Dogg Pound -1995-1996- Dogg Shit / West Coast Aftershock (Death Row Unreleased)

• 1995 - 1996 : sessions for a Dogg Pound second album.
• The project of that second album evolved from "Dogg Shit" in 1995 (like a Dogg Food leftovers/featurings companion) to "West Coast Aftershock" new album in the summer of 96.
• What happened ? Following 2Pac's death, Death Row's team was very affected and Kurupt finally decided to leave. The recordings were dispersed or remixed in 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

fanmade cover for the DGC's bootleg

altered image of 2002

### WORK IN PROGRESS... There are no known material sequence for the first part of this project in late 95, which was maybe only in the state of a concept of B-Sides/featurings companion EP. For the second part, we followed the tracklist of the Death Row DAT PO778935 entitled "Tha Dogg Pound 12/15/95 (sic.)" very likely from late '96 early '97. ### 

Chapter 1 : Dogg Shit (1995 Sessions)

1. Don't Stop, Keep Going (Original) feat. Nas ***
2. It's Going Down (Original) feat. Prince Ital Joe & Kevin Vernado
3. Me In Your World (Original) feat. Lady Of Rage **
4. The Name And The Rep (by Daz)
5. Everybody Needs To Slow Down (by Kurupt) **
6. Got My Mind Made Up (Original) feat. Lady of Rage, Method Man, Redman & Inspectah Deck - unleaked / Inspectah's verse edit
7. Can't C Me (DPG Version) feat. George Clinton
8. Jack Move feat. Big Syke & Outlawz ***
9. I'll Do (Original) feat. Kausion
10. Started (by Kurupt) ***
11. N.Y. '87 (Original) feat. Deadly Threat & Soopafly (speaking) **
12. Our Daily Bread (Original) feat. Lady of Rage & Prince Ital Joe
    

Producer - Dr. Dre (7), Daz, Kurupt, Overdose & Soopafly (5).

Chapter 2 : West Coast Aftershock (second half of '96)

1. Every Single Day ('96 Version) (by Kurupt) feat. Snoop Dogg & Jewell * / **
2. 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
8. Crip Wit' Us *
9. U Ain't Tha Homie (Original) feat. Crooked I & Jewell **
10. Roll Wit' Us (Original) (by Daz) - Chronic 2000
11. My System (Original) feat. Tha Mactress - R.A.W.
    Gigolo **
    
12. Living Tha Gangsta Life feat. Xzibit *
    
    Bonus Tracks :
    
    
13. Tremendous Odds
14. Gitta Strippin' (Original)
15. Gangsta Rap (Original)
16. Monique
    
17. Nothin' But The Cavi Hit (Soopafly Remix) feat. Mack 10 - Rhyme & Reason OST
    

Producer - Daz, Soopafly.

 

UNUSED TRACKS :

 

. Dogg Pound Criminals (Original) feat. Tray Deee, Soopafly, Bad Azz & Techniec ==> Retaliation

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

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

. Initiated 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

. Kurupt - Loc'd Out Hood ==> Gridlock'd OST

 

* taken from 2002 (Death Row, 2001)

** taken from Doggy Bag (WIDEawake, 2012)

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

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

Chapter I : DOGG SHIT

• "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.
• "Can't C 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.
• 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.
• "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.
• "Me In Your World" was recorded in 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).
• "Our Daily Bread" was initially recorded in Dec. - Jan. 96 and was also edited in August of 96, Daz removing Rage... Lady of Rage has been removed of 3 Dogg Pound songs ! There should be some argument between them...
• "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. So this song was likely recorded in Autumn 95 before 2Pac gave them their new nicknames.
• "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. 
  
• "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. Gonzoe will record two or three other songs with Dogg Pound, Nutt-So and 2Pac in early 1996 for Dogg Pound/2Pac's project Thug Pound. 
• "N.Y. '87" was recorded the 14th of December 95 with Threat only. 2Pac and Quik added their part a few days later and the song was maybe consecutively given to Thug Pound.
• "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 circa first half of '96. 
  

Chapter II : WEST COAST AFTERSHOCK

 

• 
  

 

Lady of Rage has been removed of 3 Dogg Pound songs : "Me In Your World" and "Our Daily Bread", "Got My Mind Made Up" ! She was kind of put apart of the label when 2Pac came in... The famous original "Blunt Time" which has 2Pac and Rage is still unleaked... Lady of Rage even said once he destroyed her career (what is not true considering that she released a decent album in 97, contrarily to many Death Row artists who totally disappeared after 2Pac's death...).

