Dogg Pound -1995- Dogg Shit (Death Row / Unfinished Project)

• 1995 : sessions for an unknown project, sort of E.P. companion to Dogg Food, maybe a collection of B-Sides and guests tracks bonus disc.
• Dogg Food was initially supposed to be released in July of 1995, but was delayed of three months, during that time Dogg Pound recorded new songs, particularly with guests.
• What happened ? With the arrival of 2Pac at Death Row and the top priority of his project, Dogg Pound gave some of their material for it (with Wu-Tang, with Dre & George Clinton). In late December, after The Notorious B.I.G.'s call to the boycott of "New York New York" video, Dogg Pound and 2Pac came to the idea of a mutual effort eventually titled Thug Pound, and so the Pound also recycled many tracks for it. In February of 1996, Kurupt seems to turn himself towards a solo project, then in the summer of 1996, Daz and Kurupt returned to the idea of a second album titled West Coast Aftershock, they will again recycle some material from this short lived project.
• The recordings were dispersed or remixed in various projects : soundtracks, Death Row compilations, Daz' Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back (1998), Tha Last of Tha Pound (2004), Doggy Bag (2012)...
• Sources : ?

fanmade cover for a DGC's bootleg (with random content from various projects),

made from an altered image of 2002 compilation

### - WORK IN PROGRESS... There are no known material sequence or info about that project, which was maybe only in the state of a collection of B-Sides/featurings. For the second album project, cf. West Coast Aftershock - ### 

Dogg Shit (1995 Sessions)

1. Don't Stop, Keep Going (Original) feat. Nas ***
2. Got My Mind Made Up (Original) feat. Lady of Rage, Method Man, Redman & Inspectah Deck - unleaked / Inspectah's verse edit 
3. You Can't See Me feat. George Clinton
4. Just Doggin' feat. Nate Dogg 
5. Started (by Kurupt) feat. Ricky Harris (?) ***
6. Let's Play House (Original) feat. Daz, Warren G, Michel'le, Nate Dogg & Big Pimpin' **
7. Me In Your World (Original) feat. Lady Of Rage **
   
   
8. It's Going Down (Original) feat. Prince Ital Joe & Kevin Vernado *
9. Gang Bangin' Ass Criminals (Original) feat. LBC Crew & Soopafly *
10. I'll Do (Original) feat. Kausion
11. N.Y. '87 (Original) feat. Deadly Threat & Soopafly (speaking) **
12. Our Daily Bread (Original) feat. Lady of Rage & Prince Ital Joe *
13. The Name And The Rap (by Daz) 
14. Farewell To My Enemies (Outro) (by Ricky Harris) ** 
    
    Bonus Tracks (Kurupt's work for a solo) :
     
15. Loc'd Out Hood (by Kurupt) 
16. Jack Move feat. Big Syke & Outlawz *** 
17. Everybody Needs To Slow Down (by Kurupt) **  
18. Would You Ride (by Kurupt) feat. Snoop Dogg  

Producer - Dr. Dre (3), Daz (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16), Overdose & Soopafly (15, 17, 18). 

* released in a slightly remixed form in Daz' Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back (Death Row, 1998)
** taken from Doggy Bag (WIDEawake, 2012)

*** taken from Tha Last of Tha Pound (Gangsta Advisory, 2004)

Not included tracks :

. Money, Cars, Bitches (prod. Dr. Dre) - unknown source & date of recording
. Killin' Niggaz (by Daz) - unknown source & date of recording

. Jack Move (Original w/o Kurupt) feat. Outlawz ------> Thug Life Volume 2
. Initiated (Wind Mix) feat. 2Pac & Outlawz ----> Thug Pound
. N.Y. '87 (Quik Mix) feat. Threat & 2Pac ----> Thug Pound
. Don't Stop (Kurupt 2 Verses Mix) feat. 2Pac ----> Thug Pound
. Don't Stop (Final) feat. 2Pac ----> West Coast Aftershock ; 2002
. Trump Tight (by Kurupt) feat. Big Syke & Kadafi ----> Thug Pound
. Um Dumpin' (by Kurupt) feat. Gonzoe, 2Pac, Scarlo & Nutt-So ----> Thug Pound
. This Life I Lead feat. Gonzoe, 2Pac & Nutt-So ----> Thug Pound 
. Don't Try To Play Me Homie (by Daz) -----------> Gridlock'd 

A totally unknown project 

The closest thing to this original Dogg Shit unknown projects is the WIDEawake compilation Doggy Bag. But like all releases from that sub-label, the result is... far from being satisfying. Songs were taken from various projects from 93 to 98...  Tha Last of Tha Pound also presents a couple of songs taken from that era of recordings - 95 -, at a time the second Pound album (or a kind of E.P. companion) was logically titled "Dogg Shit" (after the food they ate in first album...). Without the arrival of 2Pac at Death Row, we could imagine that Daz and Kurupt would have had the project ready to drop in mid '96 or even before, or it would simply have turned into a second album.

