Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Never listened to 2pac before, and I didn't manage to listen to the full album. The rythms and the themes are different from what I'm used to listen to, nevertheless I enjoyed it
The amount of influence this had on modern hip hop is quite clear. A lot of this has aged well. Pac walked so Kendrick could run.
West Coast Tupac > East Coast Tupac.
Iconic.
A réécouter
Near peak Pac.
Damn, this album is thick with imagery about mortality and loss. So much so that I thought it was a posthumous release. While several of the songs were a tad similar and forgettable, most of them lyrically or musically made a serious impact. Tupac was talented at his craft and it's a damn shame we lost him the year after this release. 3.5/5 - 4/5
Favorite tracks: So Many Tears, Lord Knows, Dear Mama, It Ain't Easy Me, a white suburban mom, all day: "It ain't easy being me, will I see the penitentiary or will I stay free?" Dang, I'm kicking myself for sleeping on 2Pac. I always thought of him as gangsta rap and not much else, but a lot of these songs were very introspective and vulnerable. I'll definitely revisit a few of these songs, but some of the others still have a lot of the violent/misogynistic themes I prefer to avoid. I already love the 90s hip hop/rap era (especially compared to today's) and this really stands out as unique - stripped back with a focus on raw lyrics and vocals, with a bonus of some backing vocals. Also, an intro of news clips about his shooting goes so hard, A+
This was a huge moment in time when this album was released. This one was a monster w/ Dear Mama, Shed So Many Tears, Me Against The World, and many more. Very groovy musically and vocal perfection. I appreciate this album now more than I think I did back in 95....Adding back to the rotation! In my opinion this is a Hip Hop Classic.
Показалось весьма интересно.
Solid
very excellent, if very dirty, lyrics. He has a lot to say, and it's very well done
Good
Classic & nostalgic quintessential West Coast hip-hop; can’t knock that.
Absolutely class, shame he was a prick
Supreme work. It's been a while since I've listened to it, but I'm pretty sure I like All Eyez on Me better. Love the interplay of humor and seriousness, and 2Pac's somber tone was unique in hip hop at that point.
Not dead, lives in Diddys basement
2Pac's magnum opus. I think this has some of 2Pac's best songs on it, theme is significantly more consistent across songs - with some misses: - Heavy in the Game: look I enjoy double R as much as the next person but it just feels out of place. - Can U Get Away: weird mixing / production, otherwise could have been a decent song. - Old School: another good song that should have probably not been on the album.
7/10
Great album.
An exceptional album. Very perosnal and autobiographical about being black in america in the 1990s A fuck you to the system and an amazing album that defines East coast rap and os a staple of every and any rap lover.
WHY DID HE MAKE A SONG ABOUT GETTING SHOT?!?!?
I love a lot of hip hop, but mostly not gangsta rap, so I went into this one pretty cautiously. I'm a big Kendrick Lamar fan though, so I was curious to hear more about the guy who was such a big inspiration to him. This honestly surprised me, with its introspective and vulnerable lyrics. There is a lot of the gansta/thug type lyrics, but also a lot of context provided for how he fell into that lifestyle (similar to Kendrick). This is exactly what I feel is missing from the Dre and Snoop albums on this list, so it's very welcome. The beats and production are also great as well, g-funk at it's best. The downsides though, it is a bit repetitive and too long. After a while it starts to feel like 2Pac has a bit of a Saviour complex. There are also some misogynistic and creepy lyrics here and there, but not nearly as much as some of his contemporaries. I don't really want to comment on his crimes - it sounds like he was guilty, but also did his time from what I understand. Overall, I enjoyed finally listening to some 2Pac and can see what the hype is. Not sure I would listen again though, and some of the songs I would drop. I think Kendrick did it better. Realistically this is a 3 star for me, but I'm bumping it to 4 to counter some of the "all-rap-sucks" cretins.
The genius of Tupac is that he was equally comfortable with hardcore gangsta rap, and "conscious rap", akin to groups like Tribe Called Quest, Common, and Mos Def. This album is closer to the latter, therefore a bit slower, and requires a bit more thought. On the flip side, it definitely has that mid-90s, West Coast G-funk flavor which allows you to just sit back and nod your head to the groove. Tupac was a poet that happened to use music to package his message. Even though the music is a time capsule to its time, Pac's storytelling is timeless, a boots-on-the-ground recording of the 1990s. This is a great album and, although not 2Pac's best (in my opinion, that's his next - and last - release, All Eyez On Me), a very worthy inclusion to this project.
Wish i remembered the songs better but first listen was solid
Bardzo fajne. Kilka piosenek zapisanych. Wiele takich, których nie znałem. Chyba muszę zgłębić twórczość 2paca, bo jest to niezły truskul. 4/5
Cannot relate to even a single part of this album, but damn is it good! Played on the commute to work with the windows up to avoid getting laughed at. Prime west coast beats with one of the greatest rap poets to ever do it.
He’s my bess fren. Yea this is good. I like it. 4 stars
I generally don't like gangster rap. This isn't that, and that's a pleasant surprise, I just kind of assumed given what I had heard about the artist that this was going to not be a particularly fun listen. I enjoyed this. He's got some skill, for sure.
not bad
A fascinating cultural moment leaves a great album for me to enjoy decades later. 4.5/5
My first Tupac album and I’m upset I didn’t look into him earlier. Everything I’ve heard rings true. Just smooth and easy listening. Good storytelling, maybe a bit repetitive on subject matter but I didn’t mind for the most part. Just entranced by the flow and beats.
Rating: 8/10 Not his best but a great album nonetheless. Great production, delivery, and flow, even though the lyrical content starts to wear thin by the end.
Solid throughout
Album: 1
hadn't done a full listen, very complete album
1,000+ albums in and 4 out of the last 7 albums have been american hip hop records with an hour runtime. Fatigue should be starting to kick in, but Me Against The World is such a compelling testament to 2Pac's songwriting abilities, that it's difficult not to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Monster beats as well.
There are too many hip-hip records on my list at the moment - but who cares when 2Pac shows up and saves the day? Huge amazing beats and productions and a flow unlike most other rappers. It’s a few songs too long, but there’s a reason 2Pac is still a reference point in rap today.
Want to do a full discog dive when I can.
This sounds similar to The Notorious BIG, I wonder if they were mates? Simpsons: Yes
Enjoyed it especially whilst in the gym.
Yeah
An excellent album and a great display of what's great about rap and what made 2Pac so remarkable. The production is excellent, they crafted a cohesive and funky G-Funk record. It's not as polished as Dr.Dre's production, but this works in it's favor as time, as it sounds a bit more grimy, which fits the darker vibe of this album, while being as catchy and vibey as the best G-Funk out there. The most remarkable aspect of the album is, of course, 2Pac. His writing is impeccable and his delivery is top tier, he's passionate and flows effortlessly throughout the entire project. Even more remarkable for me is the subject matter and his approach to rap. Here he's introspective, poetic and socially conscious. He manages to blend his troubled mindset at the time and his rebellious attitude with an ambition to deliver art and an important message. For me, this elevates the album over other G-Funk, as it feels personal and relevant. The context regarding what was going on with 2Pac at the time is relevant, as he had been shot and was on trial at the time. He often sounds troubled, discussing his paranoia and his perception regarding his impending death. While he manages to offer a conscious message, it's a difficult balance, as it stems from his troubled path. For me this also opens up a different debate, does his troubled past taint or influence his message? I think that 2Pac does his best to reflect on his issues and turn them into a relevant message for his community, but that doesn't exempt him from his responsibility. Nevertheless, the powerful messages he delivers were a big reason in making him such an influential figure for West Coast Rap. In terms of best tracks, it's a very high quality and consistent record, so most songs are very good. My favourites were "Me Against The World", "So Many Tears" and I loved his homage to rap history on "Old School". Overall, this is a classic rap album, and might be the best G-Funk has to offer. It's conscious, personal and sounds great. It also clearly shows who 2Pac was and where his influence to rap stems from.
