Reviews (page 7 of 8)
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 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.
It’s fine. Feels a little more real than his prior work.
Not my thing
Eh, better than some similar stuff from the same era, but still not exactly enjoyable
Ok
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.
Fede beats, godt flow, men klart for lang
I find his style terribly boring
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...
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.
2/5
Decent grooves and beats, but nothing really kept me interested.
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
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
point4.
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 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.
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.
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
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
I don’t think I like 2Pac
I know people love him, but it just doesn’t speak to me. Clearly great quality though.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Despite my affection for rap and hip hop, I never followed the Tupac / Biggie feud. This album did not make me want to start.
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.
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 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
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.
Nothing interesting here to be honest
I… thought it would be better. I knew Tupac’s hits but this album isn’t it. Tupac is a strong vocalist and has a great voice and delivery, but the songs are sooooooo dulllll uhhhh. I’m willing to give it two stars.
2 different ways he spelt his name? WTF. Who cares? Couldn’t name a WTF is his name song…
This is was my first exposure to 2Pac and it wasn’t as bad as I had feared. There are words of wisdom sprinkled throughout and even one of gratitude ( about his Mama ). So, getting past the posturing and verbal vulgarities, there is intelligence lurking behind all the bluster. Whatever it takes to sell it, right?
I'm not the biggest fan of 90's gangsta rap. Several verses had me rewinding to listen again - he's extremely talented, and I appreciated the introspective approach to this album. Would I ever put this on again? Probably not, but I didn't hate it.
I quite enjoyed this album but I’m sure that’s because the last 2 weeks of albums have been absolute dog shit.
The generator is generating a lot of hip hop albums for me for some reason. I've heard some 2pac tracks before but this is my first time listening to a full album. Eh, sorry but not my thing. I think I'm coming to the realization that I'm a music over lyrics person and hip hop is a genre where lyrics are the main and most important part. So that means I just don't really care about any particular track on this album because I just don't pay attention to any lyrics when the instrumentals are quite samey. 2/5
The sound is mellower and less abrasive than what I usually encounter in this genre, but it seems just as limited in subject matter and approach as all the others - and let's face it, rap is repetitive as the playing cards in your kid's bicycle spokes and if you don't like that, this is a pretty boring listen.
Albummet har kørts som baggrunds musik uden at lytte specielt meget til tekserne. Beats var lidt flade, melodierne var fine, rappen var monotom.
Just sounds fairly flat and samey Expected a bit more having never really listened to 2Pac before
I appreciate the effort that went into, and intelligence reflected in, the lyrics.
It just sounds like tupac
I had no connection to this album and still don't have. 2Stars from me
I've been getting a lot of rap lately. It's just not a genre I'm ever going to like, especially gangsta rap. Some of it is okay, and I can respect the storytelling, but this just isn't what I look for when I'm listening to music. This was fine. They're all fine. They all mostly sound the same to me.
fan vad det känns som töntigare hiphop om man jämför med tidigare akter men också senare.
Not the worst rap album
Ich mag old school hip hop, kannte wenig von 2pac. Finds nicht so geil. Mir fehlen geile beats und ansprechende hooks. 2/5
I don't know. Great flow, love his voice. But he was such a bad person. And somehow he still speaks to religion. It's just. This is rough.
Boring
I was disappointed with this to be honest, I was looking forward to some real hard hip hop and instead it’s a man moaning about the life path he has chosen almost certainly leading him to his death. It’s almost schmaltzy at points.
not my flavour
4/10
I prefer Biggie 2/5
A couple good tracks, but this album did not age well. 2.4 stars
Again I just don’t care for rap
Heavy In The Game awlright. The album is 25 minutes too long because he’s using nearly the same beat, lyrics, and message on every track; best ones are the ones with guest appearances by RR and Dramacydal. Even thugs get lonely, he’s 4 cans short of a 6Pac. (1.7*s)
Aside from his bigger hits, I always find it hard to like Tupac (both as a person and on musical efforts). It's not only the East v. West rivalry although that definitely contributes (East Coast rules). He's just a shit person in general and so much of his stuff all sounds the same. This album was too long and sounds like the 90's. Meh.
