Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Garbage
I always thought of Tupac as more of a singles artist, but this album is so good. The production is g-funked and crisp as hell. Tupac’s flow still sounds fresh 30 years on. There’s something so emotive about Tupac’s raps, a complex song like Dear Mama evokes so many feelings, but even one as simple as Old School has the same impact. The formula of rap verses and R&B choruses also helps punctuate the vibe. I didn’t think Pac had a classic album in his repertoire, but I guess I was wrong.
I didn’t expect to like this, but it went down pretty smooth. That said, I wouldn’t count it among my favorite hip-hop albums; the tracks blurred together and started to feel boring. It’s not one I’m likely to listen to in full again.
the whole concept of gangsta rap is so vulgar and retarded that it completely spoils whatever legitimate talent might have been involved
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..
Still not a fan of this genre, but I do prefer the instrumentals of the 90s.
hygge oldschool hiphop :) 3/5 eller 4/5 :D
Meh. Tight, well produced. Bland.
Tupac is always a weird one for me, I didn't really hear much until he was dead, and the last album was all very much Gangsta Rap and I was past all that. This one is more mellow in that regard, more introspective? Mostly dull.
liked the back half better and added some to my library!
Great album about a tough life and death.
Never was a fan but expected a lot more than this.
Really great, pretty smooth
I was always Biggie>Tupac, this album reinforces all the reasons why. Too R and B sounding, West Coast vibe.
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
God this shit SUCKS!!!!!!! Nigger this. Mother-fucker that. Killing, guns, the hood. What a life. And it ALL sounds the same. Complete and utter garbage. It only gets the one star because I can’t give it zero. What a waste.
Seminal.
High 3. Tupac’s a legend
Not his hits but a good album nonetheless
Day87 - i know he’s culturally significant and he sounds good but the lyrics didnt age well
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.
I think this is the first 2Pac album I get. Super diggin this album! 1995. I was just transitioning to Utah from Montana when this came out. I was tainted by all the racism in Montana, so I feel like I was always ridiculed for liking rap and therefore didn't really hear as much as I would have otherwise. But I do like this so far. I really like the Jamaican Patois in Heavy in the Game. He's got a pretty unique flow and sound. Ah man, Dear Mama is so good. 5 stars
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.
Such a fucking good album. A rare case of the original being the best.
This is an astonishingly boring record.
I feel like I'm gonna lose all my "teenager in the 90s" cred by saying this is fine. Better than a lot of rap, more variety in the lyrics, but... it's fine.
This guy is a helluva poet. I think he has better albums, but this one is worth listening to
fit my mood
I don’t think it’s Pacs strongest release, which really speaks to his body of work. Nonetheless it’s here we get a glimpse into his upbringing. How the streets taught him but how his mothers MADE him. Sometimes beautiful and often times brutal it’s a fitting portrait of a man whos been placed and dealt with things.
It's smooth rollin' and laid back musically, but firm, confident and strong lyrically. That west coast hip-hop sound that is one of the few styles I really like of that genre. Has it really been almost 30 years now? Damn.
AMAZING!
ok better than i thought first time 2 pac
Again Rap&HipHop
Awesome
Elongated syllables and double track. Boring beats, boring delivery, boring flow. Maybe the lyrics are poetic, but I couldn't be bothered to really listen. I don't really care about the album's cultural significance or 2Pac as a person, which leaves me really not caring about this at all.
It was okay.
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.
Very frog coded album, no I will not elaborate
Solid flows, laid-back beats, but nothing truly stands out for me. The songs tend to be excessively long and a bit too repetitive. Nevertheless, it's a classic and clearly influential on much of my favorite hip-hop.
great productions and rapping, but doesnt do a lot to surprise or demand attention
First time listening to 2Pac. Impressive
Aw bless. He just needed a teddy bear to cuddle and cheer him up.... and maybe someone to tickle his tummy .... or perhaps a nice cup of Coco..... or even a nice relaxing bath full of bubbles.
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.
Liked this more than I expected to
Celebrates pimping violence and misogyny. I know he keeps saying he's trying to get out of he "thug life" , but he should've stopped being such a dick, really.
I think you needed to buy into the whole drama surrounding 2Pac to indulge all this. I didn't hate the album, it's just irreverent to me, I couldn't care less.
Not for me.
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.
I have not heard this album but I know of Tupac by knowing other people who listen to rap. Rap is not my favorite genre but this album wasn’t too bad to listen to. Some songs that stood out to me were: Heavy in the game, and Dear mama. I don’t think I’d listen again though.
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.
Gehört zur Musikgeschichte. Sound noch typisch 80er, Drumcomputer in den Anfängen.
Not for me
I really liked a couple songs here, but overall this kinda feels like it's missing something to me. Not bad, but yeah. 3.5
One of the last, great gasps of the boom-bap era.
2PAC is a legend. I do not listen to much hip hop or rap but I appreciate it. This album feels like it has a heavy Dr Dre influence.
If you put aside the mistakes 2Pac made in his personal life as a gangster rapper. Then the album itself isn't bad.
