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Me Against The World
2Pac
1995
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!I might be biased because I am a huge Kanye West fan, but most indicative is the difference between Late Registration's "Hey Mama" and "Dear Mama" from this record. The lyrics on 2Pac's version made me wince, the rest of the album is devoid of creative samples and clever wordplay and I am having a hard time remembering the differences between most tracks. This might be due to the generic and repetitive style in most songs, which gives more reason to the fact that this type of rap has aged terribly to my ears. Only song memorable to me is Death Around The Corner, and that is mostly because of the hard-hitting instrumentals. Overall score is a 2(Pac) out of 10.
This is not the first album I think of when I think of 2pac, but it is perhaps his most personal and reflective album. Arriving between a shooting incident (to which the opening track makes reference in a skit) and an impending prison sentence, this album deals with feelings of paranoia, gangster violence, and the state of not only being an artist but also a black man in America. He reflects on the cycle of gangster life, the prison system, and the hopelessness of the situation when one is simply trying to survive with the cards they've been dealt. 2pac asks the listener to be sympathetic towards those who live this lifestyle as it is born of economic insecurity and paranoia. Paper keeps you alive and out of trouble, but it's a lot of trouble to get that paper. The standout tracks are "If I Die Tonight" seriously some of 2pac's best rapping, the alliteration is insane, "Dear Momma", "So Many Tears"
This is peak 2Pac and the pinnacle of introspective/conscientious hip hop in the heyday of gangsta and dance hip hop. Lyrics are poetic throughout and I love the contrast of the vividly painted stories of urban struggles against generally calm and chill beats and bass lines. Really not any misses here despite a somewhat long album. Dear Mama and the title track are classics but temptations, death around the corner, and others are underrated. I'm really not even the biggest 2Pac fan but it's hard to not respect and appreciate this album in it's context. Probably a 4.5 because of a bit of a lack of replay value overall, but gets a bump up for historical and cultural significance, and that it's still enjoyable and a classic work, even outside of it's narrowly targeted demographic.
Some of the smoothest sounds and engaging, emotional, and aggressive lyricism I've heard in a while! 2Pac was truly one of the greats.
Legendary. His storytelling, emotion, and fearlessness about his content is why he is unanimously considered one of the greatest rappers ever. In my opinion this is his best work. I knew i loved it going in, but it’s always nice to revisit a classic. Must listen for everyone in my opinion, but especially fans of hip hop.
Great old school hip hop album, melodic, poignant lyrics and some beautiful soul moments
Pretty damn introspective, thematically strong. Very confessional and raw, probably was a bit uncommon to show vulnerability in hip hop at this time. I probably wouldn't listen to a lot of it, but I can respect it.
You know about 2Pac's mom, right? If not, look her up. Pretty fascinating family. Anywho, I found this really incredibly easy to listen to, which seems like an odd thing to say considering the image that followed this dude back in the day. Not gonna lie, "Old School" completely worked for me and also made me feel like there was a millennial right behind me with their arms crossed thinking, "Of course it did, DAD." Whatever. I would listen to this again and I don't have that reaction a ton with the stuff on this list.
Man, time has a weird way of changing the way thinks look. I mean, as far as mid-90s rap goes, this is probably as good as it gets if your name isn't De La Soul. I didn't listen to this back then, but I knew it was a big assed deal. But today, listening to this and reading about Tupac... I mean... I feel like I would hate this dude automatically if he was a bearded white guy. 1992 he dropped his gun, it discharged and killed a 6-year-old. He beat another rapper with a baseball bat. He raped a 19-year-old and went to prison for it. So I mean... sure, it's you against the world, I guess. You sound like an asshole.
dated and simplistic 90s, but this hit me in the feels. genuine emotions packaged within old school beats
you can hear how personal this one seems. I don't listen to Tupac, nor do I know much about him but you can hear how raw he tried to make this one.