I remember back in my babble about READY TO DIE, I said I preferred Biggie to 2Pac. I liked both of them well enough, of course, but Biggie's work had just appealed to me a lot more than 2Pac's had. After listening to this, I've come to realize why that is: my first 2Pac album was ALL EYEZ ON ME. Y'know, that's the one with "California Love", so I figured if there's any album of his I'm gonna watch first, it may as well be that one. Only problem with that idea is that ALL EYEZ ON ME is a 2+ hour double album, and if you think I have problems that exceed a single hour... Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed by what I heard — or, more accurately, I ended up being so bored by the whole ordeal that I could barely register most of the songs. You contrast that against the sole album Biggie released in his lifetime, which isn't too much more than 50 minutes **and** has big hits like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa"... You can tell why I ended up gravitating more towards Biggie. Now that I've heard this album, I honestly wish I'd heard it first. There's no big hits to lure me in, and it still pushes past an hour, but as an introduction to 2Pac and his work... Well, to bring up the old East vs West Coast beef one last time, I'd say my "one over the other" preference of Biggie and 2Pac is a **lot** more even than it was before. Even without having heard the rest of 'Pac's discography, I can just tell that this is his masterwork, even if I do have some small gripes with it. Let's begin with the positives, though. For one, 2Pac is indeed a hell of a rapper. His flows are just so damn engaging, the way they ride and bounce over the beats. And his voice? Woof, boy, if I thought JAY-Z had a voice for rapping...! (Also, me being me, I don't have any specific remarks about his lyricism to remark on — damn AuDHD brain — but even despite my handicap in understanding, I can just tell, he's a master wordsmith. All my thumbs up.) As for the beats, then... Woof, I'll say again: there can be almost nothing like West Coast beats. These aren't the usual kind of West Coast beats I'm used to (aka, CHRONIC-style G-funk), but when that synth hits just right... Oh, I am so all the way there for it. Even the best East Coast beat, whether it be chipmunk soul or the kind of stuff that's on READY TO DIE, can't compete (and as an added bonus, there's no producer mumbling over every track — OK, last East Coast/Biggie mention for real, I promise). Each beat is so unique, too; you'd hardly be able to mistake one for any other. Now, my small gripes, which mostly all revolve around the album's length. As great as 'Pac is as a rapper, after an hour of this material (even with the way I was listening to it, split up by record sides) I'd be lying if I said it didn't get a bit stale after a while. Only a bit! Nothing here's bad! But I'unno, after "Dear Mama" (the best track on the album), it all felt a little like the album could have been trimmed just a **smidge**, y'know? Like, for real, a good most of the tracks on here have 'Pac mentioning he wants to be "buried like a G," and I get that death like that was on his mind given what'd just happened in his life (as explained in the album's intro), and it's like, as a result, I'm not faulting him for wanting to rap about it so much... It's just something I couldn't help but notice, y'know? Also, the lyrics right at the top of "Fuck The World" aren't... Great, but at least they're the only ones where I hafta hit 'em with the side-eye. Other than that, though, yeah, this is a **really** good album. I don't know how often I'd go through the whole thing (I get the feeling on most future listens I might stop on "Dear Mama", like how with THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP I rarely ever go further than "Kim"), but it's such an incredibly strong showing of 2Pac's skills on the mic that I can't help but be impressed by it. Certainly, it's the best showcase I've heard yet why 2Pac was the face of the East Coast during the beef. It's the only 'Pac album on the list, and frankly, I'm glad it was this one over ALL EYEZ ON ME. Essential, for sure.
A powerful album from a huge talent; I can still respect his honesty and skill. Dear Mama always hits; beautiful and moving, especially as a mother. RIP 2Pac.
His voice is always deeper than I expect. Not much to complain about with this one. Dear Mama is a classic. The rapping is strong and consistent. If I was more into west coast hip hop from this era it would be a 5 but didn’t quite get there for me. High 4.
Liked this better than I expected to. Equally R&B and rap. Violent but not as angry as other ganster rap. I guess he was ready to go.
This was a solid album if a little long. The first non intro track features some of the best lyrical alliteration since “helplessly hoping” and the beats were fun west coast thumpers throughout. I cant say I understand why people say Tupac is one of the best rappers of all time (maybe you had to be there) but he clearly has something to say. He is relatively progressive in his approach to women here and warns young people about the dangers of following his path. His murder is all the more tragic when you hear all of the love he has for New York rap pioneers and the gunshots that end the album.
If i die 2nite: Nice beat, lyrics and flow. The idea is clear and sets the tone for the album as well as the intro. Title track: very similar theme to the first song, i love the more jazzy elements but consistent instrumental things. Now its more about an outside and systemic consideration of his conditions rather than the immediate presence of mortality. So many tears: he elaborates and evolves a very solid identity of the album, refers back and builds; both lyrically and instrumentally. Banger and personal song. Temptations: fire and fitting beat. Shifting from serious to horny, probably a needed vibe change to balance things out. "Let me open the gates of heaven" "Give them the finger" "Find a spot for you to do me" "Something something about releasing fluid" Young n***z*: i am a fan of the synth(?) OooOOghh stuff. Each song so far has been very nice on the ears, this one especially. Going back and addressing his behaviours in the title track, highlighting the importance of something meaningful to fill your life with, perhaps doing music regardless of the attempts on his life and his desire to die. I'm a fan of the background vocals and the congas percussion. Heavy on the game: money money moneyyy, meaning into pursuing fame and money to replace the thug aspects of his life. Feeling above his past in a sense, playing into the system that has exploited him and his community while convincing himself its because of his skill and dedication to its rules "I don't care what it did to them its been good to me." Richie rich being credited on this song as well is funny to me. Lord knows: Ooooohhhh that sound just scratches my brain. 'Lord knows just another blunt wont fix it but I cant stop.' Favorite track up till now. Dear Mama: i hope she skipped "temptations" listening to this album. More sentimental piano/keyboard is fitting and well placed. "cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger" is real. First time acknowledging hope for life itself, going back against his hopelessness earlier :) It ain't easy: similar thing to so many tears, a reconsideration with the weed and other themes from lord knows, difficulty from succeeding in the system referring back to heavy on the game, trying to find hope from the previous song and being thrown back into the difficulty of thug habits. Really chill vibes and its catchy. However, less focus on death and more on just incarceration so a little lighter in mood than the beginning. Can U get away: female vocalist slaying on this track, elevating it above the already amazing vibes and sound. He's a bit of a simp but that's okay. Probably in part obsessed with this girl because she doesn't give it to him right away and there is an obstruction in the way, perhaps. Seems his feelings are genuine though, to get her away from her unhappy relationship shes stuck in for religious reasons(?). Old school: cant say much, i don't recognize if the sound is a reference to some of these artists he mentions, don't recognize any of them. Fuck the World: fuck the (white dominated) world. Now thug vibes are not the ones he wants to escape entirely, wants to embrace for the solidarity and fun outside of the hypocritical expectations placed on him? Given i don't relate to the content this might be entirely wrong. Death around the corner: omgggg that guitar and drum machine and beat holyyy molyyy. Okay back to violence, full circle, except now he doesn't trust anyone and is going insane from weed, talks down to the love for his mom, his friends, his romantic interest. Instrumentally, this is my favorite track now. Outlaw: probably the consequences of the last song continued. "Before i close my eyes i fantasize about living well/when I awake I realize im just a prisoner in hell." Judges and police are pointless and just the problem so just gotta get above it all. I think the previous song would have worked better as a conclusion to the album but this ones nice too. Overall quite a bit of repetition with the themes and sentiments but backed with solid lyrical skill and the amazing mixing + consistent and creative instrumentation really elevates this album
Favorite song: Death Around the Corner and So Many Tears Tupac is good. The epitome of "classic rap". With how influential this album was it makes sense that Tupac's lyricism and ability to address issues through his music is very well done. This is one of those albums where I want the lyrics in front of me as I listen.
