Reviews (page 4 of 8)
it's good it just isn't for me
Absolutely class, shame he was a prick
This is aight. Some of these songs just sorta go by, and it also suffers from the CD era length issue. Favorites were Me Against The World, Dear Mama, and Old School
I had hight hopes and was disappointed
The album that cemented 2Pac as one the greats. Cohesive production, great lyricism and some very honest and vulnerable subject matter. Dear Mama is rightly held up as a highlight.
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.
Introspective, reflective lyrics even though I'm not a fan of 90s hip hop. It was an interesting experience but would not listen to it again. Tracks to Track: Dear Mama
As far as I'm concerned, this is yet another pointless Rap / Gangsta-Funk album.
Hip Hop, 41 eme album =>1/5
Meh
Yeah its alright
Not dead, lives in Diddys basement
Disco típico de Hip Hop. Sempre um sujeito declamando, sobre uma base percussiva. Tudo muito enjoativo e sem propósito.
Absolutely loved it. Thug life, my man.
Certainly iconic but not that interesting musically i don‘t think
Rap braggadocio is whatever but damn this dude sucked Favorite tracks: It Ain’t Easy, Old School
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.
Ggg
Not for me
I expected to like this much more than I did. It was thankfully less misogynistic than other hip hop albums on this list. However it also lacked the hooks and lyricism of my favourite albums. After getting Ready to Die by Notorious BIG I was amazed by how good an album he created at such a young age. As a relatively contemporaneous album I had no similar feelings when listening to this.
3.75 Meh? Just did not age as well as I expected.
The voice and the rhythm give good flow. Testament. 3 stars listenable.
It's 2Pac, I have been listening to his music since I was 10. Of course this gets full marks. Poetic in the way most rappers (and singers in general) just aren't.
7/10
Not my favourite 2Pac record, but it was pretty good. Favourite Track(s): Me Against The World, Dear Mana, Heavy In The Game Least Favourite Track(s): Temptations, So Many Tears
I hate rap music.
See Jay Z review. However I appreciated this one more as I felt like there was a lot more nuance and depth behind the lyrics than Jay-Z.
What a slog. It drags on and on with stiff drums, plodding beats, and murky mixes. Definitely shows its age, in my opinion. Delivery is blunt and unvaried, songs blend together—total stagnation. Where’s the development? Strip away the mythology of Tupac Shakur, and you’re left with an empty relic that I had no need to listen to before I die. A trudge through monotony. 2/10
I really hope I'll be done with the hip hop albums soon. I mean I'm not quite halfway through the list but hopefully I got more than half the hip hop albums in my first 500 on the list... This is not really any exception. It's perhaps not as terrible as some of the others. I just hate all the stereotypical lyrics and themes in all of this music. It's so childish and embarrassing to listen to. Like I'm embarrassed for the people who make this music. I can only take so much misogyny, praise and boasting of violence, and lyrics that basically just relate how dangerous and amazing you think you are. It's just...dumb. I mean I appreciate the social commentary and issues that are sort of spread throughout the lyrics but to me it is sort of self defeating to your cause to mix in legitimate commentary on social and racial issues while also talking about assaulting women, murdering people, and the like. And usually in the same song. It's just bad music and bad writing. And the parts where he tries to 'sing', it's clear that he's really struggling to be vaguely in tune. And largely fails despite the struggle. As for the instrumentation (if you can call it that...), it's simple electronic beats for the most part. Same as all hip hop. So for a rating, I don't understand the draw to this kind of music at all. I've tried and it always just blows my mind that people enjoy this kind of thing. It is objectively bad music. This record may be a little more tolerable than some but that's kind of like asking what kind of torture you would prefer. 1.5/5
Ahh yes, back when hip hop was compromised of talent and character. I’ll die on that hill. The issue I have with this album is 2pac’s delivery is quite similar song to song. If the music didn’t stray from the previous track, it would be very confusing. But with that to the side, this is good but not great. Not as good and dark as All Eyez on Me. I’d probably listen to this album again in a few years when I forget what the album sounds like. No knock to it in that sense. I guess that’s a good thing? Not great enough to always remember but good enough to want to give it a listen. Choice cut: Can U Get Away
2Pac was highly influential but extremely immature and unstable. He would fit in well with the 2025 conspiracy crew. The talent was there, but the music just wasn’t on this album.
Smooth, powerful rap - loved this album all the way through. I love that it didn't have a lot of the gimmicks/skits that some other rap albums have.
Great album.
Yeah. I wasn’t a big Tupac fan back in the day, and I’m still not. As a person, he was involved in so many despicable things (rape and accidental death of a 6yo being the top) that I can’t really idolize him. As a rapper, I just don’t think he could match most of the lyricists before or after him.
Good West Coast G-Funk Hip Hop music, 2Pac's rapping has a flow. The lyrics, on the other hand, are mostly dumb gangsta stuff or immature, misogynistic bs.
I think this is another example of me knowing the artist more than their work. I finished this and didn't recognize a single song. I went to his top songs and didn't recognize any of them except for California Love. I liked it more than the Ghostface Killah album I had yesterday. It seems like a cautionary tale more than a boast.
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?!?!?
Most 90s rap is awful. I wasn’t a fan then. Not a fan now. None of it has aged well. The overly aggressive and toxic lyrics just don’t make it pleasant to listen to. This doesn’t break that mould. The backing music is fine. The rapping isn’t. So whilst Doggystyle falls into the same bracket, at least the introduction of G Funk was stylistically different so makes the listening experience slightly less uncomfortable. This isn’t. No moulds have been broken in the making of this entirely generic 90s rap album.