This was the album that convinced me that Tupac truly desires the praise/status he’s achieved in his legacy. As a youth, his rapping and style wasn’t immediately clear to me, but as soon as you hear “They say pussy and paper is poetry, power, and pistols,” followed by an assault of lyrical alliteration, I was sold. I don’t love his beat selection 100% of the time. His G-Funk/West Coast beats are typically the most bland, watered-down version of the style, his soft songs are really grating, especially if he’s not doing the hook. There are exceptions (“Hey Mama”) but I think Pac is at his best when he’s doing gangsta rap, if only because his tone fits it so well, and he’s really not the greatest at it until this record, when his own game is undeniable. But all his albums are a mix of styles and tonal shifts. Some people love that, and even argue it’s why he’s so great. I disagree; to me, it means he doesn’t have a flawless album. But of his 5 albums, I’d have to say this is the closest he has to a legitimate classic. I’d say all his other albums have higher highs (my favorite track here, “Old School,” is my least favorite of my favorite Tupac songs), *but* this record also has quantitatively the most highs in his discography. Maybe if 7 Day Theory wasn’t posthumous, or if All Eyez on Me was one disc, I’d prefer it, but Me Against the World is the tightest of all Tupac records imo, so therefore my favorite, and the one I’d say is his definite classic. Honestly, though, while the first half is all gold, I don’t think Side B gets good until “Old School,” and even then, all those final tracks are notably weaker. High water marks for sure, but not on the same caliber as Side A/any of his best tracks that released after this album. I don’t know - I’ve always felt odd about Pac. On the one hand, when I like him, I love him. But when I don’t, I really don’t. Maybe that dichotomy is why people love him. Idk - I was always a Biggie fan first. But my distaste for Pac still isn’t distain - bad 90s hip-hop is still an A- for me, so while this isn’t like my favorite album ever, it’s still my favorite Tupac record, and therefore 5 stars.
One of the most fun hip-hop albums I've ever heard. Fantastic beats, lyrics and no filler make this one of the best in the genre.
Achei legal demais o título. Tudo a ver com a proposta do rap. Gostei das canções e da maneira envolvente das letras. Não domino o inglês, mas quero ler as músicas para entender o que foi dito. E ouvir, é claro, mais 2Pac.
Listened Before? N This is one I've been wanting to listen to, and putting off since literally the 90's. I've always been a fan of 2pac's style but never listened to a full album. Pros: This is an amazing record. The subject matter ranges from typical gangsta faire to personal therapy sessions. 2pac was a special talent. He makes the unrelatable relatable. Cons: Nothing much. Some terminology didn't hold its relevance, but this is a great snapshot of the mid-90s. Added to Library? Y Songs added to Library: Me Against the World, Dear Mama
Well. That was a surprise. Everyone knows 2Pac is a legend but I've personally never just sat down and listened to a whole album. I was utterly blown away by the lyricism, creativity, and delivery that he brought to the table. But the real surprise was the depth of the content. I expected the same ol' shallow gangsta rhymes that you get from 2Pac's contemporaries in the genre. What I experienced, however, was incredibly self-aware social commentary. 2Pac comes off more like a really cool older brother dispensing heavy wisdom than a hard-ass, bragging gangster. This album was just great. 2Pac really was one the greats. R.I.P.
2pac is easily the most popular 90s rapper that tragically lost their life due to violence, and the only one that can even have the same title in the conversation is his rival, The Notorious B.I.G So, I hadn't really heard many 2pac tracks before listening to this album. The only 2pac track that I had heard was "California Love", plus that interview that Kendrick Lamar sampled on "Mortal Man". I was super excited to listen to this album, and the reason was because of the main artist. A lot of Rap fans and rappers have stated that 2pac is one of the best rappers ever, this being an album from the 90s also made me look more forward listening to it. Holy fuck, this album is amazing. I'm not gonna lie, I did also think that this was gonna be the same situation as the N.W.A. album, where it's an album that many love that I disliked, but it was the exact opposite for this one. The first thing that I'll speak about is the production, it's so good. Boombap is easily one of my favourite styles of productions ever, but that being mixed with the quiet background vocals on tracks like "Might Die 2nite" was even fucking better. It might be kinda simple for today's standards, but 2pac's writing was just perfect for it. 2pac is a lot like someone like J. Cole, where the rhymes are super impressive and shit while not having the tracks be super complex. Now I'm not saying if I think that 2pac is worse than J. Cole since I haven't really listened to many 2pac tracks, but I was just using him as an example. The intro and the title for this album perfectly describe the situation that 2pac was in. He was basically getting blamed for shit that he didn't even have a part in, which must've felt horrible. It was basically a me against the world situation, and 2pac made sure that he would prove the press wrong. Album art is so fucking good, with 2pac leaning at the wall with he black, white and yellow blending together. Maybe people think that it’s basic, I think that it’s dope. FAV TRACK would have to be "Dear Mama". Tracks about loving your mother is always positive, and the stuff 2pac says in this track is super interesting. LEAST FAV TRACK: N/A 10/10
The ballads get a lot of attention, and for good reason, but for me the angry braggadocio is where Tupac shines. Best track: Death Around The Corner
Obvious genius within it's genre but I find it difficult to look past the sadness of his pointless violent young end, so confidently predicted in these lyrics.