As with most rap, I feel its not made for me, but I still can appreciate why 2Pac is considered one of the greats
I was about to come in here and complain that All Eyez On Me should have been on the list instead of this album, but you know what? Both should be on here. This is also 2Pac at his best. Both albums show different sides of him, and this has some of his best lyrics. “Dear Mama” is a classic, but there are so many great tracks here. I do sort of wish they had eliminated the final track because “Outlaw” is really the only weak link. But this album is still amazing. I’d give this a 4.5 if I could, but I have to round down just because it doesn’t have much replay value for me, and most of my favorite 2Pac tracks are on other albums. He is one of the best rappers of all time, and this album proves it.
2Pac is a legend. Great listen!
Solid album
I can kind of understand why he's so unanimously considered one of the best of all time, as I think he's great at making songs as a full product/concept, and there are quite a lot of elements of conscious rap in here, as he is talking about some quite heavy themes, its especially sad to hear him say about how paranoid he is of death, knowing what happened later. It doesn't really sound 'west coast' as I think the real distinctive stuff was the G-funk stuff later with Dr.dre and the like, but there are some gliding lead synths on some of the songs. Not too much bad to say, I'm not too keen on some of the beats of some of the songs. Favourite songs: If I die 2nite, me against the world, so many tears, young fellaz, heavy in the game, lord knows, dear Mama, can U get away, old school. Overall around 8/10
Ja ik heb hier dus een enorm zwak voor. Old school, boombap beats en de fantastische lyrics van Tupac. Toch de allergrootste What-if in muziek voor mij, samen met Biggie. Hij flowt echt fantastisch over de verschillende beats en switcht moeiteloos qua content door je continue te laten nadenken over hoe hij de wereld ziet. Lyricaal een van de beste ooit, sterke stem, goede beats. Easy 5 sterren toch? Nee nee, toch net niet. Het album begint ijzersterk en ik vroeg me meteen af waarom ik nog verder zou luisteren, dit is toch een classic? Absoluut, maar het album kakt wel een beetje in na de ijzersterke openingstracks. Het pakt wel weer wat op richting het einde, en natuurlijk Dear Mama halverwege, maar toch is het album niet zo consistent als ik had gewild. Dit album is ontzettend invloedrijk, je hoort zijn paranoia en woede op dit moment, tussen de eerste aanslag en zn gevangenis straf in. Ik hoop dat All Eyez On Me hier ook op staat, vind die misschien wel nog beter. Maar uiteindelijk, dit is een absolute klassieker, kakt wel een beetje in halverwege maar kom op; dit is Tupac, een van de beste ooit! Easy 4 sterren. FAVO: If I die 2nite, Me against the world, So many tears, Young , Dear Mama, Old School, Death around the corner
Starts with a skit and is far too long But, classic. Heavy in the Game, excellent Dear Mama, excellent F THE WORLD is probably the best song on the album
I actually remember this one. 2Pac was as good as any one else in the hip hop scene.
Loved the album. The lyrics hit hard. It might be about gang violence and the thug life. But if you take it to be about wrong decisions you've taken in life, I believe everybody can learn something from it.
Cool!
Pretty calm chill album. Many song that you can reflect about
A classic Hip Hop album.
Alright, I get it. This is pretty dope.
I don't normally listen to rap but I get why he's considered one of the best - inspired me to listen to his other songs too, and I feel like it only gets better the more you listen.
Not typically into rap, but this album flowed really well. Every song went into the next seamlessly and it didn’t feel at all like a little over an hour long. Excellent.
Poet for real.
First time listening to a Tupac album. Very much enjoyed.
старина внатуре против всего мира встал
Important and markedly American in a way I’ll never be able to fully comprehend. Glad I heard, no desire to hear again category.
Worth the hype, the GOAT for a reason.
The West Coast gets a win this time. Shakur was one interesting guy. "Dear Mama" is actually a 90s classic. It's a shame he got ravelled up in a life of crime. I wonder what 2Pac would be doing if he was alive. 4 stars for "Me Against the World".
Classic from one of the GOATs
Some of the best hip-hop on the list, no question. The lo-fi synths and beats predate the huge popularity boom of the lo-fi genre by at least a decade. And that's especially nifty because lo-fi is, in my opinion, one of the best-sounding musical styles out there. I wish this list had more artists in the genre (Ween, Grifters, etc.). I genuinely believe that if all the songs on here had solid melodies instead of (relatively) monotone rapping, it would be 5-star material. As it stands, the best-sounding tracks are the ones with singing. The female guest vocalists are generally excellent and complement both 2Pac's hardened rapping and the chill, jazz-electronic fusion backing instrumental. Normally I'm not a fan of the low-budget-sounding production in 90s hip-hop, but I think it works unusually well here, mostly on account of the synths. And man, those synths. They're so smooth, harmonious, catchy, jazzy, that you can't help but nod your head. 2Pac forgets to include the synths in a scant few tracks (including If I Die 2Nite and Heavy In The Game), but it's hard to actively dislike any of the remaining music. 2Pac is clearly laser-focused on his lyrics. And while I'm not normally a lyrics guy, I can appreciate a 90s hip-hop artist thinking of content other than sex and misogyny. Sure, there's a lot of talk of violence – but Me Against The World seems to act as an autobiography, a reason to explain why he is the way he is. A defence mechanism, a reaction to the harmful/racist culture that shaped him and his environment... however you want to split it. I wholeheartedly agree with what another reviewer said: "This felt a little like someone was finally explaining it all to me – the background and the context and the emotions of someone finally trying to process his life experience as he reached adulthood. It goes beyond the protective bravado to, for me, a more interesting place." 4/5 Key tracks: So Many Tears, Dear Mama, Can U Get Away
One loves the mostly chill and tuneful beats, the distinctively husky voice, and the seeming seriousness of the presentation presaging the all-too-early end, a la Romantic poets (or something). It's the West Coast g-funk fingerprints that make this so listenable. One's not qualified to speak to the rest of his canon, but the sweet-smooth-soulful vibes makes this a keeper. there are five to seven first-rate cuts that hold up better than many contemporaneous records, with their time-boxing name-dropping.
Good good good!!
Classic 90s hip hop. Man this was good, felt like 2 middle fingers to the world and anyone in it from 2pac. This could be a 5, but I did feel like some of the songs/lyrics were a little dated/products of the times
Sometimes even when the album is not a genre you like, you stop to appreciate an artist that is top tier. Such is the case with 2pac. His poetry is every bit as solid as Dylan's, and the tapestry is filled with insight
I haven't listened to anything from this album in probably 20 years. That was a dumb idea. Pac has always been in my top three rappers. His flow is legendary, his lyrics poetic and significant, and I have always appreciated his ability to take a sample of some other song and breathe new life into it. That said, I definitely need to draw a distinction between the man and his art. Nobody DESERVES to be murdered like he was, but it definitely shouldn't be a surprise when a person lives a life harming others or being directly responsible for the deaths of other people. It seems to me 2Pac was not a person trying to change the world for the better, but more trying to improve his own circumstances by whatever means he felt necessary. Perhaps if he would have lived into maturity, he would have become a better human. We'll never know
I like this song because it has cool beats. I would recommend this song I like this song because it has cool instruments in the background. I would recommend this song I like this song because it has a lot of beats and there are no sad parts. I would recommend this song
Do you want to listen to some music that has some rap? Well in dear mama you can! I rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a nice beat? Well in to many tears you can! I rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some good drums? Well in Outlaw you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song.
I kind of like this album because I like how his voice sounds but I don't like how the instruments are used in the back. I would recommend this to someone else because it's not a bad song and I feel like someone else would have a high chance of enjoying this. I would give it 4 stars out of 5.
i do like this album because 2pac is a really good artist and all his songs are very good I would recommend this album to someone.
Pretty good
3-4 Dicke Hose, aber schon ganz cool
Much better than I was expecting
A raw and nostalgic record where you can hear and feel all of Pac’s emotion. He was truly a wizard with his words and delivery. Grew up listening to a lot of old hip hop so it was refreshing to catch back up on Pac and his craft. Favorites: Me Against The World, So Many Tears, Dear Mama
I'm not really a rap fan with a few exceptions like Arrested Development, Eminem and some Kendrick Lamar. I guess this is considered old school rap. To me it's more interesting than a lot of the rap that I've heard from this period (NWA, Snoop Dog, etc...). Has more soul with it's rolling, melodic bass lines which gives it a more funky vibe which I like. Definitely a cut above other rap I've heard. 4 stars
9/10
No skits on this is huge. The songs are also pretty good. Will I listen to again: 75%
Need to listen to more
Never listened a ton to Hip/Hop or rap but this is a crazy album. On first listen its got great sound and feel, but learning about 2Pac's sentence and incarceration surrounding this gives it some real context.