In late December, notably after the recording of "Initiated", Dogg Pound will recycle some of their material for that mysterious 2Pac/Dogg Pound short-lived project usually known as Thug Pound ("Stated" on "Trump Tight", "Don't Stop" re-recorded with 2Pac, "NY87" remixed by DJ Quik), what could also be a renewed idea (with 2Pac arrival) for the "Death Row Compilation" (cf. Thug Pound), announced in the booklet of All Eyez On Me in February 1996. Another hypothesis could be that this "E.P. companion" was already an update for this compilation.

After Thug Pound project was dropped for an unknown reason (dispute with Dr. Dre ? 2Pac was arrested the 22nd of January and changed his projects ? dispute with Kurupt in the studios ?), Kurupt recycled his things for his own solo project.

DETAILED INFORMATION

• "Don't Stop". Remix featuring 2Pac has been released in Dogg Pound's 2002 but was probably initially remixed for Thug Pound in early 96. In 2004, Daz released the real original version of the song in Tha Last of Tha Pound, with verses from Nas instead of 2Pac, of course recorded before the "New York, New York" controversy, presumably in the summer of 1995.
• Inspectah Deck's verse cut from "Got My Mind Made Up" has been leaked circa ~2010. It was at the end of the song, Inspectah kind of freestyling whereas the beat was finished (we can still hear the first words in the released song). It is said 2Pac replaced Lady of Rage when the song was given to him and 2Pac and the engineers chose to cut the song at the end of the beat for his All Eyez on Me version.
• "You Can't See Me" was later given to 2Pac for All Eyez On Me, we ignore if there is also a Dr. Dre version which could be from 93-94 for Chronic 2. Presumably recorded in the summer of 1995. 
• "Just Doggin'" was released in Sunset Park Soundtrack in 1996, alongside 2Pac's "High Til I Die" and then again in 2002. It is a remix of "Mobbin' With The Pound" recorded for Above The Rim, with Nate Dogg added for the hook.
• "Started" is a three verses Kurupt song. In the intro, Daz uses the old nicknames. In his first, Kurupt says '95. Second one was re-used on "Trump Tight (Dump On Site)" very likely recorded for Thug Pound in late December 95, and later in February on "Music Makes Me High (Remix)" with Lost Boys. So this song was likely recorded in Summer/Autumn of 95 before 2Pac gave them their new nicknames.
• "Let's Play House" was originally recorded with Warren G, in late 1994 or early 1995. Dr. Dre remixed the track and Daz replaced Warren verse for Dogg Food, maybe following a demand of Suge who didn't like him - but was Dr. Dre not totally agree with that ?). Big Pimpin' poetry outro was also dropped.
• "It's Going Down" was initially recorded in the second half of 95, finally released in a very close mix in Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back in 1998.
• "Bangin' Ass Criminals" with LBC Crew was recorded circa late December, you can clearly hear lines against East Coast in their verses. The song will be edited with a new intro for Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back in 1998.
• "I'll Do" was released in a close mix in Supercop soundtrack (in June of 96), maybe to promote the forthcoming Dogg Pound album that Daz was still planning at that time. It features Gonzoe and his group Kausion. Verses refer to "fuck New York", to Thug Life and 2Pac, so it was possibly recorded for Thug Pound. Gonzoe recorded two other songs with Dogg Pound, Nutt-So and 2Pac in early 1996 for that project ; he also claims to have recorded another song eventually titled "Outlaw Immortalz", very likely in August of 96 with Edi, Hussein and Kurupt (presumably for Ghetto Starz or One Nation).
• "Me In Your World" was recorded circa Dec. 95 and edited without Rage in the summer of 96 for the album, finally released in Death Row's Greatest Hits in late 96. The original was released in Doggy Bag (2012).
• "N.Y. '87" was recorded the 14th of December 95 with Threat only. 2Pac and Quik added their parts a few days later and the song was maybe consecutively given to Thug Pound new project.
• "Our Daily Bread" was very likely recorded circa Jan. 96 (Kurupt referring to the "two millions albums sold", the 5th of January), so why not specially for the 2Pac/Dogg Pound project Thug Pound ? It was edited in August of 96, Daz removing Rage... Lady of Rage has been removed from 3 Dogg Pound songs ! There should be some argument between them at a time... 
• "The Name & The Rep" is a Daz solo song where he names himself "Dillinger" : the lyrics will be partially recycled in "Roll Wit' Us (Original)" in late 96 so the song could be from the first half of '96 or even before. The rap style is mostly similar to "Initiated", "I'll Do", recorded in December of 95. Daz quotes the title of the song in "Our Daily Bread" recorded in January... But it could be from February of 96.
• "Farewell To My Enemies (Outro)". Ricky Harris was already on Doggystyle and makes the intro of Dogg Pound, so this was maybe recorded for being an outro to it.