A strong badass rap album. I'm better with his use of colorful language than Sly & the family stone. It has gut, authenticity and Dear Mama is a great song.
always enjoyed 2-pac, but never went beyond radio/MTV hits. Darker than I expected. Lots of talk of suicide and depression. Good listen from start to finish.
Tuesday Haiku: The rhythm is there ### Flowing prescient proven words ### Many will follow ###
Incredible how relevant the lyrical work still is today. This 2Pac album is impeccably written by one of raps greatest writers. It's solid production is the only thing holding it back from being a 5 for me. It's fine production, but nothing jumped out to me to really elevate that part of the album. The writing and 2Pac's flows though almost get it there on their own. That's how great of a writer he was.
Standard Tupac - lovely beats, often heartfelt lyrics with the odd bit of rubbish thrown in.
This exercise may just yet turn me into a rap/hip hop fan. Another fine album that I very much enjoyed. Not white the quality and menace and diversity of Eminem Marshakk Mathers but pretty f'ing good. 4 🌟
Really good rap music, some really cool instrumental hooks in the background. The album stayed interesting throughout. I don't usually listen to rap music but this is by far the best rap I've ever listened to!
This is a solid hip hop album…. Extremely prophetic and close to home for 2pac. Gone too soon!
Weirdly never given 2pac much of a chance, never gone out of my way to listen to his stuff. Initial thoughts after a few tracks aren't that great! 😭 It's easy a 3 cos I love hiphop but it's not bowled me over yet. Lord Knows is a tune, decent sample. Think this is worth a 4 actually. Classics. Still, didn't love it quite as much as I was hoping to 🙏
2pac is so ubiquitous but listening to this makes me realize how little I know his music. "Lord Knows" really caught my attention and I was fully invested from that point on. As an aside, he and Pop Smoke sound eerily similar.
Nobody comes close to Shakur when it comes to verses and prose. But his hooks need work. The choruses felt almost disposable for the most part. Some of his later stuff (California Love & All About You) had better choruses. But with verses this good, and lyrics this honest you can’t complain Fave Tracks: “If I Die 2Nite” “Dear Mama”
2Pac on aina ollu yks lemppareista. Eniten tuli penskana popitettua kokoelmaa mutta tämä toimii varsin hyvin omana levynäkin.
Don’t know how to feel bout this one it’s got a few that I like but non worth saving not boring exactly but for me not really anything special. 3.6/5
Really enjoyed this, only knew a couple of songs beforehand. If I die tonight, fuck the world and, of course, dear mama are standouts.
I'd left this for when I could listen through & read up on 2Pac's life. You can sense the real introspection in this - talent shines through in every track. But now i've done that, i'll probably never listen again, so that says everything.
Wie super, dies hier wiederzufinden. Soundtrack endloser Abende auf den Freiplätzen um Bochum. Duftbaum-geschwängerter Golf 1. Sonnenuntergänge wie Tequila Sunrise. Und auch wenn‘s nur Streetball war, sollte es doch eines befeuern: das Gefühl, Teil einer Gang zu sein. Doch ist diese Bande lang zerfleddert, Geschichte, ausbleichende Erinnerung, ganz schön angelaufen wie auch dieser G-Funk. Beats oft oll. Mit Ausnahmen: „Dear Mama“, „Oldschool“,„Fuck the World“ & „Death Around the Corner“ ragen da nämlich so monumental heraus, dass der Sitz in der Bahn genauso hart wirkt, wie im Golf. Shakurs Stimme so unnachahmlich, Rough-Smooth. Unsterblich 3.5
Probably my favorite 2pac album. I think this is his most reflective and poetic album. Even though it doesn't have the hits he released later, it's probably his best work. 4.5/5
Picked up steam as it progressed. Enjoyed it. Didn't add but glad I listened. Old school rap is always great.
While I'm more of the Biggie camp, totally respect 2Pac and his impact upon the genre. Missed out on a lot of great music with the death of those 2 icons. And 'Fuck All Y'All is one of my all time favorite songs, not just from 2 Pac. A lot of solid tunes on this album; the title track, So Many Tears, Temptation, Lord Knows, Dear Mama, Old School, Death Around the Corner...heck, I guess most of the album! Glad a revisited, been a while since I listened to is and has been added to my library
This is the most emo rap album I have ever heard. So much self-loathing, anger, and hopelessness. The bleakness was actually kind of refreshing in a way. He definitely has an opinion on the nature vs. nurture debate.