I have a really strange relationship with the hip hop albums I’ve been listening to via this project. I hated NWA with a passion and I really didn’t care for Notorious BIG, so I went into 2Pac thinking he’d receive a similar low rating. But I was surprised. The songs here had a certain maturity which I haven’t recognized elsewhere. Dear Mama was the standout track for me, this is the kind of storytelling song I love; probably the first time I’ve connected with such a song in this genre.
Good lyrics but delivered identically in every track
Pidän taustoista ja flowsta. Vähän liiankin smooth, en meinaa jäädä kuuntelemaan sanoja. Voimaa on, mutta kaipaisin vähän raakuutta vielä (ehkä sitä on sanoituksissa enemmän kuin ensikuulemalta kuulen. Tai sitten raa’at sanat sanotaan liian matter of fact -tyyliin).
Artisti ei pelkää heittää hommaa popiksi, minkä ansiosta levy pysyy kiinnostavana loppuun saakka - eikä jokaista sanaakaan nyt tarvitse niin tarkasti kuunnella. Jotain arveluttavaa tässä tyypissä kuitenkin on: uskookohan hän omaan fantasiaansa? Entä onko hänen tosiaan niin paljon vaikeampaa elää omissa nahoissaan kuin meidän muiden?
Complex guy, isn't it. To say the least. The sexual assault stuff, that kid's accidental (but utterly avoidable) death, multiple gun violence, mum's a Black Panther and apparently objectively a quite brilliant character whatever your stance on her politics. Martyred and revered as a poet, and somewhat perversely lauded for his spoken support for women (given the above) after his short life. I've never been a fan of this mid 90s hip hop in general, I just don't like the smooth sound and the too much 'bitches', my preference is the urgent beats of the 80s, some of the more recent stuff, and on this journey I've discovered some of the early 90s gangsta stuff with heavy Jazz and soul influence is definitely my bag. This sounds more like hip hop over the top of Michael Jackson RnB numbers. (particularly Young Niggas, with those backing vocals). We've also got the problem of 90s/00s ridiculously long CD albums. It was generally ok, So Many Tears stood out early on as a good groove with decent rhythm in the rapping. Lord Knows wins the prize for sounding the most like Coolio. Lots of hate in the reviews and the one stars, it won't get that from me, but it isn't anything I'll come back to.
I didn’t get into this back in the day. He was smooth, but a lot of it is very repetitive. It gets stronger towards the end. It’s not bad overall, but the era has better hip hop too.
The opening burst of morbidity, the I’ll-die-in-a-hail-of-bullets-(no-big-deal) spree, arrests attention with its clever play against the luscious production, dark chuckle material for grimmer types with hindsight. After that, pretty sounds, forgettable tunes, nothing hooked me. The title track’s delivery of “Kill kill kill, murder murder murder” is nifty and funny. I won’t linger over why this is the one line that’s stuck to my lips as I drive to the nursery pick-up.
I didn't want to like this, as he seems such an insufferable prick and the themes are both juvenile and tediously serious, as opposed to e.g. Snoop/Dre where it sounds like they are at least enjoying themselves. However, you gotta admit he's a skilled rapper, has a quality production team, and it's good to hear some Lady Levi in the background on Heavy In The Game. Dear Mama is cringeworthy. 3(Pac)
i like!
"They say pussy and paper is poetry, power and pistols." Well, "they" sure say a lot of stupid shit in an irritating, lecturing, mock-bravado style using other people's music for lack of ability to create their own. "They" are boring.
When the opening song used the N word three words in and then motherf**ker, at which point I knew this was not for me. In general, rap just sounds like crap to me.
some pretty good raps. would give it a 7, but rounding up i suppose Significant 35/104 Liked 16/104 Added 4/104 YMaybeN
pretty solid, although most songs seem to go a minute longer than necessary.
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.
Feiere ich nicht ab, aber höre ich auch mal ganz gerne.
Nice, tells story, was not repetitive
A dysfunctional strut. Solid beat which soon becomes monotonous. Cross the street to avoid.
I liked this album musically. Tupac certainly had a compelling cadence, and the beats were smooth and fun. I appreciate the introspection expressed on the album, and there’s no denying the influence he had on subsequent rappers, like Kendrick Lamar. But… I have trouble squaring the context around the album—the sexual violence and gun violence that led him to prison during the album’s released, referenced on the first track. “Me Against The World” as a phrase loses some meaning when you have been the perpetrator of violence, even if societal pressures led to some of those actions. It taints the album in a way that makes it ultimately distasteful when there isn’t a lot of owning up to his own mistakes on the album.
Tupac, Tupac. You mighty fine.
duplicate
2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and poverty.
I listened to the ‘Intro’ and part of the first track. I refuse to listen to more because of his criminal convictions and because the ‘music’ was boring.
Great album, shame about Jada though
I'm a gangsta, kill, kill, kill. Murder, murder, murder. Dead.
Nicht meine Musik...der Großteil plätschert irgendwie belanglos daher.