It's all solid and the rap flows nicely, but there's just a little something to it that doesn't pull me in.
solid
We're it not for a out 3-4 songs that really appeal to me, this would have been a 3. But those few songs offset the ones that drag for me.
a good album, but not the best 2Pac record as a whole. Still a classic, but lacks any real memorable moments other than Dear Mama
Really, really enjoyed this one. Haven't ever listened to a 2Pac album before. My rating is with the caveat of separating the art from the artist.
Let's be honest, he was not a good person, for that reason, I don't agree with the way he is idolized by so many. I'm admittedly biased as I grew up on 90s hiphop, so there's a major nostalgia factor in play. I love this album and appreciate the social commentary in his lyrics, notably in So Many Years, Lord Knows and Dear Mama. Old School is such a great track as well.
I never got into 2Pac. This is a good album. 4/5
I realized I haven't listened to too much 2Pac, but after this album I totally get the hype
Amazing lyricist and amazing delivery. There's a reason 2Pac is consistently in the GOAT conversation.
Really close to giving this a 5/5. A masterclass in beats and rapping. I know a lot of it isn't his most famous stuff, but this is some of my personal favorite stuff I've heard from him. The thing holding his albums back for me is that they're too long. If it was a solid 10-12 tracks, less than 40 minutes, just the best stuff, I probably would give this a 5 but I feel that there's filler here and particularly in the second half things don't flow as well.
Legendarisk hiphop, personligt, indflydelserigt
Some pleasant songs
never listened to this all the way through before! yes ofc
I'm not a rap guy. At all. I'm certainly aware of Tupac, but wouldn't have been able to bane a song or album by him. I've given pretty low scores to every radio or hip hop album that's vibe my way -- merely because I cannot get into the genre. I did not redirect to like this, but I liked it quite a bit. To be chear, I fully believe good rap artists are true poets. But I just don't gebretatose enjoy the style enough to give it the attention it deserves. This album has a mellowness and clarity that made it easy to listen to abd easy to follow. I do cover back to it a few more tires so I can more fully appreciate Tupac's poetry.
I enjoyed my first 2Pac album. I'll dive in for some more
I love his voice. I love his style of rapping. It’s an incredible album no doubt about it.
Has the flaws of a lot of 90s gangsters rap. But certainly the man has flow.
Not the biggest Pac fan, but I get it. Much better than most of his releases.
3-4
4.5
So much better than I was expecting
When lyrics really meant something, damn
++: Intro, If I Die 2Nite, Me Against the World, So Many Tears, Heavy in the Game, Lord Knows, Dear Mama, Can U Get Away, Old School, Fuck the World, Death Around the Corner, Outlaw +: Temptations, It Ain't Easy 9,6/10
Given that I've already received an album from The Notorious B.I.G. on this journey, it only stands to reason that I should also receive one from 2Pac. Two sides of the same coin - up-and-coming gangsta rappers taken far too soon. The only question would be which album represented Tupac Shakur on this list. Given the enduring popularity of All Eyez on Me's title track, "How Do U Want It" and "California Love", I figured that album would have been here. Instead, we get the arguably next best one. Me Against the World was released while Tupac was incarcerated for various assaults he was involved in. There is no denying the man was far from a saint. Rather than ignoring his troubles, Tupac faced them head-on in this album. From opening on his contemplation of death to street violence in "If I Die 2Nite" and the title track, to the struggle with his inner demons on "So Many Tears", to the sensitivity and appreciation towards his mother on "Dear Mama", 2Pac tries to reconcile with himself given his rough upbringing and the injustice he bore witness at the time not just for himself but for other black Americans growing up in a gang-influenced world. In that sense, your mileage with this album will depend on how much you are willing to accept his self-reconciliation. I can accept it, acknowledging the man's flaws without being quick to dismiss him. Helping to get the messaging along is 2Pac's impeccable flow alongside the smooth production, eclectic samples, and guest appearances. The only time the music felt weak was on the flat hook of the closer "Outlaw". Otherwise, the rest of the album carried the G-funk styling of the mid-90s. Certainly a product of its time, but still well-produced in that regard. Overall, I had a reasonably good time with Me Against the World, and as such give it a solid recommendation.
Really solid album, easy 4 stars. The beats are amazing and 2pac has a very clear delivery. Lots of good tracks but Dear Mama is the highlight for me.
Another case where I think an artists one and only inclusion on this list was credited to an album which has some historical significance. In this case being the album released during his incarceration. As opposed to one of their best accomplishments. There's a handful of good songs here but a lot felt pretty standard fare. I should probably give this a 3 but my disappointment at the lack of other 2pac albums on here and my bewilderment at some of the negative reviews for this push it to a 4 for me. Highlights: If I Die 2nite, Dear Mama, Young Niggaz
I was told this man was a bum rapist so I did a bit of research on the fella, his views, his activism, and the actual charges that he got slapped with and I have to conclude that he got got by the same federal COINTELPRO machine that got Fred Hampton (PBUH) and continues to slander other black activists like MLKjr with bogus accusations and witnesses that appear out of thin air. I just want to stress that this fellas accuser was introduced to him by an FBI informant. Tupac literally dindu nuffin. Anyway that’s irrelevant to the actual album. I don’t really like this era of West Coast production and I don’t really care for his delivery and voice generally, but I can’t deny the lyricism on the majority of these tracks. I can’t rate this one poorly on personal preference, it’s objectively good.
God rest the eternal martyred soul of 2pac. The standout tracks on this are great, the lyricism is top notch but a lot of this album went by me on repeat listens and I just found myself listening to the highlights again. Not my preferred 2pac album. I'm definitely not the target demographic for this, nor was I when I first was exposed to it as a child. Ummed and ahhed about giving this either a 3 or a 4 but if I'm going to come back to it (albeit with skips), it's gonna be a 4. Highlights: If I Die 2Nite, Me Against The World, Dear Mama, Fuck The World
Expected to cringe through this one, but I was wrong. The controversy swirling around him in those days made it easy to dismiss him as just another hack. But no, there was real talent here. Excellent flow, interesting beats, fine production, real music. Nothing to complain about, and I am hunting for flaws. There’s really good shit here. Wish we could have seen his work develop. Whoever really is responsible for killing PAC and Biggie robbed us all.
2Pac was so interesting, and different than the other “gangster” rappers. He’ll talk about all the “thug life” stuff but simultaneously talk about what a toll it’s taking on him mentally. He’s emotionally vulnerable, talking about how much he cries and worries. It’s deeper than a lot of other, blander music in this genre, that is a lot about bravado and bragging and not much else. I get why this is a step above the rest.
Classic from when Rap was good
I was expecting a tad bit more from this. There are some phenomenal songs on here but if we include the filler the quality goes down slightly. Cutting a few songs on here would have made this way better. The subject matter gets a bit stale here and there. That being said I wouldn't say that are any bad songs on here (not even mid). I'm conflicted on this but overall this was a great listen and I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys hip-hop should listen to this (if you haven't already). Top 3 Best: Dear Mama (easily), So Much Tears, and Can U Get Away (so underrated) Top 3 Worst: no bad songs 4.50/5
obviously an absolute classic but hasn't aged as well as some of its contemporaries imo
This was a fierce, focused record. Pac is firing on all cylinders here and it results in one of his strongest records ever. Great beats, great lyrics, great flow.
Very good. Not tupacs best but a lovely combination of g funk, hardcore gansta rap and r&b and soul.