Always keep my eyes on the prize, watch the police Seen so much murder, neighborhoods gettin no sleep But still, I get my money on major, continuously Great Album, not Pacs best, Dear Mama is an alltime song good to listen with the lyrics 4/5
It's kind of crazy that it's taken me this long to sit down and listen to a Tupac album. His lyrical style really makes this album. The beats are good, but very subdued. His charisma is what makes this album a classic
I won't claim to know much about rap, but I know 2Pac is good. I enjoyed the gangsta hip hop sound. It's clearly an album from a dark place - some of the lyrics were pretty hard hitting. My top pick is 'So Many Tears', an almost prophetic track sadly (And fuck the world 'cause I'm cursed/I'm havin' visions of leavin' here in a hearse)
This is 2Pac's best album. The musical production is very good, the choice of samples and the list of colaborators are great. The beats are well crafted and songs like "Me Against the World", "Dear Mama" and "It Ain't Easy" are among the biggest classics of the West Coast hip hop subgenre.
Tupac was always a solid lyricist, definitely shines through on this album. If I Die 2Nite was pretty powerful, as was Lord Knows. The latter showed some different perspective too, which he really took to new heights on Dear Mama. That was a hell of a song. Breadth and depth of ability right there. Death Around the Corner was prophetic (though not as much as Changes a few years later). I thought some of his samples were tired, that was maybe one thing holding this album back. The mixes and beats were just alright.
The lyrics to this album (for the most part) are so... hopeless. 2Pac knows he is "born to die." Songs like "Death 'Around The Corner" are just so... nihilistic. It really got depressing after a while, I mean it seemed like there was no point. Although "Old School" made me smile, to know that he honors those that came before him. 2Pac's rhyming skills are definitely there for all to hear, no doubt. Although listening to "Can U Get Away" he sounds a little... cartoony. I didn't take it as seriously as he wanted it to be. All in all, I thought it was a good album, really reflected the hopelessness of the streets. I don't know if I would listen to something so bleak, but I'm glad to have done so.
I am not familiar with 2PAC or his third album ME AGAINST THE WORLD at all. I’m not into Hip Hop, except for PUBLIC ENEMY. 1001 Albums introduced me to ICE CUBE’s AMERIKKKA’s MOST WANTED which I liked a lot. After listening to ME AGAINST THE WORLD, this album is decent, but it is lyrically very repetitive and musically becomes uninteresting. It started out strong, then dipped. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, 2PAC - ME AGAINST THE WORLD, is one only album listed. Rate Artist: 2PAC (4.0) Rate Album (Year): ME AGAINST THE WORLD (US 1995 Original) (4.0) Ranking of 2PAC - ME AGAINST THE WORLD songs No. Title Length Ranking 01. "Intro" 1:40 10.0/10 02. "If I Die 2Nite" 4:02 10.0/10 03. "Me Against the World" (featuring Dramacydal) 4:41 10.0/10 04. "So Many Tears" 3:59 10.0/10 05. "Temptations" 5:01 08.0/10 06. "Young Niggaz" 4:53 07.0/10 07. "Heavy in the Game" (featuring Richie Rich) 4:24 08.0/10 08. "Lord Knows" 4:32 08.0/10 09. "Dear Mama" 4:40 08.0/10 10. "It Ain't Easy" 4:54 07.0/10 11. "Can U Get Away" 5:46 07.0/10 12. "Old School" 4:41 09.0/10 13. "Fuck the World" 4:14 08.0/10 14. "Death Around the Corner" 4:07 09.0/10 15. "Outlaw" (featuring Dramacydal) 4:33 07.0/10 US 1995 Original Release 126.0/150 = 8.40 / 2 = 4.20
Definitely a great album to dive into the genre with. Fantastic lyrics and beats without being over the top.
A pretty important album for me during my exploration of rap music. Dear mama will forever stand out to me as an important song for the genre, and to me personally. Add in If i die 2nite, it ain't easy, and heavy in the game and it's a really solid piece of work.