Rap’s die leichte Blues Elemente ausweisen. Klare saubere Stimmen aber in einem Genre, dass mir weder vor- noch nach teilweisem durchskippen der Songs zusagt. Einen herausragenden Titel habe ich auch nicht gehört.
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.
Me Against The World is 2Pac's words with Dre's sound. Pac's Interscope are not some of my favorites, but his lyrics are some of his most poignant - I wish we could have had this Pac without the SoCal sound. 3.5/5
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
Eih Hyi 0.5/5 VITTU MITÄ BÄNGERIÄ!! 😛😛 5/5
Blind album, know the artist. I think im a sucker for G Funk after hearing more of these kinds of albums. It's so catchy at parts. The album as a whole is okay but some tracks are really catchy.
As with most hiphop albums it is too long. However this album is at least not filled with obnoxious skits
2pac, 2pac, gute rap 3.75
The album is characterized by Tupac’s personal experiences. Creative Sound!!! Awesome Singer/Songwriter!!!!!! personal top3 in no order: Young Niggaz Fuck The World So Many Tears
Habe wenig Erfahrung mit diesem Genre. Hat mir gefallen! 5.3/10
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.
2Pac is infuriating, because he’s so close to getting it. More than any rapper before him, he takes life in the projects as his topic and details the misery, the loss, and the spiritual emptiness of the gangster experience. Because of the strength of the feeling 2Pac exhibits, and because of the sheer variety of experiences he manages to document, Me Against The World deserves a spot in the great representations of underclass despair, up there with Dostoevsky, Hubert Selby Jr, Henry Mayhew. And then he turns around and says some shit like ‘You just need to apply yourself’ as advice to the young people he’s talking to. I’m sure that he meant well, but exhorting the benefits of the protestant work ethic while also making some fantastically salient points about the facts of social inequality within the American system gives me such bad whiplash. Rather than advocating for true justice through either incremental reform within the society that we have, or a radical upending of the entire system, 2Pac ends up propping up the system and suggesting that the reason so many of the people that he loves that didn’t make it is not because of a system that is designed to keep black people as a necessary underclass, and is instead because they aren’t working hard enough to be accepted by the Capitalist system.
Cool
Classic California hip hop and Tupac at his finest.
p758. 1995. 1.5 stars. Starts off with the usual tedious, toxic masculinity driven, foul mouthed, misogynistic (c)rap, changes to decent lyrics with some serious points to make before returning to type on "Fuck The World" and "Death Around The Corner". In addition a lot of the tracks sound the same and just bleed into each other. There are better ways to spend 1 hour and 5 minutes of your life than listening to this.
Not really into it. But did find myself nodding along to some songs, but if I payed attention to the lyrics it took me out.
Uncontroversially, this is a very good album. Not my genre of expertise but it strikes me as much sparser, samples-wise, than the most prominent work of even five years before. 2pac has an easy flow and a steady rhythm, making the tracks much easier to relax into than their subject matter might lead you to believe. I think the spare arrangements led later artists to mistake that for the central quality of Shakur's work; his writing and his delivery are stellar. On top of it, the rhythms and hooks that he does use are infectious and extremely effective -- 2pac only needs a simple beat because it's a great one and because he's plenty to hold your attention on his own. Influential and rightfully so. Probably won't convert any skeptics of rap, but if you're at all curious you should give this a spin.
Me Against The World is a solid example of rap in the mid-90s. At the time Tupac was a phenomenon. He was on MTV constantly in his own videos and featuring in other artists videos. His movies were crazy popular, too. Media loved to talk about his life and he relished the attention. On this album I find his flow to be monotonous but unique. Other rappers bit his style at the end of the 90s. His rhymes are his signature: the sensitive side of a thug. I like the beats on the album. It's G-Funk but not as bumpin as other albums from the time.
A brilliant album with amazing flow, introspective lyrics, almost to becoming a life story of Tupac. A hip-hop classic and a must for anyone looking to explore the genre.
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.
Ripper
Not my style or era of hip hop, but I have a ton of respect for Tupac’s lyricism and activism. He knew he wasn’t long for this world when writing this album. I’m glad I listened to it, but I doubt I’ll listen to it again in one sitting.
I don't think I can separate this objectively from the time in my life when I listened to it originally. Such a great album
Very good
My first 2Pac album. Another gansta' rap album that I cannot relate to. This one is probably better than most though. Still, most of it is the standard drug dealin', n****as dyin', weed smokin' stuff. He plays lip service to kids aspiring to be a doctor or lawyer instead of a criminal in one track, but then turns around and glamorizes the thug life the rest of the time. Dear Mama was a decent heartfelt track. The very '90s singing parts were sometimes laughably cheesy.
To my surprise there's actually more songs on this album that I liked than I thought I would. The problem is a while album it's a bit much for me in one sitting.
Well, I expected to hate this but surprised that I didn’t. I liked the groove and the tempo of the rap.
More mellow then I remember 2Pac being. It all just feels so fake at this point. Like an actor pretending to be hard.
Didn't hate it, I guess. But didn't like it much, either. A little haunting that so much of the album is about dying young because of his lifestyle and then he died young, because of his lifestyle. I can't imagine listening to it again anytime soon, but it wasn't bad.