 

• "Money, Cars, Bitches" is a curious track, presumably unfinished, with one Daz verse and Kurupt only speaking in the beginning, but space for another verse... Daz doesn't sound particularly pre-Dogg Food on it... Could be a Dr. Dre unfinished thing for Murder Was The Case... or simply a Daz/Kurupt track for unfinished DPG4Life. 
• "Killin' Niggaz" is a Daz solo song, presumably more from 1994...
• "Loc'd Out Hood" was released in Gridlock'd Soundtrack in 1997. Kurupt uses verses from "Life I Lead" and "Dumpin", but added some more lines with notably a dedication to "Mo Komeini" (Mopreme) in the second verse, so the song was recorded before Mo was thrown off of Death Row in Feb. 17 of 96.  
• "Jackmove" was firstly recorded for Thug Life Volume 2 in December 95 as Daz featuring Outlawz. Kurupt very likely added in February 96, the 27th.   
• "Everybody Needs To Slow Down" was recorded in April for an unknown Kurupt solo project before he was thrown to Philly (July 96) and he and Daz started a new second album project in August. 
• "Would U Ride" was very likely recorded in March-April 1996. Released in Chronic Re-Lit & From The Vault Edition Bonus Disc. The song is credited to Tyrone aka Hurt-M-Badd but very probably mistakenly. There is an "Overdose Work DAT 04/06/96" in Death Row inventory with content "Untitled/Would You Ride/Everybody Needs To Slow Down", and it is definitely his style (also producer for Dogg Pound "Sooo Much Style", Kurupt of "These Reasons/I Don't Bang No More / Up Down N Around", cf. DPG4Life).

Why so much hate on Rage ? Is it because of 2Pac ? 

Almost a member of the Dogg Pound initially, Lady of Rage will be removed from three Dogg Pound original tracks :  "Got My Mind Made Up", "Me In Your World" and "Our Daily Bread" ! She was kind of put apart of the label in the beginning of 1996... The famous original "Blunt Time" which had 2Pac and Rage is still unleaked... Lady of Rage even said once Pac destroyed her career (what is not entirely true considering that she released a very decent album in 97, contrarily to many Death Row artists who totally disappeared after 2Pac's death...). What is sure is that she wasn't getting on well with the stars of the label ; she is featured in no songs from Dogg Pound, 2Pac and Snoop Dogg in 1996 ! What happened ? Rage only re-appears after Pac's death in Gridlock'd in 1997 in featuring with J-Flexx to replace Sam Sneed in the new version of "Lady Heroin", and with a new solo song "Sho Shot", announcing her first solo album. Only the song "Rough, Rugged & Raw" will feature Daz and Snoop, but it was certainly recorded way before in 1995 (Snoop still saying "Rage representing the Pound")...

In this guest compilation / draft for a second album, we can see that Dogg Pound maybe wanted to create a bridge between L.A. and New-York. Unfortunately, the single "New York New York" (Sept. 17, 1995) created an inverted effect, started a huge feud, the biggest and the most violent Hip-Hop clash that ever occurred. And that's why this original East-West album turned into a war album in early 96 before again becoming a full West Coast album (West Coast Aftershock). 

Tha Dogg Pound erased the prints of that old east/west project starting in December of 95 by 2Pac recording with them in "NY 87", "Initiated", replacing Nas in "Don't Stop" and eventually "Got My Mind Made Up" (following what Daz and Snoop pretend). 

Kurupt -1996- Aftershock sessions (with Tha Philly Mobb) (Death Row / Unreleased)

• July (?) of 1996 : The "Aftershock" sessions with Ram Squad and other artists from Philadelphia. 
• Kurupt tha Kingpin in a kind of jazz/nu soul live session !
  
• Kurupt went to his hometown in 1996 - presumably for justice reasons in July and recorded some songs with The Ram Squad, Mass Appeal...
• What happened ? Daz & Kurupt firstly wanted to use some of these sessions for their new album named after these sessions, West Coast Aftershock, but the project went shelved following 2Pac's death and Kurupt left the label.
• Sources : Death Row Pacific Files DAT inventory

Bootleg cover in 2017

### - There are 8 DAT cassettes labelled "Aftershock" where these sessions are copied on. We followed the tracklist of the most advanced of them, PO405250, and we added the other tracks of the sessions to it. - ###

Tracklist

1. What I'm Feelin' (Here Hit This) feat. The Ram Squad
2. Champagne Wishes (by The Ram Squad)
3. What'Cha About
4. So Sweet (Like That Y'All) feat. The Ram Squad
5. Til Mid-Nite (Original)
6. Life I Lead (Original)
   
7. Addicted (Interlude) (by Mass Appeal)
8. Shady (Aftershock) feat. Shorty (?)
9. Watermelon Pudding (Interlude) (by Mass Appeal)
   
10. Small Bills (by RAM Squad)
    
11. So High feat. Mass Appeal
    
12. Mental (Freestyle)
13. Swiss Groove (by RAM Squad)
14. Country Tides feat. The Ram Squad
15. Rock In All Minds (?) *  That's My N...
    