2Pac is no doubt one of the best hip hop artists of the 90s but I'm East Coast 4 life. I'll give this album the credit it deserves for the the artistic expression and poetic nature. It's not your typical hard hitting gangster rap (which I do prefer). I like 2Pac's party hits way more and this album has none. "Old School" was best track. The album makes the list cause who doesn't have a soft spot for a thug who loves his mama? Give me the CA lovin Pac over the sentimental one any day...2.1.
I vaguely recall the news of 2Pac's murder but was too young to know anything about his work beyond the ensuring pop culture phenomenon. I've never really heard his music before and know little about him beyond ongoing legacy references and Coachella hologram appearances. After a listen there is no doubt he is a skilled lyricist but overall it does little for me. I appreciate that it wasn't just a bunch of standard bitches and hoes gangsta rap. Dear Mama was a touching tribute that stood out mainly because I wasn't expecting it. Glad I finally heard the album but it's just not in my wheelhouse. 2.13 stars
It isn’t bad, I don’t think, but I’m not getting into it. I also didn’t rate Ready to Die, so maybe I just don’t like this era of the genre?
I thought I'd like this more. I'm glad I gave Dear Mama a second listen. This album does have some heart and feeling behind it, but it isn't my favourite and does feel like it goes on.
Gangster crap
Silly
Do I really have to listen to this muppet? Has to be in the top 5 overrated artists ever. Record is ok - can't help thinking it sounds like outtakes from Prince & NPG music from the 90's - and that's pretty bad if they didn't want to release it. For some reason, 2, not 1. I'm not happy about it.
Bit samey
Not my thing. But then it's not supposed to be. There is nothing for me to relate to here at all. However, definitely better than Snoop (poop). And So Many Tears is actually not bad. I didn't even write a review for yesterday's album because you guys had said it all, so beautifully. I came out of work on Monday, after a very stressful day, and Because came on - it was honestly like angels singing. Pure and sweet. I was transported. This album also transports, but to a place I don't want to go.
Goes above Snoop in my growing list of all time rap albums but a very long way behind Public Enemy and De La Soul.
2.5, ish.
Everyone knows 2Pac, one of the most popular rapper ever. But until today I have never heard any of his songs. And I can compare this experience to the first time I tasted a fresh carrot - unremarkable and slightly irritating. Boring album, nothing interesting to write about.
It was okay. Angry, but a different vibe from Eminem’s.
This album is way too long for gangsta rap. Maybe 2Pac would not be dead and stuck in the lifestyle if he had laid off the weed that was in every other song. Perhaps he could have focused more to live a better life. The language is obviously bad through out, but he did have a couple of decent songs, especially one about his mother.
I understand why it’s on here but is it good? No. Should it have been in the book? That is up for debate so it wasn’t the best but it was far down close to the bottom of rankings for me
He could tell a story & I understand it’s from his worldview, but language is just too coarse for me
Not my kind of music, but I can see why it's iconic
There are better listens out there
I understand why he was a unique voice, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
Eh. More of a Biggie guy.
I've never been a massive 2Pac fan, I find his delivery a bit repetitive, too smooth, and I don't have much interest in what he has to say. This album did nothing to change that. Some of the tracks are just plain awful, like the one about his mother. Others aren't too bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to any of this ever again. Even the backing music kind of sucks, it's just not for me.
The old school beats gave me a pep in my step as I was on an afternoon walk. But the later tracks were really hard to get through - Tupac's death really hangs heavily over the lyrics. Don't think I'll be revisiting this one, as much as I enjoy some of 2Pac's other work.
I would have loved this 30 years ago. Today... not so much.
the whole concept of gangsta rap is so vulgar and retarded that it completely spoils whatever legitimate talent might have been involved
Still not a fan of this genre, but I do prefer the instrumentals of the 90s.
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.
Day87 - i know he’s culturally significant and he sounds good but the lyrics didnt age well
This is an astonishingly boring record.
ok better than i thought first time 2 pac
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.