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.
Probably the most overrated Shakur and 90s rapper
Influential but now sounding dated and the bigotry is not ok
Some of Tupac's stuff is iconic, but i found this album so samey and couldn't get into it at all
good to work to, no idea what was being said
No gimmicks or filler. 4/5
Classic. 4/5
lyrics are amazing and im rly into the instrumentals too
Loved it. Crazy delivery and dear mama actually touched me
Classic but always bored me. The Lyricism is good but the songs are too boring and not unique enough to be 3+ minutes unless its REALLY telling a good story. I love what it's influenced more like Kendrick, Eminem, Wayne and kind of every big rap icon. Before this criticism seems stupid if you compare him to BIG he has aged much better and some of the songs sound like they came out not too long ago with much better beats too. I respect it and its historically relevant but i'm bored out of my mind.
Old school rap just isn't for me. I tried to focus on some of the lyrics but I just wasn't drawn in. There must be stronger albums by 2Pac.
Good, not great. Not like “this album doesn’t deserve to be here”, just feels like something I don’t hate but also don’t care if I hear again. I can hear his talent in the flows but I found the album dragging on a bit. Not a ton of variation to my ear.
Listening to this album led me to the conclusion that 2Pac is overrated. This album is just ok and Hip Hop should have more energy than this. Old School was cool, I don’t know I wanted more. 3 stars
Bro died
When life gives you lemons, sell crack.
2Pac is a style over substance type of rapper. Why this over All Eyez on Me? Listen to Dear Mama and skip the rest.
Embarrassingly enough, this is actually the first time I've listened to 2Pac's music. He was definitely a strong rapper, and I like how the lyrics have some nuance behind them. It seems like 2Pac had a pretty good idea of how he was going to go out and either wouldn't or couldn't do anything about it. Sad!
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.
Typically not my cup of tea, but I enjoyed a few tracks on this album, especially "Dear Mama."
Better than expected. Overall good listen
Cat: classic. He flows so well. I can’t relate to what he says but it’s storytelling nonetheless
There are a select few across the varied history of rap who have ever come remotely close to 2pac's command of the genre. The raw power and energy that emittes from Shakur when he steps in the booth is something to admire. This record is one of his greatest and is a shining example of why so many label him as the greatest of all time. One of his strength's as an MC is his ability to display his emotions, his anger, his fear, his frustration of the world he was born into, in a way that feels real and relatable to the listener and that is exactly what he does on this record. By beginning the album with a track of recordings of various news and TV personalities talking about his arrest and the attempt on his life, we are able to get a clear idea of what is going on his head as he goes into the second track, If I Die 2Nite. The man is fed up in more ways than one. This album is a mix of many different emotinos, but above all else, it was clear that the man felt isolated by his fame and notoriety and had some feelings he needed to get off his chest. If one were to make a ranking of the greatest rap albums of all time, it would be downright criminal to exclude this record.
uhhhhhhh Ima be honest I was hype to see this show up and there were not too many radio bangers. I thought I was a fan, I must not be...
Enjoyed it more than I was expecting. Really good rhythm tracks, quite musical. Way better than modern day trap beats.
Prima albumpie, 3.5
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.
Had some good songs. Just not a big fan of 90s hip hop
Najbolji 2Pacov album.
Chill album, but no good texts.
préfère AEOM. Flow un peu trop répétitif. Lyrics seems great 7/10
2/5 not really my taste
Oh man, here it goes. The first album of a genre that I typically can’t stand. I had some coworkers at a previous job who got a kick out of the fact that I couldn’t name a single song by 2Pac or recognize him when his songs came on. Even without the various incidents that happened around this man, I just couldn’t relate or being myself to care. Still, I’ll try to go into this with an open mind. I don’t relate to these lyrics at all. Not in the slightest. The beats are good, but that’s about it. It’s not so over the top that I actively dislike these songs, but I have no clue how this artist is considered one of the greatest, at least from what I’ve heard on this album. I imagine that’s partially due to the fact that he was lost before being able to make worse. Dear Mama is probably my favorite on here. Honestly surprised, better than I thought this would be.
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.
I have to say, I didn’t hate this as much as I expected to. Not to imply that I leaked it. There’s no redeeming value here. The lyrics are mostly misogyny, plus glorifying violence, drugs, guns, whatever. Lots of profanity and constant use of the “N” word. No melodies, just rapping over snips of rhythm. Frankly, it all blurs together for me. Obviously a lot of people appreciate Tupac, and rap / Hip Hop. And that’s ok. But it’s not for me. 1/5
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
An album like this makes you wander what could have been. I've never listened to 2Pac before but would happily listen to this again. Still it's nothing special, just cruisy hard life hip hop? Faves: Me Against The World, Old School, Dear Mama
I haven't really listened to much Tupac but obviously I'm aware of his reputation. This is way blander than I was expecting? Dude's flows sound extremely Coolio to my ear, and I see "Gangsta's Paradise" came out the same year as this. I dunno, maybe Coolio was biting Tupac's style? And the production sound extremely Will Smith! This feels like he was shooting for feelgood summertime pop rap rather than anything gritty or subversive. Pretty underwhelming all in all. I guess it didn't actively piss me off, so it's spared a 2, but this is a low 3 - like a 2.7 or something. Fave track - eh, "Me Against The World" maybe? Or "Old School". Nothing really stood out in a good way.