    Bonus Tracks :
16. Nigga Whut ? (Freestyle) feat. Foxy Brown
    

• Tracks are taken from PO405250 DAT and follow the track order of it, except for tracks in italic.
• * This title could refer to another track (in italic) from these sessions, maybe "That's My N..." instrumental, or less likely to an unleaked song.

 

8 DAT labelled "Aftershock" in the Death Row Pacific inventory :

• "Aftershock Ruffs DAT 8/96 Session Tape" PO405250 : 

Here Hit This (cassette transfer), Champagne Wishes, What You About, Like That, 10 ta Midnight, Life I Lead, Freestyle Instrumental, Freestyle AV, Swiss Groove:w/freestyle, instrumental Swiss Groove 1&2 instrumental, Country Tides AV, Rock In All Minds (?)

• "Aftershock Ruffs "Soundtrack DAT" DAT 3 session tape" PO405251 :

 Champagne Wishes, Small Bills

• "Aftershock Ruffs DAT #6 8/96 Not for production" PO405253 :

Shady

• "Aftershock Ruffs DAT 2 8/96" PO405254 :

Here Hit This, Life i lead, Mental, 10 Ta Midnight, Like That, What You About, That's My…,Addicted,Watermelon Pudding, Small Bills AV, Small Bills instrumental, Nate Dog Instrumental (?), Nate Dog Instrumentals

• "Aftershock ruff DATS 4 not for production 8/96" PO405256 :

Watermelon Pudding, Addicted, Sade Groove, Untitled, Rhodes Thing For D Moet (=Sade Groove elements ?), Mass Appeal inst 1, 2, w Voc

• "Aftershock P-3686-Ruff-DAT 2 session tape" PO308197 :

Here Hit This, Life i lead, Mental, 10 Ta Midnight, Like That y'all, What'cha about, That's My

•  "Aftershock P-3686-DAT 2 safety copy 8/1/96" PO776603 :

Here Hit This, Life i lead, Mental, 10 Ta Midnight, Like That y'all, What'cha about, That's My

•  "Aftershock P-3686 rough mixes 8/8/96 not for production" PO776602 : 

Watermelon Pudding, Addicted 

PO308197 / PO776603 content has been included in this exact order in first Work DAT (PO778974 and PO778936) for the new West Coast Aftershock Dogg Pound album, probably named consecutively to these sessions... 

• Here Hit This, Life I Lead, Mental, 10 Ta Midnight, Like That Y'all, What Cha About, That’s My, Every Single Day, Don’t Care What People Say, I Roc Mics, Don’t Stop, Me And Your Word, Crip Wit Me, U Aint The Homie, Living The Gangsta Life, My System

Return to the origins...

Due to justice troubles (similarly to Snoop and 2Pac...), Kurupt had to go back to his hometown. It was in 1996, maybe in April-May (didn't record a lot at that time) but more likely in July - considering the "Aftershock" DAT with an early August date.

Is it at that time he met Foxy Brown and recorded the freestyle "Nigga Whut ?" Or maybe later in 1997 or 1998...

It is funny to notice that after the peak of Thug Pound recordings in Dec. Jan. 96 and N.Y. 87, Kurupt went to record tracks with East Coast artists, exactly like 2Pac for One Nation, and Dr. Dre in Aftermath "East Coast/West Coast Killaz". Maybe he was not feeling that well in this stupid war mainly orchestrated by Suge Knight and Puff Daddy... Dogg Pound were recording with East Coast artists like Nas and Wu-Tang in mid 95 before the "New York, New York" video.

These recordings are interesting notably for the different kind of music, jazz oriented, what gives an unique material for Kurupt skills.

 The RAM Squad : 

Boy Backs, Tommy Hill,

 Suave, 6/9

The RAM Squad (Richard Allen Mobb) is a Philadelphia group with Boy Backs, Six Nine, Suave, Tommy Hill and also DJ Mizery. They had their first record appearance in 1994 on Philly's rapper/producer Sha'Dasious LP for "Da Whole Shabang". They had their first 12'' the same year : Ramboom, produced by DJ Mizery and Sha'Dasious on which you can hear some echoes of Black Moon/Boot Camp first album. In 1995, they recorded a first cassette album titled The Plague with Bank Ent., finally left unreleased. In late 1995, they dropped a second 12'' Keep It Real/When & Where, first song with the same beat than "Wrekonize" remix by Smif N Wessun - published earlier that year. At the time Kurupt came to Philly, they probably just had finished to rework the album which was finally released as Operation Lock The City, published by Echo International (with no Kurupt featuring on it). In 1997, they released another LP with Thee Album Regardless with notably Bahamadia as guest. In 1999, they published "Mission Impossible" 12'' with Kurupt, and also the B-side "County Ties" recorded in August of 1996 with Kurupt. They had the new album R.andom A.ccess M.oney in 2001. Tommy Hill published a solo project Hilstreetblues in 2002, got shot and killed in 2011.