Very frog coded album, no I will not elaborate
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.
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.
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.
Not for me
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.
A dysfunctional strut. Solid beat which soon becomes monotonous. Cross the street to avoid.
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.
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.
More mellow then I remember 2Pac being. It all just feels so fake at this point. Like an actor pretending to be hard.
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
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.
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.
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...
Had some good songs. Just not a big fan of 90s hip hop
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.
Hip-hop rap rollo.
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.
largely passed me by without much to note
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.
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
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.
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
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.
overrated i liked most of the hip hop albums so far but this just doesn't do it
No I don't need any such rap before I die.
Gangsta rap? Sounds more like an audition tape for Boyz II Men.
Nice production and delivery. Loses a star for being a dick in real life.
but it was the listeners who lost
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
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.
Really enjoyed all the different drum loops, but that's about it. A bit of a struggle to listen to.
I can appreciate this, i think, i just don't get much from it.
Not a fan of rap...
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
2Stars for 2Pac.
Hip-hop rap rollo
Vaikka länsirannikon räppi onkin yleisesti rentoa kuunneltavaa ei 2pac kuitenkaan niitä omia suosikkeja ole. Ihan hyviä biittejä ja ganstavinkunoita, mutta ei kuitenkaan mikään kappale jäänyt mieleen
Can’t believe that I’m saying this in the review but it’s pretty boring
Not for me
I am amazed that people still glorify this buffoon. Wonder if he was so hard because he was like Araldite?
Me Against The World starts well but fades quickly. It's easy to listen to musically but not easy to listen to lyrically, both from a hardship perspective and also that of 2Pac being a dirtbag and trying to reflect on it. 2/5.
very crude lyrics, sound ok.
Uhhh,,, quite boring and monotone. I lasted about halfway through. Just not a hip hop fan. Still better than Kanye album I was given through this
Genre: Hip Hop Favorite songs: Dear mama
supaboring
Not that great, no interesting beats and all the songs are the same. Apparently he released this just before going to prison for rape so it's difficult to mourn his violent death that he lyrically predicted, of course
There are a lot better hip-hop albums than this in my opinion.
Nope
Honestly this ain’t it. I thought I was going to like this a lot more but I just didn’t. Synths sound harsh and boring. Beats blend into one another. Oh well. 2.5/5
YB better. just kidding. i prefer the east coast sound to the west coast sound when the discussion is between biggie and Pac. I don’t love Tupac’s brand of g funk. I feel like it’s Less musically interesting than either of Big’s two releases. He had dj premier, puff, RZA, etc making beats for him. Pac had no one that I can pull off the top of my head. I hate that my review of this album that was pretty alright turned into a biggie PAC debate but I feel like they’re so intertwined that it’s ok. I used biggie to talk about how a lot of Tupac’s beats were flat as fuck and that’s why this album was just alright and nothing Special to me
Not the biggest 2Pac fan, so I can’t say this album really did anything for me. Probably won’t listen to it again.
Not my favorite genre to listen to but the music was good. The language was a bit much for me though. 2/5
Although I can appreciate the value of Rap Music for many people I can’t personally connect to it.
I found this album very listenable, considering I usually hate rape. I never really enjoyed it but I also never felt the need to skip a song. That doesn't sound great, but rap really doesn't get much better than that for me and I respect that - what I don't respect is 2pac as a person. Can't we stop idolizing sexual predators and violent criminals?
Typical 2pac, decent
Repetitive.
Its a 2 for me Pac. Baby baby
Not my favourite, though had some good beats. I just don't really like much rap.
Chill album, still not really my type.
meh
Overrated nonsense
Helt ok. Har ikkje så mye forhold til 2Pac. Får litt trekk fordi eg har hørt bedre album fra han.
