2Pac -2005- The Rose, Vol. 2 (Poetry) (Amaru / Interscope)

• 2005, September 20 : second compilation of music inspired by and poetry written by Tupac Shakur and interpreted by various artists
• Unfortunately clearly lacking of a musical direction.  

What a weak picture for a poetry album !

Tracklist - Discogs

1. Intro - Black Ice /  Jukebox
2. Power Of A Smile - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony / Kush & Kato
3. The Eternal Lament - Celina /  Jukebox
4. Fallen Star - Talib Kweli / 88-Keys
5. In The Depths Of Solitude - Ludacris / Icedrake
6. Movin On - Lyfe Jennings
7. Life Through My Eyes - Memphis Bleek / DR Period
8. When Ure Heart Turns Cold - Outlawz
9. Black Woman - Jamal Joseph & Che Davis
10. Only 4 The Righteous - Yo-Yo / Mr. Payback
11. Where There Is A Will… - Boot Camp Clik / Ayatollah
12. When Ur Hero Falls - Impact Kids / Rayedon Coleman & Vinney Idol
13. And 2morrow - Shock G
14. If I Fail - Dead Prez / Fabrizio Sotti
15. Poetry - Amber & Morgan Of Pacskids / Jukebox

is it useful to say something about that back cover ?

What is a potpourri ?

This compilation mixes up one third Rap (2, 4, 7, 10, 11), one third Soul and R&B (3, 6, 10, 12, 13) and a last third Spoken Word (1, 5, 9, 14, 15).

R&B tracks are not that bad in itself, but they clearly don't fit to 2Pac's musical universe. 2Pac was more into a Soul and Blues heritage. Almost none of his songs from his lifetime have that kind of honey singing you can hear in "When Ur Hero Falls". The "Shock G" song is much more relevant (but don't expect to recognize Shock G... it is clearly not him singing). The production more than the singing itself are irrelevant.

low coast designer from low school ?

Low coast production ?

Thanks to Amaru Entertainment / Interscope, this is again a soulless project which uses 2Pac's heritage without any effort.   

Who is Jukebox who produced three tracks ? An almost unknown guy who produced the same year a track for female rapper Ak'Sent in Coach Carter Soundtrack. And he also did the human beat box for a track of Will Smith Lost & Found compilation... Not to say that an unknown couldn't work on such a project, but 3 tracks !! It says something about the poor investment of Amaru Ent. Kush & Kato who produced the Bone Thugs' track seems as well to be totally unknown. The result is quite mediocre. The Yo-Yo track is also hard to digest in terms of production. 

Memphis Bleek is into the classic posthumous abuse of recycling original vocals of the dead rappers (here taken from the well known well released "Smile", what is even worse), typical from the last disappointing Amaru Ent. projects (We speak about Loyal To The Game, of course). Average rap and tasteless. Shameless.

What's to save from the disaster ? 

For the rest, Boot Camp Clik, Talib Kweli, Ludacris, Shock G came with their own producers. And the result is that those are the good things to save from this compilation... Outlawz did a decent thing too but with a poem which was already interpreted in the first compilation in a spoken word performance by Sonia Sanchez...

Dead Prez tried an audacious beat by the Italian jazz guitarist Fabrizio Sotti who produced the whole Soul album of Kyrsten, So In Love in 2004, and will produce most of Dead Prez' M-1 first solo album Confidential in 2006. The result is in something really strange between rap and spoken word, Dead Prez finding back something of the old taste of the Lost Poets. A coherent choice, what is totally missing in this the rest of that compilation... The most successful effort of the compilation with the surprising Ludacris who also dared to try the spoken word act with success. 

Another notable effort is the one of Jamal Joseph, who is a Black Panther activist, part of the Panther 21 trial which took place in 1970-1971. Afeni Shakur was part of the 21 accused Panther members. And that's why she was in prison whilst pregnant of Tupac. And Afeni became a brilliant lawyer for the accused group who finally succeeded to get the acquittal.

2Pac -2003- Resurrection (O.S.T.) (Amaru / Interscope)

• November 11, 2003
• Eminem adding things to the legend of a Tupac still alive or becoming a real ghost rapper, and adding himself to the legend by the occasion.
  

Discogs page - Listen in Youtube

 

1. Intro

2. (Ghetto) Ghost [remix] / Eminem

// - Dante OG Vibe ; Joehaindl OG Vibe

3. One Day at a Time [Em's Version] feat. Eminem & Outlawz / Eminem

// - Original Unfinished Version ; Original Spice 1 Version

4. Death Around the Corner / Johnny J

// already available in Me Against The World - Original Version (with outro)

5. Secretz of War [remix] feat. Outlawz / Johnny J

// already available in Still I Rise - Alternate song feat. Kurupt Unfinished Version ; One Nation Version

6. Runnin' [remix] (Dying to Live) feat. The Notorious B.I.G. / Eminem

// Different version released in One Million Strong (cf. Rarities) - Original Thug Life Version

7. Holler If Ya Hear Me / Stretch

// already available in Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. - Original Riot Version feat. Live Squad Original New York Stretch Version ; Original Broadway Remix

8. Starin' Through My Rear View feat. Outlawz / Hurt-M-Badd

// already available in Gang Related O.S.T. (cf. Rarities) - Original Version

9. Bury Me a G feat. Thug Life / Johnny J

// already available in Thug Life Volume One - Solo Version

10. Same Song (Short Edit) feat. Digital Underground / Shock G
// already available on Digital Underground's This is an EP release - Alternate All Around The World Mix ; Funky 7 Mix ; CJ's Extended Mix

11. Panther Power feat. Ray Luv (Strictly Dope) / Dj Chopmaster J

// already available on Beginnings : The Lost Tapes - Original One Nation Emcees Version ; Strictly Dope Force One Network Remix

12. Str8 Ballin' / Easy Mo Bee

// Released in Thug Life Volume One - Original First Take Angry Version ; Original No Soulja Version ; Original Thug Life Promo Version

13. Rebel of the Underground / Shock G

// already available in 2Pacalypse Now. - Alternate Outro Snippet

14. The Realist Killaz [remix] feat. 50 Cent / Red Spyda

// remix of "Let's Fight" for One Nation album. - Original Version, Daz Version

Tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 were already available in albums.

2Pac's coming back as a ghost !

Not a lot of things to say about this compilation that mixes many well known songs and 4 unreleased remixed songs. Among them "Ghost" and "Runnin' (Dyin' To Live)" could sound totally new to fan ears because no originals have leaked yet at that time (Runnin' Thug Life version was not in Makaveli bootlegs sold in late 90's). The single alternate version of "Runnin'" was a kind of voice from the graveyard by the two killed superstars, sad song spiritually elevated by the chorus. But "Ghost" really realizes the eponymous idea of the compilation by Eminem. 2Pac is back with a voice modified over new music and with new guests : a kind of ghost (he will also soon return as a hologram).