2Pac is obviously one of the most influential rappers of all time. I think because of this, I've always though 2Pac is too good for me. Now saying that it sounds completely ridiculous, I just always felt he was too serious and above me haha. As a result, this may be my first time listening to an entire album purposefully. I'm actually surprised by the huge bluesy-jazz influence in there but it really makes sense when I read what this album was all about. He artfully expresses how he was feeling after everything he had been through at this point in life and I think it's a bit of a journey to correct the thinking that he was wealthy and doing extremely well. I have no idea if the allegations were true or not, but I can appreciate this album as a separate story. Mostly, listening to this album makes me grieve for all of the reams of people that society has completely let down... That's pretty powerful.
First full listen-through of this album for me. Really interesting stuff here. Some very cool instrumentation -- I'm not skilled enough to know what was created digitally and what parts were played by people on musical instruments (I see a ton of "composer" credits under the Personnel section of the Wikipedia entry, with only one non-vocal instrument, a guitar, so it's reasonable to assume most everything on the album is digital). I like the sound a lot, and there are some great grooves. I also am struck by 2Pac's sense of melody. Works so well here. My next task is to re-listen whilst reading along with the lyrics. I'd like to get to know that element as well. Impressive album.
2pac’s position as a rapper, cultural icon, myth, legend are undeniable. A wordsmith who can rap about anything on any track. The G-Funk sound and R&B vibes aren’t my taste generally, but this is a good album and his talent is the major selling point.
Eén van de weinige artiesten en tijdperken van de hiphop/rap die ik goed kan waarderen
Seamless transitions. Some vulgar language tbh. So Many Tears is really good. I like the intro to Temptations. They all sound pretty similar though. Very good lyrical flow. Death around the corner is really good
I hardly ever listen to rap or hip hop, but I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It was easy to listen to and had a nice flow. The lyrics are interesting, because he sounds very honest and open about his struggles. Lots of clever lines as well.
Really enjoyed this, only knew a couple of songs beforehand. If I die tonight, fuck the world and, of course, dear mama are standouts. 4 🌟
Best te pruimen eigenlijk. Beter dan ik dacht. Sommige teksten zijn een beetje pretentieus, zoals 'If I die tonight' maar toch minder pretentieus als je bedenkt dat hij daadwerkelijk het loodje heeft gelegd. Wel veel van hetzelfde.
One of hip hop's most influential album and the best of the best from the 90's. Tupac was one of the first rappers that brought social issues into his lyrics and he was a genius with his rhymes. This album might be his most famous / best one.
hmm, wish I could give it a 3.5, but it's a 3 for me. The cultural significance is important and while I haven't looked at the global, I have a feeling that it's not a great global since it's rap. I almost want to give it a 4 for those meta reasons.
This is one I will need to listen to a couple more times. There's a lot to unpack from 2Pac in this record, as it is his most personal and self-reflective, and I just was not in the right headspace when I first listened to it. The production of the album, while mudding some lines from time to time, gives a heavy bass tone that pairs well with Shakur's voice. This is the kind of sound I really dig in hip-hop records, as it doesn't overstep and accompanies the raps very nicely. However, a lot the songs started to blur together for me, as there were a few that weren't sonically unique or had lackluster moments. This could have been 100% due to my lack of focus, so again, I'm going to give this another shot one day to give it it's fair due. I know this is one of the most celebrated albums in hip-hop, so it demands better attention while listening.
7/10 It’s all about the hooks, otherwise kind of monotone - will have to look into lyrics
This is nice, he's got a great flow, too bad it led to the rise of a million poor imitators
There are well-captured transitional movements here, between the braggadocious gangster style to the more chill if still focused politics of later conscious rap. Lyrically, there are clear themes, and 2Pac balances machismo with hope for something better. Musically, there's the high synth tone I think of as something between the string sections of soul and the richer electronics of 2000's music. The skit-lightness accentuates the framing of Intro. It's dated, I don't love it, but it's important listening. I prefer All Eyez On Me, but both albums are big and merit closer examination and comparison.
This is fine. It's a little too dated for me. I don't think this album aged very well, and the background singers get very old, repetitive, and annoying. The songs without the background vocals are pretty decent, however.
