187 Proof (Spice 1) -1991- Dope Lika Pound or a Key (feat. DJ Pizo, The Coup, Mopreme...) (Wax that Azzs)

• First mini album by Spice 1
  
• One of the very first appearance of Mopreme Shakur
  

Link to Discogs page

Listen to the album here or there

  

A-Side

1. 187 Proof (Original Version) - Spice 1

2. Lights Start Flashin (Scratch Interlude) - Spice 1

3. Foul Play (Original Version) - The Coup

4. One Nation - Spice 1 (??), ???? (??), Female (?), Jay (?) & Mocedes (Mopreme)

5. Oakland California (interlude)

6. East Bay Gangster (Original Version) - Spice 1

 

B-Side

7. 976-Spice (Interlude) - Spice 1

8. Foul Play Remix (Instrumental)

9. 2 B Reel - Spice 1

10. One Nation (Jazz Appella) - Spice 1 (?), ??? (?), Female (?) & Jay (?)

11. 211 At 711 (Interlude)

12. Gangster Thang - Spice 1

   

Producer - DJ Pizo the Beatmaker

 

According to Boots Riley from The Coup, this album is a compilation featuring Spice 1, Boots Riley & Mocedes aka Mopreme Shakur, produced by Pizo the Beatmaker. In fact, 187 Proof is Spice 1 first name and the tape is filled of his early songs except for The Coup's first song.

Spice 1 second official release after his song in Dangerous Crew mini album with notably Rappin' 4 Tay who also made his beginnings, long time before "Only God Can Judge Me".

What a surprising title for one of the first official Mopreme records : "One Nation" !! after DJ Pizo was also the producer of his first songs with Tony ! Toni ! Tone !

Pizo the beatmaker will release a solo album in 1995, in which he will invite Spice 1, Money B, Pooh-Man and even Pee-Wee at the keyboards for one song...

Street Thugs (Nutt-So's group) -1996- Not To Be Fucked With (Snake Pit, Wiged Out)

• Nutt-So, one of the favourite partner of 2Pac in 96, was for a short time a potential new member of the Outlawz in Ghetto Starz tracklist, in summer of 96.
• With Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and of course Thug Life, Street Thugs is one of the other groups to use a word 2Pac popularized or even appropriated for himself. But if 2Pac disses Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony in interviews and in the outro of "Late Night (Til My Dying Day Moe-Z Remix)", unleaked song from Dramacydal shelved album in 95, he early invited Nutt-So in his projects (cf. Thug Pound).
  

LISTEN to that album or grab it there.

1. Car Chase (Intro)

2. Nut Case

3. We Don't Love 'Em feat. Duce Life & PLESOR

4. The Weekend

5. Cock Your Glock (Interlude)

6. Based on a True Story

7. Where Was You At

8. Not To Be Fucked With

9. The Family feat. Next 2 Kin, A.M.W., Jet, NTO, Confusion & Duce Life

Produced by GO Twice (2, 3, 4, 6, 9), Chucksta (7, 8) & Bust a Bitch (3, 9)

Rappers from the Bay Area : Nutt-So, Mo $avage and Len B. aka Pound. 

Street Thugs appear with a bunch of Demo Tapes in the 90's (here and there, probably in 95 or maybe 94). But they were particularly noticed with "Deep in the Game" in the compilation Bay Area Playaz, alongside rappers like Knumskull of Luniz produced by DJ Fuze (of Digital Underground), Sh'Killa (who had record "Don't Make Enemies With Me" with 2Pac in late 94), The Link Crew (with Ant Dog, Ray Luv...), and also JT The Bigga Figga and The Delinquents. They also appear in Lil Big's group America's Most Wanted second album The Real Mobb (whose one member, Chucksta, is also the producer of two songs in this EP, and two in his solo album ; A.M.W. is featured here and Lil Big will be featured in "Don't Sleep OG" with Nutt-So).

Go Twice is the main producer of the group and will be known for having produced original "Ghetto Star" feat. Nutt-So (released in Better Dayz album), and a remix of "Don't Sleep" featuring Outlawz and Nutt-So. The funny thing is that he also produced songs for The Govenor's album Floss Mode in 1995 (in which Gov' sings Pac's "Po' Nigga Blues").

