In The Event Of His Demise... 2Pac's Better Dayz

Let it be known – I’m a HUGE 2Pac fan… and this being the first review about 2Pac aka Tupac Shakur aka Makaveli’s latest album “Better Dayz” on Epinions (the best “review” site on the internet hands down) , it better be the most accurate. Fresh from the vast and extensive vaults of unreleased recordings (guessed number of unreleased songs exceeds 250 ), “Better Dayz” is the follow-up to “Until The End Of Time”, which topped the US Billboard charts back in March 2001 and was later named in The Source’s Top 10 Albums of that year.

Keeping in tune with Pac’s most recent albums: “All Eyez On Me” (1996), “R U Still Down?” (1997), “Greatest Hits” (1998), and “Until The End Of Time” (2001) this too, is a double disc album. The executive producers of “Better Dayz” are: 2Pac’s mom, Afeni Shakur and Suge Knight, CEO/impresario of Deathrow (Tha Row) Records. Afeni is often accused of softening Pac’s lyrics and putting junky production to tracks capable of million dollar status.

Case and point – “R U Still Down?” and “Greatest Hits” were both albums with Afeni’s input. True 2Pac fans were quite upset with these releases and disappointed with pre-Makaveli era music – that is, music 2Pac put out BEFORE he signed Deathrow Records. The pre-Deathrow “dayz” portrayed Pac as a peaceful rapper with weak lyrical skill – simple fact is, Pac wasn’t always the best rapper (compared to rappers such as Rakim), but the better human being taking ideologies from great Black leaders. But with hip hop at an ever so real violent stage (Pac’s adversary Notorious BIG was gunned down shortly after his death), Afeni probably was forced to put out music Pac wasn’t proud of – his “weaker” and “less potent” tracks.

Suge Knight on the other hand, let Pac’s demons out on track. Whether it’s the influence and backbone for Pac to put out diss tracks like “Hit Em Up” or the fueling of f*ck em all tracks such as “When We Ride On Our Enemies” on this album. Pac’s fans tend to chase after the Thug Life aspect of his music – after all, controversy DOES sell. Because “Better Dayz” is produced by BOTH the yin and yang of Pac’s soul (Afeni & Suge / good & bad) – its execution and message is quite successful. Pac’s incredible diversity was always considered as one of his best qualities, and it is boldly highlighted with this release.

Some of the producers on this project include Johnny J (2Pac’s original producer way back on his Thug Life album and throughout his entire career – in my opinion, the most complementary to Pac’s vocals and melody), DJ Quick, BRISS, 7 Aurelius & Jazze Pha

The 1st single released as of Nov. 1, 2002 - Thugz Mansion A Side / Thugz Mansion-acoustic B Side

The 2nd single as of Nov. 1, 2002 - My Block-A Side (a music video will accompany single) target video release DEC. 9, 2002 / Mama's Just a Little Girl-B Side

“Better Dayz” is made up of 25 eclectic selections recorded between 1994-1996 (arguably the most exciting period of his musical career) with guest appearances from Tyrese, Mya, Mr. Biggs (Ron Isley), The Outlawz (his best homies & second family) and more.:

CD #1
1. Intro – The Intro has the same feel as the Makaveli album intro… with a news reporter stating:
“This is yet another post-humorous release by Tupac
Which raises the question
Where are these songs coming from?
It's interesting how; the message in these songs
Is still relevant today”
The answer to where “these songs” are “coming from” is simple: 2Pac had a lot on his mind and rapping was his way of venting feelings. I know there will be die hard Pac fans that try and find an “Easter egg” in here.

2. Still Ballin (featuring Trick Daddy) – By far one of the weaker tracks on this entire album. I’m not sure WHY or HOW Trick Daddy ended up on “Better Dayz” or any 2Pac song. The beat is way too repetitive and does no justice for Pac’s vocals:
“Ain't nobody love me as a broke n*gga
Finger on the trigger lord forgive me if I smoke n*ggaz
I love my female strapped
Love fu*kin' from the back
I get my currency in stacks
California's where I'm at”

3. When We Ride on Our Enemies – This is a remix from the original version – the beat is more vicious but the chorus is edited and therefore, weakened. Pac must have been blunted and angry – his lyrics spit like a venomous snake as he recalls his attempted murder/robbery (first time getting shot in New York):
“N*ggas love to scream peace after they start some sh*t
Pay attention here's a word to those that robbed me
I'll murder you
Then I, run a train on Mobb Deep
Don't fu*k with me
N*gga you barely living
Don't you got sickle cell
See me and have seizure on stage
You ain't feeling well
Hell
How many n*ggas want to be involved?
See I was only talking to Biggie
But I'll kill all of ya'll
Then ball
Then tell the Brat to keep her mouth closed
Fu*k around and get tossed up
By the fu*ken Outlawz
Before I leave make sure everybody heard
Know I meant every mothafu*ken word
When we ride, on our Enemies”