02. Ghost (Remix) / DJ Pooh REMIXED by Eminem

• 1992/12 (?). Originally recorded during Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. at the end of 92 like other songs produced by Bobcat and featuring Ice Cube or Deadly Threat, or during 2Pac's Thug Life Original at the time he recorded St. Ides with DJ Pooh in mid 93. But there could be even two versions, one being a reference track for the Kidz album project commonly labelled as "Street Got Ya Babies" in tracklists of the project (cf. Ghetto Gospel). This Eminem remix remains the only source for this still unleaked original. But some OG vibes and remakes could be closer to the original (Dante's one remains the most appreciated). Pac's voice is here heavily slowed to sound older than in 93. And it is said that other parts of the lyrics were rapped by Pac's Souljah alter ego pitched voice.
  
• Original Versions : Ghetto Ghost (Dante OG Vibe) ; Ghetto Ghost (Joehaindl OG Vibe)
  

03. One Day at a Time (Remix) feat. Eminem, Young Noble, Kastro & Edi / Hen Gee REMIXED by Eminem

• 1996/08. Probably recorded for One Nation second sessions in summer. If a version featuring Spice 1 and Headstrong has been leaked, it is said that it is a posthumous addition and that the real original had only 2Pac, awaiting for guests : it could have been the Outlawz or maybe more E-40 and The Click or Outkast who were announced in One Nation papers. 
• Original Versions : One Day At A Time (Original Unfinished Version) ; One Day At A Time (Original Spice 1 Remix) feat. LP, Spice 1 & Headstrong ;
  

06. Runnin' (Remix) (Dying to Live) feat. The Notorious B.I.G. / Easy Mo Bee REMIXED by Eminem

• 1993/11. The song originally features Dramacydal (then called Thoro Headz) at the first verse and Stretch of the Live Squad who share the second one with Biggie. So restricted to Biggie & 2Pac, there is a imbalance because Biggie has only a half verse. There were two different Pac verses recorded for this song (eventually one aimed for his solo album - Out on Bail / R U Still Down -, one for Thug Life original Volume One album). The first one was released in One Million Strong compilation, Eminem chose to use the second one that was still unreleased. The song was originally an anti-cop song, it here becomes a kind of homage song to the two killed superstars.
  
• Sample : "Dying to Live" by Edgar Winter
• Original Versions : Runnin' From The Police (Original Memories Version) feat. Dramacydal, Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G. & Brown Man ; Runnin' (Original Alternate 2Pac Verse) feat. Dramacydal, Stretch, B.I.G. & Lil' Vicious ; Runnin' (Released One Million Strong Moe-Z Mix Alt 2Pac Verse) feat. Dramacydal, Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G. & Radio ; Runnin' (Stop The Gunfight Trapp Remix) feat. The Notorious B.I.G. & Trapp

14. The Realist Killaz (Let'z Fight Remix) feat. 50 Cent / Daz REMIXED by Red Spyda

• 1996/06. Recorded for One Nation. Original guests are Capital LS, Boot Camp Clik, Outlawz & Numskull. Red Spyda also remixed "Hennesey" for 2Pac's Loyal 2 The Game.
  
• Original Versions : Jawz Tight (Original Let'z Fight) feat. Capital LS, BCC, Outlawz & Knumskull ; Jawz Tight (Let's Fight Daz Version) feat. Daz
  
• Sample : "Hail Mary" by 2Pac
  

 

 

 

2Pac -2006- Pac's Life (Amaru / Interscope)

• November 2006, the 18th 
• tracks recorded in 1995-1996
  

This picture is taken from "I Ain't Mad At Cha" video

A strange choice...

 

Discogs Page

 

1. Untouchable (Swizz Beatz Remix) feat. Krayzie Bone

2. Pac's Life (LT Hutton Remix) feat. T.I. & Ashanti

3. Dumpin' (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Hussein, Papoose & Carl Thomas

4. Play Ya Cardz Right (Female Version) (Carvin & Ivan Remix) feat. Keysha Cole

5. What'z Next (Salih Williams Remix) feat. A3 & Jay Rock

6. Sleep (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Young Buck & Chamillionaire

7. International (Capital LS Remix) feat. Nipsey Hussle & Young Dre

8. Don't Sleep (Edi Remix) feat.Lil Scrappy, Nutt-So, Kadafi & Stormey

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

10. Play Ya Cardz Right (Male Version) (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Ludacris & Keon Bryce

11. Don't Stop (LT Hutton Remix) feat. Big Syke, Kadafi, Hussein, Edi, Young Noble & Stormey

12. Pac's Life (LT Hutton Remix) feat. Snoop Dogg, T.I, Ashanti & Chris Starr

13. Untouchable (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Kadafi, Hussein & Gravy

Bonus tracks :

14. Dear Mama (Frank Nitty Remix) feat. Anthony Hamilton

15. Scared Straight (Carvin & Ivan Remix) 

Bold : released in its original form (or very close).

 

Originally intended - Outlaw Immortalz : Thug Life Volume 2 (4,5,9,10,11), Thug Pound (3), Troublesome, Tha Secretz of War (6), One Nation or One Nation Part Two (1,7,13), Nutt-So's Betrayal (8), Killuminati or Ghetto Starz (2, 12)

 

Original verses out of 2Pac's ones - Nutt-So (8) Kadafi (8,9,11,13)

 

Another try, another awful fail !

After the mistake of Loyal To The Game 2004, Afeni Amaru and Tom Whalley of Interscope gave the responsibility to modernize 2Pac songs to various producers. Some of them are recognized experienced producers like Swizz Beats, LT Hutton. LT had even already worked with 2Pac whilst he was in Death Row. But the result is still awful. Even worse !

At the same time, what was considered as a profanity for 2Pac fans in the old posthumous compilations, i.e. new guests who have never met 2Pac, are here to the top intensity. The initial goal was probably to make some kind of Hip Hop party around the posthumous resurrected voice of Tupac... But it is more like if it was open doors to come and rape old 2Pac's songs ! Welcome to every singer or rapper who wants to have his name labelled on side of the legend ! A sad thing. Wanting to make money with 2Pac material is more or less OK, but it is important to do it well and not damage Tupac's reputation.

What a struggle to try to listen to this crap ! 

Only one song can be saved from this pathetic comedy : "Soon As I Get Home" very close to its original form.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

 

1. Untouchable (Swizz Beatz Remix) feat. Krayzie Bone / Darryl Harper

• 1996/06 - 2006. Originally recorded for One Nation (cf. complementary sessions).
  
• Original version : Untouchable (Original) feat. Outlawz

2. Pac's Life (LT Hutton Remix) feat. T.I. & Ashanti / Darryl Harper

• 1996/07 - 2006. Originally recorded for One Nation (cf. complementary sessions).
• Original version : Pac's Life (Original Long Mix) ; Pac's Life (Original Short Mix)
  

3. Dumpin' (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Hussein, Papoose & Carl Thomas / Daz

• 1996/01 - 2006. Originally recorded for Thug Pound.
  