Finally got back around to listening to this record after my initial listen in August. I certainly wasn't in the right mood or mindset during that first go, and since then I've listened to it multiple times in chunks, but this is my first full re-listen. Just like I said in my first review, there's STILL a lot to unpack from 2Pac in this record, as it is his most personal and self-reflective record. He talks about his upbringing, criminal history, violent skirmishes, and the relationship he has with those most important to him such as his mother. However, this isn't a record that he's making for himself, it's like multiple letters going out to his fans, family and friends. The production of the album is mostly warm and cozy, each track has soul-esque instrument lines accompanied by a heavy bass tone that pairs well with Shakur's voice. The beats are pretty intuitive with the tone that 2Pac approaches in his voice. This is the kind of sound I really dig in hip-hop records, as it doesn't overstep and accompanies the bars very nicely. I still think the record has the tendency to get lost in itself due to its runtime. It keeps a pretty hot streak for the first three tracks and then it gets a little lost with its identity, trying to recede back into hardcore hip-hop and keep with the formula of the time instead of sticking with the personal direction. I personally would get rid of the last two tracks and "Temptations" and be satisfied. Favorite Tracks: Me Against The World Least Favorite: Death Around the Corner
Going into this album, I had never been a big fan of old school hip hop but this album made me appreciate it slightly more. Tupac’s lyricism is excellent and the production is pretty good even though it’s what I don’t like about older rap. Fav songs: dear mama, temptations
I absolutely respect his effort to get more reflective and even somewhat sensitive in-between the swagger, but the beats are so weak! It's like a movie with a good story but terrible cinematography. So much heart but no atmosphere. Never been a huge fan of the west coast g-funk sound with all the glissando on the synths. I really respect "Dear Mama" though, and I think it's a standout, perhaps because the track is a little more stripped down and seems to foreground his voice in a way that the other tracks don't.
First ever listen. Surprised at how lyrical it is. Not as hard and dark as I thought it would be.
An album I know well Surprised I listened to this so much when it came out, it's all a bit smooth.
Ok, here’s something odd. Even though the Tupac lost cuts cottage industry continued to roll out albums for donkey’s years after his death (or, if you haunt some seriously unserious corners of the internet, after he removed himself from the fame game and relocated to Peckham) I have never sat and listened to an album of his from start to end. First time for everything… (Afterwards). Great delivery, shame about the production
Rap isn’t my genre & I’ll probably never listen to this again, but I’m really glad I did. The reason for 2Pac’s appeal is clear; introspective and thoughtful lyrics that are still relevant today, slickly produced.
Gefälliger Gangsta-Rap, läuft gut durch. Hat Hits, hat Höhepunkte, reisst mich aber nicht aus meiner bürgerlichen Existenz.
There are other Hip Hop albums that have been recommended as part of the list that have inspired me more. But this had some good stuff on it.
I have avoided listening to Tupac, not for ideological or snobbish reasons, but because I didn't like his big hits. Hit Em Up is genuinely unpleasant to listen to; it just sounds ugly to brag about sleeping with another man's wife, and Tupac makes it as childish as possible. And Changes features the worst sample in the history of music. Why sample such an obviously bad song? Don't talk about the lyrics, as you don't care. You hate the song for such a hateful piano shittening. That said, RZA merging James Brown and Tupac for Django Unchained was masterful, and my only criticism was that he never managed to stick in Robert Johnson at the same time. But how do I feel about a Tupac album with more thought applied? Well, initially rather warmly. He evinces a desire to explore serious, occasionally dark, occasionally bleak themes. Thinking further, this album is often fascinating, yet often unengaging. To compare it to a later album that this influenced, to the extent that it featured a fictional interview between Kendrick Lamar and Tupac, Me Against The World is a more coherent album than To Pimp A Butterfly. I don't doubt the sincerity of Tupac's concerns with thug life, as it were. But Lamar displays far more linguistic fireworks than Tupac, and one problem with Me Against The World is that Tupac sounds so straightforward. Yes, he has flow, but you want more developed imagery, more ambitious rhetoric. I'm trying to recall a metaphor from the album, but I can't. You get the impression of an artist capable of more depth, an artist of promise, but not quite fulfilling it yet. A second listening may bump this up to four stars, and a compilation of Tupac's best songs (not most successful) may well be a 5-starrer, but this sits at a comfortable 3 right now.
Surprised by this. Very very good indeed. Definitely worth a listen, some blistering bass and drum lines carrying the lyrics along with a sizzle
3.7 - Deadly serious, unapologetically macho. Old school R&B beats that give Tupac a canvas to describe the pressures of gangsta life. Some moments of levity with "Can U Get Away" and "Old School."
Nothing special. He relies on the quality of his voice more than the quality of his lyrics and music.
It’s fine I guess. Not a lot of variation with the backing tracks, and I couldn’t really focus on the lyrics to connect with them.