Ah geez dood. Another hip-hop recommendation two albums after the previous one. I'm not sure whether I can handle this. Looking at the album's runtime through my peripheral vision reveals that this thing is one hour and five fuckingggg minutes long. Why do these things always have to be twenty minutes longer than the average album jsut shut the fck up shtu up shut up shtuy This album didn't make it into the top 20, so I remain at having heard eleven of the top twenty hip-hop albums. That means I've made it through half of the hip-hop inclusions, right? Yeah. Still not my thing, though I do enjoy this general hip-hop sound - heavy percussion, 90s sound and all. Tupac is above-average as a hip-hop vocalist and about on-par with A Tribe Called Quest and Jurassic 5. His vocal style is generally clear and commandeering, though it lends itself quite well to the hip-hop flow. "Me Against the World" has a good sound. I like the electronic sound in the beginning and during the choruses, and that background ambience isn't half-bad. The song is way too long, but that's beside the point. "So Many Tears" has a cool, downtempo sound. "Lord Knows" has some nice backup vocalists. "Can U Get Away" has a nice instrumental. I wasn't expecting a tune that smitten to be on an album like this. I'm reading the book, nigga. Had a large array of producers. "...one of the most beautiful and soulful records in hip-hop history". Released when Tupac was in prison. The rest of the entry is talking about other albums, though I don't need much convincing with this one. Tupac's death still reverberates throughout the hip-hop community in a way that no other artist has, which is especially impressive when you consider how ephemeral the appeal of these artists are. If this is his best album, then I think it's a worthwhile inclusion.
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.
Pretty good, the atmosphere of paranoia and despair is interesting and makes this feel less ridiculous than a lot of other gangsta rap that's come up on this list. It runs a little long
I never really jibed too much with Tupac. I never thought he was bad at what he did, but i never really connected with his work. Of course, there are a few tracks of his that I like, but I don’t think any of those are on this record. This record isn’t changing that for me. It’s not bad, but it’s not really my speed either. 2.7/5
YaDiYaDiYa-rap. Same old same old. Stale. It’s a no.
7/10 - very 90s hiphop with good ol 2Pac, some lyrical genius in the songs, I enjoyed it
Not my favorite Tupac. Second half is pretty generic and the album’s a little too long. First eight are pretty good though
It’s good, but it’s a very mixed bag. There are some tracks that are really great, but then there are some that are just corny, like he’s trying to be some kind of ghetto motivational speaker. But Pac is like that. A lot of his stuff is great, but he can also get on to some corny shit real quick.
Excellent album although for me All Eyez On Me is peak 2Pac, but I’m still giving this one 5 stars.
Don't know why, but I'm just not a big 2Pac fan.
Well, let me say this first, I've never been into hiphop, and I wasn't thinking this album was going to convert me, which it didn't. But I do like that old school G- funk, and the West Coast grooves. Lyrically, well, same old gangsta hip hop nonsense, with a few well know exemptions. Only 60 minutes listening to this is way too long for my liking, musically and lyrically. 2/5
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.
Nice to listen to in the background but rap is still not my kind of music.
Certainly feel like this has dated a bit since it's release 3*
Dare I say it, why does this sound so damn agreeable and tame? Oh well, not my thing.
Not a bad album, just too long and too much of the same. Not really my kind of rap either
Hiphop, som vanligt svårtillgängligt för mig, men Dear Mama och hans flow gör mig lite mer intresserad. En trea.
All Eyez On Me has the better hits, but I think this album takes the cake in terms of his best all around album
I quite liked the laid back “funkiness” of most of it but at times the verbal ‘hook’ was repetitive and overall it was a touch overlong and samey. I can never really follow the lyrics to hip hop on a first listen but most of them didn’t seem particularly dexterous to me although there were good moments. My overall gripe with guys like BIG and Tupac remains valid- rapping about gangs and guns loses its lustre after that life has killed you dead- and for nothing. Rather lifts the veil on the tawdriness of it all. I did enjoy it more than Ilmatic or notorious BIG but not as much as Be by Common.
Umm, not for me, but I guess I can see why it is a pivotal album.
Zni to jako vsechny ostatni alba z tyhle doby bohuzel. Produkce dobra, ale hrozne repetitivni. Lyriky jsou propracovany jako ve vsem starsim HipHopu. 6/10.
Flawless. One of the greatest of all time. Beats, flows, writing, all incredible. Nothing more to be said.
Trash
Wish i remembered the songs better but first listen was solid
Good poetry but I never was a big fan of his style.
Listened before. Practically every song is iconic, sincere, but not forced. Beautifully combined conversation snippets. Surprisingly good instrumentals compared to peers (producer?). However, some snippets overstay their welcome, song becomes chaotic. + So Many Tears + Temptations + Dear Mama
He's too interested in thug shit here. Earlier stuff, where he cared more about the world, is much more interesting to me.
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.
Idk what to think about this one really. It's full of bad messages (Outlaw) but also good ones? (Young N******z, Dear Mama, Can U Get Away). The flow is great, the beats are consistently excellent, his more "philosophical" stuff is eye-opening, but every other word is the N or F word...
He’s my bess fren. Yea this is good. I like it. 4 stars
Never actually listened to him before. Pretty good.
Great album. I don’t listen to rap music outside of this list but this is one of the best rap albums I’ve had so far. Top Track - Temptations
My experience with 90s hiphop is woefully minimal so I wasn't sure what to expect because - I can't believe I'm saying this - I've never knowingly listened to 2Pac before. I found this album surprisingly melodic and woefully as sad as it is prophetic.
