Review Summary: "...a captivating listen and as iconic as it gets in rap, though there is still some low moments here and there that hurt the album."
They say heroes get remembered but legends never die.
If that is the case than Tupac Shakur must be both in the eyes of hip-hop listeners everywhere, he was arguably the best to ever do it at least in terms of the colossal mark he left - whether you agree with them or not, he is important in the genre.
Also in the eyes of most hip-hop listeners, his pièce de résistance is the last album he released while he still had air in his lungs;
All Eyez on Me - though many have repudiated that mindset it is still one of the most recognizable hip-hop albums released shortly after his release from prison and shortly before his assassination and impactful death.
The first thing to note when starting this album is the intense length; 27 tracks long and it might as well be a listenable story, appropriate since both halves of the project are split into two parts - 'books' as the album claims.
Although there is plenty of songs here to prove the album as a whole; that is not always a huge positive - the album has quite a bit of features and yet... 2Pac's verses still come out on top out of all of them in my opinion.
Also as many have claimed, the project as a whole is two hours long and is prolonged - which I normally would not complain about if it was not filled with filler as many of these tracks seem to be.
The best examples that prove that would probably be the four songs dedicated to 'b-tches' in a row at the beginning starting with "All Bout U" - though these songs as well as the rest of the whole damn album demonstrate great improved rapping ability and rhyme schemes from 2Pac; once you put those songs together four times in a row... they start to get old and come across as uninspired, even if it picks up.
Returning to the point of improved rapping; you have to agree that this is the best 2Pac has ever sounded on an album not just in terms of production and iconic beats - but his flows and confident non-apologetic deliveries are at their best here which is evident on tracks like Ambitionz Az a Ridah, How Do U Want It (phenomenal rhyme schemes!) 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, Can't C Me (love the confidence on this track) Picture Me Rollin', and the title track - it definitely gives you the feeling that he was made for this.
His first and his last appearance on Death Row records really gave him an iconic sound/image which is one of the best selling points of this album.
Returning to the production; 2Pac's rapping sounds enjoyable and crisp, the beats are mostly a highlight, I mean... you've got to say that when the album starts off with Ambitionz Az a Ridah - which has the most recognizable sound off the composition for me next to the remix of California Love, Shorty Wanna Be a Thug (odd choice, but the beat is the best part about it) and of course the title track on the second half.
This is the quintessential album if you want that classic west coast hip-hop sound, period.
The lyricism is shown in terms of dexterity in rhyme schemes and focus, but not as much in terms of content - let me explain.
That does not mean it is completely desolate of substance, there is amazing songs like Heartz of Men, Life Goes On (great homage to one of his friends) Tradin' War Stories, and even Picture Me Rollin' and parts of Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find.
Although that also does not mean that an album such as Me Against the World is not better in terms of the message - this is more of a chill, gangsta rap monument with west coast and g-funk elements instead of a poetic composition - which everyone might not be looking for when they are listening to a rapper that's so hyped up to be one of the best lyricists in the game;
"If I seen her right now, she could get me hard.
Didn't wanna talk to me just to see my car.
Never had sex with a rich rap star.
'Til I got her in the back of my homeboy's car."
"Got a pocket full of rubbers, let's bone.
Time for your girlfriend to take you home.
I had fun, but baby, gotta leave me alone."
The more ample lyrics are still existent though;
"As I bail through the empty halls, breath stinkin' in my jaws.
Ring, ring, ring - quiet, y'all, incoming call.
Plus this my homie from high school, he getting by.
It's time to bury another brother, nobody cry."
Other tunes I'd describe as catchy or guilty pleasures would be parts of Wonda Why They Call U B-tch, the hook to Thug Passion, and the hook to Ratha Be Ya N-gga, as filler as all of these particular tracks might be, I still like them - only because they are the songs that omit the best gangsta vibes in my opinion.
Although there are still several forgettable filler tracks such as I Ain't Mad At Cha, When We Ride, Check Out Time, Run Tha Streetz, Ain't Hard 2 Find, and most of Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find.
Also, we could talk about how mediocre What'z Ya Phone # is but we would be here all day, so I'll stop here.
Evidently this is a captivating listen and as iconic as it gets in rap, though there is still some low moments here and there that hurt the album - it is absolutely still worth a listen, it's just not Tupac Shakur's magnum opus, even if it is his most impactful release to date.
Favourites:
The rapping ability, flow, delivery, production, memorable nature, some lyrics, "Ambitionz Az a Ridah", " How Do U Want It", "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted", "No More Pain", "Heartz of Men", "Life Goes On", "Tradin' War Stories", "California Love (Remix)", "Can't C Me", "Shorty Wanna Be a Thug", "Holla At Me", parts of "Wonda Why They Call U B-tch", parts of "Thug Passion", "Picture Me Rollin'", parts of "Ratha Be Ya N-gga", and "All Eyez on Me"
Least Favourites:
Some lyrics, too long with filler, change from messaging to gangsta attitude, "All Bout U", "Skandalouz", "Got My Mind Made Up", "Only God Can Judge Me", "I Ain't Mad At Cha", "What'z Ya Phone #", "When We Ride", parts of "Wonda Why They Call U B-tch", parts of "Thug Passion", "Check Out Time", some parts of "Ratha Be Ya N-gga", "Run Tha Streetz", "Ain't Hard 2 Find", and "Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find"
AWARDS:
Daddy's Little Girl: Ambitionz Az a Ridah
The Son I Never Wanted: What'z Ya Phone #