 

Dogg Pound -1996- West Coast Aftershock (Death Row Unreleased)

• August - December 1996 : sessions for a Dogg Pound second album.
• A second project of Dogg Pound evolved from Dogg Shit compilation (Dogg Food leftovers/B-Sides companion) in late 1995 to a solo effort by Kurupt in Feb.-May 1996 to a real project of a second album in the end of 1996.
• What happened ? Following 2Pac's death, Death Row's team was very affected, Suge was sentenced to prison in Feb. 1997, MC Hammer, Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and finally Kurupt in January of 1998 decided to leave the label. Recordings were given to various projects : soundtracks, Death Row compilations, Daz' Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back (1998), Daz' R.A.W. (2000), Don't Go 2 Sleep EP (2001), Dillinger & Young Gotti (2001), Tha Dogg Pound's 2002 (2001), Tha Last of Tha Pound (2004), Doggy Bag (2012)...
• Sources : DAT inventory

Cover of an unofficial compilation in 2008

### - We chose to follow the tracklist of the Death Row DAT PO778935 entitled "Tha Dogg Pound 12/15/95" more likely from the very end of 1996. We only removed songs already released on other official projects like "Gangsta Walk" and "My System".  ### 

West Coast Aftershock (second half of '96 : DAT PO778935)

1. Every Single Day ('96 Version) (by Kurupt) feat. Snoop Dogg & Jewell * / **
2. (I Don't Care) What The People Say ***
3. I Roc Mics (Original)
4. Don't Stop ('96 Version) feat. 2Pac *
5. Me In Your World ('96 Version) - Death Row Greatest Hits
6. Because of You Girl (by Daz) feat. Storm, Edi & Kevin Vernado
7. Gangsta Walk feat. Snoop Dogg - Dead Man Walking, Doggumentary EP
   Gangsta Rap (Original) (by Kurupt)
8. Crip Wit' Me *
9. U Ain't Tha Homie (Original) feat. Crooked I & Jewell **
10. Roll Wit' Us (Original) (by Daz) - Chronic 2000
11. My System feat. Tha Mactress - R.A.W.
    Gigolo **
12. Living Tha Gangsta Life feat. Xzibit *
    
    Bonus Tracks :
    
    
13. My Buddy (Original) feat. Luniz 
14. Gitta Strippin' (Original)
15. Monique (by Daz) feat. Soopafly

Producer - Daz, Kurupt, Soopafly.

 

* taken from 2002 (Death Row, 2001)

** taken from Doggy Bag (WIDEawake, 2012)

*** taken from Tha Last of Tha Pound (Gangsta Advisory, 2004)

 

Not included tracks :

 

. It's Going ('96 Version) feat. Prince Ital Joe ==> Retaliation

. Our Daily Bread ('96 Version) feat. Prince Ital Joe ==> Retaliation

. Initiated (No Wind Mix) feat. 2Pac & Outlawz ==> Retaliation

. On Tha Grind ==> R.A.W.  

. If You Want This Pussy (Interlude) ==> R.A.W.

. Beverly Blvd 7pm (live street sounds) ?? - unleaked/other title?? 

. Daz - Don't Try To Play Me Homie ==> Gridlock'd OST

 

The closest thing that could approach the original Dogg Shit / West Coast Aftershock project is the WIDEawake compilation Doggy Bag. But like all releases from that label, the result is... far from satisfying. Songs were taken from various projects from 93 to 98... Finally, the underestimated Tha Last of Tha Pound presents a set of songs taken more or less from that era of recordings - 95 -, at a time the second Pound album was logically titled "Dogg Shit" (after the food they ate in first album...). Without the arrival of 2Pac at Death Row, we could imagine that Daz and Kurupt would have had a project ready to drop in mid '96.