Hmm
I'm not sure how I feel about this album. On the positive side, I really love/d 2Pac's voice - the deep and smooth way he'd deliver his lines, not in a rush but not lethargic either. He was really great - one of the best IMO. On the negative, the music is.... not quite there for me. I love that it predates trap beats which I hate - I love the sound/production of it - but not many of the songs/compositions in and of themselves are hugely memorable for me. Even though a lot of the lyrics are ehhh "too much" for me :P I did really enjoy "Old School" 5/10 2 stars
It was ok. He always sounds decent, not many of his tracks really blow me away. I prefer BIG and the east coast style more
Found the production a bit meh and those drums just scream 90s! Not really a fun listen. I clearly don't see why everyone else finds him so special. Not actively bad, but definitely not for me.
Dear Mama est cool Tout est écoutable en fond mais aucune des meilleures de 2Pac Du bon rap old school pas transcendant
i don't really enjoy his music
If rap did anything for me at all, it would be this kind of rap. Musically, this album has a lot to offer. But the vocal style indicative of rap just doesn't do it for me.
This has not aged well
It’s okay - nothing more. Me against the world is the high point and it itself isn’t particularly high.
2cack
The instrumentals didn’t keep me engaged- I also couldn’t invest myself into 2pacs performance very well- generally not that’s good imo
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: If I Die 2Nite, Young N****z, Lord Knows, It Ain't Easy Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: I like his flow but it's kinda the same flow for an hour and there wasn't enough variation for me. Also did not care for any of these singles. 2.5 rounded down.
Any inspection of my previous reviews shows how much I love rap. But this has aged worse than famous rich men's photos with their buddy Epstein. It's so boringly self involved and tough, with the production sitting in a sort of bland 'make it like Dre' facsimile of 1993's best sounds. It would certainly appeal to 13 year olds, but on the strength of this album, that bullet did more for his legacy than his rhymes ever did. Cliche ridden and standard - how he and Biggie were ever considered rivals is a mystery to me.
I'm trying to get a bit more in to rap but it's the genre I struggle with the most.
I'm one minute into this and it's immediately aggressive, mysogynistic, gun toting woes of the poor black man's so-called American life. Depressing, unoriginal, unattractive and boring. Absolutely nothing that I, as a black man, can relate to in any shape or form or even believe in or find entertaining. It is so crass and ugly, not eloquent, interesting and far from clever. I will listen to the whole album since it's on the list and I've only ever heard a few 2Pac songs. I look forward to my opinion changing. A few songs in the middle (dear mama) were actually ok where 2pac almost sang. However, it's clear that I really do not have the taste for hard hip hop, just the easy listening gentler styles that are not gangster shooting thug mysogynistic. 2 out of 5 because he rhymes well and the backing tracks are well sampled and put together.
Doesn't hold up, and he was never comparable to Biggie. This is fine when it's 2Pac rapping, mostly, but the production isn't great, the chorus vocals aren't great, the guest features are nobodies, and some of the subject matter "oof."
still not a huge 2pac guy some of the end tracks were pretty good though 2.5
I just never could get into 2pac. I couldn't even finish this album.
Not terribly impressed.
Ah this is like 50% cool and 50% just plain boring. Heard it a lot when I was a teenager, lots of mates really loved it. I haven't bothered with it in years though. Intro is laughable, some ridiculous pretend newsbyte about how he got shot and walked himself out of hospital cause he's SO FUCKIN TUFF. Yet when he really DID get shot, he died. Oh, not before he went to prison for rape though. It's amazing that antics like this made him some kind of All Time Most Eligible Bachelor among girls at my high school. Rest of the album is mostly the same sort of stuff - "thug spirit", a whole heap of that "street philosophy" that r/im14andthisisdeep would identify with etc. The actual tunes aren't too bad, but these lyrics are fucking cringeworthy. 2/5.
I don't understand West coast rap, difficulty understanding lyrics and a similar background sound made all songs sound similar to me.
Simply can't get excited about this
Never been a fan
5/10
Ei mikään ihmeellinen, mut ok
Se deja escuchar, pero incluso gustándome más o menos el Rap y el Hip-Hop no ha sido este un disco para tener como imprescindible. Está bien "Dear Mama".