• Original version : Um Dumpin' (Original) feat. Gonzoe, Kurupt, Starr-Loc & Nutt-So ; Dumpin' (Daz Remix) feat. Daz & Young Assassins
  

4. Play Ya Cardz Right (Female Version) (Carvin & Ivan Remix) feat. Keysha Cole / Johnny J

• 1996/01 - 2006. Originally recorded for Thug Life Volume II (with Outlaw Immortalz).
• Original version : Play Ya Cardz Right (Original) feat. Thug Life, Outlawz & Michel'le
  

5. What'z Next (Salih Williams Remix) feat. A3 & Jay Rock / Johnny J

• 1995/11 - 2006. Originally recorded for Thug Life Volume II (with Outlaw Immortalz).
• Original version : What'z Next (Original) feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker
  

6. Sleep (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Young Buck & Chamillionaire / Daz

• 1996/05 - 2006. Originally recorded for 2Pac+Outlawz' Immortal. Why didn't they keep the original titles ? This one is not good.
  
• Original version : Don't Fall Asleep (Original) feat. Hussein, Edi & Kastro ; Don't Go 2 Sleep (Original Daz Version) feat. Edi & Daz ; Don't Go 2 Sleep (Daz Remix) feat. Dogg Pound
  

7. International (Capital LS Remix) feat. Nipsey Hussle & Young Dre / Capital LS REMIX Capital LS

• 1996/06 - 2006. Originally recorded for One Nation.
• Original version : World Wide Dime Piece feat. Greg Nice, Capital LS, Asu & Snoop Dogg

8. Don't Sleep (Edi Remix) feat. Lil Scrappy, Nutt-So, Kadafi & Stormey

• 1996/08 - 2006. Originally recorded for Nutt-So's Betrayal (cf. One Nation Part Two, complementary sessions).
  
• Original version : Don't Sleep (Original) feat. Lil' Big, Napoleon, Kadafi, Kastro & Nutt-So ; Don't Sleep (Go-Twice Remix) feat. Outlawz & Nutt-So
  

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

• 1995/12 - 2006. Originally recorded for Thug Life Volume II (with Outlaw Immortalz). This version is very close to the original recorded one.
  
• Original version : Soon As I Get Home (Original) feat. Kadafi

10. Play Ya Cardz Right (Male Version) (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Ludacris & Keon Bryce / Johnny J

• 1996/01 - 2006. Originally recorded for Thug Life Volume II (with Outlaw Immortalz).
• Original version : Play Ya Cardz Right (Original) feat. Thug Life, Outlawz & Hurt-M-Badd

11. Don't Stop (LT Hutton Remix) feat. Big Syke, Kadafi, Hussein, Edi, Young Noble & Stormey / Johnny J

• 1995/11 - 2006. Originally recorded for Thug Life Volume II (with Outlaw Immortalz).
• Original version : Don't Stop The Music (Original) feat. Outlawz & Nanci Fletcher
  

12. Pac's Life (LT Hutton Remix) feat. Snoop Dogg, T.I, Ashanti & Chris Starr / Darryl Harper

13. Untouchable (Sha Money XL Remix) feat. Kadafi, Hussein & Gravy / Darryl Harper

Bonus tracks :

14. Dear Mama (Frank Nitty Remix) feat. Anthony Hamilton / Master T & Tony Pizarro

• 1993 - 2006. Originally recorded for Out on Bail, then intended in every album projects until being released in Me Against The World. A remix version has been even made during Death Row times.
  
• Original versions : Dear Mama (Original Scratched Chorus Mix) ; Dear Mama (Original Master T Intro Mix) ; Dear Mama (Released Pizarro No Reggie Mix) ; Dear Mama (Moe-Z Remix) ; Dear Mama (Big Mama Mix) ; Dear Mama (
  

15. Scared Straight (Carvin & Ivan Remix) / DJ Fuze & Shock G

• 1991 - 2006. Originally recorded for 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.), the song originally features 2Pac's partner Ray Luv who was also a roadie for Digital Underground, when 2Pac was in Marin City they recorded together the Strictly Dope Lost tapes.
  
• Original version : Scared Straight (Original) feat. Ray Luv

2Pac -2004- Loyal To The Game (Amaru / Interscope)

• Compilation of renewed tracks originally recorded in 1991-1993.
  
• 2004, December the 12th.
• After the success of Resurrection O.S.T., Afeni Amaru gave Eminem the hard charge to lead the producing of the new compilation album of his son...
  

Picture taken from the same Reising & Taylor shooting taken in 1994 

some of them were used in Me Against The World

Is it an appropriate choice for a compilation gathering songs from 1992-1993 ?

Discogs page

1. Soldier Like Me feat. Eminem

2. Uppercut feat. Edi & Young Noble

3. Out on Bail

4. Ghetto Gospel

5. Black Cotton feat. Eminem, Kastro & Young Noble

6. Loyal To The Game feat. G-Unit

7. Thugs Get Lonely Too feat. Nate Dogg

8. N.I.G.G.A. feat. Jadakiss

9. Who Do You Love ? *

10. Crooked Nigga Too

11. Don't You Trust Me

12. Hennessey feat. Obie trice *

13. Thug 4 Life *

 

Bonus tracks :

14. Po' Nigga Blues (Scott Storch Remix) feat. Ron Isley

15. Hennessey (Red Spyda Remix) feat. Edi & Sleepy Brown *

16. Crooked Nigga Too (Raphael Saadiq Remix) feat. Raphael Saadiq

17. Loyal To The Game (DJ Quik Remix) feat. Big Syke

Producers - Eminem & Luis Resto (1 to 13)

* Bold : Until then these were leaked only in a very poor quality -  9, 12, 13, 15

 

Original producers - Big D The Impossible (1,4,5,8,10,11,16), Live Squad (1,2,7,9,12,15), Johnny J (13), DJ Daryl (14), Reginald Heard (6,17), LG Experience (3)

 

Originally intended for - 2Pacalypse Now / Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A. (8), Troublesome 21 or 2Pacalypse II / Ghetto Gospel / Fragile (1,4,5,9,10,11,14,16), Above the Rim OST (6,17), Mr. Middle Finger or Out On Bail (2,3,7), Thug Life Volume One sessions (1,12,13,15)

 

Original featuring - Live Squad (1,9,10,13), Thug Life (1,5,8,12,15), Y?N.Vee (2), Treach & Riddler (6,17), Prince's voice (7)

2Pac trapped in the Michigan ! Thank you Em' but stick to what you're able to do...

These tracks were recorded in 1991-1993. It is obvious that Afeni wanted them to sound modern, that's why she confides the remixing work to one of the most successful name of that time : Eminem.. Is Eminem a well-known producer ? No... At the height of the defy ? of course not at all. Was he able to gather competent people to do the job under his supervision ? Yes. Did he do it ? Not at all. The result is childish weak ass productions, average East Cost beats, totally irrelevant. Nothing sounds like 2Pac original work...

