Me Against The World

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.

Great flows and fun production

First Tupac Album I've heard!

A good listen full of pathos and swagger. Something felt missing for me.

4/5

Smooth and smart. Definitely the way in for people unused to hip-hop.

There are other Hip Hop albums that have been recommended as part of the list that have inspired me more. But this had some good stuff on it.

Not my cup of tea

This album has all the best parts of west coast rap. Great listen all the way through

Nice

Probably my favorite 2pac album. I think this is his most reflective and poetic album. Even though it doesn't have the hits he released later, it's probably his best work. 4.5/5

I don't understand West coast rap, difficulty understanding lyrics and a similar background sound made all songs sound similar to me.

dated and simplistic 90s, but this hit me in the feels. genuine emotions packaged within old school beats

Man, time has a weird way of changing the way thinks look. I mean, as far as mid-90s rap goes, this is probably as good as it gets if your name isn't De La Soul. I didn't listen to this back then, but I knew it was a big assed deal. But today, listening to this and reading about Tupac... I mean... I feel like I would hate this dude automatically if he was a bearded white guy. 1992 he dropped his gun, it discharged and killed a 6-year-old. He beat another rapper with a baseball bat. He raped a 19-year-old and went to prison for it. So I mean... sure, it's you against the world, I guess. You sound like an asshole.

Simply can't get excited about this

You know about 2Pac's mom, right? If not, look her up. Pretty fascinating family. Anywho, I found this really incredibly easy to listen to, which seems like an odd thing to say considering the image that followed this dude back in the day. Not gonna lie, "Old School" completely worked for me and also made me feel like there was a millennial right behind me with their arms crossed thinking, "Of course it did, DAD." Whatever. I would listen to this again and I don't have that reaction a ton with the stuff on this list.

Wie super, dies hier wiederzufinden. Soundtrack endloser Abende auf den Freiplätzen um Bochum. Duftbaum-geschwängerter Golf 1. Sonnenuntergänge wie Tequila Sunrise. Und auch wenn‘s nur Streetball war, sollte es doch eines befeuern: das Gefühl, Teil einer Gang zu sein. Doch ist diese Bande lang zerfleddert, Geschichte, ausbleichende Erinnerung, ganz schön angelaufen wie auch dieser G-Funk. Beats oft oll. Mit Ausnahmen: „Dear Mama“, „Oldschool“,„Fuck the World“ & „Death Around the Corner“ ragen da nämlich so monumental heraus, dass der Sitz in der Bahn genauso hart wirkt, wie im Golf. Shakurs Stimme so unnachahmlich, Rough-Smooth. Unsterblich 3.5

Gefälliger Gangsta-Rap, läuft gut durch. Hat Hits, hat Höhepunkte, reisst mich aber nicht aus meiner bürgerlichen Existenz.

Nope

Nothing on Biggie

Rap isn’t my genre & I’ll probably never listen to this again, but I’m really glad I did. The reason for 2Pac’s appeal is clear; introspective and thoughtful lyrics that are still relevant today, slickly produced.

I'd left this for when I could listen through & read up on 2Pac's life. You can sense the real introspection in this - talent shines through in every track. But now i've done that, i'll probably never listen again, so that says everything.

Ok, here’s something odd. Even though the Tupac lost cuts cottage industry continued to roll out albums for donkey’s years after his death (or, if you haunt some seriously unserious corners of the internet, after he removed himself from the fame game and relocated to Peckham) I have never sat and listened to an album of his from start to end. First time for everything… (Afterwards). Great delivery, shame about the production

Really enjoyed this, only knew a couple of songs beforehand. If I die tonight, fuck the world and, of course, dear mama are standouts.

Never been a fan

Not for me

5/10

Don’t know how to feel bout this one it’s got a few that I like but non worth saving not boring exactly but for me not really anything special. 3.6/5

Hm

2Pac on aina ollu yks lemppareista. Eniten tuli penskana popitettua kokoelmaa mutta tämä toimii varsin hyvin omana levynäkin.