4. Changed Man (featuring Jazze Pha) - Pac’s delivery is on point… but I feel the production is a slightly weak. Something just doesn’t sound right. As far as message, the chorus says it all:
“I changed plans but I'm still the same old ridah
(Your fu*king with a changed man)
Slanging new dope to the world but the people still buy it up
(N*gga you fu*king with a changed man)
All my real thug n*ggas go and get your hands up now, your gonna flip your hands up
(Fu*king with a changed man)
Changed man, you dealing with a changed man”

5. Fu*k Em All (featuring the Outlawz) – Pac told interviewers that everyone (the media) was making Notorious BIG a bigger deal than he really was… but it seems like Pac talked about him more than anyone else. He also said there was no “west vs. east” beef but as these lyrics read, that was not the case at all:
“Now I can make it happen
My rappin' is similar to muthafu*kers
When they scrappin'
Blast and watch em' back up
Notorious biggie killer
Affiliation with death row
N*ggaz get their caps pealed back
Fool this the west coast”
The entire Outlawz squad is featured on the track reminding me of the “good ole days” - Kadafi, Edi, Young Noble, Kastro and Napoleon compliment Pac perfectly.

6. Never B Peace (featuring EDI & Kastro) – Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary… The beat is so freakin’ sad – pun intended. This track is exactly what I’m talking about – a track that COULD have been much improved if a different producer laced it up. Like always, Pac’s message is on point describing the helplessness of Black youth:
“Memories of adolescent years
Their was unity
But after puberty we brought war
To our community
So many bodies dropping
Its gotta stop
I want to help
But still I'm stepping
Keeping my weapon
Must protect myself
The promise of a better tomorrow
ain't never reach me”

7. Mamas Just a Little Girl – Pac’s angel ridden spirit shines freely on this track. It is obviously a Johnny J produced track; matching perfectly with Pac’s vibe. While listening to this track, I can’t help but bob my head back and forth digesting Pac’s story:
“If this is fate I hate to see the seed she created
So we wait, though it takes time to build the body and the mind
She reclines 9 months
Then finally its time
What do we find?
A little grown boy a mind with a tortured soul
Addicted to a life of crime at no time of the growing stage
He learned his values on the streets at an early age”

8. Street Fame – Repetitious beats cloud this album from being at its full potential. This melody is defiantly annoying and again, does no righteousness for Pac. His lyrics are full of hate and show that one of Pac’s strongest weapons was his pen:
“Temperatures rises
N*ggaz blinded by my lyrical disguise
No time to plot retreats
N*ggaz shiver and die
Multiple rounds found laced
In his body and face
Wrapped in plastic the acid, erased all traces”

9. Whatcha Gonna Do (featuring Kastro & Young Noble) – The chorus is creative… Pac used the COPS theme to generate:
”Now what cha gonna do? when my n*ggas come for you
(What ya gonna do)
Now what cha gonna do? when my n*ggas come for you
(What ya gonna do)
Now what cha gonna do? when my n*ggas come for you
(What ya gonna do)
Now what cha gonna do? when my n*ggas come for you
(What ya gonna do)”
Although this beat is slightly looped, the entire experience is enjoyable. It’s a great song to bump while rollin’ in your car with the windows down. The bass line is definitely for a “ridah.” Like Pac says, “In drop-top double r / Life as a rap star / Hustle like a crack fiend/ 'Till they catch me.”

10. Fair Xchange Jazze Pha remix (featuring Jazze Pha) – God, this beat is so cheesy. I cannot imagine Pac EVER flowing to a beat like this… its more for a cat like Ja Rule. The chorus is equally as dreadful – Jazze Pha does not fit Pac’s thugged out sound. Regardless, Pac’s freaky lyrics keep you listening to the end:
“Close your eyes
Let me heat it up
Cause when we fu*k I refuse to bust a nut 'till I beat it up
Drop the top
Time to fu*k while the wind blow
Baby throw your legs out the window
Remember on the balcony?
Bend over baby bounce on me
And let me hit it where it counts and flee
Remember me?”

11. Late Night (from the album “Chronic 2000 Still Smokin”) – DJ Quik is an OG West Coast producer and matches this beat for Pac’s voice. It isn’t the catchiest song, but after listening to it a few times – it grows on ya. Perhaps his fellow Outlawz, Fatal & Kastro help sweeten the deal… as Kastro swiftly spits, “From booty calls to bail sheets / It ain't no telling if I wake up in the county in my jail sheets / My intuitions and ambitions up in the late night / Probably involves me comin up with just to see another day / Might be me who bites the bullet”

12. Ghetto Star (featuring Nuttso) – Having heard the original I can say that this remix is 300% better than its predecessor in every avenue. Nutt-so literally rapes the second verse with a delivery like no other:
“I live the life of a thug n*gga
Drug dealer living game tight
Mug n*ggas
Slug n*ggas
For the fame life
Laced with game
Practice on taking pain
Quick to slain
And let it rein thro your brain”

