Tag: 2Pac

audio review : Rather Be Ya Nigga ( song ) … 2Pac + Richie Rich ( featuring Stacey Smallie )

“I don’t wanna be ya man, I wanna be ya nigga,” 2Pac tells a honey. It’s ebonic word play. “Man” and “nigga” are near synonyms in his world, but the latter has more of an appealing connotation; one more fitting for, say, a thug with a Benz.

For Richie Rich, the contrast of the terms have more to do with the level of the relationship. As her “nigga”, he doesn’t feel obligated to wine and dine her like her “man” would. It’s just periodic sex with no romantic love strings attached.

The only flaws have to do with the girl on the chorus. She should be the highlight of the mix while Pac does his thing in the background. Instead it’s the other way around. Even less sensible is that she’s singing from the guys perspective.

my rating : 4 of 5

1996

audio review : All Eyez On Me ( album ) ... 2Pac

audio review : The Don Killuminati [ The 7 Day Theory ] ( album ) … 2Pac ( posthumous )

audio review : The Don Killuminati [ The 7 Day Theory ] ( album ) ... 2Pac ( posthumous )

2Pac sounds angrier and more aggressive than ever, as if he’s ready for war. “It’s not about east or west,” he declares, “It’s about ‘niggas’ and bitches… riders and punks.” He wastes no time categorizing the latter with rival rap peers. Biggie and Puff make the list, of course, but this time as mere afterthoughts amid an army of faceless targets. If it’s true that all Eyez are on him, he’s finally starting to crack. He can’t black them all, so when he swings, he only hurts himself by leaving his legacy an unfocused mess. None of these beefs, I bet, will mean much 7 months from now, let alone 7 years.

2Pac, a thug rapper who doesn’t have the wit or wordplay to make full diss songs that interesting anyway, is best when he’s in deep poetic thought. Blasphemy, featuring one of the only beats I’ve heard on a major record label release that doesn’t sound like it was distorted on purpose, is a prime example; though there’s a “dada” vocal loop that should’ve been set louder in the mix. Or perhaps he’s best slow-jamming with the ladies. Just Like Daddy is the album’s best song; not necessarily for its verses, but for the passionate vibes of its beat with 2Pac and a girl singing a catchy hook over it.

The way these songs, which are mixed and mastered with murky expediency, blend to and from each other gives the album a sloppy mixtape vibe. In a sense, it seems rushed, as if it’s something he felt he had to make and put out as quickly as possible. With that, it stands in dark contrast to the polished presentation of his last. That album has California Love on it, featuring Dr Dre. This one has the sequel, To Live And Die In LA, without “gay-ass” Dre. I bet the two of them would, or, depending on the depth of this “Makaveli” thing, will, have a friendly laugh about that line in 2003.

my rating : 3 of 5

1996
 

Gaz :

Cool review. I still remember getting home and putting the CD on for the first time. I had it cranked up on my parents’ Marantz stereo. I just about shit myself during the intro. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG… “You niggaz still fuckin’ talkin’? You niggaz is still fuckin’ breathin’?”

I will never forget that.

audio review : All Eyez On Me ( album ) … 2Pac

audio review : All Eyez On Me ( album ) ... 2Pac

2Pac is, as a rapper, near the height of popularity, so the exaggerated title of this album isn’t too far off. All Eyez aren’t on him, but a mixture of vanity and paranoia probably makes it seem that way from his point of view. It’s still Me Against The World. Everyone else is just waiting to see what his next move is going to be. If we’re looking, we’re listening, so this album is for the whole world.

It will be heard by rap music fans more than anyone else, of course, and in that category, it holds its own. 2Pac isn’t the best rapper or anywhere near; the Thug poet rarely has anything clever or particularly creative to say; but there is something to be said for his distinct sing-songy flow, in which he emphasizes random words by stretching syllables and putting an exclamation mark at the end.

If that’s not impressive enough, and I don’t think it is, it sounds a lot better over an array of sleek beats. There are also a lot of guest rappers; almost every song has one; but it’s the guest singers that really stand out. When one provides a catchy hook over said beat; Can’t C Me; the rapper shines more than he ever could on his own.

The second half of this 2-pack; a double album as far as CDs and tapes go; is superior in that regard. Run Tha Streetz and Rather Be Ya Nigga are catchy, perhaps even a bit romantic, and a sip of Thug Passion is all you need in the bedroom. Even when he’s calling out enemies in a violent rage, daring them to Holla at him, a singer is right there instigating with melodic taunts of her own.

That said, the album would be better limited to its best fourteen or thirteen songs. That means weaker inclusions like When We Ride, Hearts Of Men and How Do U Want It; not all the singers do well; would have to go. Even as is though, there are enough interesting things happening musically to hold your attention.

my rating : 4 of 5

1996
 

Muyiwa olubajo :

Some people don’t know what is really called a poet a distinct one for that matter that’s 2pac Amaru Shakur