DETAILED INFORMATION

• "Every Single Day" was originally recorded in 1993 for Doggystyle (cf. Doggystyle pt. 2), then renewed in 94 with Daz instead of Snoop for a Kurupt/Dogg Pound early project (cf. DPG 4 Life). The version released on 2002 and in Doggy Bag with Jewell instead of Nate Dogg, a new Kurupt second verse and Snoop original verses was very likely made in 1995-1996. Being the first track of the "12/15/95" DAT, either the the song was freshly recorded and the DAT was filled up with new tracks only after August of 96, or that date is wrong and Kurupt recorded his verse in the second half of 1996 (Aug. 15 or Dec. 15 ?), specially for that second album project (the fact the track is also the first of a 9 tracks DAT, copied right after the July Philly sessions tracks followed by the same songs, tend to confirm it could be an August 96 track.
• "(I Don't Care) What The People Say" was released in Tha Last of Tha Pound in 2004. Recorded in 08/23/96.
• "I Roc Mics" was remixed as the intro of Dogg Pound's 2002 compilation.
• "Don't Stop" was initially recorded in summer of 95 with Nas. They re-recorded their vocals and replaced 2Pac instead of Nas, and Kurupt added a second verse for Thug Pound. Daz edited out that second verse in August of 96.
• "Me In Your World" was initially recorded in 1995 with a verse by Lady of Rage... Why was she edited out of all tracks in the summer of 96 ?
• "Because of You Girl" was awfully remixed in Death Row's Chronic 2000 in 1999. Recorded in late 1996 after Pac's death. 
• "Gangsta Walk" was later given to Snoop Dogg's Doggumentary EP in 1997 (shelved when Snoop left the label) and was finally released in Dead Man Walking in 2000.
• "Crip Wit' Us" was released in 2002 compilation. Is the real original exactly like that ? Dogg Pound reused their verses for "Dip Wit Me" in Dillinger & Young Gotti, probably in answer to the unauthorized compilation.
• "U Ain't Tha Homie (Original)" has certainely Crooked I who was preparing his first solo with Daz around that time. His verse was edited out for Kurupt's unofficial Against The Grain in 2003, being a signed Death Row artist.
• "Roll Wit' Us" was released on Death Row's Chronic 2000 in 1999, but without any Kurupt verses, and two years later in 2002 with Daz & Kurupt verses... What's the original ? Maybe Chronic 2000 beat with 2002 verses ?
• "My System" was released in Daz's R.A.W. in 2000 with Kurupt verses and a Mactress verse, we don't know if she was in the original and if the beat was similar.
• "Livin' Tha Gangsta Life". Released in 2002 compilation. Nothing is known about the difference with the original. Considering the fact it is a Daz beat, the original is possibly identical to the retail. The introduction is a direct diss to Snoop who accused Suge to be respinsible for Pac's death. Was it added in a second time to the song ? Kurupt's verse seems to be against somebody too... But Snoop didn't leave Death Row before mid 97...
• "My Buddy (Original)" (prod. Soopafly) was slightly remixed for Caught Up Soundtrack, and remixed for Yukmouth first solo album Thugged Out. Very likely recorded in late 1996 - early 1997.
• "Gigolo" was recorded in August of 1996 but was not included in the DAT of the album. The beat will be then given (circa late September 96) to Snoop for "Groupie" released in Doggfather, maybe to replace some unwanted 2Pac songs.
• "Gitta Strippin'" reuses the beat Daz made for "How Do U Want It (Remix)", finally used by 2Pac for "War Gamez". Probably recorded in late 1996 - early 1997.
• "Gangsta Rap (Original)" is a Kurupt solo track remixed with a Daz verse in 2002 compilation.
• "OG 2 BG (DPG Version)" was released in Death Row's Chronic 2000 in 1999, very likely recorded in 1997 before Kurupt left the label.

 

Original photography that was used to make the cover of Tha Last of Tha Pound

A break between two recording sessions

After the releases of All Eyez on Me, the abort of the first Thug Pound project (2Pac seemed to pass from one idea to another very quickly), and with the beginning of an intense work for Doggfather, after the exile of Kurupt in Philadelphia in July, Dogg Pound started a whole new session in summer of '96, after the release of "I'll Do" in June that could work as a first promo for the album (as well as the burial of the old project). At the same time, Daz and Kurupt keep on reworking old tracks in order to release them like "NY 87", "Me In Your World", "Our Daily Bread", "It's Going", "Don't Stop"...

 

But like Kurupt said in an interview, Death Row was a question of timeline. When it was the time of Snoop, every produced songs, lyrics, efforts, were for him. Then, it was the Pound. Then 2Pac, then Snoop again... And so many Dogg Pound's efforts from that time were given apart, like for instance "Gigolo" beat was given to Snoop for "Groupie", one of the last tracks added to Doggfather, notably as a replacement for the 2Pac featured tracks (cf. Doggfather Original Sessions).

Tha Pound & Tha Thug Life

2Pac and Tha Dogg Pound is not a 1995-1996 story. In early 1993, 2Pac collaborated with Prince Ital Joe ("Thug Life"), Warren G ("My Definition of a Thug", "Lie 2 Kick It") and Nate Dogg ("How Long Will They Mourn Me") for the Original Thug Life project, delayed for sample issues, modified for having been leaked (Natasha Walker heard the Dogg Pound in studio while recording Doggystyle album listening to her song "Is It Cool 2 Fuck" with 2Pac and Thug Life).

In late 93 - early 94, 2Pac gave three songs for Above The Rim soundtrack ("Pain", "Loyal 2 Tha Game" and "Pour Out A Little Liquor") where Dogg Pound also contributed with two of their most famous songs : "Big Pimpin" and "Dogg Pound 4 Life". In the middle of 94, Daz remixed the 2Pac song "Hard on a Nigga" for Murder Was The Case Soundtrack with Snoop giving backing vocals and 2Pac giving a new verse (cf. Murder Was The Case leftovers, song finally leftover and released only in 1997 in Gang Related OST). So 2Pac probably recorded directly with Daz and Snoop at that time.