Zolang hij zingt over normale dingen en niet te stoer probeert te zijn, is het best aardige muziek. Maar het gevaar ligt altijd op de loer dat dit mama's kindje toch even verbaal uit moet halen naar de concullega's. Alleen ging dat er destijds niet zo vriendschappelijk aan toe in de ghetto's van Murica, want ze schoten elkaar gewoon lekker overhoop. Keurig gewerkt. Van 2Pac zelf is dus na de zoveelste shooting niks meer over, van zijn muziek eigenlijk ook steeds minder. Waar hij op een voetstuk werd gezet vlak na zijn dood, hoor je er eigenlijk steeds minder van (op de verschillende radiostations). De vraag is of dat terecht is of onterecht. Als ik er zo naar luister, zit er wel een aardige vibe en groove in. Ook weer met een typisch early 90s beatje. Zeker wat funky invloeden. Het blijft natuurlijk wel een genre dat niet helemaal mijn straatje is, welk subgenre van rap of hiphop dit ook mag zijn. Ik heb het idee dat zijn vroege dood er wel mee te maken heeft dat de muziek iets meer gehypet is, maar op zich zit het allemaal best goed in elkaar. Ik kan er best even naar luisteren, al is uiteraard meer dan een uur weer iets veel te veel van het goede. Gelukkig komt de hit over de helft van het album, waardoor je toch weer even opveert. Al met al toch een hele degelijke 3,5.
I used to be a hater of long songs just in general and I think ive evolved, and ik none of these songs are even that long but they are all consistently around 4-5 min which I think is a little lengthy for the avg/standard. I feel like anything lengthy you gotta do something spicy to warrant the time. Also I feel like a bit of variety in song length in an album is wayy good for keeping me engaged and this didn't do that. Anyways other than that I think this is quite good and I enjoyed it.
Production made this album feel long and a bit stale after some time but you can tell why people think 2pac is the greatest rapper ever. He sounded great
Setting: Airport. IAH to LGA A look into Tupac’s life. Scary and powerful stuff. Quite the role model especially for those who have had similar experience
3.8 1x
Having grown up as a middle-class white boy, this album strongly resonates with my lived experience
It was a bit hard to get into at first - unlike other hip hop albums 2Pacs brilliance is understated - this record doesn’t blow mr away like some Biggie or Nas albums do but it’s solid and tight with some of the most level headed lyrics of the era. And I love there are no skits.
Never listened to this album. Enjoyed it!
He might be the best rapper of all time. He must be protected at all costs. Keep this man out of jail and make him president!
I've always found the 'Intro' news report clips and the following 'If I Die 2Nite' super eerie knowing how 2Pac's life would tragically end so shortly after this album's release and just a few years after the 1994 Quad Studio shooting this album alludes to so heavily. 2Pac is an incredibly smooth rapper who values flow, delivery, and charisma over speed and excessive wordplay. He's an iconic voice in the genre if there ever was one - no one quite sounds like him. But I've always found this album to be particularly bloated, despite it being significantly shorter than his double-album follow-up 'All Eyez On Me', which, in my opinion, has all his bangers, and is one of my favorite West Coast hip-hop albums of all time. This album though holds some of Shakur's more intimate and contemplative tracks, given his semi-paranoid state after the shooting. Where his follow-up feels like a never-ending party, this album feels meditative - like a gloomy day spent alone. 'Me Against The World', the title track, has an incredible set of Dramacydal member features, but it's 2Pac's final verse here that sort of hammers the ideas of this album home. 'Lord Knows' and especially 'Death Around The Corner' also heavily showcase Pac's paranoid "die anytime" mentality paired with an almost apathetic attitude towards his death. Pac's uncertainty about his future and the existential loops he puts himself through on this record are just very sad to listen to. 2Pac also heavily criticizes the gangster lifestyle that got him to where he was at the time of this album's release, in an almost teaching moment for the upcoming youth. I obviously can't talk about this album without mentioning 'Dear Mama', one of the greatest rap songs of all time, and one that rarely fails to bring me to tears. In this song, 2Pac regrets his mistreatment of his mother when he was younger, while still appreciating her unconditional love towards him. "And there's no way I can pay you back, but my plan is to show you that I understand" ... perfectly said. It's not all serious though, I do enjoy the lightheartedness of the nostalgic 'Old School' quite a bit as well as the parts romantic and parts empathetic ode to Left Eye that is 'Can U Get Away'. I'd say this album's biggest pitfall is its, occasionally, barebones production, something that the follow-up improves upon tremendously. It's not bad at all, just very mundane, bassy, and beige at times. Certain hooks, like on 'Temptations' don't really do it for me either. I suppose it still fits the music well - and there are still some great moments like the funky 'Young N' or the melodic bass-backed and west-coast-whistle-driven 'It Ain't Easy'. This album sits so perfectly among the many varied sounds of '90s hip-hop. It's smooth and easily accessible on the surface all while never compromising its many overarching themes. It's an in-depth look into the psyche and struggles of one of hip-hop's messiahs - and without a doubt, an essential listen.
Much better than expected: playful, tuneful, entertaining
I think some of the messages are poignant and his voice is powerful, as are the more samples. But southern rap still is richer to me.
#347. I was honestly this to be overhyped nonsense because he was dead like the Notorious BIG album, but nah this one's actually pretty good. 4/5: solid.
Solid. Maybe as good as All Eyez On Me?
Easy to listen to West Coast 90’s hip hop the reminds me of old school Snoop. Easy to listen to. 70”s sampling.
3.5
Me Against The World // Young Niggaz // Lord Knows // Dear Mama // It Ain’t Easy // Old School //
This is exactly what I want to hear when it comes to 90s hip-hop in a good way. No crazy dj effects or anything, just straight up beats and great flow. Old School was probably my favorite song on here, went very hard.
Fuck yeah love some Pac. Remember Kado. This doesn't have some of my fav Pac on it but its honestly still all solid. Lyrics are top notch for it as well.
Worth digging into again
3.5 rounded up i understand why this is on here and it’s certainly quite good, but it’s also way longer than it needs to be highlights: me against the world, so many tears, dear mama, it ain’t easy (feb 23 2026)
Gave it four listens today. Hey Mama is still a great track, but I feel this isn’t the album where Pac’s lyrics really started to shine. 4/5
Favorite Track: Death Around The Corner
Might be the most blisteringly honest rap album I've had so far. A window into a life so completely different from mine and yet he makes you understand. Solid songs but the lyrics were the most dazzling part. Not sure how to describe my experience listening to this - a very complex album for me. Glad I heard it
Fire nigga
the greatest of his generation
West coast hip hop > east coast hip hop Good bears and true emotion here. I really wonder how 2pac would have handled the Bush or Orange Asshole administrations.
Not really my genre, but the grove is deep and his lyrics deeper.
Pretty good
Will listen to more 2Pac because of this!
Me Against The World was actually a very good album. The production here was legitimately amazing with the instrumentals incorporating quite a bit of R&B elements which i really do like. 2Pac's rapping was also really smart and also really fit well with the flow of every song. None of the songs here were bad either even if the album was around 1 hour long. This is definitely a really great album. Best Song: Me Against The World Worst Song: So Many Tears
I couldn't really get all that invested. There were times and parts where a lyric grabbed me.
Pretty good, leading onto All Eyez On Me
Third album this week with the N word....but at least it wasn't a surprise as much as the last two. 2Pac's voice is deeper than I expected. He sounds like he should be about 100 pounds heavier than he is. I also expected this to be a posthumous release based on what happened, but was actually a year before he died and that is kinda eerie. Of the hip hop albums I've had here, this one is probably favorite outside of maybe Common. I just respect the authenticity and effort put into their tracks. It's not just gangster thug stuff, but a lot of personal, thoughtful and emotional lyrics. Favorite track "Dear Mama" 4/5
Just classic rap. Not as amazing as other albums from this time period, but still good.
Some good stuff finally
Love 2Pac. But I like All Eyez on Me album the most.
Wasnt listening very closely, but lyrically very nice
Genuinely well written rap. Rap will never be my favorite genre, but I recognize good when I hear it.