In the chosen tracks of this compilation, 2Pac was younger than during his period of fame at Death Row, so Eminem & Luis Resto have often altered his voice to make it sound older... the result is obviously awful (like if you couldn't recognize that the voice of your father/mother had been faked by an A.I. engine, modified... it can mislead only new listeners). More problematic, some sounds of the original can be still heard badly in the far background (like AB Money of Rappin' is Fundamental in "Out on Bail" chorus)... Surprising for an official release... Less good than most of fanmade remixes available on Internet...

 

When you see that the first song of that album combines verses from two different songs (one from beginning of 92, "Revenge of a Soulja" and one of late 93, "Judgement Day") with an average east coast sound and a totally unwelcome verse by Eminem, we can guess that the whole thing will be a waste of time to listen to...

Frankly, a total disaster (maybe not for the bonus remix tracks that were made by professionals), a shame for 2Pac's fans to know that youngsters will listen to this and say : oh this is it, this is 2Pac !

  

 

1. Soldier Like Me (Return of The Soulja) feat. Soulja Voice, Dee Tha Mad Bitch, Mopreme, Stretch, Eminem / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991-1992 - 2004. A mixture of two songs originally recorded for 2Pacalypse II and for Thug Life Volume I (cf. Honor Among Thugz). The first song was a sequel to the "Soulja's song" in his first album.
  
• Original version : Souljah's Revenge (Original) ; Judgement Day feat. Dee Tha Mad Bitch, Mopreme & Stretch 

2. Uppercut feat. Nic Nam (Y?N-Vee), Stretch, Edi & Young Noble / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger.
  
• Original Version : Uppercut (Original) feat. Nic.Nam (Y?N-Vee) [remake] ; Uppercut (Unused 2003 Mix) feat. Nic.Nam

3. Out on Bail feat. Rappin' Is Fundamental / LG Experience REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Out On Bail (his solo album in late 93 / early 94) during sessions in New York with Easy Mo Bee (and his group Rappin' Is Fundamental who were doing the original chorus), among other songs like "Temptations" and "Runnin'". It was a very important song for 2Pac, which appeared in almost every solo album projects until being dropped from the last sequence of Me Against The World. The original version is very well known because 2Pac played it live at the Source Awards in 1994.
  
• Original Version : Out on Bail (Original Intro) feat. AB Money ;  Out On Bail (Original No Intro Mix) feat. AB Money ; Out on Bail (Live at the Source Awards) feat. Mopreme & Stretch

4. Ghetto Gospel feat. The Kidz / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991-1992 - 2004. The song was firstly written down and firstly recorded in late 91, around Christmas, like "Troublesome" and "Changes". But 2Pac only recorded a reference track at that time. In 1992, he re-recorded the song for him and one of the Kidz.
  
• Original Version :  Ghetto Gospel (reference for The Kidz) ; Ghetto Gospel feat. Jesse The Kidz [snippet]

5. Black Cotton feat. Mouse Man, Eminem, Kastro & Young Noble / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1992 - 2004. Originally recorded probably for Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. or for Wycked & The Mouse shelved album State of Emergency (cf. Ghetto Gospel). The original song has many elements that will be re-used in "Pain".
  
• Original Version : Black Cotton (Original) feat. Mouse Man 

6. Loyal To The Game feat. Treach (Naughty By Nature) & Riddler (DBG'z), G-Unit / Reginald Heard REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1994 - 2004. Originally recorded for Above The RIM Soundtrack / Regulate B-side during the East Thug Life sessions (cf. Exodus). It is very unfair to re-release an existing officially released song without labelling as a remix. And what a strange thing to take off a Treach's verse !
  
• Original Version : Loyal To The Game (Above The RIM /Regulate Version) ; Loyal To The Game (Original Radio Mix) feat. Treach & Riddler 

7. Thugs Get Lonely Too feat. Rated R, Macadoshis, Prince (sampled chorus), Nate Dogg / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger with the well known voice of Prince sampled from "If I Was Your Girlfriend (Live Version)", then intended for Out On Bail and for R U Still Down Original concept (this last one about to be released in the pre-Death Row compilation project in summer of 95, cf. Exodus). Even the Nate Dogg welcome voice can't make it forgotten because 2Pac was so in admiration of Prince. Is it too hard to just imitate a bit the original in order to respect the author ?
• Original Version :  Thugz Get Lonely Too (Original Plain Version), Thugz Get Lonely Too (Original Breaks Version) [snippet], Thugz Get Lonely Too (Original Gigolos Mix)

8. N.I.G.G.A. feat. Mopreme, Mouse Man, Jadakiss / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991 - 2004. Originally recorded for 2Pacalypse Now (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.) but maybe another version has been recorded for Wycked & The Mouse shelved album State of Emergency (cf. Ghetto Gospel). This was the first combo between 2Pac and his stepbrother, and the first "professionnal" song with his first rap partner Dana Mouse Smith (cf. The Early Years).
  
• Original Version :  Hymn of The 90's N.I.G.G.A. (Original) feat. Mopreme & Mouse Man

9. Who Do You Love ? feat. Stretch / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993 - 2004. Originally recorded for Mr. Middle Finger or Out On Bail.
  
• Original Version :  Who Do U Love ? (Original) feat. Stretch ; Who Do U Love (Solo) [remake].

10. Crooked Nigga Too feat. Stretch / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1991 - 2004. Originally recorded for 2Pacalypse Now's companion EP Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A., then it appears in 2Pacalypse II (as a sequel to "Crooked Ass Nigga") and was about to be released in Troublesome 21 shelved album.
  
• Original Version :  Crooked Nigga Too (Original) feat. Stretch

11. Don't You Trust Me feat. Dave Hollister & Roniece / Big D The Impossible REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1992 - 2004. The song could have been recorded as a reference track for his friend Yonnie Stokes aka A Sista Named Mista, a woman who was credited in 2Pacalypse Now for "Rebel of The Underground" background vocals, but more likely she is the female rapper of "Part Time Mutha". She was supposed to be a part of 2Pac first shelved project Dayz of a Criminal with Jungle Posse in 90, then she was half of the Ghetto Gospel project in 92 (so with this song), and she was in a short lived lineup of Thug Life group in early 94 (cf. Honor Among Thugz pictures and unreleased song "Thug Bitch"). 
• Original version : Don't You Trust (Original), not very appreciated because of the Roniece's chorus being not on key ; Don't You Trust (Piano Mix) ; Don't You Trust (Alternate)

12. Hennessey feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Obie trice / Stretch REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1994/03 (~) - 2004. Recorded in the beginning of 94 for the East Thug Life sessions with Live Squad (cf. Exodus). It was the last song in 94 to feature Thug Life members (Dramacydal album excepted, but probably recorded when 2Pac was still in prison). The song seems to be only a kind of freestyle or a short lived project of song left unfinished. The leaked acapella has Big Syke and Mopreme verses in a very poor quality, but the original sample has been recently identified in the background of it and Parish could made a first OG remake version.
• Original version : "Hennessey (Original) feat. Big Syke & Mopreme [Parish OG remake".
  