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
..wow... this is actually pretty good! Did not realize his poetic lyrics. Pretty damn good - this Outlaw! Wish he would come out of hiding, he, Elvis and Jim Morrisson...
Great album
A fascinating cultural moment leaves a great album for me to enjoy decades later. 4.5/5
6/10
What sounded like the same song for at least 40 mins of the 1h10m run time
HE MADE ME MAD TRYING TO STEAL SOMEONE'S GIRL ON THIS but i can't stay too mad at someone this sexy
he's fine as hell and i know that has nothing to do with the album but i just can't believe how fine he is. anyways i really liked some, really disliked others
again: tolles album das ich tagelang hören könnte. das ist wie rap sein soll: flow und sound!
Rap wie er gefällt
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.
Not even worth reviewing.
I appreciate but don’t particularly like the music
Solid throughout
A total vibe and the complexity of 2pac on one album
Biased review. East Coast, beast coast bitches
I don't really know what to say about this album. But I'm probably never going to try to listen to any of it again. Which means that after two listens it's stuck in 2 star purgatory.
At my age and background, I mainly just knew Tupac as the rapper who was shot and then later performed as a hologram. The album itself is very easy to listen to, it is well made and most tracks are enjoyable but not exciting. "Dear Mama" injects some much-needed warmth into the album. Overall, I now understand 2Pac's claim to greatness, even if I wouldn't necessarily place him at the forefront.
Maso
It’s fine, well produced, decent enough. Mainly famous for how he died.
This is fantastic, the production, the verses, the storytelling
Not for me.
Album: 1
hadn't done a full listen, very complete album
It’s 2Pac, so it’s good, but not my favorite of his stuff.
Interesting. A liitle too much for me to blast in my garage.
This was a lot better than I was expecting. Some disturbing themes but it seemed to be more mature and less in your face than some other rap on the list.
Not 100% my jam. Hard to hear the words as he is buried in the mix. I like hip hop but this didn’t work for me
I don't really listen to the words, but the music in almost every song sounds the same.
Favorite songs: Heavy In the Game, Lord Knows, Young Niggaz, Dear Mama, Me Against the World Least favorite songs: Outlaw, Temptations 3/5
I just don't like 2Pac and never really have, with the exception of California Love. He always felt super-fake to me, even in a genre of very fake personas. Might just be that people who I knew who were really into 2Pac were super-annoying.
6.5/10
It’s fine. Feels a little more real than his prior work.
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.
Not my thing
It’s a a it crazy how much Tupac talks about his own death on this album. It’s a bit prophetic and a bit tragic. “So Many Tears” is one of the first prominent examples of that on this album. “Lord Knows” is another time that caught me thinking ‘damn he really knew he was gonna die young’. The title track is the most ‘west coast’ rap of everything on here. “Dear Mama” is a point of vulnerability that probably wasn’t a prominent topic to cover at this time of gangsta rap. But of all the songs, I liked “Old School” the most, where Shakur gets wide-eyed about his influences in the rap game. He seems very happy to talk about all the artists and cultural influences that got him into the game. Strong 3/5, great vocal presence and a few thoughtful moments
Want to do a full discog dive when I can.
Eh, better than some similar stuff from the same era, but still not exactly enjoyable
This sounds similar to The Notorious BIG, I wonder if they were mates? Simpsons: Yes
Enjoyed it especially whilst in the gym.
Maybe it's because I'm not from America, but I don't get this type of music, over an hour of absolute rubbish.
It was okay I guess, not my thing really but I'm a middle class white dude.
Ok
Yeah
Getting shot would make me paranoid too.
Iconic, even a white hipster like me can get with this.
This is exactly the rap I do not like.
He's got better albums. No one track actually stuck with me
Didn't really like the rap (I rarely do). But the backing and the beats were pretty soulful and chill in places.
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.
Kinda boring, not much variety
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.