Highlight: So Many Tears. Be right back, crying. Overall: 5/10
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'm really not a rap person
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
A little boring musically but great rapping, good lyrics and generally vibey and enjoyable. I get why people could be super into this.
Banga after banga
Like the others around this time, it’s too long. Trim the fat and it would be a solid 4. Good stuff, 3-3.5 all day, but come some of the extra at the end of each song.
Another long hip hop album. I liked some of it a lot but it’s just too long and I got bored. Also hearing the same rhymes over and over again got annoying. He sounds like Bender from Futurama when he says “it’s just me against the world bebeh”
Oh no.. waste of time. So overrated..
This was fine I guess. Didn't really hear anything that interesting or compelling though.
2Pac really is a man ahead of his time this album goes personal, like from the intimate retelling of his childhood and his addicted mother along with his personal dealings with depression, to full picture, like the system blacks are forced to face and women’s rights. With these 2Pacs flow is done like no other, easy to the ear but powerful wording. Every song I had a great time with.
Classic west coast gangster rap album 2Pac is a legend.
I didn't hate it, its probably some of the better hip hop I've listened to (mostly from this project actually). Not sure I'd listen again.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Hip-hop rap rollo.
A solid debut with smooth g funk backing. I like when he gets vulnerable.
Don't think I've ever listened to any 2Pac before now. And unlikely to do so again. Based on reputation alone I was expecting so much more from this but it came across as the most generic "hey baby, you're fine" 90s R&B imaginable. I have no doubt plenty of guys got lucky from playing this after a 3rd date, but..................... it's a no for me Clive.
Done
This album is such a jam and such a gem! Tupac was truly one of a kind, incredibly poetic in his songs, flowing like a knife through butter. This album is a testament to his skill and creativity. The world could use more of this in Hip Hop. 9 out of 10
What's equally fascinating and unsettling with rivals Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur is how much aware they were if their upcoming, early violent deaths. A lot of rappers brag about that--even though there's no *valuable* reason to brag about such a thing. But the way 2PAC and B.I.G.'s lyrics keep on returning to their own deaths can give you so many cold shudders, retrospectively. About 2PAC's magnum opus now: the rapper's flow and voice are very often as neat as his lyrics are well-crafted, generally speaking. There's even a close-to-stifling aspect to that tight flow that perfectly conveys Tupac's paranoid persona. Listening to the album, you can sense why a young Kendrick Lamar would be so impressed by this master lyricist. When it comes to the music and production values, the album is much more of a mixed bag, however. It starts strong, there's no arguing about that, between the effective boom bap of "If I Die Tonight" and "Temptations" to those samples of a wailing blues harmonica on "So Many Tears". Yet after the first four tracks, productions revert to an excess of cliché-laden P-funk gangster rap arrangements and R'n'B background vocals that were already aging very fast by 1995. And if even if you consider those sorts of shenanigans still had clear artistic values at that time, there's nothing in those filler cuts that Dre's productions didn't do better during the nineties, just to take a very famous reference point in that specific subgenre. One notable exception is "Dear Mama", the platonic ideal of a track where a rapper pays tribute to his mother going through so many hardships to raise her children alone, with an electric guitar sample that's nothing short of iconic. It's the sort of track that other rappers who did the same sort of tribute to their mum--going from Kanye West to Jay-Z--had no choice but to take into account before doing their own spin on it. Another notable exception is "Old School". another cool boom bap banger with a quite laidback atmosphere to its beats, enhanced by mesmerizing flute samples. There's also a live energy to "Fuck The World" (are those drums *real drums*?--I think they are!), which easily redeems the P-funk clichés in that admittedly second-tier track. And finally, "Outlaw"'s electric piano loops also give an ominous mood to the album closer. To put it in a nutshell, musically there's a batch of underwhelming cuts in the middle of this LP, but if you have to include *one* 2PAC album in the list, it's probably the one (*All Eyez On Me*'s length makes it a far more difficult entry point to Tupac's oeuvre, but I guess that's a story for another time, kiddies). In all fairness, it would be a shame not to include at least one album by a rap legend such as 2PAC in such a list. 3/5 for the purposes of this list, translating to a 8/5 for more general purposes (5+3). Number of albums left to review: 416 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 270 (including this one) Albums from the list might* include in mine later on: 142 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 178.
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
Meh
Nop
Tupac was just in the news again, I guess they finally arrested his (as yet alleged) murderer. Seems appropriate to have this come up. I wasn't a fan back in the day, but was certainly aware of the fued. Listening now the vibe is pleasantly chill and all the songs feel smooth and easy; mostly good, nothing especially great. None of the tracks strike me as exceptional, it's all just, you know, fine. Lyrically ... there are some issues. Overall I'm not convinced this album deserves a place on this list.