13. Thug 4 Life feat. Stretch / Johnny J REMIX Eminem & Luis Resto

• 1993/05 (~) - 2004. This song was originally recorded during the Thug Life concept Original album sessions (cf. Thug Life Original : Do U Luv The Thug Life ?), but the song was not supposed to be included in the album, maybe for a B-side, it was more likely recorded for the Kidz/Havenotz side project - 2Pac writing and and recording reference tracks for a group of young kids rapping -, project that was started in late 91 (cf. Ghetto Gospel) and lasted until late 93 (cf. Honor Among Thugz). The song was already available in poor quality leaks and in its acapella form, so it was a good idea to have it in this compilation. Unfortunately, Eminem didn't include the original verse of Stretch which is in a very very distorted state in the acapella leak.
• Original version : Thug 4 Life (Original) feat. Stretch [juda7 edit] (homemade edited mix with the Stretch lost verse and an alternate unused version of the original instrumental).

14. Po' Nigga Blues (Scott Storch Remix) feat. Knumskull, Ron Isley / DJ Daryl, Shock G of 415 REMIX Scott Storch

• 1992 - 2004. The song has been said to be a reference track for his friend The Govenor (also a friend of Richie Rich of 415) who recorded a version of the song in his album Floss Mode in 95, but the song was probably given to him later, and it appears in 1992 in a handwritten tracklist of 2Pac's original project of 2Pacalypse II : a sequel to 2Pacalypse Now. When 2Pac was in prison or not long after his death, Shock G was asked to remix the song and so he gave the wonderful "Cause I Had To" original remixed version with backings by Knumskull, version that was said purposed for a release in R U Still Down, finally leftover. 2Pac vocals were also pitched to sound older, but is was a more successful and discreet work.
• Original version :  "Po' Nigga Blues (Original)", "Cause I Had To (Shock G Remix) feat. Knumskull (backings)"

15. Hennessey (Red Spyda Remix) feat. Big Syke, Mopreme, Edi & Sleepy Brown / Stretch REMIX DJ Red Spyda

• 1994 - 2004. An alternate version of this remix has been made with the original verses from the leaked acapella, before the original sample was identified.
  
• Samples : D'Angelo - "Sh*t, Damned, Muthaf**ker"
  

16. Crooked Nigga Too (Raphael Saadiq Remix) feat. Stretch, Raphael Saadiq / Big D The Impossible REMIX Raphael Saadiq

17. Loyal To The Game (DJ Quik Remix) feat. Treach (Naughty By Nature) & Riddler (DBG'z), Big Syke / Reginald Heard REMIX DJ Quik

 

2Pac -1997- R U Still Down ? [Remember Me] (Amaru / Interscope)

• 1997, November 25.
• First totally posthumous project.
  
• Compilation very likely inspired by a real project of compilation of leftover tracks 2Pac had when he was in prison in 95, eventually titled R U Still Down / When I Get Free (Lost Track 1992-1996), cf. R U Still Down '95 (Lost Tracks).
• Source : Discogs page.

 

Listen to the album in YouTube or get it here and there

CD 1 :

1. Redemption
2. Open Fire 
3. R U Still Down ? (Remember Me) 
4. Hellrazor (Remix)
5. Thug Style (Remix) 
6. Where Do We Go From Here (Interlude) feat. Y?N-Vee 
7. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Remake) *
8. Nothing To Lose
9. I'm Gettin' Money (Remix) *
10. Lie To Kick It feat. Richie Rich (Remake) *
11. Fuck All Y'all (Remix)
12. Let Them Thangs Go (Remix)
13. Definition Of A Thug Nigga 

CD 2 :

1. Ready 4 Whatever feat. Big Syke 
2. When I Get Free (Remake)
3. Hold On Be Strong
4. I'm Losin' It (Remix) feat. Big Syke & Spice 1
5. Fake Ass Bitches (Remix) *
6. Do For Love (Remix) feat. Eric Williams (Blackstreet) *
7. Enemies With Me (Remix) feat. Outlawz
8. Nothin But Love feat. Dave Hollister (Blackstreet)
9. 16 On Death Row (Remix) *
10. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Hip-Hop Version) feat. Maxee
11. When I Get Free II  
12. Black Starry Night (Interlude)
13. Only Fear Of Death

• BOLD : very close to the original.
• * These remix/remake are also close to the original but they lack some essential elements (guests, music and sample elements)
• "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto" was available in its original form in I Get Around 12'' B-side.
• "Nothing But Love" was released in Keep Ya Head Up 12'' B-Side.
• "Definition of a Thug Nigga" was included in Poetic Justice OST in a very close mix.
  
• Included in R U Still Down '95 (Pre-Death Row Compilation) : CD1 : 3,4,6,8 CD2 : 3,6,11,13
• Recorded for 2Pacalypse II or Troublesome 21 : CD1 : 7,12 ; CD2 : 2,8,9,10,12
  
• Recorded for Thug Life Demo or Thug Life Original : CD1 : 9,10,13 CD2 : 1,4,5
• Recorded for Out On Bail project (Cradle Tape) : CD1 : 2,8,13
• Recorded for R U Still Down '94 project (Manu Tape) : CD1 : 3,4,6,8 ; CD2 : 13
• Recorded for Stay True project : CD1 : 3,4,5,8,11 ; CD2 : 3,11
• Recorded for F.T.W. / Me Against The World project : CD2 : 6
• Recorded for Young Thugz EP / Dramacydal project : CD2 : 7

• Original Producers - Johnny J (1.9?, 2.1, 2.5), Tony Pizarro (1.3, 1.6 ?, 1.8?), Bread & Water (2.11), DJ Daryl (2.8, 2.12), Warren G (1.10, 1.13), Live Squad & Duane Nettlesbey (1.6?, 1.8, 2.3, 2.13), Akshun (1.2), Mike Mosley (1.9?), DJ Choo (2.3)
• New Producers - We Got Kidz & Ricky Rouse (1.1, 1.5, 1.11, 1.12, 2.2, 2.7, 2.9), Soulshock & Karlin (1.7, 2.6, 2.10), Tony Pizarro & Def Jef (2.4), Mike Mosley (1.9?), QD3 (1.4) 
  

portrait by Ramiro Fauve, in a Van Gogh style

2Pac was a great fan of the Dutch painter who shot himself to death

whose last words were : "Sadness will last forever" 

1997, Afeni Shakur chose this symbolic title : R U Still Down 

Released about one year after Killuminati, The 7th Day Theory (giving some reality to Tupac's black Jesus resurrection fantasy), this first posthumous compilation was titled following the name of a song produced by Shock G in December 93 and still unreleased, speaking about the rough fall of the media critics towards him after the two justice cases (for having shot at two drunk off duty cops harassing a black man during the Halloween night in 93 and of for having let a girl named Ayanna Jackson being sexually assaulted in his hotel room the 18th of November). The 21st of November, the charges for rape being confirmed, 2Pac says to the medias :

Merry Christmas & Thanks 4 destroying everything I've ever worked for.