Slick and R&B-ish productions, highly masculine rap delivery, chorus composed of a single phrase followed by a hook, over an hour long... This is the most stereotypically '90s rap album that I have heard so far. Not that surprising, considering the fact that 2pac is one of the most popular figures of the genre. And it's not that bad either, just predictable and loooong. The theme of this album is apparently 2pac's reflection on his bad experiences, which is better than the usual look-I-am-rich-I-am-misogynist theme of gangsta rap. Overall, not bad, just forgettable.
A high lyrical quality on this album, like NAS on Illmatic, from deeper like So Many Tears to straight up Gangsta. Tupacs technique might not be the best, but his delivery is amazing. And I can now see why he's regarded as one of the greatest. The beats on the other hand are relaxed but simple. Some would say effective, but they don't do anything for me.
6/10. Maybe even a seven. I liked how it sounded, my main issue is that it sounded pretty darn similar for the entire run time.
No sitting on the fence lyrically with purpose and reflection in them. A few stand out tracks, a bit long with a few tracks very similar.
Wow this guy loves his mum.... I'm really glad I've heard this, the legendary 2Pac who is still with us apparently? V confusing. I won't listen again probs but enjoyed the story telling
3/4/22 I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I really appreciated his lyrics and how emotional the album was. Also got wrapped up in the story of his life. That being said, I don’t see myself ever listening to this again. For that reason I rate a 3. Favorite song: So Many Tears/Temptations
Listened to on 3/4/22 3/5 Favorite song: Dear Mama This album is very personal to Tupac’s real life and was all in all really good with both mellow songs and bops
Really liked Tupacs rapping skills but the songs overall lacked a great beat and were too similar too each other. Also lacking a big standout song
I've been complaining about old school rap recently so I'll give this a higher mark for the production and smooth delivery, and the song about his mother.
Pretty solid album by Tupac. Album isn’t as hard or gangster rap as some of his other albums. A bit more introspective but still a good listen all the way through. 2 pac has always had an ability to make a diverse album that has a song that appeals to different people and Dear mama is a classic. 7.6/10
this was strangely easy listening! a few of the songs felt incredibly dated and hilarious and some are absolute bangers.
I don't like rap but listening to him I have been intrigued about his life. That is why I have consulted wikipedia and I was interested in some information I found there. Tupac Amaru Shakur (/ˈtuːpɑːk ʃəˈkʊər/ TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), better known by his stage name 2Pac and later by his alias Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Much of Shakur's music has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he is considered a symbol of activism against inequality. Shakur was born in New York City to parents who were both political activists and Black Panther Party members. He was named after Túpac Amaru II, the descendant of the last Incan ruler, who was executed in Peru in 1781 after his failed revolt against Spanish rule. Shakur's mother explained, "I wanted him to have the name of revolutionary, indigenous people in the world. I wanted him to know he was part of a world culture and not just from a neighborhood." Shakur is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. He is widely credited as an important figure in hip hop culture, and his prominence in pop culture in general has been noted. Dotdash, formerly About.com, while ranking him fifth among the greatest rappers, nonetheless notes, "Tupac Shakur is the most influential hip-hop artist of all time. Even in death, 2Pac remains a transcendental rap figure." Yet to some, he was a "father figure" who, said rapper YG, "makes you want to be better—at every level."
Another 90s hip hop album I wasn't too stoked about. Ok beats and bass. Gets repetitive quickly. Seems like a lot of 90s hip hop albums are an hour + and repetitive. Not really my thing.
Much like Raekwon yesterday, not my genre but I tried to listen with an open mind. Didn't love it but respect the work. 2 stars.
Hmm tja....2Pac. Een 'legende'. Ik snap het ergens wel, maar na een minuut of 40 had ik toch meer dan genoeg gehoord. Waarschijnlijk staan er nog 36 platen van hem in deze lijst dus op naar de volgende!
I know he's important but I just can't seem to really get into this album. There's so many more great hip-hop albums out there. Too many slow jams, it just kind of plods along. This isn't one for me. BT: Young Niggaz, It Ain't Easy, Death Around The Corner
Dear Mama is a great song but I couldn't sit at my computer and listen to this entire album.
His voice was deeper than I expected it to be. Not my kinda rap music, can’t see the hype.
Not into rap or hip hop. Doesn’t stand out to me as anything special over other hip hop artists.
Not very funky but I did find my head bobbing along to some of the beats. Overall, it's a bit dour - musically and lyrically. Kind of drones on. Also, it's too long - typical of the early CD era. Seems like he's trying really hard to be 'deep' and 'introspective' but to me it feels a bit put-on - especially with the fairly juvenile content of the lyrics. I guess given the macho pretensions of this genre/time period it's kind of to be expected. Also it's hard to separate the fact that he was in jail for sexual assault while this was released... So that adds an ick factor that's hard to get past. Haven't listened to much 2Pac compared to other 90's hip hop. Overall, not overly impressed with this.