Yees
2pac had a way of telling stories to make you feel like you were there. and he had flow. there is a strange duality within this album that, depending on the song, he either seemed like he was glorifying life on the streets or cautioning against it. almost as if he was trying to escape his past, but it kept pulling him back in. fascinating listen. i had never listened to any 2pac before (i’ve never considered myself much of a fan of rap music), but i totally understand the allure of this artist.
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.
2Pac is the best
It felt like I was being talked at. Far too many songs, super self indulgent, but some nice production.
largely passed me by without much to note
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, very classic feel to this one as you’d expect, effortless flows Favourite song: Track 2 - If I Die 2Nite
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
first time listening have heard so many tears dear mama
J'ai étonnamment aimé cet album et vais pouvoir m'en vanter à la récré de 10h demain matin.
Nul à chier, j'ai passé une journée de merde, et le summum de la merde m'a été offert par 2pac, un grand merci Robert pour tout ce que tu fais.
good
This was terrific and holds up really well. 2Pacs lyrics are incredibly self aware and the production of this album is great.
Upon first listen this was a big meh for me. There were a couple of songs that stood out but largely felt like a 'safe' album. Half a zoot and a moody sunset later and wowzers - still not a forever favourite but I can appreciate it much more now
Mediocre I'm afraid. Not interested in the 'was he a great or awful man' debate, but his rapping is uninspired and the samples and beats repetitive and one-paced. Also like many 90s albums waay too long. Not even any skits.
- Great lyrics and great beats - Vibey 90s rap, not my genre of choice but I respect it - Solid 3.5
- definitely a 90s rap classic - more reflective and deep than I expected - 3.5
This was good. Not my type of music, but I could see its strengths.
Listening to Me Against the World felt like the same song on repeat for an hour. The lyrics might be compelling, but the music doesn’t grab me at all.
Long, tedious, and gratuitous when it comes to extolling 2Pac’s questionable accomplishments and ego. Given how much I’d heard about this guy I was expecting a layered, confrontational LP with something to say, but it seems the best pac’s got is boasting over milquetoast, repetitive beats
Didn't really enjoy the listen. Most of the samples just didn't feel like they fit to me. Feel like there are better Tupac albums.
Nothing really hooked me or drew me in here; it felt flat and overlong. You do get a sense of Tupac's magnetic charisma and his troubled life, but there are no tunes to carry it.
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
This brand of Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B is really something I'm not into. I can appreciate that 2Pac is truly one of the all-time greats in the genre but jeez I can't stand it at all. I really want not very much to do with this album or much of his music in general. Best: Dear Mama Worst: Young Niggaz
Boring. I know it's not aimed at the likes of me and that it's all "real" et cetera, but it simply doesn't do anything for me. I can appreciate its strengths, but I can't be arsed listening to it.
2pac is awesome. Really tender while remaining cool. 2pac has a great sense of melody, 66 minutes just vibes on by.
this is a hard listen knowing what happened to pac about a year later. it’s so personal, so intensely about his experience getting shot. regardless, it’s (of course) technically perfect lyrically and production-wise, and emotional on top of that. really excellent album
"Me Against the World" is 2Pac's best album. It best focuses all of the different sides of his personality on one album, with the social commentary, the pleas for kids to get off the streets, the mournful losses of his friends and, of course, songs about his potential immediate death. If 2Pac had cut "All Eyez on Me" down to one album, then it would have been the superior album, simply due to how he expands his sound on the album and tries new things. The album is too bloated though and "Me Against the World" contains fewer guest appearances, less focus on beats and lyrics that focus more on his mental health struggles. Even the "lesser" songs on the album tackle heavier issues, like "Lord Knows" where 2Pac talks about how he feels hopeless and the grief of seeing his friends die. He knew the life he led could lead to his death and he felt it was inevitable.
You know what, this album is about 2Pac against the world. Yes, in case you were not aware, Me Against the World is about 2Pac against the world. And it is amazing. Some of the best G-Funk I have heard. While this album isn’t as hardcore as some of his other work (I really wouldn’t consider it hardcore to be honest), it’s one of his more introspective. The songs are usually slower and follow themes related to his past and the concept of death. And this album does detail 2Pac’s fear of death. Even though on a lot of songs he says he isn’t afraid of death and knows he will die eventually, I think this can be seen as him trying to make it seem that he isn’t afraid, even though death is a major theme of the album. Mostly how he’s paranoid of others and other’s deaths. He truly does fear death. But that’s not all. The album also discusses his past like the excellent Dear Mama, where 2Pac thanks his mother for all the she has done. It’s very easily his best song. 2Pac also discusses poverty and gang violence a lot. And all of this ties into death. It’s really a showcase of 2Pac’s fears and worries, something that would, sadly, ring true in the end. This album also has some other bangers like So Many Tears, Lord Knows, and It Ain’t Easy. Speaking of which, the sound is pretty good. It’s kind of the thing holding back the whole record but G-Funk is kind of outdated as a whole so it’s not really a fault for the album. If it means anything, I kind of like the sound, especially the synths (I find the synths during this era to just hold up really well). The more stripped back beats are better though. Despite that, 2Pac’s lyricism really brings the album home. 2Pac is interesting in the discussion of the greates rappers of all time because he doesn’t have the best word play unlike some of the greats, but this album sort of taught me why he is in the running for the best. His performance. He pours out all of his heart into a performance. That is why he is the best. It’s not because he has the best bars, but because he puts a level of heart and personality into it that really makes him stand out. That is why he is the best. He still stands out today when there is a million rappers out there. There is truly nothing else like 2Pac. I won’t tiptoe around it; this album is amazing. Truly fantastic. While the sound may not hold up the best, everything else about the album is truly phenomenal and just goes to show why 2Pac is the best. May he truly rest in peace. 10/10.