Stand out track - me against the world
I know about 2Pac as a part of pop culture, but I don't think I've heard any of his music. The album just ran together with no individual tracks standing out for good, and only a few that immediately stood out as something I did not like. The biggest problem for me is the subject matter and the language. This album was not made for me. Sometimes I sing along to music that I like. I could never sing along to any of this -- > I don't like this album.
Ik houd niet van rapmuziek. Deze plaat heeft soms echter wel relaxte beats. De pratende mannenstemmen heb ik verder niks mee. Favorieten zijn "Me Against The World", "Heavy In The Game", "Dear Mama". De rest is wel meteen een stuk saaier. Ik zou het album dan ook niet meteen aanbevelen. **
Vile, loser-culture lyrics, set to pleasing melodies. But hey ho, not as aggressively shouty & dreadful as I was expecting.
First lIsten. Ok for me. Too many N's and F's.... 2/5
Not very funky but I did find my head bobbing along to some of the beats. Overall, it's a bit dour - musically and lyrically. Kind of drones on. Also, it's too long - typical of the early CD era. Seems like he's trying really hard to be 'deep' and 'introspective' but to me it feels a bit put-on - especially with the fairly juvenile content of the lyrics. I guess given the macho pretensions of this genre/time period it's kind of to be expected. Also it's hard to separate the fact that he was in jail for sexual assault while this was released... So that adds an ick factor that's hard to get past. Haven't listened to much 2Pac compared to other 90's hip hop. Overall, not overly impressed with this.
Helt okej
Meh
Not into rap or hip hop. Doesn’t stand out to me as anything special over other hip hop artists.
His voice was deeper than I expected it to be. Not my kinda rap music, can’t see the hype.
Dear Mama is a great song but I couldn't sit at my computer and listen to this entire album.
I know he's important but I just can't seem to really get into this album. There's so many more great hip-hop albums out there. Too many slow jams, it just kind of plods along. This isn't one for me. BT: Young Niggaz, It Ain't Easy, Death Around The Corner
2Pac, nooit gedraaid, weet nu dan ook waarom. Kan er weinig mee
Hmm tja....2Pac. Een 'legende'. Ik snap het ergens wel, maar na een minuut of 40 had ik toch meer dan genoeg gehoord. Waarschijnlijk staan er nog 36 platen van hem in deze lijst dus op naar de volgende!
4
Powerful lyrics, but unfortunately I probably won't listen to this many more times.
Much like Raekwon yesterday, not my genre but I tried to listen with an open mind. Didn't love it but respect the work. 2 stars.
Another 90s hip hop album I wasn't too stoked about. Ok beats and bass. Gets repetitive quickly. Seems like a lot of 90s hip hop albums are an hour + and repetitive. Not really my thing.
Not for me
I think the world won
J'avoue, j'étais parti pour mettre un 2. C'est pas que j'ignore l'importance et l'influence de 2Pac. Je sais que c'est une énorme référence et l'un des rappeurs les plus influents de l'histoire. Mais au premier abord, les instrus plutôt simples ne m'ont pas parlé. Je suis pas un grand fan de rap, j'apprécie surtout quand l'aspect musical est très travaillé ou quand l'aspect politique est très mis en avant. Tout en sachant que j'ai toujours du mal à suivre les paroles en anglais, surtout quand elles sont rappées. Donc forcément, tu me mets du 2Pac, je vais pas capter tout de suite l'intérêt. Je me disais que c'était vraiment pas pour moi. Et comme je laisse la place à un peu de subjectivité dans la façon dont je note ici, j'étais prêt à mettre une mauvaise note. Sauf qu'à un moment, j'ai fini par capter un peu les paroles. Et c'est là que j'ai compris ce qui aurait dû être évident : l'intérêt de 2Pac se trouve dans ses paroles. Alors j'ai pas tout suivi et je soupçonne que certains passages ont mal vieilli, mais je comprends mieux son statut culte. Bon, ça reste un truc pas fait pour moi du tout, donc je vais pas non plus mettre une note incroyable, mais ça mérite au moins la moyenne. EDIT : haha, mais j'ai vérifié un peu sur Wikipédia, le gars a été accusé de viol. Tiens tiens. Allez, ça sera un 1, faut pas déconner avec ces conneries.