While not as famous as All Eyez on Me, this is still some essential west coast hip-hop. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at an easy 5. Not too much to say from me, other than a bit of anger that I chose to listen to “All Eyez On Me” when I was younger because it was the one that had “California Love” on it. I should’ve listened to this one, after giving it a full listen for the first time, it may very well be 2pac’s magnum opus, as some people say. Not a single miss here, with the only real minor complaint I have being the runtime. 65 minutes is a little long here, and that’s enough to make even 2pac’s flows & structures start to feel a little stale, in part because it does start to circle the bases just a little bit on subject matter after “Dear Mama”. Trust me, I see the irony of saying that it gets stale when “All Eyez On Me” is literally twice as long, but I haven’t heard that album in full in years, and I'd be probably REALLY worn out by it nowadays. I’m too pressed for time to go super deep into this album, so I do have to keep this shorter, but I have two mandatory bits of praise. 2pac’s rap flow has a melodic tone to it that very few people of this era could match – it’s all in the timing & inflection that he raps with, as even his voice reaches kind of a crescendo at the climax on a lot of verses, structuring them in a way that feels like an R&B track, leading into the chorus in a way that feels super satisfying. It helps that, much like Jay-Z, his voice just feels made for rap, and his lyricism throughout this album only enhances it. There are bars upon bars upon bars on this thing, and I can fully understand why Kendrick would quite literally still go to war for the guy, like he did against Drake. West Coast production in the ‘90s is a fucking dream, man. This might have some of the tightest beats of the whole decade. At the very least, it feels like a rather early pinnacle to the Chronic / Doggystyle / G-Funk era, before production advanced further & further going into the latter half of the 1990s. 2pac flows on these, no matter what tempo, but the variety of styles in the production work is what gives the album the variety it needs. The only reason that the 65 minute runtime isn’t a bigger thing for me is because, despite the subject matter starting to loop on itself, each beat feels fresh, and gives the tracks their own shelf life without it really affecting the enjoyment of the album. It really is a ridiculous stretch through the first 8 tracks though (9 if you count the intro). I really wish Kendrick would hop on something like “Young N****z”. As a whole though, just a banger of an album. “Dear Mama” is very obviously THE highlight, but each track brings something to the table. 2pac may have never been more prescient in his life than the constant presence of paranoia & self-fulfilling prophecies that’s in the lyrics throughout this album. He did, however, channel that paranoia into more of a celebration of existence, tinged with the newfound knowledge after the attempt on his life that it’s all indeed that fragile, while pleading with the streets to stay smart. It gives the album a more intimate sense of depth than “All Eyez On Me”, which was perhaps a bit too sharpened by the desire for "revenge via living" borne out of his own prison experience, and a little too heavy on the party / gangsta side of things. I’m still just mad at myself for not spinning this one years ago, and I’m mad at myself for really only knowing 2pac by “All Eyez On Me” (still a great but very long album!) and some of his bigger singles. It’s as good as advertised, and if only one 2pac album could make the list, I’m glad it was this one. A very easy 5 for me, held back from being a 10 only by everything after "Dear Mama" not hitting quite as hard. I might need to go spin "The 7 Day Theory" now.
90s rap just isn't my favorite type of rap.
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.
Decent but no real ear-grabbers
There are groovy moments on this album, but maybe over an hour of it was bit too much. I enjoyed this more than the Outkast album few days ago, so i guess i have to give it better review, that's why 3 stars...
This album didn’t provide anything new or interesting to me. I assume that I felt the same 1995. Production value is high, that gives another star.
Although I’m really into Hip Hop, 2Pac has never quite been my cup of tea. To me, he shares some of the same issues as Notorious B.I.G., a bit too monotonous, with beats that tend to sound the same. Tupac definitely has his own unique style of delivering verses, but that’s about it for me. So overall, the album feels a bit dull. Whenever there’s a featured artist on a track, things usually get much better.
I don't think I've listened to a Tupac album in full, I've only put on compilations and such. This has the sound that I associate with California (probably called west coast hip hop or something like that), which I do like, but it tends to sound very monotonous after few tracks. I prefer hip hop with loads of samples, Oddisee or DJ Shadow or RJD2 type thing, something that makes the track more music than just background to rap over to, which is probably why I'm so picky with my tracks and songs. And why I prefer the "2Pac Greatest Hits" type releases over the actual albums.
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.
I get the feeling 2Pac kinda sucked as a dude, but no doubt he’s a talented rapper. So… split the difference, I guess?
Dear Mama could make any album a classic, but multiple other great songs on the album. Even the misses are listenable which is not a guarantee for a 2pac.
Nothing here for me.
Can't stand this shit
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
Tupac er en bedre skuespiller end rapper change my mind. Lang og monoton men der er nogle bangers på. Jeg kan godt lide Dear Mama fordi jeg er en corny type
Fede beats, godt flow, men klart for lang
I find his style terribly boring
Classic album but not for me.
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.
Peak 2Pac album, probably one of his top albums. Tied maybe with Strictly...
This was fine. Nothing stuck out to me as amazing and it turned into background music pretty quickly!
The O.G. Poet would be appalled by the world today after leaving too soon.
2Pac is a legend. Great listen!
I do try to keep an open mind when I listen to these albums, and I do listen to at least the first minute of every song to give everything a chance. With that said, I know myself and my musical tastes so I feel bad when I get a rap or hip hop album like Me Against The World by 2Pac because I know I am not going to like it. It's certainly popular and many people rate it highly but I just skip my way through it and then put on some Gov't Mule or something...
Solid album
At first I didn’t want to listen, gangsta rap is not my thing. I didn’t find the lyrics particularly moving or as amazing as 2pac is made out to be, but the production felt like going back to my high school years playing GTA
Bad
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
2Pac has always been like a cryptid to me - I’d heard so much about the legend that I assumed an investigation of my own would be kind of futile. I was wrong and am glad I listened though. I feel like the legend at once fell to earth and came to life.
The people dismissing this album as just another gangsta rap album… Did we listen to the same album? Tupacs flow is incredibly smooth, the production is g funk at its best and in terms of lyrics, this is very introspective and he paints an incredible picture of his life, POV and a place in time. Incredible stuff and the fact that this still feels incredibly fresh is proof of its quality.
Not often I sit down and listen to 2Pac. Seems more like a figure than an actual guy who made some records. Very good album here. Wish this guy would have lived longer, I think he had a lot to say that would have been easier to say when he wasn’t a cool young man anymore.