 

Nutt-So is the older brother of Keyshia Cole (who also met Tupac at the age of 16 - maybe the day he got killed). He appears solo in 1996 in Blackjack's album Addicted 2 Drama for the song "Fuck Your Life", album which as well features regular Street Thugs friend Jet (here featured), Luniz, The Notorious B.I.G., MC Eiht, Spice 1... and 2Pac ! in the Promo sampler of the album for the song "Can't Turn Back" recorded in the beginning of '94. It is said that he was firstly invited by MC Hammer - also from Oakland - to come to record with him (in late '95 ?), but he was invited to give verses with Dogg Pound, Gonzoe from Kausion and 2Pac in January of 96 for Thug Pound Project. So maybe he met Hammer through Death Row connection at that time where 2Pac was also recording reference song "Too Tight" for him. Nutt-So will record "Too Late" with Hammer and 2Pac (but also "Can U Feel It pt. 1" with Storm, Kurupt, Mac Mall & Spice 1 probably after Pac's death ?). With 2Pac he recorded many more songs after "Too Late" : "Wordz 2 My First Born", then "Ghetto Star" and later during Pac's last summer "Don't Sleep" and "Runnin' on E" with the Outlawz. He was not listed in One Nation first sessions (with east coast artists) but would have been in the final album for sure ("Runnin on E" was probably initially recorded for One Nation if we listen to the last dedication to Boot Camp Clik in the original version, cf. Ghetto Starz).

During his time alongside Tupac, he was also recording for his first solo album, already announced in this group mini album, then titled as "Thug Livin'", leaked as a promo in 1997 under the title The Betrayal, officially released later in 2000 and without "Ghetto Star" nor "Don't Sleep"...

51.50 Illegally Insane (Ryan D & Klark Gable) -1992- Games People Play (ARRogant)

• Ryan D was Tupac partner's in the group One Nation Emcees (1988-1990)
• Klark Gable presumably produced 2Pac's "I Thought U Knew" and "Daze of a Criminal"
• Article about the group : article 

See Discogs page, new edition

Listen it in YouTube or there

Tracklist :

1. 51.50 Intro
2. Jealous MF's
3. They Made Me
4. Games People Play
5. Back on tha Track
6. Steady Stayin' Paid
7. Dorothy
8. Illegally Insane
9. Green & White (Jailstrumental)

Bonus tracks 1999 edition :

10. Do it Right (Remix)

11. We Be Dumpin'

12. You Don't Wanna Battle feat. 2Pac

 
Producer - DJ Klark Gable
Rap - Ryan D, Levy Love, TAC

ARRogant Records led by Kendrick Wells. 

When Tupac alias MC New York moved from New Jersey to Marin City and was been kicked off from home by his mother, he's been hanging out in the Jungle. There he met Ryan D and his friends. They were eventually forming a group called One Nation Emcees (cf. Straight From The Underground/Benefits of Poverty). In 1990, he was still recording with Ryan D and DJ Klark Gable for "I Thought U Knew" and "All In The Dayz of a Criminal". While 2-Pac left for touring with his new group Strictly Dope and the Digital Underground, then for recording solo, Ryan D and Klark Gable recorded their album.

Ryan D and the group released another albums in 1995, 2000 and 2002. He is highly featured in Assassin's album Hitworks, volume 1 (1996, Liferdef Records), with partner TAC, Ant Dog, Digital Underground, Rated R... and Pac/Dee tha Mad Bitch's song "Real Bad Boyz".

DJ Klark Gable has also produced "Tempo of Boom" in 89 and "Overnight Succe$$" in 90 for Ant Dog. It is said that 2Pac was a huge fan of the first one and promoted the tape to everybody while touring with Digital Underground. Ant Dog was also featured in live version of Pac's "Panther Power" (over Self Destruction beat) the same year.

TAC will released a solo album in 1999, Servin Knock'z (Ping Records) with Yukmouth of Luniz, Marvaless !! and of course Ryan D. Levy Love is not known anywhere else.