Ei mikään ihmeellinen, mut ok

3.75

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

An album I know well Surprised I listened to this so much when it came out, it's all a bit smooth.

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.

didnt know that before

decent classic rap album

Legendary. His storytelling, emotion, and fearlessness about his content is why he is unanimously considered one of the greatest rappers ever. In my opinion this is his best work. I knew i loved it going in, but it’s always nice to revisit a classic. Must listen for everyone in my opinion, but especially fans of hip hop.

First ever listen. Surprised at how lyrical it is. Not as hard and dark as I thought it would be.

Great album. Amazing and reflective lyrics at a crucial point in his life.

4.5, really good I thought

Nobody comes close to Shakur when it comes to verses and prose. But his hooks need work. The choruses felt almost disposable for the most part. Some of his later stuff (California Love & All About You) had better choruses. But with verses this good, and lyrics this honest you can’t complain Fave Tracks: “If I Die 2Nite” “Dear Mama”

2pac is so ubiquitous but listening to this makes me realize how little I know his music. "Lord Knows" really caught my attention and I was fully invested from that point on. As an aside, he and Pop Smoke sound eerily similar.

I absolutely respect his effort to get more reflective and even somewhat sensitive in-between the swagger, but the beats are so weak! It's like a movie with a good story but terrible cinematography. So much heart but no atmosphere. Never been a huge fan of the west coast g-funk sound with all the glissando on the synths. I really respect "Dear Mama" though, and I think it's a standout, perhaps because the track is a little more stripped down and seems to foreground his voice in a way that the other tracks don't.

Pretty damn introspective, thematically strong. Very confessional and raw, probably was a bit uncommon to show vulnerability in hip hop at this time. I probably wouldn't listen to a lot of it, but I can respect it.

Ik houd niet van rapmuziek. Deze plaat heeft soms echter wel relaxte beats. De pratende mannenstemmen heb ik verder niks mee. Favorieten zijn "Me Against The World", "Heavy In The Game", "Dear Mama". De rest is wel meteen een stuk saaier. Ik zou het album dan ook niet meteen aanbevelen. **

i vibe to 2pac

Vile, loser-culture lyrics, set to pleasing melodies. But hey ho, not as aggressively shouty & dreadful as I was expecting.

God plade selvom det meste nok ligger teksterne. 3 stjerner uden tekster og med 4 med

Weirdly never given 2pac much of a chance, never gone out of my way to listen to his stuff. Initial thoughts after a few tracks aren't that great! 😭 It's easy a 3 cos I love hiphop but it's not bowled me over yet. Lord Knows is a tune, decent sample. Think this is worth a 4 actually. Classics. Still, didn't love it quite as much as I was hoping to 🙏

Going into this album, I had never been a big fan of old school hip hop but this album made me appreciate it slightly more. Tupac’s lyricism is excellent and the production is pretty good even though it’s what I don’t like about older rap. Fav songs: dear mama, temptations

Finally got back around to listening to this record after my initial listen in August. I certainly wasn't in the right mood or mindset during that first go, and since then I've listened to it multiple times in chunks, but this is my first full re-listen. Just like I said in my first review, there's STILL a lot to unpack from 2Pac in this record, as it is his most personal and self-reflective record. He talks about his upbringing, criminal history, violent skirmishes, and the relationship he has with those most important to him such as his mother. However, this isn't a record that he's making for himself, it's like multiple letters going out to his fans, family and friends. The production of the album is mostly warm and cozy, each track has soul-esque instrument lines accompanied by a heavy bass tone that pairs well with Shakur's voice. The beats are pretty intuitive with the tone that 2Pac approaches in his voice. This is the kind of sound I really dig in hip-hop records, as it doesn't overstep and accompanies the bars very nicely. I still think the record has the tendency to get lost in itself due to its runtime. It keeps a pretty hot streak for the first three tracks and then it gets a little lost with its identity, trying to recede back into hardcore hip-hop and keep with the formula of the time instead of sticking with the personal direction. I personally would get rid of the last two tracks and "Temptations" and be satisfied. Favorite Tracks: Me Against The World Least Favorite: Death Around the Corner

This is fine. It's a little too dated for me. I don't think this album aged very well, and the background singers get very old, repetitive, and annoying. The songs without the background vocals are pretty decent, however.