Furthermore, 2Pac and Kurupt (one year younger) have in common to be originated from the East Coast and to have arrived in West Coast around 16, circa 1988. Before Dogg Shit and his East/West collabs, 2Pac tried to combine East and West in his projects like in his first Thug Life Original  double album concept (West / East) and then in Thug Life Volume One (cf. Volume One sessions) which kept a trace of it. Then like everybody knows, even a few days after the peak of the East-West war reached with the release of the B-Side "Hit 'Em Up", 2Pac started the project One Nation. One month later, Kurupt recorded his Philly sessions in Philadelphia and two years later he will drop a double album Kuruption ! with one disc subtitled "West Coast" and the other one "East Coast", notably with a featuring by Buckshot of Boot Camp Clik over a beat by Easy Mo Bee...

In addition to that, we can also notice the influence of 2Pac's style over Daz who progressively took that kind of energetic delivery with one word giving the impression to want to catch and crush the previous one.

 

• Aug. 10 of 1996. DAT : "Work DAT West Coast Aftershock 8/10/96". PO778864.

1. Don't Stop Keep Goin' - (edit Kurupt one verse ?)
2. Dogg Pound Criminals
3. Me & My World - (edit w/o Rage)
4. Beverly Blvd 7pm (live street sounds) - ???

• Oct. 96 (~). DAT "Daz Untitled 9/13/96 session tape". PO314289.

UNKNOWN CONTENT.

• Aug. - Dec. 96 DAT : "Tha Dogg Pound Disc 1" & "Kurupt & Daz". PO778936 & PO778974

1. Here Hit This
2. Life I Lead
3. Mental
4. 10 Ta Midnight
5. Like That Y'all
6. What Cha About
7. That’s My N
   
   
8. Every Single Day
9. Don’t Care What People Say
10. I Roc Mics
11. Don’t Stop
12. Me And Your Word
13. Crip Wit Me
14. U Aint The Homie
15. Living The Gangsta Life
16. My System

The first part is taken from Aftershock sessions (Kurupt & Philly Mobb). The second part is clearly a tracklist for Dogg Pound LP.

• Dec. 96 (?). DAT : "Tha Dogg Pound 12/15/95". PO778935

1. Every Single Day - ft Snoop & Jewell
2. Don’t Care What The People Say
3. I Roc Mics
4. Don’t Stop - ft 2Pac
5. Me and Your Word - w/o Rage
6. Just Because Of you - ft Storm & Edi
7. Gangsta Walk
8. Crip Wit Me
9. U Aint This Homie - ft Crooked I ?
10. Roll Wit Us
11. My System --- R.A.W. version ?
12. Livin Tha Gangsta Life

These tracks haven't been recorded before Dec. 95 (even the new 2nd verse by Kurupt on "Every Single Day" is probably from Aug. of 96...). We think there should be a mistake between 95 and 96.

This gives a good pre-feeling of the West Coast Aftershock album.

RECORDINGS TIMELINE :

 

Kurupt - I Don't Bang No More ft Jewell (prod. Overdose) - 93/??/??

Kurupt - Flatline (Original) - 94/05/27

Kurupt - 40's and Bud - 94/05/27

Every Single Day - 94/06/30

DPG/Kurupt : Work DAT - 94/07/16

**Kurupt - Sinays Song / Wildest Dreams ?? - 94/08/22

Kurupt - Flatline (Final) - 94/11/08

Kurupt - Ballad ft Stew - 94/11/14 

Kurupt - Theory of a Bitch - 94/01/17

Kurupt - Where U From (Big Dics Seen In Ya M) - 94/??/??

---------> VIDEO What Would U Do (Clean Version) - 95/02/16

 

**Problem - 95/07/18

Don't Stop (Original) ft Nas - 95/08-10 - 2002

Got My Mind Made Up ft Rage & Deck - 95/08-10

It's Going Down ft Ital Joe - 95/08-10 - Retaliation, Revenge

Started - 95/08-10 - Doggy Bag

Can't See Us (DPG Version) - 95/10/07

2Pac - Secretz of War ft FNF & Kurupt - 95/10/19 - All Eyez on Me

2Pac - Check Out Time ft Kurupt - 95/11/06 - All Eyez on Me

2Pac - Got My Mind Made Up (Edit) - 95/11/06-16 - All Eyez on Me 

N.Y. '87 ft Threat - 95/12/14 - Doggy Bag
Snoop Dogg - Keep It Real (Party) ft Kurupt & LBC - 95/12 

Kurupt - Trump Tight ft Syke & Yak - 95/12/14-21 (?) - Thug Pound

2Pac - Still Ballin' II ft Kurupt - 95/12/18 - Thug Life Volume 2

N.Y. '87 (Quik & Pac added) - 95/12/18-27 - Thug Pound

Initiated (Original) ft 2Pac - 95/12/22 - Thug Pound

Daz - Jack Move (Original) ft Outlawz - 95/12/22 - Thug Life Volume 2

Me In Your World (Original) ft Rage - 95/12/27 - Doggy Bag

Dogg Pound Criminals ft LBC 95/12 - 96/01 (?)
Would You Die 4 Me (I'll Do) (Original) ft Kausion - 95/12 - 96/01 (?) 