Blech!
This really sucked. It was worse than anything similar i’ve listened to from the time. I guess he had a near death experience and thought a lot about dying
I just can't do gangster rap, and this didn't change my opinions at all. Never again.
2 - TERRIBLE
I don’t really click with this genre at all, I did listen however and yep, it’s not for me. Sorry.
I like the more introspective nature of it. I like some of the subject matter, the paranoia, the political stuff, talking about the artists who came before. However, the “me against the world” “am I about to be sent to prison” stuff is soured by the reason for his prison sentence. Musically there are some tracks I really enjoyed and some that were just too repetitive for me – plus a couple where I just really didn’t like the singing style. Can’t get past the “I’m about to go to prison for sexual assault what if I released an album complaining about the world being against me” thing for the rating though. Won’t be listening again. Fav track: Old School Least fav: Outlaw
An album full of paranoia about being killed by someone who would be murdered the year after it was released. As a concept it's fascinating. But there's quite a few cringey moments and it goes on too long so overall I was very underwhelmed. Honestly, I'd probably have given it 2 or 3 stars, there were a few songs I really enjoyed, but listening to this album meant I had to hear a man who was convicted of sexual assault (and was in prison for it when the album was released) say "if you tell me you don't want it, that's a lie". Disgusting, I'm team world. Favourite song: Old School (or Death Around The Corner) Least: Temptations
Conscious hip hop and West Coast rap built from soulful samples, restrained beats, and a constant flow of apathetic vocals feels like being read a diary written in a locked room—but from my perspective, the person reading it is so emotionally detached that I struggle to believe the writer is being fully honest, which keeps me at a distance instead of drawing me in. Semantically, the album clearly aims for emotional weight and vulnerability, while the vocals lack a sense of lived experience and presence that would make that vulnerability convincing.
Like me rating this album
I am not super into rap and this is just boring and repetitive to me. I totally understand people love this but it's just not for me. I couldn't get through the whole album, every song sounds the same to me.
Found it quite dull
Ooh look, another over-long rap album! And, unlike some of the others, I came away from this with literally nothing interesting. He sounds like a shitbag, so I guess I don’t feel bad. 2/10 Marginal
The Generator gave me the third Rap Record in a Row, that's too much. Didn't listen.
I had no idea 2Pac was so lame and awful
When my granda died, my mother and I didn't have any family support. Years of poor mental health had left her with few friends as well. It was, as she reminded me implicitly, if not explicitly, me and her against the world. Just the two of us. It's not a great mindset: a little paranoid, a lot of pressure, frequently dispiriting. In my mother's case, it was also meant she didn't take any shit from anyone. She worked hard - too hard probably - and she loved me a lot. I loved and appreciated her unresevedly. I recognise the mother in Dear Mama easily. But, then my problem with Dear Mama is precisely that. Anyone could recognise this vague sketch of a woman holding up a family, sacrificing everything for her children. And all she gets for it is "appreciation." This is the standard tough guy's consideration of his mother, seeing her only as a sacrificial layer in the shaping of the self. It is no more sophisticated than getting the word mom tattooed on his forearm. There is no emotional cost to me in "appreciating" everything my single mother did for me. If anything, "appreciation" only reifies the expectation that a mother should harden and diminish herself for her child. The emotional challenge in thinking about my childhood is in recognising the price my mother was forced to pay by the circumstances in which we found ourselves. Years of loneliness, hopes and dreams unfollowed, social and familial judgment, ingratitude from a child who, to be fair to me, didn't know much better. It wasn't her and me against the world, because the world was indifferent, it wasn't even taking part of the fight. Really, it was just me and her and it is tougher work for the child to recognise the humanity in their parent than the other way around. If