Listenable
I only know a couple of 2Pac songs, but I’ve really been looking forward to reviewing this album. I don’t know that I could pick a favorite between west coast and east coast hip-hop, because I think both offer things that I like. I reviewed Biggie’s Ready To Die a few weeks ago, which I had listened to before starting this project. I remembered enjoying that album, but when I re-listened to it a few weeks ago, I wasn’t that into it. I’m curious to see if 2Pac will supplant Biggie after I listen to this. Well, even though I wasn’t wowed by Ready To Die, I liked 2Pac’s Me Against The World even less. I liked the beats and production, I thought this album was mostly pretty boring. Even though I thought this album was fairly enjoyable from a music standpoint, the sound got pretty stale after a while. There was some sample usage that I liked on this album (the Stevie Wonder sample on “So Many Tears” was outstanding), and I don’t know why there wasn’t more sampling, since it seemed to work well when it was used. A lot of the songs felt like they dragged on to me too, and I think that’s because I don’t think there’s anything special about 2Pac’s rapping. His voice has a quality that I like, but he’s not a very good storyteller in my opinion. I know that west coast hip-hop tends to be a bit more laid back, but I just didn’t really feel any emotion at all in this album. The beats and production work make this album accessible to listen to, and I think that helped 2Pac find a wide audience, but there wasn’t enough on this album to interest me or draw me in.
I'll say it: 2Pac was always overrated and still is. The way he delivers is annoying after a while. He didn't bring much interesting stuff to the table of the rap game even in the mid-90s. While this album is not bad, it is nothing on the list of albums that stand out.
This is a good one!
2/5
This certainly increased my respect for 2pac and his lyricism and nesssging . Never that high on him before the lyricism here was for the most part outstanding . Unfortunately the features on the album are underwhelming and there’s quite a few skip specially considering run time
Decent grooves and beats, but nothing really kept me interested.
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.
ok
>Don't shed a tear for me, nigga, I ain't happy here ayayay Another album where you know what the lyrics are without having to listen to them. I'm sorry that happened tho
I just do not like east coast rap, I think Chicago and Detroit are as far east as I can muster before it turns into wacko
Mange bra melodia/beats på albumet, men jeg hører sjelden mer enn 5-6 sanger etter hverandre innen denne sjangeren. Dear mama er glimrende, 2pac er ordsmed der. 2pac har egen stil, man kan kjenne igjen hans flow. Hadde jeg vært stor fan av hip hop hadde det nok blitt 5, men det blir en sterk 3’er.
Er egentlig ikke glad i rap, men dette albumet er så sterkt produsert og har så mye melodiøse hooks av ulike slag som hele tiden gjør det interessant. Kun to av de femten sangene som ikke fenget.
Absolute favourite 2Pac record. The last real record before he turned on the gangsta/ thuglie persona. I can only imagine the impact and life he would of had if he had of stayed on this path.
A well titled album, since it ls fundamentally a long paranoid winge. Though not misplaced paranoia as time revealed. Perhaps there should be a special Darwin Award for 2Pac who seemed to know where his lifestyle was leading him but did nothing to change the outcome. The one surprise was that a lot of this album was listenable. 2½
Yederidoodoo
He says it's Me Against The World, and so if he's asking me to take sides, I'm taking the world. the beats and rhymes on this album are nondescript, and I mean that in the most damning way. If you can rock the mic then I'll give you a lot of latitude (see: Biggie Smalls), but this just sucks and is such a disappointment for we who first heard him guest-starring on Digital Underground tracks. Sorry but not even close to my top 1001.
I'm glad this collection gave the opportunity to listen to Tupac Shakur, as I really only knew of his repeated problems with fellow rappers, police, media, prison, etc. and of course his very public death. I've never sought out his music, in large part because it seemed like his music and musical abilities weren't ever really part of his notoriety, and all the rivalry/gangsta crap turned me off, and continues to. (In that vein, I really struggled to listen to the entirety of the final track, "Outlaw", especially with it starting off glamorizing an 11-year-old's desire to join the ranks of thugs and pushers.) I can see why his fans enjoyed this album, and there are a few strong songs in the hour+ album--mainly his single "Dear mama" as well as "Temptations", "It ain't easy" and "Old school". But I was also struck by how...generic-sounding...this album is, at least in the context of the other rap/hip-hop albums in this collection. There's very few musical flourishes on the album (although it gets a bit better as the album wears on), and the lyrics don't seem very creative or particularly interesting, although he definitely has a good ear for cadence and rhymes. Ultimately, I just find his life story sad, in a very unsympathetic way, and it's hard to ignore that listening to this album. (3)
First two tracks get off to a sober start, and I like the Minnie Riperton sample elsewhere. I wish the rhythms and music were as interesting as the lyrics.
Westcoast at it's finest
point4.
Some good songs on this and the rapping is poetic and melodic. But it is far too long and no real songs stand out to push it past a 3
Hard to listen past the glorification of gangsta life. There is a thread of positive admonition, but he wants to have it both ways. I had too many students try to emulate the fantasy to bad effect. Brilliant rhymes. Groove. But no.
Samples were good, lyrics were horrible. Him against the world? Looks like he lost.
I wasn't sure where I'd land as this album played. I liked it from the start, but it took me a few tunes to really connect. But connect I did. The music and arrangements were consistently interesting, and I was struck by 2Pac's willingness to honestly explore the complexities of his life. Unlike others in the genre (and far be it from me to try to speak as some sort of expert), his stories struck me as the real deal, real life — and the inherent contradictions drove that home. And while it hardly paints an exemplary picture, he certainly doesn't come off as some sort of hero, I was drawn in and by the end of the album, I was feeling like I learned a few things and feel ever more disgusted by the failings of our society. The disparity between classes, the bleakness of life in a ghetto, unbalanced justice, hopelessness. And joy, friendship, and love. Contradictions. As these thoughts swirled in my head, and being genuinely moved by Dear Mama, I guess I landed on realizing this is a dense, complete, and grand work by an artist. This album is an experience I'll return to.