Our Daily Bread (Do What I Feel Remix ?) ft Ital Joe & Rage - 96/01  (~)

Don't Stop (Long Remix) ft 2Pac - 96/01/13 - Thug Pound

Dumpin' ft 2Pac, Gonzoe & Nutt-So - 96/01/18 - Thug Pound

This Life I Lead ft 2Pac & Gonzoe - 96/01/18 - Thug Pound

New York, New York (Clean) ft Snoop - 96/01/22 - 12''

**New York (Remix) - 96/02/05

Daz - Telephone Conversation - 96/02/09 

Daz - The Name & The Rep - 96/02/05 ???

**Daz - Untitled (The Name & The Rep ??) - 96/02/15

Daz - Don't Try To Play Me (Original) - 96/02/15 

Nate Dogg - Puppy Love ft DPG & Snoop - 96/02/15 - G-Funk Classics

**Kurupt - Untitled - 96/02/14 

2Pac - Just Watching ft Snoop & Dogg Pound - 96/02/21

Kurupt - DPG 4 Life (These Reasons Remix) - 96/02/21

 

**Kurupt - Too Much Negative - 96/03/17

**Kurupt - What You Hide From (Original) - 96/03/17 

**Kurupt - Untitled - 96/03/17 

**Daz - Track for Daz (prod. Hurt M Badd) - 96/03/20

**Paper Chase (Underground) - 96/03/22  

Kurupt - Ride 4 Me ft 2Pac, Hussein & JV - 96/03/23

OFTB - Time after Time ft Kurupt - 96/03/31 

 

Kurupt - Would You Ride ft Snoop - 96/04/06 - From The Vault

Kurupt - Everybody Needs To Slow Down - 96/04/06

**Kurupt - Untitled (Overdose Work DAT) - 96/04/06 

Get On Up (Gangsta Remix) ft Jodeci - 96/04/17

Daz - Me & My Homeboys ft Techniec & Trip Loc - 96/05/19

Kurupt - Locc'd Out Hood - 96/06/06 (?) OR 96/02 (?) - Gang Related

**Daz - Time - 96/06/19

Jewell - I Came When You Were Alone (/Kurupt) - 96/06/25 - Gang Related

 

2Pac - How Do U Want It (Daz Remix) - 96/07/01

I'll Do ft. Kausion (Retail) - 96/07/18 - Supercop OST

------------------ Kurupt - Aftershock sessions in Philly - 96/07-08 -----------------------

Don't Stop (final) ft 2Pac - 96/08/12 (or 19-23) - 2002

Me In Your World (Final w/o Rage) - 96/08/12 - Death Row Greatest

**Beverly Blvd 7pm (live street sounds) - 96/08/12

Criminals (Final) ft LBC - 96/08/13-14 - Retaliation, Revenge

Initiated (Final) ft 2Pac & Outlawz - 96/08/13 - Retaliation, Revenge

Daz - Don't Try To Play Me (Final) - 96/08/14 - Gridlock'd

Every Single Day (Final) ft Snoop - 96/08/15 (?) OR 96/12/15 (?)

Gigolo (Final Mix) - 96/08/16 - Doggy Bag

If You Want This Pussy (Interlude) - 96/08/16 - R.A.W.

It's Going Down (Final) ft Ital - 96/08/16-19 - Retaliation, Revenge

Daz - Monique ft Soopafly - 96/08/18 

Nothing But The Cavi Hit - 96/08/21 - Rhyme & Reason OST

Loc'd Out Hood (Final) - 96/08/22 - Gang Related

I Don't Care What The People Say - 96/08/23 - Doggy Bag

Our Daily Bread (Final - no Rage) - 96/08/23 - Retaliation, Revenge

 

Oct. - Dec. 96 - first half of 97

 

Gangsta Walk ft Snoop

I Roc Mics
Daz - Because of You Girl ft Outlawz
Crip Wit Me
U Aint This Homie
Roll Wit Us - Chronic 2000
My System ft Mactress - R.A.W.
Livin Tha Gangsta Life

Daz - Way Too Major ft Tray Deee - 97/04/07-08 - Gang Related

Kurupt - Hollywood Robbery ft Snoop & The Gang - 97/04/07-08 - Gang Related

Daz - Save A Life ft Ital Joe - 97/07/07 - Doggy Bag

Daz - Daz & Kurupt (Cut) - 97/07/27 

Kevin Vernado - Ain't No Sunshine (We R Covered) (prod. Daz) - 97/07/27

Daz - Retaliation, Revenge (Final) - 97/12/11 - Retaliation, Revenge

Daz - In California - 97/12/16 - Retaliation, Revenge

Daz - It Might Sound Crazy - 98/03/27 - Retaliation, Revenge

Daz - I Might Sound Crazy (Remix) - 98/06/09

Daz - Because of U Girl (Remix) - 98/08/17 - Chronic 2000

Daz - Roll Wit Us (w Kurupt) - 99/03/03 - 2002

Daz - Gangsta Rap (Final) ft Crooked I - 00/02/14 - 2002