In 1990, just before the recording of 2Pacalypse Now, 2Pac was planning to publish a mini album produced by him and Klark Gable titled All In The Dayz of a Criminal, featuring the Jungle Posse ("All In The Dayz of a Criminal", "Young Godfather"), Ray Luv of Strictly Dope (original unleaked "Scared Straight") and Yonnie ("Rushin' 'Em From Richtown"). Unfortunately, the Jungle Posse (Wiz, Playa Playa and Dank, backing voices in the outro of "Trapped") never recorded their part of "All In The Dayz of a Criminal" and the project was given up (cf. Dayz of a Criminal EP)

"You Don't Wanna Battle" is a remix of "I Thought U Knew" recorded in 1990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assassin & Friends (Sh'Killa, Rated R...) -1995- Strictly For The Streets : A compilation about the game (ICE Management)

• First project orchestrated by DJ Assassin probably recorded around the time of Me Against The World final mix in late 94 or beginning of 95.
  
• features Rated R, Sh'Killa, South Central Cartel, Lil Big, Bloody Mary and many others
  

 

Discogs page 

Listen it or grab it there

 

1. Intro - Lay Law (1:25)

2. Strictly For The Streets - Bernie Castro, Tone & Havikk The Rhyme Son (3:49)

3. Hustla's Convention - Gangsta Reese, Rated R, Bloody Mary, Havikk The Rhyme Son, Hot Dolla, Sh'Killa & Buddha (4:29)

4. The Juice - Sh'Killa (1:05)

5. 1-800-Bustah - Bloody Mary, D-Ruff & KM-WR (4:22)

6. Dha Game - Twon (4:44)

7. The Arrival - Ad Kapone (4:40)

8. My Nigga - F. Love (2:12)

9. Unforgiven - Bloody Mary, Sh'Killa, Jazz & Gangsta Reese (4:48)

10. Nina B Da Nine - Bloody Mary (3:41)

11. Don't Fuck Wit' A G - Don Cisco & Quiz (Ghetto Politix) (3:44)

12. Deacon Hemp & Pas-Dah Dank - D-Ruff, F. Love, Kphra & Noizman (2:37)

13. (Bitch) Perpin' Like She's Top Notch - Blackstreet Mentality & Ad Kapone (6:15)

14. Set Trippen' - Ad Kapone, Rated R, Sh'Killa, Havikk The Rhyme Son, Bloody Mary, Hot Dolla & A.M.W. (6:14)

15. Streets Is How We Comin' - Havikk The Rhyme Son, Chunk & Bloody Mary (3:20)

16. Pimp Catalogue - F. Love & Trickbaby (2:55)

Producer - DJ Assassin (1,3,4,9,10,14,15), Anthony Cannon (2,7,13,16), Frank Love (2,4,8,12,15,16), D Ruff (4,5,8,12), Frank Tebo of World Class Wreckin' Cru (5,10,11), John Orr (6).

DJ King Assassin is well known by Tupac's fans to have released the song "Real Bad Boyz" with Dee tha Mad Bitch in 1996 in his album Hitworks, Volume One (featuring many Bay Area artists like Digital Underground, Ryan D, Ant Dog...), and then to have heavily contributed to the fashion of unofficial 2Pac remix albums with dishonestly titled "The Way He Wanted It" volumes (mostly made of patched verses to new songs with new guests). Because of that, we tend to think that he was some kind of a liar capitalizing over Pac's death, and maybe even he had never met him... Dobbs The Wino, producer for Coolio, credited only as a co-producer of the remix, is sometimes said to be the original producer of "Real Bad Boyz" (cf. Honor Among Thugz)... 

Assassin was firstly a member of the group Ghetto Politix. They firstly released Don Cisco single "Audi 5000" in 1992, and two underground EP cassette in 1993 (Ghetto Life) and 1994 (Just Mob). The group is yet here with the song "Don't Fuck Wit' A G". 

When you consider this compilation you can understand that Assassin likes to give opportunity to female rappers to shine. So he could be the real producer of "Real Bad Boyz" by Dee Tha Mad Bitch (two verses) featuring 2Pac & Eddie. But the question of the date of recording remains mysterious, probably in the late '93 - beginning of '94 when Thug Life group started to record together.

The most interesting thing for 2Pac fans could also be the two featurings of Thug Life member Rated R. Apart of "It Don't Stop Radio Version" and maybe unleaked "Make No Mistakes" (cf. Dramacyde), Rated R has not recorded many things with 2Pac/Thug Life in 1994-1995 (maybe some other radio versions for Thug Life Volume One). With Macadoshis as Double Jeopardy, he will also appear in 1995 in Professor Jay's Da Nayborhoodz album Afta Dark, in Coolio's "Is This Me ?" in Gangsta's Paradise album and in Ray Luv second album Forever Hustlin'. After that he will more or less disappear mainly for being incarcerated for murder...