Dear Mama represents the pinnacle of 2Pac's reflection and introspection on Me Against the World, as most of the reviews her suggest, then it is poor work. It isn't reflection - it is navel-gazing. It incorpates his mother into the self-aggrandizing and myth-making of his ego-project. She is a mere avatar of the good mother, with none of the interiority that 2Pac indulges for himself over and over again. If he can't consider real humanity and full personhood for the mother he "appreciates," should we be surprised when he extends no humanity to anyone? No, because this is grandstanding, not art. 1 R.E.M’s album ‘Reveal’ (not on this list) turns 25 today. The same age that Tupac Shakur was when he died. 25 years is so little time really. It seems like only last week I was giving Reveal a first listen, wondering what the hell had happened to R.E.M. Absolute shite. The fall off is largely accounted for in Bill Berry’s absence I’m sure but there are other glaring issues. Something like a lack of confidence in Michael Stipe’s delivery (this would only get worse on subsequent albums). An all-too-blunt thirst for public approval - sniffing round for the Automatic sound on All the Way to Reno, and mugging for the stadium crowds on I’ll Take the Rain. The chorus of Imitation of Life is R.E.M sunniness by numbers - almost a joke that someone might make about Out of Time R.E.M. The music is a terrible clutter; lots of mucking around with keyboard voices and effects, no identity, no conviction in the material. What is going on at the start of ‘The Lifting’? That cheap synth strings sound flailing around for a theme under the clunk clunk clunk of the piano. It sounds like kids in a practice room. And then in comes Stipe with a retread of the lyrics of ‘Daysleeper’. Here was a pathetic, pitiable R.E.M that I had simply never heard before. What was going on? 1/5
I’ve never properly listened to much Tupac, and I didn’t care for this at all. So dull and repetitive. I enjoyed New School. Other than that i got much more enjoyment from reading about his and his mum’s lore tbh.
Nope - not for me.
Not for me 1/5
even slaapverwekkend als alle andere rap... shoot me!
Rapper - Crapper.
Asi by som to nemal hodnotiť, pretože rap nepatrí medzi moje obľúbené žánre...aj keď je Tupac legenda... Preto len 1. Sorry
A child murdering violent rapist telling me how bad he’s had it. Go fuck yourself cunt! Anyone idolising this piece of shit need to give their heads a wobble. Shit album as well
Boring hiphop
I don't care. At all.
He can’t decide if he’s proud to be a gangster or regrets that it’s what he has to be. I guess it’s both at the same time. He also seems to be actively wishing for and courting death, while lamenting all the death that surrounds him. I suppose I relate to ambivalence, but that’s about it. Another album I can’t say is bad, but I really disliked it. Not for me.
Nicht mein Stil
Jeg hørte et halvt album. Det var mere R&B-fløde, end jeg havde forventet. Men stadig kedeligt.
I have no idea why, but this album was like an instant boredom ray. It took 3 or 4 sessions to finish it... and it's only an hour long! My ears just had such an instant reaction every time. Utterly bizarre. Maybe it's really repetitive? I can't remember, as it took me more than a week to finish!!!
Used to love his music back in the day. Now... he was just a thug who could bring music to the world. If he could have done that without the thug bit, it would have been so much better, and he would still be alive today. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
★☆☆☆☆ Me Against the World is the kind of rap I absolutely hate: relentlessly self-serious, grievance-soaked, and convinced that brooding equals depth. Track after track leans into paranoia and self-mythologizing, mistaking intensity for insight and repetition for emotional weight, with little variation in mood or texture to give the listener any air. Yes, it’s influential and earnest, but that doesn’t make it engaging—its joylessness, monotony, and clenched-fist worldview turn what’s often praised as “raw” into something I find exhausting and deeply unenjoyable.
If thats why he was killed, he deserved it
A lot of people complain there’s too much British 80s music on here, for me it’s hip hop. ( I do like a bit of old skool ) I never grew up in the the hood, east side or west side so no of this has any relevance to my life in the northwest of England!
This was the first time I'd ever listened to a Tupac song, much less an album. Also, the last.
Too much profanity.