 

In this second album, we can see that Dogg Pound initially 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, just before Suge Knight went again to see 2Pac in prison and make him sign, a definite enemy of the East Coast... And that's why this original East-West album turned into a war album in late 95 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). Of course, Foxy Brown, Nas friend and Kurupt's future girlfriend, also disappeared but that song is probably more from 96 (after Pac and Nas reconciled during August ?) or even 97 and it means they kept in mind the first idea of an East/West connection in their album.

 

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 seeming to pass from one idea to another very quickly and was not clearly in it after Mopreme being left and Thug Life being ended), the beginning of intense work for Doggfather, after the exile of Kurupt in Philadelphia circa May-June, Dogg Pound started a whole new session in summer of '96, after the release of "I'll Do" in June that could mean a first promo single for the album or 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"... Maybe Daz also worked on "Initiated" and "This Life I Lead" from Thug Pound... 

 

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" more or less turned into "Groupie" for Snoop Dogg.

Tha Pound & Tha Thug

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 the studio while recording Doggystyle album listening to her song "Is It Cool 2 Fuck" with 2Pac and Thug Life) and totally shelved because of 2Pac troubles with justice...

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 (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 have in common to be originated from the East Coast and to have arrived in West Coast around 16, circa 1988. Before them, 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 at the peak of the East-West war reached with his single "Hit 'Em Up", 2Pac started the project One Nation. Exactly at that time, 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".

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.

 

• Feb. 2 of 1996. DAT : "Dogg Pound remix 2/5/96". PO778846.

1. Do What I Feel (remix) - (Our Only Bread ft Rage)
2. New York (remix) - (unleaked ? clean version ?)
3. Would You Die For Me (I'll Do It)

• 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 CCONTENT.

• 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
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
10. Roll Wit Us
11. My System - released in R.A.W.
12. Livin Tha Gangsta Life

These tracks haven't been recorded before Dec. 95 (except maybe "Every Single Day"). We thing 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 - 95/08-12 - Retaliation, Revenge

Started - 95/08-12 - Doggy Bag

Can't C Me (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 

Kurupt - Trump Tight ft Syke & Yak - 95/12/14 - Thug Pound

N.Y. '87 ft Threat - 95/12/14 - Doggy Bag

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

LIVE Let's Play house (Soul Train Mix) - 96/01/10

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

Our Daily Bread (Do What I Feel Remix ?) ft Ital Joe & Rage - 96/02/05

Would You Die 4 Me (I'll Do) (Original) ft Kausion - 96/02/05 (?)

Daz - Telephone Conversation - 96/02/09

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

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

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

**Kurupt - Untitled - 96/02/14

 

**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 - 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 - Gang Related

**Daz - Time - 96/06/19

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

What Would U Do (Club House Mix) - 96/06/27

 

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

Tremendous Odds (Beverly Blvd 7pm ??) - 96/??

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

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

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

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

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) - 96/08/16-19 - Retaliation, Revenge

Monique - 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 (Final) - 96/08/23 - Doggy Bag

Our Daily Bread Final) - 96/08/23 - Retaliation, Revenge

 

Oct. - Dec. 96 - first half of 97

 

Gangsta Walk

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

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 produced 2Pac's "I Thought U Knew" and "Daze of a Criminal"

See Discogs page, new edition

Listen it in YouTube or there

 

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

 
Produced by DJ Klark Gable
Raps by Ryan D, Levy Love, TAC

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. Benefits of Poverty)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funky Aztecs -1992- Chicano Blues (Par / TNT)

• 2Pac & Digital Underground's TNT Records labelmates ; 
• Partially produced by Pee Wee of the Underground Railroad...
• 2Pac's latin friends from Bay Area !!
  
• with 2Pac, Money B, Pee Wee, Wicked Julian Brooks of Mod Squad, Jeremy Jackson 
  

Discogs page 

Listen to the album in YT or grab it there

 

Tracklist 

 

1. Straight Up Loco feat. DJ Q-Bert (scratches)

2. Chicano Blues

3. Barrioism

4. Much Love feat. ALT

5. Ribbitt

6. Amerikkkan (interlude)

7. Shoot The Mutha Fuka !! feat. Pee Wee & Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (scratches)

8. New Blues (interlude)

9. Mi Burro

10. Salsa Con Soulfood feat. 2Pac, Money B & TMD

11. Nothing Else Matters
12. XIV, XIII, K.J. feat. Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (scratches)

13. Organize

14. Brown Sugar feat. Sean Rodgers (chorus) & Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (scratches)

15. Don Quixote feat. Julian Brooks of Mod Squad

16. Lloyd Did It

17. Smokin K.J. feat. J-Loc

Produced by Accrraaa J. Pavel,  Kirk Cumpler & Lloyd Gregory (2,8,10,11,16), Merciless of Funky Aztecs (14), (2,8,11,16), Pee Wee (5,7,9,12,13,14,17), Sam Burton of Mod Squad (1,3,5,4,13,15)