Therefore, like we can see in this compilation probably recorded in late 1994 beginning of 95, Assassin is mainly responsible for the emergence of female rapper Sh'Killa who was about to be featured in Dramacydal/Young Thugz shelved EP in "Don't Make Enemies With Me" featuring 2Pac & Live Squad (cf. Dramacyde) before recording her solo album Gangstrez of Da Bay mainly produced by South Central Cartel. One of them, Havikk The Rhyme Son, first verse in "Gansta Team" S.C.C./2Pac/Ice-T/MC Eight/Spice 1 (cf. Featurings), is also featured here in four songs of the compilation.

The compilation also heavily features Bloody Mary aka Nini X and kind of helped her to start again her career after leaving Dangerous Records after her awesome beginning with Blood & Crips in 1993 in Bangin' On Wax (that was also produced by DJ Battlecat...) and her first album She's Dangerous in 1994.

At last, this compilation features A.M.W. (American Most Wanted) group with Lil Big who will be featured in a late Nutt-So/2Pac song in 1996 : "Don't Sleep OG" (cf. One Nation part 2). After their first album in 1990 (Criminals), they were about to release their second : The Real Mobb with featurings of Nutt-So's Streethugs and a Blackjack beat.

Ray Luv (Strictly Dope) -1992- Who Can Be Trusted (Strictly Business)

 Ray "Tyson" Luv, 2Pac's partner in Strictly Dope (cf. The Lost Tapes)

 

 

 

 Discogs page

Listen in Youtube

 

1. Intro (with Ant Dog)

2. Get Ma Money On !

3. X Check It Out Ya'll !

4. Commercial (skit)

5. Smokin' Indo

6. Commercial (skit)

7. Who Can Be Trusted

8. 1 Fo Ya Ass "Raymond's Dead"

9. 1991 R.I.P.

10. Shout Out (with Ant Dog)

11. Instrumental by Khayree

Produced by Khayree. Scratches by DJ Cee (not the well known mixtape producer).

Ray Luv was the partner of Tupac in Strictly Dope (1988-1990, cf. Beginnings, The Lost Tapes), the group who was produced by DJ Chopmaster J of the Digital Underground. They were touring, opening, featuring live with the funky group (cf. "Nuttin' Nis Funky" live featuring Tupac), what led 2Pac to record "Same Song" with them. Ray Luv has been featured in Shock G's album in 2004, in Digital Underground's in 2008.

A funny thing to notice is that the only guest, Ant Dog, will be as well featured in two songs of Illegally Insane in 95, the Bay Area group of Ryan D, other early partner of Tupac (they formed the group One Nation Emcees and recorded together "Fantasy", "U Don't Wanna Battle" and early versions of "Panther Power" and "Never Be Beat").

Tupac and Ray Luv met in Bay Area when 2Pac was living there. Ray Luv will be invited in 2Pacalypse Now in the backings of "Rebel of The Underground". Another track, Ray/Pac duet, was planned to be in the album : Scared Straight '91 (cf. Tales of the 90's N.I.G.G.A.). A pity that the track wasn't included here. But the most interesting thing is that "Trapped" was initially a Ray Luv song, he wrote a text and throw it in rubbish. Tupac took it, reworked it and it became the song we know (that's why Ray Luv is credited for having written it).

Video singles : Get My Money On

Ray Luv will be featured in En Vogue b-side single "Free Your Mind" (1992, EastWest), and then in many Bay Area projects : Mac Dre, Mac Mall, JT Tha Bigga Figga, Young Lay, Khayree...

Tupac will always stay true to the Bay Area rappers : Ray Luv, Young Lay and Mac Mall will be featured in unreleased "Amerikkka Eatz Itz Youth" and its released remix "Gotta Survive", both produced by Khayree. And 2Pac will invite E-40 and B-Legit in "Ain't Hard 2 Find" (cf. All Eyez on Me).

 

Single "Last Nite" released in 93, Video with 2Pac (it is said even directed by him !!!!!)