The "R U Still Down" version included here is a new version from March of 1994, following many trials and notably a sentence of 15 days given to him the 10th of March for having assaulted the Hughes Brothers in March 93 (because he was fired from Menace II Society cast).

I wrote this for my critics and my enemies
Last year ya used to love me, huh, remember me
Now ya hate me with a passion... ("R U Still Down", verse 3)

The released version emphasizes on "remember me" lyric, giving a real impression that Tupac is speaking to us about his own death (and not about the fact medias destroyed his reputation). But "R U Still Down" is also the title of a real album project Tupac had in 1994 and again in 1995. Firstly, it was a short lived title for an anticipated sequence for his third solo album (Me Against the World) between Dec. and March of '94 (from the moment he recorded the song with Shock G), between Out on Bail in the end of 93 and Stay True in Spring of 94. Then when 2Pac went in jail, and after his 3rd solo album was released, he and Interscope were thinking about a compilation of unreleased tracks from 1993-1994 and the title "R U Still Down" came back alongside "When I Get Free (1992-1996 Lost Trax)".

 

Primary ambitions of Amaru publishing were high and respectable.

Thug Life / Me Against The World leftovers fair compilation + Strictly 4 my N... irrelevant remixed tracks

It seems that for her first project, Afeni Shakur decided to give form to this project of compilation 2Pac had in prison but didn't release because he was freed from jail by getting a record deal for three albums with Death Row. Even if one of the planned title mentions "1992", there was in fact originally no 1992 tracks planned to be included, except "When I Get Free" and "Sucka 4 Love (Do 4 Love)" which were re-recorded songs and not the 1992 versions. And no doubt that it is the main mistake of this first posthumous compilation...

Except "When I Get Free" with Souljah pitched voice (and "Nothing But Love", already available as a b-side), all 1992 songs recorded for Troublesome / Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z are clearly not in their place here. Voice and style of 2Pac were very different, closer to his original Digital Underground funk vibe. All remixed songs of that time are failures for the simple reason that the producers try to give a more typical mature 2Pac vibe.

The biggest failure is of course the remixed version of "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto". Even if the first mix stays close to the original, we don't really understand why they didn't just re-release the original version of the song published in Keep Ya Head Up 12'' b-side, like they made for "Nothing But Love" or "Definition of a Thug Nigga". Soulshock & Karlin who produced "Me Against The World" and "Old School" for 2Pac (and some songs for Dramacydal shelved album), are a relevant choice for producing/remixing 2Pac's 94 songs, but maybe not for old 1992 songs.

On the other hand, their remix of Moe-Z produced "Do 4 Love", still close to the original, is a huge success and even an improvement of the original... And even the presence of Eric Williams of Blackstreet at the chorus instead of G-Money stays relevant because 2Pac had worked a lot with another Blackstreet member Dave Hollister (here in "Nothing But Love"), and will work in summer of 96 with Aaron Hall (ex-partner of Blackstreet's leader Teddy Riley in his first group Guy), for "Toss It Up".

QD3, We Got Kidz & Ricky Rouse : a discrete touch of Death Row's vibe ?

Out of these 1992 wrong moves, most of the compilation clearly tries to respect the original 93-94 songs 2Pac recorded. Many songs sound almost untouched (maybe just a final mix or just a clean sound) or the original song seems to have been kind of finalized by the original producers (Johnny J, Warren G or Mike Mosley (?)...) or by We Got Kidz (group of musician who replay the planned samples). Most of the remixes try to stay close to the original, keeping many elements of the beat (like "16 on Death Row").

 

We Got Kidz was a mysterious name. The fact that they are associated to Ricky Rouse who was a musician for live instrumentation in Death Row in many songs while 2Pac was recording for the label, that QD3 (Quincy Jones Jr.) also worked in Death Row for 2Pac, and that their work here is mainly instrumentation, could indicate that they are an instrumentation team, gathered for the occasion, maybe around some guys already together in Death Row, and that they were in charge for an important part of this compilation. By entrusting the compilation to them, maybe Afeni Shakur tried to make these old 92-94 sound more like the successful 96 Death Row album. 

 

Anyway, it was a really good way to clear the original samples like Bob Marley's "No More Troubles" without paying too much... A pity that they didn't use that strategy for more songs and in the next posthumous compilations. If they clearly missed remixes of "Let the Thangs Go", "Fuck All Y'All", "Enemies With Me", too far from the original, their work in "Thug Style" and "Fake Ass Bitches" is great. The other great remix is clearly "Hell Razor" by Quincy Jones' son QD3.

DETAILED TRACKLIST

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

DISC ONE

01. Redemption (Intro) / We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse 

• (?) - 1997 (music). We have no idea about how this track was created, but the instrumentation is a 1997 thing by Ricky Rouse & We Got Kidz. Maybe a DJ is among the group and put together elements taken here and there.

02. Open Fire / Akshun 

• 1993/09. The song is a Mr Middle Finger/ Out on Bail leftover. The version here is almost identical to the original, except for some 2Pac adlibs removed.
• Samples : 
  
• Cal Tjader - "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" (bassline interpolation)
• N.W.A. - "100 Miles and Runnin" (sound effects)
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "Mickey's Monkey" (vocals)
  
• the movie New Jack City (1991) (movie sequence)

03. R U Still Down ? (Remember Me) / Tony Pizarro

• 1993/12 - 1994/03 (new recording, new verse, new beat). Also known as "Raise Em Up Remix" in 2Pac's handwritten tracklist "Me Against The World/Thug Life/Exodus EP & B-Sides" (cf. Stay True / Honor Among Thugz). Straight from the unreleased vault : it seems the song was absolutely retouched (it was leaked in this form in the early Makaveli bootlegs in 1997-1998). This version has a totally different music from the original Shock G produced version (6'). It has a new 3rd verse and doesn't have the first one. It has been said that this second version could have been recorded because Shock G and Tupac had a little argument in the beginning of 94. More surely it was recorded as a B-side for a single of the album.
• Samples : 
• Curtis Mayfield & Fishbone - "He's a Fly Guy" (bassline interpolation)

4. Hellrazor (Remix) feat. Stretch (chorus) & Val Young (chorus) / Live Squad REMIXED by QD3

• 1993/12 - 1997 (remix, Val Young added). The song was recorded for R U Still Down '94, with maybe two verses from the early concept song titled "Dear Lord" intended for Mr Middle Finger project, still unleaked or unrecorded. Tony Pizarro will give a remix of the song for Stay True project. This is a fair remix that clearly tries to respect the original vibe. QD3 gave a blink by sampling the song he produced for Gang Related soundtrack for J-Flexx and the Realest aka 2Pac copycat in one of his first act (under his first nickname Tenkamenin). Stretch vocals are from the original Live Squad version, Val Young vocals have been added in 97.
• Sample :  
• J-Flexx & Tha Realest - "Free 'Em All"

5. Thug Style (Remix) / Bread & Water REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse

• 1994/06-08 - 1997 (remix). The song was recorded for Stay True project. It was then included in some early R U Still Down '95 Pre-Death Row compilation handwritten tracklists, and was also included in Makaveli 6 bootleg, what could have been a rough sequence for a Thug Life "Volume 2 : Lost Tracks" project in early 95 (cf. Honor Among Thugz).
  