Vile, loser-culture lyrics, set to pleasing melodies. But hey ho, not as aggressively shouty & dreadful as I was expecting.
Ik houd niet van rapmuziek. Deze plaat heeft soms echter wel relaxte beats. De pratende mannenstemmen heb ik verder niks mee. Favorieten zijn "Me Against The World", "Heavy In The Game", "Dear Mama". De rest is wel meteen een stuk saaier. Ik zou het album dan ook niet meteen aanbevelen. **
I know about 2Pac as a part of pop culture, but I don't think I've heard any of his music. The album just ran together with no individual tracks standing out for good, and only a few that immediately stood out as something I did not like. The biggest problem for me is the subject matter and the language. This album was not made for me. Sometimes I sing along to music that I like. I could never sing along to any of this -- > I don't like this album.
Se deja escuchar, pero incluso gustándome más o menos el Rap y el Hip-Hop no ha sido este un disco para tener como imprescindible. Está bien "Dear Mama".
I don't understand West coast rap, difficulty understanding lyrics and a similar background sound made all songs sound similar to me.
Ah this is like 50% cool and 50% just plain boring. Heard it a lot when I was a teenager, lots of mates really loved it. I haven't bothered with it in years though. Intro is laughable, some ridiculous pretend newsbyte about how he got shot and walked himself out of hospital cause he's SO FUCKIN TUFF. Yet when he really DID get shot, he died. Oh, not before he went to prison for rape though. It's amazing that antics like this made him some kind of All Time Most Eligible Bachelor among girls at my high school. Rest of the album is mostly the same sort of stuff - "thug spirit", a whole heap of that "street philosophy" that r/im14andthisisdeep would identify with etc. The actual tunes aren't too bad, but these lyrics are fucking cringeworthy. 2/5.
Doesn't hold up, and he was never comparable to Biggie. This is fine when it's 2Pac rapping, mostly, but the production isn't great, the chorus vocals aren't great, the guest features are nobodies, and some of the subject matter "oof."
I'm one minute into this and it's immediately aggressive, mysogynistic, gun toting woes of the poor black man's so-called American life. Depressing, unoriginal, unattractive and boring. Absolutely nothing that I, as a black man, can relate to in any shape or form or even believe in or find entertaining. It is so crass and ugly, not eloquent, interesting and far from clever. I will listen to the whole album since it's on the list and I've only ever heard a few 2Pac songs. I look forward to my opinion changing. A few songs in the middle (dear mama) were actually ok where 2pac almost sang. However, it's clear that I really do not have the taste for hard hip hop, just the easy listening gentler styles that are not gangster shooting thug mysogynistic. 2 out of 5 because he rhymes well and the backing tracks are well sampled and put together.
Any inspection of my previous reviews shows how much I love rap. But this has aged worse than famous rich men's photos with their buddy Epstein. It's so boringly self involved and tough, with the production sitting in a sort of bland 'make it like Dre' facsimile of 1993's best sounds. It would certainly appeal to 13 year olds, but on the strength of this album, that bullet did more for his legacy than his rhymes ever did. Cliche ridden and standard - how he and Biggie were ever considered rivals is a mystery to me.
The instrumentals didn’t keep me engaged- I also couldn’t invest myself into 2pacs performance very well- generally not that’s good imo
It’s okay - nothing more. Me against the world is the high point and it itself isn’t particularly high.
If rap did anything for me at all, it would be this kind of rap. Musically, this album has a lot to offer. But the vocal style indicative of rap just doesn't do it for me.
Dear Mama est cool Tout est écoutable en fond mais aucune des meilleures de 2Pac Du bon rap old school pas transcendant
Found the production a bit meh and those drums just scream 90s! Not really a fun listen. I clearly don't see why everyone else finds him so special. Not actively bad, but definitely not for me.
It was ok. He always sounds decent, not many of his tracks really blow me away. I prefer BIG and the east coast style more
Did not enjoy this album at all. I guess the primary quality is in the lyrical content (especially with 2pac's backstory in mind), but the music just does not appeal to me enough.
I'm middle aged, white, non-American. I'm not the target market for 2Pac. I listened to this with my 13 year old son. He liked the rude words. I liked it only when there were no words.