I never took to this guy. i think he's overrated as a lyricist, and the beats are all right, but pretty standard for the time period. he has good flow, though, and his voice is cool. i didn't hate it, but he kind of gives me the ick.
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.
Gangsta rap is just not for me. I don’t care about it and I don’t connect with it. 2pac spends most of the album bitching and moaning. The song about his mother was nice though
Really enjoyed some songs, wouldn’t rush to listen again. But it’s like Taylor swift for gangsters lol
Great
This guy and this record are some of the reason why this kind of stuff has a massive bias with me. Crap by a person that NEVER should have become a person of public interest.
I’m an old white woman so I am not the target audience for this one. But I can hear that he is speaking the truth of his experience. Hard to rate, because I don’t necessarily want to listen to it again, but I know it is quality.
I'd never (knowingly) heard 2Pac before, but this is not what I expected, based on the hype. Tedious and predictable.
I wanted to really dislike this. I hate it when the artist becomes the story for the album. This was actually a little more soulful than I was expecting. There wasn't enough there for me to return, but it wasn't a write off, either.
Cool!
Stadig overvurderet
I didn't like this much. It seemed like there was a lot of production borrowed from The Chronic, but it wasn't put together nearly as well. Likely not an album I'll come back to. 2.4/5
I just don't care for 2pac that much. I tried but it's too long and the beats aren't there for me. 2.5/5
2Pac may not have been my cup of tea, but he had some yummy hooks. Kind of wish he was still around today - I'd be curious to hear what he'd have to say.
10/10
There are some very good songs on this album; Me Against The World and Dear Mama, but also so many filler and poorly aged songs 3/5
Pretty much 2pac in his prime, albeit that was basically his whole short lived career. This shit is bumpin and full of messages, and introspection, and thematic layers…you can see why he was such an icon. Top 3. Old school, if I die 2nite, lord knows
4/10 So I thought I was going to hate this album but, while I didn't actually like it, I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Not for me, but maybe I need to understand the timing and the lyrics
Pretty calm chill album. Many song that you can reflect about
Good Album 3/5
Biorąc pod uwagę jaką legendą jest 2Pac spodziewałam się czegoś lepszego. Z przytupem i zrywającego czapki z głów i buty ze stóp. A tu po prostu trochę porządnego rapu. Nic mnie nie zaskoczyło. Nic mnie nie poruszyło. Nawet niespecjalnie bujało. 6/10
A classic Hip Hop album.
2pac is always the one I wished I’d listened to more. Lyrical but also maybe this doesn’t quite hit musically Handsome as fuck tho.
I don’t think I like 2Pac
I only know the hits. Most of these were deep cuts for me.
я постаралась внимательно послушать и что-то многовато простоты, ожидала помудрёнее
Nope.
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.
While I wasn't able to properly connect with it on an emotional level, as a whole this album is well crafted and contains thoughtful lyricism and sharp prose. Damn shame the man died when he did, and wasn't able to continue refining his craft.
I know people love him, but it just doesn’t speak to me. Clearly great quality though.
ALL EXPLICIT
For 90s hip hop this was fine. Maybe because I did not pay attention to the lyrics but nothing made me hate it. Stand-out: Me Against the World
thought this was good, very solid, high 3
Pre-listening thoughts: I put this one off after being underwhelmed by Biggie so I’m not super excited for this Post/during listening thoughts: yeah this is about what I expected. Idk at least it’s not full of sex interludes like Biggie. But it’s just like whatever ig. Sorry. He’s talented for sure but I am not engaged. 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Me Against the World, It Ain’t Easy Least fav tracks: Dear Mama, Heavy in the Game
Poet for real.
First time listening to a Tupac album. Very much enjoyed.
Rap is not my thing, I thought this was just boring same old...
Just not for me. While I have clicked with rap albums in the past, this wasn’t one of them. It’s not my genre. I know a lot of people hold 2Pac with very high regard, and I appreciate the artistic direction of the album and some of the lyricism but it’s not one of my favourites.
старина внатуре против всего мира встал
One of the most sophisticated rap albums I've listened to. Engaging, entertaining, reflective, and poignant. No weak spots on a longer album that is full of great songs and seamlessly toes a fine line between mellow and intense in such a satisfying way
Kann man machen
An album that shows the power of hip hop/rap, is entertaining, and accessible enough for the non fan to understand the artistry and power.
Important and markedly American in a way I’ll never be able to fully comprehend. Glad I heard, no desire to hear again category.
No thank you for the Rap Hip Hop stuff.
I was thinking between a 3 or 4 stars, but the album starts falling off by the end, so 3 stars it is. Still, a lot of good songs here, but a bit too long. ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
For all that I'm aware of Tupac I have never really listened to him. This album is good and tough and real.
Tupac is such a phenomenal MC because of the emotion he can evoke from his listeners through his lyrics and his delivery. You can hear the pain through his voice and that he means what he says. This album was amazing to me because it didn’t feel like I was listening for an hour because I was entrenched in the journey he was taking me on. Classic album from a classic artist that left this earth too soon!