“My mom couldn’t find a place to rest, until I got that ‘thug life’ tatted on my chest”. I think that line from So Many Tears sums up why 2Pac is so great. His music tells stories of dreadful violence, pain, and suffering, but does not glorify his life. In fact, it shows how this life was the only feasible route to achieve any relative comfort (let alone success) out of deprived communities on the West Coast of the states in the 90s. One of the biggest disservices to rap music is to write it off as harmful notions of violence that do not need to be shared with the world. People like 2Pac told real stories that shoved the truth of systemically oppressed African American communities into the mainstream, into the face of those living comfortable lives that often profited off of their suffering. Yes such lyrics made, and make, people uncomfortable, but why shouldn’t they? I’m sure life was a lot more uncomfortable for kids like 2Pac who grew up with crime as their only way out of absolute poverty, than for outsiders hearing their stories. Favourite track(s): So Many Tears, Dear Mama, Old School
It feels a lot more sincere than a lot of the similar rap in the last few years. Definitely a good album to represent 90's rap.
classic. better than i remember. still not what i want to listen to
Great album.
It’s fantastic. It sounds older than I remembered. He is such an incredible wordsmith and whilst I’ve always got him on my playlists, I haven’t given a full album a listen in years so this was a great nudge.
I was expecting to hate this cause I typically hate gangsta rap but I actually kinda enjoyed it. I’d like to give it a 3.5 but I can’t so it’s gonna get a 4 and I will explain why. He didn’t glorify the thug life so much as explain it as a matter of necessity and a product of how he was brought up. I appreciated that and the fact that he was very cognizant of the repercussions of his lifestyle and the wake of death that it leaves behind. You can’t say the same for very many other rappers. I don’t think he quite deserves the god tier status that he occupies in rap/pop culture and I don’t really understand why he’s so deified but that’s a minor point.
I wish we could have gotten the 2Pacs in order of release but I fear this will be the only one. I didn’t connect with every song but this was a good album. Loved the mix of some jazz and beats along with the poetry of his lyrics. Guy had a lot of passion and worry.
Loved it. Kinda surprised that this was our first 2Pac album, I thought we would've had All Eyez On Me by now as well (would be pretty surprised if that's not on here too). Great old school hip hop beats, and the lyrics are excellent - doesn't take much to remember why Pac is as revered as he is. Especially loved hearing bits of live guitar in the beats, it's just really well-produced. I know there will always be a debate of Pac vs. Biggie, and for me it's just no contest. Tupac has an undeniable presence, powerful lyrics, maybe not as technical a rapper as Biggie but I'd rather listen to this than Ready to Die, frankly. Don't care if that's sacrilege, it's the truth. Favorite tracks: It Ain't Easy, Dear Mama, If I Die 2Nite, Me Against the World, Heavy in the Game, Old School, Fuck the World. Album art: Just Pac chilling, leaned against a wall or something. The sepia art style is nice, I like this one. Not super memorable though. 4.5/5
A lot of the haters and losers don't like this album but they're wrong. I've always been a big G-Funk fan and I love the production and backing vocals. But it's the storytelling, right? A young man who can barely hold his false bravado long enough to fill one track before the next track muses on depression, suicide, how bad it feels to be letting your mommy down, etc. Complicated fella. The girlfriend monologue about how her man doesn't eat, doesn't sleep, doesn't work, doesn't fuck, just stands peering out the window all night holding an AK-47, incredible imagery.
Some of this aged like milk but the top hits are still great decades later.
Very good albeit repetitive in the end. I would also take a little bit less of these syrupy choruses but some of these tracks are so strong that its flaws are easily forgiven.
I'm glad I can finally discover the great 2Pac. I always like when there's a melancholic/existential feel supported with a boom bap/gangsta rap beat and this album have a lot of tracks doing it very well. 1995 is a blessed year for hip-hop and this album is another proof of this.
4/5. I saw this labeled as "rap blues" and that seems about right, more soulful and R&B based. The lyrics are very pronounced, easy to follow and sing a long to even. The highlights are the beats and the solid instrumentals that make these songs stand out among other 90s rap. There is definitely a perspective I am not familiar with as I am not a black man who grew up without privilege. I can definitely hear the passion in the lyrics and how important this must have been for so many disenfranchised people. I could make this a low review for what 2Pac has done to make this album a little cringe to listen to, and some of that is preventing this from being a 5, considering the songs are literally about being the victim in all aspects of his life, which is not true, but true enough as a black man in America that I can respect most of the album. Best Song: Me Against the World, Temptations, Dear Mama
Although I'm admittedly not a huge fan of hip hop, I was looking forward to hearing Tupac Shakur. The reputation of this album precedes it, and 2Pac largely delivers on every level. The album is beautifully crafted and highly listenable, with 2Pac's lyrical skill being second to none. Shakur presents a dark, fatalist worldview in these songs which is a little hard to take knowing how his story ended. But he delivers it with surprising sensitivity and an ear to the musical. Really compelling stuff, one of the truly great albums of this genre. Fave Songs: Dear Mama, So Many Tears, Old School, Me Against the World, Lord Knows, If I Die 2Nite
The amount of introspection and storytelling on this album is wonderful. I love hip-hop when the lyricism is on point because, in my opinion, a good beat can only take you so far (the main reason why I don't enjoy the majority of mainstream hip-hop). This album is a solid listen across the board, with Me Against The World being my main highlight.
Never been a fan of gangster rap but this is probably as good as it gets. Couldn't help but find myself nodding my head to the beat.
Tupac predicts his own death here. Incredibly introspective album
Komt harder aan na zn dood zo
I haven't actually listened to much 2Pac despite the general acclaim for his music. This is the 3rd of his 4 album that came out when he was alive (released about a year before his death). He was already a big deal at this point, and this was written when he was about to go to prison. He also got shot around this time, so there was a lot going on for 2Pac. I was generally really impressed by this album, it was an enjoyable listen. I think I expected it to be a bit more early Ice Cube harder rap, but it's actually fairly mellow and thoughtful throughout. It's really well produced and he's clearly a super talented artist and lyricist. I think it's missing a real standout track on here ("Dear Mama" is the most famous one, and it's nice but isn't a massive standout to me), but on the whole it's a really strong album. Favorite song: Me Against The World Other: If I Die 2Nite, So Many Tears, Temptations, Heavy In The Game, Lord Knows, Dear Mama, It Ain't Easy, Old School 5/2/24
Me Against the World 'I was raised in the city, shitty Ever since I was an itty bitty kitty Drinkin' liquor out my momma's titty' I’ve not really listened to 2pac much, aside from California Love, which I probably like more for the Dre production. I never really liked his delivery and the sense of aggression I perceived him to have (although I have to acknowledge that might be unconscious bias against the stereotypical angry black man on my part). However I’ve seen a few docs and read a bit about Hip Hop and him and it always seems like there’s much more to him than the perception of a a violent gangsta rapper. His background and life story are pretty interesting, a lot conflictions and contradictions, so I was interested to listen to this. I suppose there are two or three things to listen out for with a lot of hip hop albums, the production and the rapping style and lyrics. Production-wise, I’m not so keen on some of the drum sounds, but I do like the west coast tempo and the construction of the beats themselves. And in general I do like the g-funk sound, with that whistley keyboard (?) sound in the background, as on Lord Knows, and the 70s soul guitar and string sounds. Some of the backing vocals and vocal hooks I really don’t like though, particularly the male vocals on Young N-z and the female vocals on Can U Get Away. There are also some great samples, eg Walk on By on If I Die 2Nite and Stevie on So Many Tears. Lyrically while on the surface there’s a fair bit of N words, drugs and violence, for me isn’t necessarily a simple glorification of those things - similar to Nas it feels more like reportage of what he’s actually seen and done. And Songs like Dear Mama and Can U Get Away are quite unusual set against the pervasive misogyny of a lot of the other rap around at the time. And overall there just seems to be a resignation, sadness and bleakness about it all. Even Intro, which could be seen as braggadocio about being shot and checking out of hospital feels more like an attempt to acknowledge some kind of trauma to me and it’s striking how often he undercuts and questions the violence, the assumptions and hopelessness of what he experienced, particularlly on Death Around the Corner and Outlaw. That’s not to say there’s no stereotypical guns’n’hoes stuff on here but it’s less frequent than the more considered and thoughtful stuff. I also started to appreciate his delivery more after this, he does have a unique style but some of his rhymes and wordplay are great. There is also something faintly Dylanesque with his cadence, the way he delivers Me Against the World and some of Dear Mama for eg. Reading a bit more about his career he seemed to embrace a more overtly gangsta stance and style after this album, becoming almost a caricature of the West Coast Thug Life rapper. I guess that might overshadow this album or paint it in the same light, but I don’t think that would be fair, as it seems to me there is a lot of depth lyrically and thematically to this. I’m by no means a hip hop aficionado, and obviously his experience is so far removed from my own experiences but I really liked this album and found it really interesting. Even if some of the production elements I wasn’t as keen on I enjoyed the sound overall, and the lyrics and delivery are worth repeat listens - there is a lot of density to it and getting beyond my initial perceptions of him being a gangsta rapper and aggression I got a lot out of it. I’m definitely going to give the albums before this a listen and may give All Eyez on Me a listen too, for a bit more context. It’s probably between around a 3.5 but I’ll round up to 4 as I was surprised how much I got from this and I’m sure I’ll be revisiting it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really solid album. Definitely warrants another listen.