A pretty typical 2Pac experience. Repetitive themes, overly long, bad features, but great production and flow.
Every song sounds the same. The beats are very underwhelming and the flow is dated. Ugh. Yet another hip hop album that's way too long for its own good.
This isn't the first time I've tried to listen to Tupac and for some reason, he never clicks with me. Like, I guess there's a lot of intrigue and legend surrounding his early departure, but if you're literally rapping about it, doesn't it become a self-fulfilling prophecy at some point? I do love the old West Coast beats, so he has that going for him, but the paranoia and self-importance just feel so contrived. I don't know, maybe it'll sink in the next time I try to figure it out. Two stars for the beats.
Really do f with 90s rap a lot.
Almost entirely sad content about a guy scared of dying which was kind of a surprise
Yep, definitely sounds like he has some stuff to work through. I liked a lot of it.
Freudian death drive: the album.
Hard-hitting
I had never heard it before, I don't think I would reach out for it again;production was a bit bland.
Not my favourite album of his, but still awesome nonetheless. I appreciate the real life poetry he’s rippin on this album, but I prefer the harder stuff. Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: own it Favourite Song: Old School or Death Around The Corner
I prolly need to listen a few more times and more carefully to fully appreciate it.
overrated i liked most of the hip hop albums so far but this just doesn't do it
Tells a compelling story, just not my cup of tea
Stunning. This was a really pleasant surprise, and exactly the reason I joined this project; to discover masterpieces like this that I otherwise would never have listened to. This young man was so wise, so humble, so angry, so insightful and thoughtful, with a truly incredible voice and take, and the beats are just so soulful. Think that a lot of today's 'rappers' could learn a lot from going back and listening to this again and remembering what they forgot. Absolutely stellar, and perfect summertime listening (listening in June '23). Rest in power, 2Pac.
This is going to fuck up my algorithm. Not a fan, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Did not give it a second listen.
Not a bad song on this album, I like that this album takes a deeper dive into 2Pac's life like in Me Against the World and Desr Mama.
It’s pretty decent, I’ve just discovered that I am not a 90’s rap guy.
good album, but despite tupac being considered the greatest of all time by many, none of the tracks really stood out to me.
i mean similar to the other old school rap albums i’ve heard on here, good but nothing super special. i guess i’d never actually heard 2Pac before but i wasn’t expecting his voice to be that low?
Alright.
No I don't need any such rap before I die.
Ok
Gangsta rap? Sounds more like an audition tape for Boyz II Men.
I did not think that my white as marshmallow fluff ass would like this as much as I did. F-cking brilliant!
yo! some old school bangers on here!
five brilliant stars
The music is good but I also find that the songs tell much about the singer which I find interesting
I really liked the title track and if I die tonight. I really appreciated the intro context growing up. I knew there was some thing that went on with 2Pac and biggie but I didn’t really know much other than that intro truck coverage talking about 2Pac checking him self out of the hospital a day after getting shot really helps at the tone for the rest of the album, I like the beats a lot seems like it’s more of an inside album. The B-side is not as good. I was closing out strong with outlaw, fast track on the album the against the world first track on the album. Can you get away overall three out of five. Well I was going to this album again no. I might listen to a couple of the tracks again.
Hippetihopp. Säkert ok för genren.
Nice production and delivery. Loses a star for being a dick in real life.
This sounds like a Will Smith album if it was made by the ‘Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth’ Will Smith.
but it was the listeners who lost
Decent hip hop, from the heart. Not usually my bag but enjoyed it. A bit too long.
I appreciate 2pac’s influence on hip hop, but his flow feels repetitive to me.
It's a strange combination to mix smooth r&b with this sterile rap. I understand it was popular back then but it sounds so contrived now. Carefully produced and polished. Not for me.
Buttery smooth production and performance. Social commentary. Expressing his perspective on the life he lived up to this point. I'm into it.
big
What a shame, this guy was an artist
One of the best poet rappers to do it.
Very very good album! It’s no All Eyez on Me but it’s still pretty solid! Self titled song has a real good flow. Nothing really caught me that much more on this album but still not a bad listen
Some cool beat making here, and good guest vocal spots. I like the sound of Tupac's rapping but I didn't really take in the lyrical content and I'm not sure I'd want to? Maybe this is a 4 but I'm unsure enough to leave it at 3.
bad sounds, bad lyrics, bad length, bad person.