Co-produced by Funky Aztecs

Executive producer - Atron Gregory

Engineer - Darrin Harris, Marc Senasac, Steve Counter

 

 

Funky Aztecs & T.N.T Records

Tupac and Digital Underground's manager Atron Gregory also helped this latin group from Bay Area to record their first album. Logically, there are the same sound engineers than in Pac's album, with notably Darrin Harris. same team also worked in all TNT records and in 451 and Richie Rich albums. 

 

Pee Wee of Gold Money, who was one of the 2Pacalypse main musical architect as Underground Railroad, produced a big part of that album and is sometimes considered as a member of the group. So everything will easily remind of Pac's first album. 

 

In three tracks, we even have Jeremy "JZ" Jackson (also member of the Underground Railroad) at the turntables, the one responsible for producing "Troublesome", eponymous song of his album of that time. the album being shelved, it will finally be released only in Def Jam's How To Be A Player OST in 1997... It could have helped Jeremy to a greater career. then he will produce for Saafir and Hobo Junction.

 

Sam Burton of the Mod Squad also gave some of the strange sound he will give for Mod Squad. With the latin good vibes of the group, that will result in a kind of Digital Underground sound a like.

 

 

"Salsa Con Soulfood" == > "Slippin' Into Darkness"

 

2Pac is featured in "Salsa con Soulfood" with Money B of the Digital Underground, and with TMD, Oakland rapper from Capital Tax, who released a EP album in 1986 with Mr Magic with a first successful single "Backstabbers" (same title than a 2Pac's unleaked song, maybe not recorded or with an alternate title).

The song contains a sample of Weak at the Knees" from Steve Arrington. Pac's verse is the same as for "Slippin' into Darkness" (over the famous W.A.R. song) in Funky Aztecs' second album in 1995. Tupac was probably in jail when Funky Aztecs wanted him to record again with them. And it ends up to be the first patched Pac's verse before the Amaru posthumous recordings.

So in 1995, they will release their second album, Day of the Dead, also heavily produced by Pee Wee, with a sticker announcing a 2Pac feature, but the album was more confidential.

Live Squad -1993- A Game Of Survival (Promo Cassette - Original Full Version) (Tommy Boy)

•  Stretch's Live Squad original first album (recorded in 91-92)
  

Discogs pages of the Promo, of the CD/DVD 2001 edition

(LISTEN in Youtube or grab the 2001 edition here)

Original Promo Cassette (recently leaked)

1. -- Hit Skit Intro --

2. Shit List

3. -- Block Hot Skit --

4. Heartless (Original Mix) ** ***

5. -- Pop Da Wino Skit #1 --

6. Fake Gangster (Origina Mix) ** ***

7. -- Diss Skit --

8. Pump For A Livin **

9. -- Job Skit --

10. Game of Survival

11. -- Money Skit --

12. Movin' Keez Wit Ease

13. -- Snitches Skit -- *

14. Snitches Lay In Ditches (Bitch Ass Niggas) *
15. -- Funeral Skit --
16. Murderah

17. -- Pop Da Wino Skit #2 --
18. Big Time feat. 2Pac ****
19. -- Can't Take It Skit --

20. Trouble On My Mind

21. -- Stressed Out Skit --

22. Fuck It

23. -- Blowin' Skit --

24. Blow 'Em Out Da Frame **

21. -- Robbery Plot Skit --

22. Da Gatta Way 

 

* not released in 2001 edition. 

** uncomplete versions (~1'30) in 2001 Grand Imperial edition.  

*** alternate mixes in 2001 Grand Imperial edition.

**** "Big Time" is replaced in the 2001 edition by the later track "Daddy Big Timerz" that is like a follow up and was probably a song from their unreleased second album (cf. Diary of a Poor Man). We can hear the beginning of the next skit in some leaked versions of "Big Time". 

There could be also an earlier version of the tape (according to a tracklist given by Banned of Bomb1st forum), that could have an unkown track "Noy Ya Head" instead of "Heartless", and slightly alternate versions of "Big Time" and "Fuck It". Banned also affirms that A-side is made of 1991 material and B-side of 1992 material. 

Beginnings

Live Squad is the brothers Stretch & Majesty, and DJ K-Low. They are from the Queens.