4.3 - Yeah this was great, liked this a lot. Only thing I felt was the energy went a bit in the 2nd half, but that's just only first listen
I enjoy it. Good story telling and some good musicality and inspired a lot of music now.
It's so weird to hear actual rap. It's been a while. He definitely paints a picture of hardache, ik just not a fan of his voice. Like he's trying too hard..
Great album about a tough life and death.
artisti joka kuulemma hyvä muutaman mielessä, itse kuullut vain muutama hassu biisi, koskaan sen syvemmälle ehtinyt mennyt. ei herran tyylinen g-funk koskaan kiinnostanut. tämän aikakauden hip hop crap musiikista tykkään enemmän pistävämmästä, unts unts tykityksestä, tämä hyvin kaliforniamainen länsirannikko vahvasti r&b influenssioitu sulava chilli pilli huoh...oli miellekäs. I'm doing this one for America! I'm tired of all these threats from North Korea saying they gonna nuke us and shit! Fuck them! Fuck Kim Jong! He a bitch! It is America, bitch! You fat bullshit! I don't give a fuck! so many tears
if i die 2nite me against the world so many tears old school
I know some of the songs but I’ve never really given the album a full listen. Taken together, the first two tracks are an interesting flirt with the historical record. Actually, all of the songs are. I don’t listen to much rap, so I didn’t know this is a beautifully nuanced and touching album. I’ve missed out but not listening to it in full sooner.
Another classic but one of the best rap artists of the 90s. Of course the best tracks are Me against the world, Dear Mama, So Many Tears, are hits. I also like If I die tonight and Old school.
I'm not usually into rap, but this album surprised me. It's catchy, with clever and honest lyrics. I enjoyed the beats and samples, fits to that era.
This guy is a helluva poet. I think he has better albums, but this one is worth listening to
fit my mood
iconic and very influential 8/10
2Pac is on top of his game in terms of lyrics and flow on this one. A couple skips on this one for me, but Dear Mama will always be a classic. Lord Knows and Old School are standouts as well.
great productions and rapping, but doesnt do a lot to surprise or demand attention
First time listening to 2Pac. Impressive
2 pac took on the world and lost. Whats interesting is his struggle against social concious and the pull of the machine. The machine got him.
2Pac got an extremely smooth flow accompanied by an impressive production. As far as 90s hip hop 2Pac is good but definitely overrated. I've listened to all his albums excluding the posthumous ones and I think they're worth a listen. It's just that I prefer other artists like Wu-Tang more.
Over 20 years after his (possibly solved?) murder, Tupac Shakur remains a towering figure in the world of rap. This album ably demonstrates why: his wordplay and flow are top-notch as he wrestles with the complexities of the world he came from and the world he now inhabits.
One of the last, great gasps of the boom-bap era.
If you put aside the mistakes 2Pac made in his personal life as a gangster rapper. Then the album itself isn't bad.
i like!
some pretty good raps. would give it a 7, but rounding up i suppose Significant 35/104 Liked 16/104 Added 4/104 YMaybeN
I can’t pretend to be especially cultured in hip-hop, but damn this is impressive.
A classic that hasn't aged well because of so many poor copycats over the year.
Nice, tells story, was not repetitive
Tupac, Tupac. You mighty fine.
2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and poverty.
I liked this one more than I thought I would. The smooth beats and blunt lyricism are great. It starts to drag in the second half though.
Zeitloser Klassiker, ich bin ehrlicherweise nie so richtig mit 2pac's Musik warm geworden. Nachdem ich das Album gehört habe, ist mir aber klar geworden, wieso seine Musik so ein Meilenstein für den modernen Hip Hop geworden ist. Ich hab das Album definitiv nicht zum letzten Mal gehört
Old-school räppiä! ❤️ Sopi hyvin lenkille, sopiva tempo. Levy laittaa pohtimaan 2Pac kohtaloa, kun biiseissä toistetaan paljon ampumisia ja gansta-asennetta. Kuuntelisin uudelleen, vanha räppityttö tykkää. Jäin kuitenkin jotain odottamaan, en oikein tiedä mitä.
A stellar album. It doesn’t pop as much as I’d hope. Getting shot and being so close to death would make me think that you’d come back with unmatched energy and, while Pac’s energy is high, it doesn’t quite reach a 5. Though I can't fault anything else here. I enjoyed more than I thought I would. 4/5
First 2Pac album I listen to, great album about the struggles of growing up in gangs. Also very good grooves and beats in most of the tracks. Slightly drops off at the end but this is a very very good hip-hop album.
Very good
Never been a rap fan, but i was a Pac fan at the time, he is still and icon even for a guy that don't even listen to rap. This album perfecltly capture his essence, a lover guy, with a gangsta style and a activist, all make it enjoyable for all, it explain the success and the acclaims it get. Dear mama is the most famous track here, a very smooth song introspective and beautiful. Musicaly is pure hip hop, with sample and his fantastic flow, its also RnB and a little bit funk (depend on the track). So many tears is very good, Young Niggaz too, Can U get away (another more sentimental song) and fuck the world wich denonce the ghetto life. Anyway even for people who dont listen to hip hop its possible to listen to this album and found it very very good, its clearly one of the most complete rap album ever made.
No gimmicks or filler. 4/5
Classic. 4/5
I dont think this is the best 2Pac album, but it is really good.
Good lisen
Favorite Tracks So Many Tears Dear Mama Old School
The epitome of gangsta rap with a purpose. Albim opens with the real shot he loved through. Then he eloquently delivers societal observations with a poets tounge. This is the times, from the soul of someone living it and grappling with amazing fame. A true artist says his piece in as the most important voice to show how it can be done.
Enjoyed it more than I was expecting. Really good rhythm tracks, quite musical. Way better than modern day trap beats.
This is the first Tupac album I've listened to and it was better than I was expecting. The genre of music still leaves me 'meh', but the whole album as an artwork and commentary on his life is exceptional.
A big turning point for rap: this level of introspection and vulnerability is the opposite of what the scene started out with. He was still in jail while the album was selling. It capitalizes on the 90's R&B trend with solid beats and Tupac laid himself entirely out for this one.
Probably my favorite Pac album, arrived at such an interesting point in his life and career, love the more mature and introspective style. Favorite track: Death Around the Corner
It was a good album. I am not sure I had heard the entire album previously but I was familiar with several of the songs. It is a little on the long side. Overall good but it is not 2Pac's best album. All Eyez on Me is better.
4.0
I really liked this even though I don’t listen to much rap at all. Great beats and the lyrics were poetry.
I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. I always thought that this kind of music was aggressive and just about money, sex and drugs. I was really overwhelmed about how many social issues he was talking about. Yes, he was clearly a gangsta, and liked to mess with people, but there was a lot more positivity in an era of gangster rap
Banga after banga
Classic west coast gangster rap album 2Pac is a legend.