Too much language otherwise some nice sounds

Pretty vulgar but he's a hell of a rapper.

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.

mal

Excellent album, consistent, cinematic, no surprises

Yes

Grandma likes Dear Mama so that's impressive because she doesn't like rap music.

It seems to just drone on, i really do not like it

There are well-captured transitional movements here, between the braggadocious gangster style to the more chill if still focused politics of later conscious rap. Lyrically, there are clear themes, and 2Pac balances machismo with hope for something better. Musically, there's the high synth tone I think of as something between the string sections of soul and the richer electronics of 2000's music. The skit-lightness accentuates the framing of Intro. It's dated, I don't love it, but it's important listening. I prefer All Eyez On Me, but both albums are big and merit closer examination and comparison.

Helt okej

A classic, but not something that I would normally turn to.

Did not enjoy this album at all. I guess the primary quality is in the lyrical content (especially with 2pac's backstory in mind), but the music just does not appeal to me enough.

Intro to 2Pac, pretty good stuff

Great album. It had a different feel to it than All Eyez on Me

Rap sin contemplaciones. Buenos acordes y acompañamientos. Para amantes del género.

Meh

Love "Can U get away" and "So Many Tears"

This is a solid hip hop album…. Extremely prophetic and close to home for 2pac. Gone too soon!

Some of the best music ever made

Classic. So good. Very solid.

Not his best but a good album 4 four our rating system but probably closer to a 3.

Not into rap or hip hop. Doesn’t stand out to me as anything special over other hip hop artists.

This is nice, he's got a great flow, too bad it led to the rise of a million poor imitators

Some of the smoothest sounds and engaging, emotional, and aggressive lyricism I've heard in a while! 2Pac was truly one of the greats.

Really good rap music, some really cool instrumental hooks in the background. The album stayed interesting throughout. I don't usually listen to rap music but this is by far the best rap I've ever listened to!

Solid likeable tracks all around but no noticeable bangers or standout tracks

This exercise may just yet turn me into a rap/hip hop fan. Another fine album that I very much enjoyed. Not white the quality and menace and diversity of Eminem Marshakk Mathers but pretty f'ing good. 4 🌟

Dear Mama is still the #1 classic Tupac song.

really good

7/10 It’s all about the hooks, otherwise kind of monotone - will have to look into lyrics

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Dear mama, Outlaw, Old school, Fuck the world

His voice was deeper than I expected it to be. Not my kinda rap music, can’t see the hype.

I might be biased because I am a huge Kanye West fan, but most indicative is the difference between Late Registration's "Hey Mama" and "Dear Mama" from this record. The lyrics on 2Pac's version made me wince, the rest of the album is devoid of creative samples and clever wordplay and I am having a hard time remembering the differences between most tracks. This might be due to the generic and repetitive style in most songs, which gives more reason to the fact that this type of rap has aged terribly to my ears. Only song memorable to me is Death Around The Corner, and that is mostly because of the hard-hitting instrumentals. Overall score is a 2(Pac) out of 10.

Standard Tupac - lovely beats, often heartfelt lyrics with the odd bit of rubbish thrown in.

This is one I will need to listen to a couple more times. There's a lot to unpack from 2Pac in this record, as it is his most personal and self-reflective, and I just was not in the right headspace when I first listened to it. The production of the album, while mudding some lines from time to time, gives a heavy bass tone that pairs well with Shakur's voice. This is the kind of sound I really dig in hip-hop records, as it doesn't overstep and accompanies the raps very nicely. However, a lot the songs started to blur together for me, as there were a few that weren't sonically unique or had lackluster moments. This could have been 100% due to my lack of focus, so again, I'm going to give this another shot one day to give it it's fair due. I know this is one of the most celebrated albums in hip-hop, so it demands better attention while listening.