Didn't dislike this as much as I thought I would, not being the biggest fan of rap music. But this veered into the kind I'm quite happy to listen to, the music had more a melody and vibe to it which helps, and 2Pac's rap style is much more listenable than this genre tends to be. The additional vocals here and there were also a nice touch
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
Filth
Fangt guet aa, flacht aber ab. Lord Knows hät cooli Stereo-Effekts. Isch hald nüd so mini Musig und Lyrics sind wüescht. De Tupac isch wäge sexuelker Beläschtigung i de Chischte gsii, wo das Album uf Nr. 1 gsi isch.
nöd gwüsst dass de dude schomol fast gstorbe wär. wiso hend die sich gegesiitig verschosse?? gad chli meh glese über ihn als glost aber s isch no coole scheiss und sini stimm isch super er het e liechtigkeit und e ernsthaftigkeit glichzitig. scho crazy die gwalt bi rapper ide 90er. soany tears geeile beat. young ngz au siiicke beat sochli socially conscious cool. d hook findi chli schmalzig. biitzli bootstraps weisch musch nur wölle denn chunsch us de armuet use aber eig cool. bi heavy in the game checki de patois shit null. aber de beat slappt wiedermol. hui lord knows isch heaaavy suizid gedanke und so hobla. dear mama isch meeeega cute. can u get away willer e frau usere schlechte beziehig "rette"? aso au afoch horndawg aber au bitz cute aber au chli misogyn? old school mega hymne a 80er hiphop au cute. fuck the world okaay faire punkt pac. bin bi death around the corner (het er gwüsst???) und glaaaub s git e 3.
2pac!!! hahah super, so ziemlich s erste wort woner rappt isch pussy toll if I die 2nite hani easy gfunde? ich han halt sini aggressivi stimm scho gern hahahah hmm so many tears findi recht goofy finds bis jz voll ok, d beats flowed, sini stimm isch halt ebe ikonisch aber d lieder selber mached weniger mit mier oh de beat vo heavy in the game isch nöd fuet galteret iwie hahaha, es schreeit 90er ganz ehrlich allgemein die r'n'b mässige rapsongs fühli eifach nödso oldschool findi na hard! und iwie cute fuck the world het sich so lang ahgfühlt, obwohls nur 4 min gange isch? funny okay outlaw findi richtig sickkkkk knaaapps 3. bin e ziit lang ufem 2 gsi aber für das findis trz z guet. schlussendlich aber doch z lang und blibt wenig hange
2.9 First time properly listening to Pac. Pretty disappointing to be honest, given how lauded he is. Beats were way simpler than I was expecting. Lyrics kind of got me down, shows just how much the system failed. Hearing how paranoid he is of getting shot and then he got shot. Don't really get why this guy is a role model, but I guess you could say that about anyone in gangster rap.
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
Man, this takes me back. I remember hearing this in a field with red Solo cupped keg beer in both hands and dust in the air. It was surreal in a way - this gritty, raw gangsta world blasting from a shitty car stereo with 2x12" subwoofers being pumped with 1200 watts in the middle of a cornfield. We thought we were so HARD. Now? It’s a little too heavy on the ego for me. Some real lyrical talent, for sure, but the martyr complex is wearing. Odd how often God gets name-dropped by someone rapping about murder and mistrust. Like it's trying to be scripture and street law at the same time. That religious undertone sneaks up on you - like, how did we get from gunplay to Jesus again? Glad I gave it a spin, though. Two times was plenty. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Me Against The World - Dear Mama
No as painful as I expected. Could listen in the background but not sure if I would go looking for this or explore any other 2pac albums.
Negros, pandillas, armas, balas, y listo. El retrato maleante de U.S.A y sus negros fundamentalmente. De música nada más que bajos y el ritmo típico.Sobrevalorado en extremo
-I finally get to listen to Tupac after my mom stopped me from doing so in elementary school -this is good! one of the more enjoyable West Coast hip hop albums I’ve heard so far. def like him more than Dre and NWA. cool use of backing vocals -the tracks and album itself felt a little overlong but still no major complaints.. rip Tupac -Favorites are So Many Tears and Dear Mama
I do like his voice……and I understand why he is angry…..but not something I can listen to for a long length of time.
An icon in hip hop for many, but 2Pac never had that large of an impact on me compared with other hip hop artists that I think are much more talented than he is. This record was adored by so many fans, which is likely why it's on this project's list, but there's nothing that really resonates with this one that sets it apart as something truly unique. The samples selected for production is great, but their incorporation into songs is left to be desired. It's got that typical west coast feel to the beats, which is good, but nothing really outstanding on this record. Pac's lyrics are relatable for many, his cadence is uncanny, and his voice is perfect for story-telling. I respect what he did for the culture, but this album in particular didn't move me much.
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!!
I think 2Pac has better albums
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
Despite my affection for rap and hip hop, I never followed the Tupac / Biggie feud. This album did not make me want to start.
As embarrassing as this is, I've never listened to an entire Tupac album, so I was very excited to listen to this. I'm also glad to see something on the list that isn't rock or pop and especially glad to see it be rap. The album was really enjoyable. I like his musicality, and the lyrics show that he clearly has something to say. He's one of the greats for a reason, and I completely agree that he should be on this list. That being said, it's not my personal taste. It's a true 3.5 because it's slightly better than the middle of the road albums, but I don't like it enough to purchase it or listen to it on my own. So I'm giving it a 3.
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
Great flow and solid beats.
Not exactly my cup of tea, but good flow. His style is very unique. I enjoyed a few songs, but not exactly what I'm into. A little too much cussing for my taste.
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
Im a fan of 2pac so I would rate this album a 10/10 its nice and chill and I love all of his songs. The second song played I don't think I've heard before but its pretty nice I like the beat. Ive always been a fan of hip-hop so id recommend this album to someone who is also a fan and familiar with the genre.