6. Where Do We Go From Here (Interlude) feat. Y?N-Vee / 2Pac & Duane Nettlesbey (?), Tony Pizarro (?)

• 1994/01. The song was initially recorded for R U Still Down '94 original project. It was then included in Exodus compilation project (cf. Honor Among Thugz) and then in Pre-Death Row compilation. This beat will be reused in late 95 for the song "What's Next", produced by Johnny J, featuring Thug Life, but the song is there said produced by Tony Pizarro... The sample was presumably an original idea of 2Pac, working with the help of Interscope engineers Duane Nettlesbey or Norman Whitfield, er eventually already Tony Pizarro.
  
• Samples : 
• Bootsy's Rubber Band - "May the Force Be With You" (melody)

7. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Remix) / Lay Law REMIXED by Soulshock & Karlin

• 1992/05 - 1997 (remix). The song was originally recorded for the unreleased Troublesome 21 album. The song was then released in its original form as a b-side for Keep Ya Head Up 12'' (1993). Strangely, 2Pac recycled in this song half part of "Changes" 3rd verse, a song he recorded five months earlier (the 25th of December of 1991, cf. 2Pacalypse II).
• Samples :  
• Cameo - "Two of Us"
  
• Roger Troutman - "Do It Roger"
  

8. Nothing To Lose feat. Natasha Walker / 2Pac & Live Squad, Duane Nettlesbey REMIXED By Tony Pizarro (?)

• 1993/11 (Pac's take) - 1994 (?) (new mix by Duane or Pizarro) - 1997 (new mixdown ?).  The song was firstly recorded for Mr Middle Finger project (only snippet leaked), then 2Pac very likely recorded new vocals in mid November for Out On Bail album. Duane Nettlesbey possibly made another version for R U Still Down '94, and then Tony Pizarro made a remix with another singer for Stay True. It seems 2Pac wanted his friend Natasha on the track, so a new mix was possibly made for F.T.W. (Fuck The World) - unless they took back the Duane version - and it was included in Pre-Death Row compilation in 95. This mix could be the lost Duane's version, an alternate mix made by Tony Pizarro in Autumn 94, or a new mix made specifically for the posthumous compilation...
  
• Samples : 
• Mica Paris - "I Wanna Hold on to You" (drumline/melody)
• Ice Cube - "Summer Vacation" (vocals : "my homie got shot he's a goner, black")
• Ice Cube - "Us" (vocals : "That's why I got gang related rhymes")
• The D.O.C. & N.W.A. - "The Grand Finale" (vocals : "I got robbed when I came to Cali)

9. I'm Gettin' Money (Remix) / Johnny J (?), Stretch (?) or Mike Mosley (?) REMIXED by Mike Mosley & Natures Fynest

• 1993/01 (~) - 1997 (remix). The song was one of the first record of the early Thug Life Original sessions (cf. Thug Life Demo). It was then included in Thug Life Original concept shelved album (but that mix unleaked could be different). Then 2Pac re-used the lyrics of it for "Str8 Ballin" (cf. Out On Bail) finally released in Thug Life : Volume 1. The original is said produced by Mike Mosley but it could be more likely a Johnny J beat or a Stretch's one. This remix stays close to the original with a similar sample.

10. Lie To Kick It (Remix) feat. Richie Rich / Warren G REMIXED by Warren G

• 1993/05 - 1997 (remix). Originally recorded for Thug Life Original concept shelved album. Warren G tried to remake or finalize the original song whose beat was given to Snoop Dogg for "Gz & Hustlas" for Doggystyle. 2Pac and Richie Rich also recorded an unleaked or unfinished song and a freestyle both known under the title of "Animosity" (cf. Thug Life Original).
• Samples : 
• Bernard Wright - "Haboglabotribin" (melody)
• James Brown - "Funky President" (drumline ?)

11. Fuck All Y'all (Remix) / 2Pac & Duane Nettlesbey REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse

• 1994/05 (~) - 1997 (remix). The song was recorded by 2Pac freshly freed from county jail after 10 days the 17th of May (but it could be a little bit before...). Duane told the story of 2Pac entering the studio, writing down a text for the planned George Benson's beat he was programming, and throwing surprisingly his first words : "fuck all y'all !".  The song was eventually reworked by Tony Pizarro for Stay True. This remix is completely different from the original, but We Got Kidz and Ricky Rouse tried to keep the same peaceful and ironic vibe of the original. That original Benson's sample was very likely loved by 2Pac who very probably asked Johnny J to reuse it for "He Vs. She" in Thug Life Volume 2.
• Samples : 
• Original sample : George Benson - "Breezin'" (melody) 
  
• Geto Boys - "Street Life" (vocals : "I thought I had friends but i ain't got no fuckin friends")

12. Let Them Thangs Go (Remix) / DJ Daryl REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse, Quimmy Quim

• 1992/03 (~) - 1997 (remix). The song was recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21 then totally forgotten.
  
• Samples : 
• Parliament - "Flash Light" (melody interpolation ?)

13. Definition Of A Thug Nigga / Warren G & 2Pac

• 1993/03. The song was originally recorded for the first Thug Life album project (cf. Thug Life Demo). It was then given by 2Pac & Warren G to Poetic Justice OST. Then 2Pac would have recorded a new version for Thug Life Original but it is still unleaked. This mix is almost identical to the original with just a recurring sample taken off from the beat. The Donald Byrd's sample will be reused by DJ Quik for 2Pac's "Late Night", leftover from All Eyez on Me (cf. When I Get Free / Thug Pound).
  
• Samples :
• Donald Byrd - "Wind Parade" (melody)
• James Brown - "Funky President" (drumline) 
• Main Source - "Looking At The Front Door" (drumline)
  
• Al Green - "Love And Happiness" (guitar)
• Detroit Emeralds - "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" (drums)
• Roxanne Shanté & Biz Markie - "Freestyle Live" (vocals : "Here's the reason to be servin")
• Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Daz & The D.O.C. - "Nothin' But a G Thang (Freestyle Remix)" (vocals : "mobbing like a muthefucker every single day")
  
• Willie Hutch - "Brothers Gonna Work It Out"
  
• The Last Poets - "Die Nigga !!" (vocals)

DISC TWO

01. Ready 4 Whatever feat. Big Syke / Johnny J

• 1993/04. Originally recorded for Thug Life Original then included in early versions of Volume 1 (cf. Honor Among Thugz) and in Makaveli 6 bootleg. The original intro of the song was also used by Tony Pizarro as an interlude ("No justice, no peace-lude") for Stay True project.
• Samples :  
• Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "1980" (melody)