They released their first two songs in a 1988 EP rare compilation BQ in Full Effect with Aaron Dee, C-Nice and a then unknown Percee P with his group Top Priority. In 1989, less known, it seems that Stretch produced the whole album of the conscious group The W.I.S.E. Guyz, eF uoU eN Kay E. 

 

Listen to 1988 Troopin' it / We Ain't Having It

They met Shock G in 1990, what leads Stretch to be featured in Digital Underground's 2nd album Sound of the P and in 2Pac's 2Pacalypse Now in 1991. At that time, Live Squad started to record their first album signed with Tommy Boy, with the help of their friend Ed Lover. In 92, they released their first single Heartless/Murderah and they shot a short hardcore movie to promote the album.

cover of the single 

Heartless video

Stretch also heavily participated to the recording of 2Pac's second album (then called Troublesome 21). But with Ice T's "Cop Killer" controversy and also after the L.A. riots, music labels were afraid of releasing hardcore albums. Interscope asked 2Pac to remake his album to be less violent (that became Strictly 4 My Niggaz). Live Squad released the second single for the album "Pump For A Livin/Game of Survival" in 1993, but Tommy Boy simply cancealed the album... (so hard to imagine a clean version of the album...)

GAME OF SURVIVAL - The short movie, part 1 / part 2

The idea of making a combo movie + soundtrack will be re-used by another artists, starting by 2Pac himself. Like if Stretch had given him the idea for his Thug Life project (cf. Honor Among Thugz). But 2Pac was also struggling to release his album with his justice troubles. Finally, it is Snoop Doggy Dogg and Death Row who first released this type of project in 1994 : Murder Was The Case.

Grand Imperial 2001 edition

 

In 2001, Majesty with his independant label Grand Imperial decided to realease most part of the album. But, probably still angry against 2Pac/Stretch diss, he didn't include "Big Time" feat. 2Pac. He includes "Movie Commercial" (a promo freestyle from that time) and "How We Roll" as bonus tracks.

Live Squad -1994-1995- Diary of a Poor Man / Ghetto Blues (2nd album project)

• Live Squad's second album project
• recorded at same period than Thug Life Volume 1
• delayed, remade and finally shelved because of Thug Life, Qad studios shooting and finally Stretch's death in '95
  

LISTEN

Tracklist :

1. Daddy Big Timers (Back Again)
2. Nobody Move
3. No Pause
4. Wrong Nigga
5. Whirlwind
6. It Hurts The Most feat. 2Pac & Mopreme
7. Cheese 
8. Moving Up In The World
9. Cashflow (Understand Me)
10. The Edge
11. Danger Times feat. 2Pac
12. Heat In My Hand
13. Shit List pt. 2
14. No More (Another Memory)
15. Pay Me - snippet
    
16. Life of a Hustler - snippet
17. Hectic - snippet
18. Diary of a Poor Man - snippet

Most of the tracks here are taken from Live Squad's The Tribute, The Forgotten Chapter (2010, Grand Imperial), except for #1 from Game of Survival (2001, Grand Imperial) which was a replacement for "Big Time feat. 2Pac" (was there a rest of eagerness ? a right problem ?). "Danger Times" and "It Hurts The Most" are from 2Pac's leaked originals. "Heat In My Hand" has recently been released in The Recruiters (2023, Grand Imperial).

A forgotten chapter fairly well released to the public

It could appear that Majesty released most of Live Squad 2nd album project in The Tribute - Forgotten Chapter (2010, Grand Imperial). But it is also clear that it is not like it was recorded with some new elements, notably new Majesty solo songs ("Forever", "Seems Like Yesterday", "Pain Tribute", "Rapumentary") and new verses by Majesty and E-Money Bags ("It Hurts The Most", "Wrong Nigga"). And probably Majesty kept some tracks for a new project...

Banned of Bomb1st forum confirmed that a sequence of the album called Diary of a Poor Man contains "Danger Times", "It Hurts The Most", "God Bless The Dead". Leaked version of "It Hurts The Most" has only Pac, Mopreme & Stretch. Forgotten Chapter's version adds Majesty & E-Money modern verses. Is there any other version with Majesty ? Original "God Bless The Dead" has only Stretch verse and two Pac verses... It would be strange in a Live Squad album. Maybe there is another version with Majesty and not with two Pac verses...

In the known handwritten tracklists, the album then called Ghetto Blues includes "Daddy Big Timers". It is clearly a sequel to "Big Time" featuring 2Pac that was supposed to be included in original Game of Survival (replaced by that one in Grand Imperial's 2001 release - probably it was still unbelievable for Majesty to release a Tupac song at that time). The song couldn't be included in this new release.