I rate well in dear mama a 5 star because I listend to this befre and I liked it and I always listen to 2pac ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate so many tears a 5 star because I listend to this before and I liked it and I always listen to 2pac and I like rap and this is my favorite song by 2pac ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Outlaw a 5 star because I listend to this before and I liked it and I always listen to 2pac and I like rap and this is my favorite song by 2pac and it has mutipul voices ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Song: Dear Mama this song is good but it is not my favorite song but this is like a song my mom would listen too kind of Song: so many tears this song is okay not a song I would listen too though Song: outlaw this song is okay again but my mom listens to these songs sometimes though there like this
I like this album a lot. I like the lyrics and Tupac is the goat. I also love rap in general, especially 90s rap !!
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
I like this album because it has a good beat and is just fire bc its Tupac so like duh
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 like this song because i like the beat and i like how he sings and it has a cool beat. i like this song too because it has a cool instrument and cool beat . i like this song too because of the beat and how they sound singing . i recommend this song because of the cool beat
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 like this abulmn because the backstoryis meaning ful it sound a little better then others
the first song is alr the lyrics are okay there not bad but not good the voice is Lowkey good oms and the background music is good too and so is the beat. the next song is good and the voice and the lyrics are really good to like these songs They are actually Lowkey good its like the same thing as the other one.
I like this album because it has a good rythym to the music another reason why I like it is because its music I enjoy. I would reccomend this album because its good music
I thought the cover looked cool. I liked "Dear mama" because it was cool. The lyrics were really good and I like the voice. "Outlaw" was good. I didn't like the swearing in it. But the beat was really good. "So many tears" was really good. I liked the lyrics. I would recommend this album.
the first song is good I like the instruments and the way they sound Its kinda long. the next song is the same the pace he says the words is faster everything else is kinda the same though. the last song is the same as the other two.
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.
great flow, strong beats, but by the end of the album I was tired of the relentlessness. plenty braggadocio, but no chiaroscuro.
Classic 90s West Coast rap. It really defined the genre going forward, and Tupac's lyricism is at it's best. "Dear Mama" will always be my favorite 2pac song, and there really isn't any filler on this record. Rest in Power.
This was actually rather nice, but can go on a bit too long.
Rap music gets a bad rep, which I get. Most of it is violent and misogynistic, and the genre is overrun with so many mediocre artists. If anyone ever needed to be challenged on their preconceptions of rap music, listen to "Dear Momma." What a beautiful song and tribute. The album as a whole stands out for the deep lyricism and complexities of topics that are touched on. Plus 2Pac has a flow to his music that ties it together for an exceptional album.
Pretty good
3-4 Dicke Hose, aber schon ganz cool
Album 700 of 1001 2Pac - Me Against The World (1995) Rating : 2.5 / 5 I didn't find it as bad as I expected it to be. More of a reflective album and not all of the "I'm the greatest thing to walk the earth" bs that is often found in the genre...though there was a bit there. Still just not for me.
Don't like rap at but this wasn't as bad as most. Dear Mama is actually a beautiful song.
No music!
2PAC Against My Ears! I have never been a fan of pure rap music, especially of the gangsta variety, and this album only exemplifies my distaste for it. Overtly self-indulgent, misogynistic obscene songwriting littered with profanity which is supposed to be taken as ‘poetry’? Musically there are digestible grooves here, however the vibe is completely offset by such offensive lyrics and tripe subject matter. It is laughable that Mr. PAC seemed to think that the world owed him something for the many perils he directly caused for himself. I mean wasn’t he incarcerated at the time this was released? 2PAC’s attempt to brand himself as a martyr right at the onset of the ‘Intro’ track was immediately a turn off and nothing that I heard throughout the rest of the recording redeemed itself for me. 🎧 Classic Track- ?? 🎧 Hidden Gem- Old School (if not for the vulgarity) 🎧 Least Objectionable- Dear Mama 🚫 Skip Track- nearly all as I lost count of how many N* & F* bombs were delivered to my ears. Fu** The World was particularly egregious! I’m hopeful that other rap & hip hop records on this list can help redeem the genre for me. This garbage was certainly not it. 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- Hideous Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
Well I never - Pac was affiliated with Digital Underground, who I discovered on the generator yesterday! I would've assumed he was the antithesis of their type of goofball-rap tbh. It's also my first 2Pac album. So what did I make of it? Well, I was engaged at the start and again at the end, when the energy picked back up, but there was a big dip in the middle. The toned down, self-reflective rhymes might've been new for 2Pac but I feel I've heard plenty do it better. And musically it's that very samey, pedestrian G-funk or R&B, which I find pretty dull. The word that sprung to mind most of the time was 'competent', which is surely damning with faint praise, but there were decent moments. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that this album doesn't show him at his best.
First deep dive into 2Pac and man I did not like this. Just bad rap over bad R&B beats. One of the things this list has shown me it’s that I really dig East Coast Hip Hop and could care less about West Coast.
Don’t do much for me.
Blown away by how good this album is. Absolutely in awe.
Classic rap just runs together for me. I have a hard time picking anything out in particular that piques my interest. Tupac’s influence is undeniable, and his flow is impressive, his voice is also commanding and powerful. The production value is that of a 90s hip hop album, sampled bass and drum machines. Perhaps this is where hip hop has evolved the most and what has dated records such as this. I like this, but I cannot accurately weigh its impact on the culture of rap. I have to take context clues and rate this as it appeals to me, which is a solid album with nuances that have been buried in the quickly changing styles of modern rap.
Starting an album with news reports of your shooting is iconic
Nothing interesting here to be honest