👍
I have to say, I thought this was pretty good. The lyricism, the emotion, the catchy bangers. Really one of the better 90s rap albums I've heard so far, with some real funk, soul and R&B moments. I don't really think my opinion on Hip-Hop has flipped yet, I still don't care that much for it in general, especially not the state of it nowadays, but this classic 90s Hip-Hop album is great. Favourite: Me Against The World
Not a huge 2Pac fan, but this is one of his best, and a plus it’s a lot shorter than all eyes on me. Which is a plus in my eyes. Deserves to be on the list.
Amazing!!!
I used to like this record, but now that I'm a bit more knowledgable about rap, I don't feel that Tupac is within the caliber he's often hailed to
Solid beats and lyrics that make you think about what 2Pac is going through/wants us to think about what he’s going through. Lot of negative thoughts and somber themes.
Classic
👍
Tää on kuuntelemista 2pac levyistä ehkä ehein. Tyylipuhdas aikakauden esimerkki keskivertoa paremmalla tulokulmalla 3/5
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.
En tiedä olinko koskaan kuunnellut kokonaista levyä 2Pacia. Ihan jees, ja ymmärrän legendaarisen statuksen mut en vielä ihan päässy sisään.
Not a hiphop guy. My standard answer: it was fine. Since this is not a genre for me I didn't hate it nor did I really love it. I did like the olldish school vibes but beyond that didn't mean much to me.
2Pac's murder, given his obsession with death on Me Against the World, gave this album added poignancy. Swathes of rappers focused on such themes, of course; a grim reflection of America's shameful statistics on the life expectancy of black males and high rates of homicide. 2Pac meant so much to so many - a charismatic, inspirational, flawed individual - and undoubtedly burnished his legacy. Me Against the World has a few stand out tracks, a lot of which are deeply personal, but there is a lot of filler as 2Pac flits from theme to theme. It never entirely lands and I secretly prefer the ambition and scope of All Eyez on Me.
To my knowledge I'd never heard a 2Pac track before. From reputation, I thought it would be edgier than this fairly mellow, introspective album. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Dear Mama Date listened: 02/04/23
I've never listened to Tupac but I feel like this album was pretty good. I'm still not the biggest fan of hip hop but I can appreciate the artists nonetheless.
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
It's not really my genre, but this didn't really seem to offer anything musically. I guess if lyrics is your thing it might appeal but I don't think there's anything going on behind them.
Sure, I like this as much as I ever like any gangsta rap...
Really enjoyed all the different drum loops, but that's about it. A bit of a struggle to listen to.
Meh. I guess I'm not a hip-hop fan. I tried to make an effort with this, did a bit of reading around the artist and the context the album was recorded in, hoping it would being it into focus. The thing is, trying to listen to the lyrics was exhausting and without it the whole thing just droned on.
Solid.
Great lyrics and fantastic rap flow.
Meh
I can appreciate this, i think, i just don't get much from it.
I think I can hide behind the fact that I'm more of a Biggie fan to explain my rating. Pac has always been more of a singles artist to me, I think a full album might be a little much. Still, he has charisma, and these g-funk beats don't really get old. Favorite tracks: "Me Against The World", "Old School"
Great storytelling and overall good album.
⭐️ Dear Mama
8/10
Not a fan of rap...
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
Decent but on a first listen there's so much filler. I can see it getting better on repeat listens but for now its a strong 3
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
Just great, flows easy and sweet (“Dear Mama,” “Old School”) and melancholic enough (“It Ain’t Easy,” “Young N’z”) to add resonant depth and poignance. One must look up samples. Distinct vocal tone and excellent use of backing vocals. Oh, does the g-funk work wonders.
Great lyrics, only flaw is most of the beats are the same generic kind of boring 90s rap beats.
He just like me fr
3,5
defo bigger cos he did a ded.
Dead as fuck
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
Raps never been my genre. I don’t really pay attention to lyrics in songs usually, and with rap that is pretty much the selling point. Tried to pay closer attention to this one and found them to be very unrelatable and pretty repetitive. Can hear the influence it’s had in todays music though
My main criticism with a lot of the big mid 90's gangsta rap albums is that they are so self indulgent that, coupled with the super in your face 90's beat production, it ends up leaving me bored and my ears fatigued after an hour. This is no different, technically very proficient and Tupac was obviously an absolute master of his craft but this is 2 albums. Theres so much material here and most of it isn't distinct enough to stop this hour long behemoth from starting to sound samey before it even gets halfway. The main takeaway I ended up having from most of the songs was unfortunately how grating that very mid 90's layered vocal sound gets, especially when threes multiple overlapping vocal samples doing different things. It ends fantastically though, the last four songs from Old School through to Outlaw are are brilliant songs. I cant bring myself to give this a high score though despite Tupac himself being great throughout, its just too long and to dense and has far too much going on in order to be a pleasant listen.
I would like to listen to this one again. I enjoyed the first half of the album but got a bit tired of it by the end.
2.5 - 3 stars
2Stars for 2Pac.
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.