 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). 
• Story. As usual, 2Pac recorded firstly with his protégés, 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 Quik version was very probably not recorded yet. AMG name is only written in mid December (same time than Jodeci for "How Do U Want It") but AMG and Quik could have recorded circa the 1st of December. 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 during the same session than 2Pac in November 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 two weeks 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)

07. U Can Call (Rough Mix) feat. Puff Johnson / DJ Daryl

• 1995/10/27. UNRELEASED.
• A short mix is included in "Work DAT 10/20/95" (cf. All Eyez On Me Demo 1 : Life Goez On). 

08. M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) (No Chorus) feat. Hussein, Mopreme, Big Syke & Edi / Kurt Kobane

• 1995/10/28. 
• Story. 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 it never appears in any tracklists and was probably directly transferred to Thug Life Volume 2 project... 2Pac raps some bars in Spanish, and kicks about the famous name of a gang : M.O.B. (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... Then 2Pac had made a choice, entered the war... 
• Differences. The version included into "Work DAT 10/20/95" has 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), cf. All Eyez On Me Demo 1 : Life Goez On. 

09. 6 or 12 (by Kastro, Hussein, Big Syke, Edi & Kadafi) / Mike Mosley & Rick Rock (?)

• 1995/11/28.  
• Story. Presumably recorded the same day than "Komradz" (produced by Johnny J), "Tradin' War Stories" and "Ain't Hard 2 Find" (both produced by Mosley & Rock). The song was probably initially aimed for Thug Life Volume 2, but seems to have been left incomplete. Maybe 2Pac was supposed to be on it but never recorded his verse, maybe Mopreme for a whole Thug Life thing without him, maybe another Outlaw member like Storm who was in other songs recorded that day, maybe a Dogg Pound member or more likely a Bay Area rapper for a perfect combination... Considering the supposed producers and the vibe, we thought the track could have ended re-transferred to Thug Pound and completed by Dogg Pound or Bay Area rappers... 

10. Outlaw Immortalz (Rough Mix) feat. Fatal N Felony, Edi & Big Syke / Sam Sneed

• 1995/10/23-24 - 30 (?) (Edi added ?). UNRELEASED.
• Story. Initially recorded for All Eyez On Me (cf. Demo 1 : Life Goez On). Considering the intro with 2Pac announcing "Syke aka Mussolini, Yaki Kadafi... Fatal Komeini and 2Pac Makaveli", it is usually said Edi added later... Maybe initially 2Pac was expecting Mopreme aka Komeini 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 (included in 1st tracklist from mid December), then possibly given to Thug Pound promotion project in mid January, 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 said he gave a verse to another song with that same title but a different beat, alongside Outlawz (but maybe not 2Pac). It could be from the same time than his other features from Thug Pound, or why not a later thing from May or August (Gonzoe appears in Ghett Starz guests list). It could be from a DAT credited to Edi with also "Don't Stop The Music" .
• Samples : 
• Outkast - "Funky Ride" (vocals) 

11. 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. 
• Story. 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.
  

12. 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. 
• Story. 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. 

 

. 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). 
• Story. 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 :
• Alicia Myers - "If You Play Your Cards Right" (melody, chorus interpolation)

. Fade Me (Storm Version) feat. Kastro, Napoleon, Storm & Precious / 2Pac & Johnny J - SNIPPET

• 1995/11/16 (?). cf. All Eyez On Me Demo 2 : Euthanasia 1 & 2. 
  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)

. 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" 

. What's Next (Alternate 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 :
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "May the Force Be With You" (melody)

. If They Love Their Kidz (First Take, No Outro) 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 : 
• Rhythm Heritage - "Language of Love" (melody)
  
• A Tribe Called Quest - "Bonita Applebum" (drumline)

. 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 ?
  

. Fade Me (Rough Long 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...

 

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.