02. When I Get Free (Remake) / Lay Low REMADE by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse 

• 1992/03 (~) - 1997 (remake). The song was recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21 in 1992 as a follow-up to "Soulja's Story" (cf. 2Pacalypse Now). Like on that one, 2Pac altered his voice by pitching it, in order to incarnate his alternate demonic personality named Soulja, a typical gangster no faith no god alter ego who ended up in prison in the first episode. Nos he's in cell, waiting to be freed and thinking about a violent revenge. This remake is very similar to the original but the original Bob Marley sample was probably replayed live by We Got Kidz.
• Samples : 
• Bob Marley & The Wailers – "No More Trouble" (melody replayed)

03. Hold On Be Strong feat. Stretch (chorus) / Stretch & Duane Nettlesbey, DJ Choo (scratch)

• 1994/03 (~). The song was initially recorded to complete R U Still Down '94 album right before it turned into Stay True but the song was soon dropped (cf. Honor Among Thugz). Included in Pre-Death Row compilation sequence. 2Pac's speech at the end was also used by Tony Pizarro for an interlude ("Outro-lude") for Stay True project.
• Samples :
• James Brown - "Funky President" (drumroll) 
• Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)
• Earth, Wind & Fire - "I'll Write a Song for You" (vocals)
• Anita Baker - (vocals)

04. I'm Losin It (Remix) feat. Big Syke & Spice 1 / Johnny J REMIXED by Tony Pizarro, Def Jef, Levant Marcus

• 1993/04 - 1997 (remix). Remixed from an original version intended to be in Thug Life Original scrapped album, which was also included in original Volume 1 soundtrack project (cf. Honor Among Thugz). Def Jef is a rapper who released two conscious solo albums in 1989 and 1991 and was the main producer of Bo$$ album in 1993 (cf. Born Gangstas).
  

05. Fake Ass Bitches (Remake) feat. Natasha Walker (talking) & Rated R (hook) / Johnny J REMIXED by We Got Kidz

• 1993/01 (~) - 11 (~) (2Pac's speeches added) - 1997 (remake). Originally recorded for Thug Life Original Concept album (cf.  Thug Life Demo / Thug Life Original). It shortly appears in Out On Bail sequence before being re-recorded by Nic Nam of Y?N-Vee with 2Pac speaking between the verses instead of Natasha Walker (cf. Honor Among Thugz). This remix recycles many elements of the original versions and combines original vocals with 2Pac new speeches from the second version.
  

06. Do For Love (Remix) feat. Eric Williams (Blackstreet) / Moe-Z REMIXED by Karlin, Soulshock

• 1994/10 (~) - 1997 (remake). This remix uses the song "Sucka 4 Love" from late 1994 recorded for F.T.W. (Fuck The World), not the 1992 early song recorded during 2Pacalypse Now early sessions (cf. Tales of a 90's N.I.G.G.A.). The music stays very close to the original but the original singer G-Money (Moe-Z's friend) is here replaced by Eric Williams. This choice is not totally disconnected to history because 2Pac used to work with Dave Hollister in 91-93, who was also a member of Blackstreet. He also worked with Aaron Hall in 96, member of Guy with Teddy Riley who founded Blackstreet and invited him at a time to be with the group. On the other hand, the song 2Pac recorded with Aaron Hall in 96 was a clear diss/pastiche towards Blackstreet...
• Samples :
• Bobby Caldwell - "What You Won't Do For Love" (melody, chorus interpolation) 
  

07. Enemies With Me (Remix) feat. Outlawz / Live Squad REMIXED by We Got Kidz, Ricky Rouse

• 1994/11 - 1997 (remix). Recorded for Young Thugs EP / Dramacydal with Live Squad and Sh'Killa as featured artists. The song then appears in many early Euthanasia / All Eyez On Me tracklists (cf. When I Get Free), later in Outlawz "Euthanasia" tracklist (cf. Immortalz) but seems to have not been re-recorded nor remixed at that period in Death Row (even if there are some OG vibe floating in).
  

08. Nothin But Love feat. Dave "The Black Angel" Hollister / 2Pac & DJ Daryl

• 1992/03 (~). Released in I Get Around 12'' (1993). The song was firstly intended to be released in Troublesome 21 scrapped album in 1992. 2Pac already had worked with Dave Hollister in 91 for "Brenda's Got A Baby", cf. 2Pacalypse Now. But their most famous collaboration was onto "Keep Ya Head Up" recorded around the same time of March 92.
• Samples :  
• Lakeside - "Everyday Man" (melody, chorus interpolation) 
• Syl Johnson - "Different Strokes" (vocals)
  
• 2Pac - "If My Homies Call" (vocals)

09. 16 On Death Row (Remix) / DJ Daryl REMIXED By Ricky Rouse

• 1992/02 (~) - 1997 (remix). Initially recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21. This remix keeps many elements of the original but the synthé thing giving a live instrumentation feeling is not very welcome and distort the original dark mood of the song.
  

10. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto (Hip-Hop Version) feat. Maxee / Lay Law REMIXED by Soulshock & Karlin

• 1992/05 - 1997 (remix). Difficult to understand the choice of this second remix particularly irrelevant.
  
• Samples :  
• Cameo - "Two of Us"

11. When I Get Free II feat. Kadafi (chorus) / Bread & Water

• 1994/06-08. The song was initially recorded for Stay True sequence. It was eventually given to Young Thugz EP (with an added backing by Young Hollywood aka Kadafi at the chorus) and included in Pre-Death Row compilation sequence before being re-recorded among very early Death Row recordings (cf. When I Get Free).
• Sample :
  
• Stanley Clarke - "Concerto for Jazz/Rock Orchestra, Part I" (melody)
  
• Roy Ayers - "The Boogie Back" (main drumline)
  
• Melvin Bliss - "Synthetic Substitution" (drumline)

12. Black Starry Night (Interlude) / DJ Daryl

• 1992/01-03 (~). Supposedly recorded for 2Pacalypse II / Troublesome 21. Also known as "Against All Odds (interlude)". Some say there could be another version with Above The Law and Richie Rich, or it was planned but never recorded.
• Samples
• Roger Troutman - "Do It Roger"

13. Only Fear Of Death / Live Squad & Duane Nettlesbey

• 1993/10. Recorded right after the death of Mental Illness (member of Evil Minded Gangsta, the first group of Big Syke, cf. All Hell Breakin' Loose), it was then in all Me Against The World sequences :  Out On Bail, slightly clean in R U Still Down '94, remixed in a short version by Tony Pizarro for Stay True (also included in Pre-Death Row compilation sequence). This retail mix is very close to the original.
• Samples : 
• Gabor Szabo - "Breezin" (melody)
  
• Detroit Emeralds - "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" (drums)
• ---not sure---Lafayette Afro Rock Band - "Hihache" (drums ?)
  
• Mental Illness & Evil Mind Gangstas - "Livin' In The Edge" (vocals : "my only fear of death is coming back, reincarnated")
• Thug Life - "Shit Don't Stop (Rough Mix)" (unleaked) (vocals : "them ghetto niggaz is a full")