I have said it in many reviews already. I enjoyed rap when it was fun. Once it was no longer about fun stuff, it was no longer fun. I did find that if you just listen to each song of this album up to the first chorus, and then skip to the next, you pretty much get the idea. Every song is the exact same format, and with this method, you only have to waste just under 20 minutes of your time.
Look I get that he speaks the experiences people have that most of society doesn't get to see but musically this is really limited.
Not for me, repetative
Nope.
Meh meh meh. Tried to be open minded but yuck.
Awful
I’ve never liked 2Pac or gangsta rap, so approaching Me Against the World felt like the start of a long day — and unfortunately, that feeling never quite lifted. There seem to be far too many albums like this in the 1001 challenge, and this one did little to change my mind about the genre. To me, 2Pac remains overhyped and overrated, perhaps further elevated by the mythology surrounding his untimely death. The music and production are the album’s saving graces: the sampling is strong, the beats are well-crafted, and occasionally the instrumentals shine through. My main issues lie with the lyrics and themes. Much of the content feels dated and at odds with today’s culture, and the writing often comes across as simplistic rather than profound. What many praise as raw honesty or emotional intensity simply feels, in my view, bleak, repetitive, and unappealing. That said, there are moments where the production carries the tracks — “Heavy in the Game” features a great sample, and a few other beats caught my attention. Favourite track: Me Against the World was decent, and I enjoyed the “Just Be Good to Me” sample in Heavy in the Game. These two tracks might just nudge the album up to a 2/5. Least favourite track: Honestly, most of the album blurred together. Album artwork: A standard ’90s rap cover — moody, minimal, and predictable.
jag tror inte jag gillar hiphop?
I was surprised how forgettable I found it. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to his lyrics so probably could’ve gotten more out of this one. Rating: 1.5
Nope. I find nothing about this album or style of music engaging, interesting or inspiring. It’s pop music of the middle 90s. This doesn’t appear worthy of the accolades that martyrdom brought it. Not for me. 1/5
Never bought into the idolisation of Tupac, whose early death has granted him a near untouchable status in Hip Hop/Rap circles. I listened very carefully what Tupac had to say so I could get as close to understanding him as possible. I then came to the conclusion that you can be a great poet and have a lot of great points to make about injustice but if it's just not very interesting to listen to as music...I'm bored. Also, 30 years of parody of the gangsta lifestyle on television and in video games hasn't done this any favours. Tupac frequently refers to 'yet another funeral' and his friends clogging up morques, at which point I ask myself 'Is it any wonder?'. Seems they all had a deathwish and if you f**k around, you eventually find out. A review from the time said it best that the only thing greater than Tupac's persecution complex was his inflated self-regard. There was IMO far superior hip-hop/rap artists and albums in the early 90s than this offering.
Not a rap fan
Not a rap fan
As far as I'm concerned, this is yet another pointless Rap / Gangsta-Funk album.
Hip Hop, 41 eme album =>1/5
Not for me
I hate rap music.
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
YaDiYaDiYa-rap. Same old same old. Stale. It’s a no.
Trash
Not even worth reviewing.
Maybe it's because I'm not from America, but I don't get this type of music, over an hour of absolute rubbish.
This is exactly the rap I do not like.
He's got better albums. No one track actually stuck with me
Nothing here for me.
Can't stand this shit
Bad
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.
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
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'd never (knowingly) heard 2Pac before, but this is not what I expected, based on the hype. Tedious and predictable.
Nope.
ALL EXPLICIT
No thank you for the Rap Hip Hop stuff.
Filth
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
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.
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 :)
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.
biggie smalls is the illest
A family of gangsters, to live and die by the gun and machismo bullshit. His music is average and simplistic, but thanks to his violent death, he’s become immortal. Let sleeping thugs lie.
This being my primary exposure to rap when I was younger and in school is probably why I fought hip hop for so long.
Rrrrrrubbish.
I couldn't even get through the first song. Tupac was a horrible human being and this album reflects that.
Take out all the b*tches and n-words and this album only goes for about 10mins.
Garbage music by a garbage human being.