Review Summary: Welcome world, to the Death Row 2Pac.
Critical Responses:
Allmusic: 5/5
Entertainment Weekly: B+
NME: 9/10
Q: 4/5
Rolling Stone 1996: 3/5
Rolling Stone 2004: 5/5
The Source: 5 Mics
Spin: 7/10
USA Today: 3/4
XXL: XXL (5/5)
With the previous 2Pac album, 2Pac was introspective, thoughtful, and wasn't afraid to let his emotions out. With this album, 2Pac dropped that state of mind, and with this album, he then started using his gangster persona.
Some stats that prove how good that this album is, is that it's #50, on the Rolling Stone list of the top 100 albums of the 90s, being the 13th highest hip hop album on the list. This album is also #80 on the about.com list of the best hip hop albums ever. This album is also number 1, on the about.com list of the best hip hop albums of 1996. Also the stats at the top are proof that this album is classic. Now for the track by track review.
Book 1:
1. Ambitionz Az a Ridah: An excellent opener, to a classic album. This song has 2Pac looking back at his past, and him being a gangster. Classic, and one of the best 2Pac songs of all time. This song has been sampled in the song "Can't Deny It" by Fabolous, "Family Business" by Kanye West, "I Wonder" by Kanye West, and other songs. 5/5
2. All Bout U: A song that 2Pac dedicates to the women. This song features, Snoop Dogg, Fatal, Yaki Kadafi, and Nate Dogg providing the excellent chorus, obviously 2Pac is much better than each of them, but they are each still good. Classic. This song has been sampled in the song, "Wouldn't Get Far" by The Game, and other songs. 5/5
3. Skandalouz: Another song that 2Pac dedicates to the women. This song features Nate Dogg, who again provides the excellent chorus. Excellent song. 4/5
4. Got My Mind Made Up: Yet another song that 2Pac dedicates to the females (partially). This song features, Dat Ni**a Daz, Kurupt, Redman, and Method Man, and obviously 2Pac is better than each of them, so he had the best verse, Redman being 2nd, Method Man being 3rd, Kurupt being 4th, and Dat N***a Daz being the weakest on the track. Classic. This song samples the songs, "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove 1)" by Run-D.M.C, "Eric B Is President" by Eric B and Rakim, and other songs. 5/5
5. How Do U Want It: Yet another song that 2Pac dedicates to the opposite gender. One of the more popular songs by 2Pac. Classic. 5/5
6. 2 of AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted: Now 2Pac has dropped the subject of females. This song features Snoop Dogg. Classic, and one of the best 2Pac songs. This song has the 2 rhyming about their criminal styles. This song samples the song, "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and other songs. 5/5
7. No More Pain: This song is a thug song, which has 2Pac rhyming about how he kills people. Classic. This song samples the song "Bring The Pain" by Method Man. 5/5
8. Heartz of Men: A classic song. 5/5
9. Life Goes On: A classic song, which has Pac rhyming about lost friends. 5/5
10. Only God Can Judge Me: This song, has 2Pac going back to his religious rhyming, that we heard on his previous album. This song features Rappin 4-Tay, who does an excellent job on the chorus. Classic, and one of the best 2Pac songs ever. The best song on this "Book" and overall the best song on the whole album. This song samples the song "Top Billin" by Audio Two. 5/5
11. Tradin War Stories: This song features Outlawz, CPO, and Storm, and 2Pac is obviously better than each of them. Classic. 5/5
12. California Love (Remix): One of the most popular 2Pac songs ever, probably THE most popular. This song features Dr Dre, who has a good verse, but 2Pac is obviously better. Keep in mind though that this isn't the original version that most people know and love. Classic, and one of the best 2Pac songs. 5/5
13. I Ain't Mad At Cha: This song features Danny Boy, who does an excellent job on the chorus. This song has 2Pac rhyming about how he's not mad at people who are trying to get out of the ghetto. Classic. 5/5
14. What'z Ya Phone #: I'm sorry, but this isn't very good. The beat is bad, the hook sucks, this isn't good. 2/5
That's the end of book 1, now for book 2.
Book 2:
1. Can't C Me: A classic song. 5/5
2. Shorty Wanna Be a Thug: This song has 2Pac rhyming about younger people that want to be like him. 5/5
3. Holla At Me: A great song. 4/5
4. Wonda Why They Call U Bytch: An excellent song. 4/5
5. When We Ride: A great song. This song features Outlaw Immortalz, and obviously 2Pac is lyrically far superior. 4/5
6. Thug Passion: A great song, that 2Pac dedicates to the females. This song features Jewell, Outlawz, and Storm. 4/5
7. Picture Me Rollin: A classic song. This song features Danny Boy, Big Syke, and CPO, again they don't come close to 2Pac. This song is one of the best 2Pac songs. 5/5
8. Check Out Time: This song features Kurupt, and Big Syke, again they don't mess with 2Pac lyrically. Great song. 4/5
9. Rather Be Ya N***a: A great song, that has 2Pac again going back to rhyming about the females. This song features Richie Rich. 4/5
10. All Eyez On Me: A classic song. This song features Big Syke. This song sounds similar in sound, to the song "Street Dreams" by Nas. 5/5
11. Run tha Streetz: A great song, that features Michel'le, Mutah, and Storm, guess who is better than each of them. 4/5
12. Ain't Hard 2 Find: A great song, that features E-40, B-Legit, C-Bo, and Richie Rich. 4/5
13. Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find: A great way to end the album. Classic. 5/5
Pros:
Lyrics
Production
Cons:
Guest appearances
Overall I give this album 5/5, 10/10, and "A+".
3 Best Songs On Disc 1:
1. Only God Can Judge Me
2. California Love (Remix)
3. 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
3 Weakest Songs On Disc 1:
1. What'z Ya Phone #
2. Skandalouz
3. How Do U Want It
3 Best Songs On Disc 2:
1. Picture Me Rollin
2. Shorty Wanna Be a Thug
3. All Eyez On Me
3 Weakest Songs On Disc 2:
1. Ratha Be Ya Nigga
2. Check Out Time
3. Thug Passion
3 Best Songs overall:
1. Only God Can Judge Me
2. Picture Me Rollin
3. California Love (Remix)
3 Weakest Songs overall:
1. What'z Ya Phone #
2. Ratha Be Ya Nigga
3. Skandalouz