You know it’s good when your head involuntarily bobs
Never listened to a 2pac album before, and I can see the hype. Great beats, interesting lyrics, and a great flow. “It ain’t easy” was my favorite
Man, I remember this album. It's been a while since I've listened through it and it's just so good. RI2P
2Pac was so good.
Probably Pac at the peak of his powers, right before a stylistic left turn with All Eyez On Me after this. The g-funk production and lyrics rife with paranoia and depression from lost friends and court cases. Despite being a little long the highlights make it all worth it, like the beautiful Dear Mama, the ode to rappers that came before on Old School, or begging death to take him away on So Many Tears. Should be essential hip hop listening even if it isn't the very best the genre has to offer.
A consistent G-funk record by a legend. Personal and emotional with a great flow and use of lyrical devices, while funky and groovy, borrowing from many elements of 90s R&B pop. It's accessible while offering plenty. Especially impressed by the samples and dark beats. Main downside is too much filler (especially in the second half), and too long as a collected piece at over an hour, which is unfortunately a trend of most albums from the era. Favorites: So Many Tears, Young Niggaz, Lord Knows, Dear Mama
This was terrific and holds up really well. 2Pacs lyrics are incredibly self aware and the production of this album is great.
definitely wasn't an album-oriented artist but this is always one where it's gonna make you feel something strong, crazy crazy influence. some of my favourite pac beats on this one as well
Really do f with 90s rap a lot.
Almost entirely sad content about a guy scared of dying which was kind of a surprise
Freudian death drive: the album.
I had never heard it before, I don't think I would reach out for it again;production was a bit bland.
I prolly need to listen a few more times and more carefully to fully appreciate it.
Tells a compelling story, just not my cup of tea
Ok
big
👍
Classic
Kaksijakoinen artisti, kun on ilmiselvästi ollut aika kusinen äijä siviilissä, mutta kuitenkin käsittelee musiikissaan kokemuksiaan taitavasti ja empaattisestikin. Ja kaipa tässä arvioidaan sitä musiikkia. Samplet on välillä supervanhentunutta umpiysäriä, mutta jokin niissäkin vetoaa. Ehkä se on se yhtenäisyys ja optimismi, joka hallitsee levyä. Annetaan nyt täpärästi nelonen, ehkä 4 miinus tarkalleen.
Likes: Hypnotic rhythms, chill for casual listening with more depth if you want it, secondary vocals and samples add a ton of richness to the record Dislikes: hard to dig deep on the poetry on a first listen, not a circumstance I can relate to Overall a good listen. Can see adding it to my rotation of occasional hip hop listen
Great lyrics and fantastic rap flow.
Great storytelling and overall good album.
⭐️ Dear Mama
8/10
The best to do it in my opinion. I can’t subscribe to this notion Biggie was better as boss as he was. Mama is so good. 4 stars - great album, but not on the level of All Eyez On Me
I don't think I've like every listened to Tupac before today somehow (except for like California Love). I liked this album, good classic 90s rap & g-funk with cool instrumentals, but there's just something about it that doesn't fully click for me for whatever reason. 3.5/5
Great lyrics, only flaw is most of the beats are the same generic kind of boring 90s rap beats.
Never listened to that much 2Pac. Overall I think he was really preaching non-violence which is a stark contrast to a lot of the gangster rap at the time
Even not a person who knows all 2Pac's career, I know his fame and his influence in modern hip-hop are impressive and undeniable. This album sounds a bit old-fashioned today, but it is still good and gave me a fantastic listening session.
This one is about the lyricism. Top tier. You can always count on 2pac for good music.
This isn't Tupac's best work, but the man was a true wordsmith. His rhymes and delivery seem so effortless, and his work has far more depth than some give him credit for. "Dear Mama" is a perfect example of that depth. Rounding up from 3.5 on this one.
I was excited to see this album. I have never taken the time to listen to an album from 2Pac, but have had an interest to do so. I was immediately taken in and invested. It hit me emotionally. Then, as the album continued, it started to sound really one-note to me. I guess I expected a bit more variety in the tracks, but it did not deliver that to me.
Flows nice, has some great introspection from Pac.
This is one solid album. I remember this one being a favourite of my brother’s for a long time.
So it’s my first time listening to a full 2Pac album and damn it was impressive. I love the low key west coast beats and Pac’s flows are to notch throughout. My complaint would be that the themes are quite repetitive and often individual songs don’t have any central idea but just a basic concept of “this world is hard”. 8/10
iconic but not the best. enjoyable tho
LP
Gangsta rap that's loaded with self reflection and vulnerability.
The album itself is fine, but having "Dear Mama" on it, one of the most heartfelt songs in all of Hip Hop, lifts it up for me
It’s really good but rap albums are so long for what they are. 4/5
Lätt hans bästa
Wow… tupac är episk?? 😀
What more can I say, I wouldn’t be here today if the old school didn’t pave the way
Bra skiva!
Vulnerable and honest
Each song is good, but like much West Coast rap of the era the production can get pretty monotonous. Says a lot about me that Old School is one of my favorites.
This album is one of the best early hip hop records ever. Excellent lyrically, expertly produced. 2Pac at the peak of his craft.
The final missive of a man before he heads off into the dark side, Me Against the World is 2Pac at his most introspective and reflective. He knows that his time is limited (only a year and some change before his death) and he's taking his time planting his footprint into hip-hop, crafting some of the most enduring and (at times) endearing tracks in the genre's history. The snarl and cynicism that is prevalent feels foreboding in its anticipatory nature, given what's to come later and it makes the balance of this album intriguing. The world may have been against him when he was alive, but that very world will soon see how it benefited having him in it. Favorites: if I Die 2Nite, Me Against the World, So Many Tears, Temptations, Young Niggaz, Dear Mama, It Ain't Easy, Can U Get Away, Death Around the Corner, Outlaw.
I quite enjoyed a few songs on this album. The first 3/4 is surprisingly melodius and the lyrics are good. The last few tracks were a bit longer and a bit more monotonous rap songs which from a musical perspective didn't really appeal to me. Torn between a 3 and a 4, but will give benefit of the doubt.
Très bon album même si un peu long! On sent la vibe des années 1990!
Why does "F*@k the World" have to be so catchy? Just walking around my house now mumbling "mumble, mumble, mumble... f&#k the world!"
Really a great listen. Doesn't have the hits from other 2pac albums, but I enjoyed it end to end. 4.5/5
good album
My recollection of the 90s is the Tupac was one of the biggest names in hip-hop. There is the aggression typically associated with the genre evident on this album, but it's paired with so slick tunes and a real rhythmic quality to the deliver of the rapped lyrics. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting, and much more than other contemporaries - notably notorious rival Biggie.
This wasn't quite what I was expecting. He's clearly very talented and the instrumentals are great
I was a skeptic, but now I'm a believer. Maybe it is possible to be a gangsta, a lover, and a poet at the same time.
Not my top 2Pac album but still good/great. Dude has been dead over 25 years. Wtf. I'm so old.
Great album by a great artist
I enjoyed this album way more than I thought. I read the wiki about it to get some context because although I know a fair amount about Tupac the person, I’ve never listened to his music. Anyway, this was a very personal account of his life leading up to a possible jail sentence. There are tracks I definitely will listen to again.
Agréablement surprise. Je devais avoir un préjugé contre Tupac. Ça s'écoute vraiment bien. Je devrai réécouter pour prêter encore plus attention aux paroles
My lack of appreciation for 90s hip hop took a break here. Didn’t hit on first listen but I like how focused on their topics all the songs are but man this is the most paranoid person to ever exist
Despite not being a rap fan, this is definitely one of the better albums I've heard so far here. 2Pac's vocal style his smooth, and the emotional delivery and the raw lyrics are touching. The beats as well are great. I didn't fall in love with the album, but I do like it indeed. It might grow on me in the future, or it could fall away from it's first impression.
I enjoyed this album, although I started to feel as if it got a bit samey towards the end. 4/5
Melodies I did not expect.