3.5

Incredible how relevant the lyrical work still is today. This 2Pac album is impeccably written by one of raps greatest writers. It's solid production is the only thing holding it back from being a 5 for me. It's fine production, but nothing jumped out to me to really elevate that part of the album. The writing and 2Pac's flows though almost get it there on their own. That's how great of a writer he was.

Great shit but not 5/5 because its not an album I'd just throw on

This is not the first album I think of when I think of 2pac, but it is perhaps his most personal and reflective album. Arriving between a shooting incident (to which the opening track makes reference in a skit) and an impending prison sentence, this album deals with feelings of paranoia, gangster violence, and the state of not only being an artist but also a black man in America. He reflects on the cycle of gangster life, the prison system, and the hopelessness of the situation when one is simply trying to survive with the cards they've been dealt. 2pac asks the listener to be sympathetic towards those who live this lifestyle as it is born of economic insecurity and paranoia. Paper keeps you alive and out of trouble, but it's a lot of trouble to get that paper. The standout tracks are "If I Die Tonight" seriously some of 2pac's best rapping, the alliteration is insane, "Dear Momma", "So Many Tears"

very cool

Enjoyed it

D:

Original Gangsta

😎🔊💁🏾‍♂️

Dear Mama is a great song but I couldn't sit at my computer and listen to this entire album.

This is peak 2Pac and the pinnacle of introspective/conscientious hip hop in the heyday of gangsta and dance hip hop. Lyrics are poetic throughout and I love the contrast of the vividly painted stories of urban struggles against generally calm and chill beats and bass lines. Really not any misses here despite a somewhat long album. Dear Mama and the title track are classics but temptations, death around the corner, and others are underrated. I'm really not even the biggest 2Pac fan but it's hard to not respect and appreciate this album in it's context. Probably a 4.5 because of a bit of a lack of replay value overall, but gets a bump up for historical and cultural significance, and that it's still enjoyable and a classic work, even outside of it's narrowly targeted demographic.

hmm, wish I could give it a 3.5, but it's a 3 for me. The cultural significance is important and while I haven't looked at the global, I have a feeling that it's not a great global since it's rap. I almost want to give it a 4 for those meta reasons.

One of hip hop's most influential album and the best of the best from the 90's. Tupac was one of the first rappers that brought social issues into his lyrics and he was a genius with his rhymes. This album might be his most famous / best one.

Definitely some great lyricism, helped get through my day

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

Nooit echt in verdiept, maar vind dit wel tof klinken. Relaxte beats en coole raps.

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!

Best te pruimen eigenlijk. Beter dan ik dacht. Sommige teksten zijn een beetje pretentieus, zoals 'If I die tonight' maar toch minder pretentieus als je bedenkt dat hij daadwerkelijk het loodje heeft gelegd. Wel veel van hetzelfde.

Tuesday Haiku: The rhythm is there ### Flowing prescient proven words ### Many will follow ###

4

Great old school hip hop album, melodic, poignant lyrics and some beautiful soul moments

Powerful lyrics, but unfortunately I probably won't listen to this many more times.

always enjoyed 2-pac, but never went beyond radio/MTV hits. Darker than I expected. Lots of talk of suicide and depression. Good listen from start to finish.

garbage

If the song about his momma doesn’t make you cry then you don’t love your mama

Groovier than expected. Emoji Monday: 🤴🏿

Sehr nice

A strong badass rap album. I'm better with his use of colorful language than Sly & the family stone. It has gut, authenticity and Dear Mama is a great song.

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.

Incredible

a classic that doesn't age

Obvious genius within it's genre but I find it difficult to look past the sadness of his pointless violent young end, so confidently predicted in these lyrics.

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.

When rap was good!

Very great.

Hands down classic! One of 2Pac’s best works.

not bad at all, pretty chill tupac album

Not for me

Already in my collection. Obviously a banger of an album.

The ballads get a lot of attention, and for good reason, but for me the angry braggadocio is where Tupac shines. Best track: Death Around The Corner