"Wrong Nigga" re-uses the music of "Judgement Day". Stretch probably decided to record his own song for his album because the song was a leftover track from Thug Life vol. 1 (maybe because Dee wasn't part of the group anymore and 2Pac didn't want the song). Majesty added or re-recorded a verse (at the end he says rest in peace Stretch & E-Money Bag).

Intro
1 Back Again
2 Daddy Big Timers
3
4
5
..10 [Incomplete]

Another on the bottom left:
1 Back Again
2 Wrong Nigga
3 Pay Me Feat Mopreme of Thug Life
4 Hurts Da Most Feat Tupac and Mopreme of Thug Life
5 Danger Times Feat Tupac
6 Heat
7 MNM ?
8 [Y'all?] all Fucked Up
9 [unsure] / Gotta Get It

And a third on the bottom right :
1 Back Again
2 Wrong Nigga
3 No Pause

 

Ghetto Blues handwritten tracklists (summer of 94) 

Two successive projects ?

According to Banned from Bomb1st forum, Diary of a Poor Man and Ghetto Blues are two different projects. Diary is said to have a complete sequence ready to be released with songs like "Under Pressure" and maybe "God Bless The Dead" (maybe more likely a Stretch kind of solo album). So this sequence was probably pre-Thug Life Volume 1. The song is not in Ghetto Blues tracklists, so it could mean that Ghetto Blues was a later project, post-Thug Life with also "Wrong Nigga" re-using the Thug Life unreleased "Judgement Day" Stretch music.

Both projects include songs with 2Pac and Mopreme : "Danger Times", "It Hurts the Most", "God Bless The Dead", "Under Pressure", unleaked "Pay Me" with Mopreme... First two were in both album projects so it is clear that Diary of a Poor Man turned into Ghetto Blues.

 

Raw Fusion (Money B & DJ Fuze) -1991- Live from the Styleetron (Hollywood BASIC)

• Money B & DJ Fuze's side project
  
• Released the November 12, 1991
  

Review in Allmusic.com

Tracklist :

1. Live from the Styleetron feat. Margie Marie Rubio
2. Hip Hip, Stylee Expression
3. Don't Test feat. Pam Taylor & Daddy Courtney
4. Do My Thang
5. Ah Nah Go Drip feat. Mac Mone, Cooley Ranx & Clee
6. Nappy Headed Ninja
7. Kill Mi Dead feat. Mac Mone
8. Rockin' to the P.M. feat. Roniece Levias & Piano Man
9. Hang Time
10. Traffic Jam feat. Mac Mone & Roniece Levias
11. Funkintoyoear feat. Shock G, Gold Money (Big Money Odis & Pee Wee), Humpty Hump & Schmoovy Schmoov
12. Wild Francis feat. Mac Mone & Roniece Levias
13. Throw Your Hands in the Air feat. Mac Mone & Piano Man
14. #1 With A Bullet feat. 2Pac

 

Raw Fusion is Money-B & DJ Fuze from Digital Underground. The album is well known for his last track featuring 2Pac. But it is also a really good album. 

 

LP version doesn't have ""Traffic Jam" and "Wild Francis"

A strange fact is that this album has been officially released the same exact day than 2Pacalypse Now. : the 12 of November of 1991.

But there are more interesting things to notice here. Probably both albums have been recorded or mixed around the same time. So we have the same guests than in 2Pac's first album :
- of course Shock G appears in three tracks, as himself, Piano Man and Humpty Hump
- Schmoovy Schmoov, Digital Underground's chorist, that sing in 2Pac's unreleased first version of "(What U Won't) Do 4 Love"

- Saafir can be heard in the background of the song n° 4, that sing in "Pass the 40" (collective track probably recorded at the time of this album, even not for this album), will be in Digital Underground's third album with 2Pac in 1993.
- Pee Wee from Gold Money that was featured in "Trapped", "I Don't Give a Fuck" and "Something Wicked", producing the first two.

- Mac Mone who can be heard in the background of "Violent" and is also featured in "Pass the 40".
- Roniece Levias, female singer that sing in "Brenda's got a Baby" and in unreleased song "Don't U Trust Me".

 

 

Song n°5 featured Cooley Ranks (probably Coolie Ranx from the Pilfers) is probably the same reggae voice than in "Static" original song and unreleased "Fade Away". If you listen as well carefully to song n°4, you will notice that some elements sound really close to "Fade Away".

The mixdown of this album is generally close to Tupac's first album.

Tupac with Money B around 1990-1991 (same hair than in the Lost Tapes pictures) - is it DJ Fuze in the left ?