2pac Shakur Discography

    A personal critic's corner of Tupac's CDs. Major songs are pointed out in each CD and
some other tidbits of information. One can even start to see when his style changes and why. Barnes and Noble supply the CDs for sale.

Better Dayz
Interscope Records	Relesead November 26, 2002 Went Platinum
Thed. I'm tellis up!

Until the End of Time
Amaru/Death Row/Interscope Records	Relesead March 27, 2001 Went Platinum
The lyrics bring back memories and the beats are some of the best you are gonna hear this year. The first song "Ballad of a Dead Soulja" will let you know you spent your money right, awesome song. Other great songs: "F***Friends" "Breathin" "All Out" "Thug N U Thug Me Remix" "Everything They Owe" "Until the End of Time". And these are just from disc 1. Disc 2 isn't quite as good, but still better than 90% of the crap that comes out today. If you like Tupac, you probably already intended to buy this cd. I'm telling all hip hop fans to pick this up!

Rose That Grew from Concrete
Amaru Records	Released November 21, 2000 Went Platinum
This isn't the type of CD you can bump in your car (with the exception of a few hip-hop tracks, but even they're not hardcore). It's the type of CD you sit down, listen to, and take in. It's certainly not for everyone, so don't be discouraged if you love Tupac and don't feel this album. It's completely different from any other Tupac CD. Gone is the hardcore beats and menacing voice of the greatest rapper ever. But that's not a bad thing at all.     Each performer truly gives it their all to make this album as powerful as it's turned out to be. Whether it be poetry, singing, rapping or even chanting, it's like heaven to listen to. This album also contains some of the most beautiful instrumental music I've heard in my life.

Lost Tapes
Records	Released Went Platinum
S

Still I Rise
Interscope Records	Released December 21, 1999 Went Platinum
Tupac Shakur didn't know how to write a bad song. Drawing from a life filled with pain and more pain, Tupac laid down his rhymes with an honest heart, never fearing consequences. He wrote about his Mama when it wasn't cool to be soft, forever etching him in the hearts of women everywhere. The rap-ballad "Still I Rise" could be a sequel to "Dear Mama," as it reaches for clarity in a world gone mad. "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" offers hope to youths who can't see their way out of the crime-prison-death cycle. "Even when the road is hard / Never give up," he preaches. The long-anticipated album unites him with his beloved Outlawz, what's left of them anyway. When Pac was alive, his Outlawz were his family-five teens he rolled with, boys he took care of when no one else cared. Shortly after Pac's death, the Outlaw-Yafeu Fula-was also murdered and the death goes on and on. Much of this record speaks to death, and it's not surprising.

Greatest Hits
Deathrow/Interscope Records	Released November 24, 1998 Went Platinum
2pac is a song writer not a rapper (like the deceased Notorious BIG is, a rapper just rapping random things that rhyme and are clever)... though rap was his medium I put him up there with John Lennon and Bob Marley. The whole album is deep lyrically and the musical backdrop (provided by hip hop's best producers, Dr. Dre, Johnny J, Daz,Easy Mo Bee) is trump tight quality-wise. When you listen to this CD it's like you can get inside Shakur's mind... both the good and the bad. His clear emotional voice and poetical word combinations are that of a man who has seen it all. His death appears inevitable as one lets this album play. An incredible artist that totally transcended rap music.

R U Still Down? (Remember Me)
Amaru/Jive Records	Released November 25, 1997 Went Platinum
2Pac's Album R U Still Down?,[Remember Me] is a must have for any Tupac Shakur fan. Along with his previously released double album, All Eyez on Me(1996), R U Still Down?[Remember Me] is also an excellent addition to a comsumer's Audio CD collection. The great songs on here are "Fake Ass B----ez," "I'm Lossin'It," "When I Get Free part 2," "Hold On Be Strong," "Do For Love", and "R U Still Down?", "Last Words." Other good songs on this album are "Point The Finga," "Soulja's Revenge," "Representing '93," "Keep Ya Head Up," "Strictly For My Niggas," "The Streets Are Deathrow," and "Papa's Song."

Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
new and "untouchable" Death Row/Interscope Records	Released November 5, 1996 Went Platinum
The man who delivered such lyrical gems as "Me Against the World" and "If I Die Tonight" brings verses like this from "Hail Mary." On more heartfelt songs such as "Krazy" Tupac shows a maturity not seen in his previous CDs. In addition to Pac's lyrics, another excellent part of this CD are the beats. These 12 tracks are quite simply some of the best beats that Tupac ever worked with. Look for awesome sound effects in tracks 1,10,and 12. Running through each of its songs made me realize how complex his personality was, and how great of an artist he will always be.

All Eyez on Me
Death Row/Interscope Records	Released Feburary 13, 1996 Went Platinum
A must for any rap fan. This is everything some of the newer rap albums haven't been - and more. Even today, the record still sounds fresh. Be sho to check out All Bout U, How Do U Want It, 2 Of Americaz Most Wanted, Heartz Of Men, Life Goes On, California Love, Thug Passion, Picture Me Rollin'... heck, just check the whole think out. ITZ HOT. It quality West Coast beats. To give you an idea of what it sounds like, well itz definitly West Coast, sounds very reminicent of Death Row, at times angry but at times very deep, and has many varied, original, and bumpin' beatz.

Me Against the World
Amaru/Jive/Interscope Records	Released March 14, 1995 Went Platinum
It shows the trials, tribulations, hopes, joys and fears of this often misunderstood man. Tracks like "If I Die 2 Nite" and "Outlawz" come with some hardcore, but not like that you hear from DMX or Master P. It still has a reflective touch. "F**K The World" does show his anger at the stuff that has happened, which, considering what was going on, {he had just been shot and was headed for jail} is understandable. But for sure, tracks like "Lord Knows", "So many Tears", "Me Against The World", "It ain't easy", and the haunting "Death Around the Corner", which forsaw what would be Tupac's tragic ending, make this album so great. These tracks reflect on the difficulties of ghetto life and especially Pac's life. "Dear Mama" is one of the most touching songs ever made, and the cautionary tale "Young Niggaz" is great.

Thug Life Volume 1
Amaru/Jive/Interscope Records	Released September 26, 1994 Went Platinum
This album is strictly about the hardships of living life on the streets. And although it only contains 10 tracks (like Nas' now classic debut, Illmatic), I don't hesitate to say that this is one of my favorite Pac albums. From Bury Me A G (best song) up till the haunting chorus of Str8 Ballin', the album shows what Tupac can truly teach his fellow rappers as far as outstanding lyricism goes. It strikes me as downright odd that I've never even heard of the Rated R before, because he was awesome on this CD. I don't really know how to compare this to Tupac's other albums. It's in a state of its own. It's simply a great album. And if you love Tupac, you HAVE to pick up his new Until The End Of Time album. As I've learned through Still I Rise, his posthumous material is worthy enough to rank against his earlier albums.

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Interscope Records	Released February 16, 1993 Went Platinum
This was the first album that I bought of 2 Pac's and needless to say I wasn't disapointed at all. I remember the first time I saw "I get around" on MTV. I was stunned at first that someone could come from where he had and survived to make a name for himself. I bought the CD at first for "I get around" and "Keep ya head up" but as soon as I heard "Holla if ya hear me", I was HOOKED from his awesome portrait of what the hood looked like from the inside.

2Pacalypse Now
Amaru/Jive Records	Released November 12, 1991 Went Platinum
Same passion & political side on this album that u heard on "Me against the world". Songs like "Trapped" & "Violent" talks about racial profile & police brutally that black males still deal with 10 years after this album was release."If My Homies Calls" can be seen as a pre-"I ain't mad at cha" where Pacs tells his friend no matter what happens 2 u in the future I there for u."Words of wisdom" is a wake up called 2 the black community on not depending on white people & help yourself & each other. "Brenda got a baby" is the song that made Pac known in the rap world but in my opnion the true gem on this album is "Part time mutha..." where pac take the role of a man who had a one night stand with a girl & now he's a father. There a verse my some unknown girl on the song where she take the role as a female who was molested by her father & her mother took his side & blame's her. I don't know if her verse is true but one thing I know she had one of the best guest appreance I ever heard on a pac song. If u looking for the Thug Life & player's theme on this album u ain't gonna find it this was in my opinion the true side of Pac.