13. Thugz Mansion-acoustic (feat. Nas) – This acoustic version in my opinion is far advanced than the regular. Maybe it’s Nas who pays homage to Pac’s mother – or the simplicity of the tune. Whatever beefs Pac had with Nas, was squashed before Pac passed… So much respect to Nas for showing love:
“I'm just twenty some odd years and I already lost my mother and I cried
tears of joy
I know she smiles at her boy
I dream of you more
My love goes to Afeni Shakur
'Cause like Ann Jones
She raised a ghetto king in a war”

CD #2 (the better half in my opinion)
1. My Block-remix – Although this track gives a great insight into Tupac’s thoughts and beliefs, it is a far cry from the original version. The beat was ruined! The song itself is a deep and powerful reflection of the ghetto’s harsh environment that Tupac was raised in which like many of the other poorly produced tracks, the message saves it:
“My eyes stay teary for all the brothers that are buried in the cemetery
Sh*t is scary, how black on black crime legendary
But at times unnecessary
I'm gettin' worried
Teardrops and closed caskets
The three strikes law is drastic
And certain death for us ghetto b*stards”

2. Thugz Mansion (featuring Anthony Hamilton) - ‘Thugz Mansion’ is the first single from “Better Dayz” and is produced by 7 Aurelius, the man behind many superstar artists. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this is the most commercial sounding… However, Pac’s message is VERY potent and on point – Pac wishes he had a place to escape and relax from the strains of life for every young Black male or minority:
“Will I survive all the fights in the darkness?
Trouble sparks
They tell me home is where the heart is, dear departed
I shed tattoo tears and couldn't sleep
Good for multiple years
Witness peers catch gunshots, nobody cares
Seen the politicians vanish
They'd rather see us locked in chains
Please explain why they can't stand us
Is there a way for me to change?”

3. Never Call u B*tch Again (featuring Tyrese) – My favorite track on the entire album… solid production quality accomplished by Johnny J. This duet was meant to be – Tyreses reassuring background vocals and chorus give more meaning to Pac’s significance. Labeled as a rapist to many, his lyrics prove the opposite:
“Witness evil men do, all this sh*t I been through
Never meant to hurt you, can we make this work boo?
I know you been feeling pain, things are not the same
Waiting to exhale while I'm sitting in the country jail
Keep your head up, cause things are getting better
My cell mate shed tears off your last love letter”

4. Better Dayz (featuring Mr. Biggs) – ANOTHER great track produced by Johnny J and ANOTHER magnificent collaboration this time with Ron Isley, a veteran in soulful music. The beat and Ron Isley’s voice mix together seamlessly and mend into a masterpiece. I can actually imagine Pac rapping this song – it’s as real as real can be:
“Faced with the demons, addicted to hearing victims screaming
Guess we was evil since birth, product of cursed semen’s
Cause even our birthdays, are cursed days
A born thug in the first place, the worst ways
I'd love to see the block in peace
With no more dealers and crooked cops, the only way to stop the beefs
And only we can change, it's up to us to clean up the streets
It ain't the same
Too many murders, too many funerals and too many tears
Just seen another brother buried plus I knew him for years
Pass by his family but what could I say?
Keep your head up and try to keep the faith
And pray for better dayz”

5. U Can Call (featuring Jazze Pha) – Jazze Pha and Pac do not mix; Pha’s production CLASHES with Pac in fact. The chorus is absolutely horrid… The only good from it is Pac’s lyrics aimed at messin’ with a female groupie:
“My only wish is to be wit' ya
You got me steady striving to get ya
Fantasizing of friendly pictures
The pressures gettin' major
I wonder will you answer my call
If I page ya
Got me going wild with anticipation
Face to face with us locked up in strange places
What will it take
Cause the heartache made ma heart break
Is my prediction
When u falsify
And start fake
In my position
I'ma careful man
But a playa when I ball
Got my eyes on your baby
Can I call?”

6. Military Minds (from the One Nation Album, featuring CoCo Brothers) – Pac’s passion and fury is depicted in full speed on this track. Perhaps this is the direction Pac was headed towards in advancing his explorative lyrical motif:
“Suppress the revolution of premeditated scheme (echo)
Introduce a drug called crack
To us ghetto teens (echo)
Got a law for raw n*ggas now
Playa what it be like? (echo)
When will n*ggas see they got us bleeding with 3 strikes (echo)
Can't seem to focus
Hopeless”
Pac’s echoing in the background of his colleagues is also another plus for the track – “TAI-CHI”!

7. Fame (featuring Outlawz) – A kick back track fit for a room full of weed and Hennessey. I love Pac’s semi-singing chorus… “One thing we all adore / Something worth dying for / Nothing but pain / Stuck in this game / Searching for fortune and fame.” Pac also speaks on the rap game:
“Enemies gettin dropped
Win or lose
Red or blue
We must all stay true
Play the game n*gga
Never let the game play you
And for the fame (echo)
N*ggas change fast (echo)
That's a shame (echo)
What's the game
Lost souls
Who controls our brain?
Who can I blame? (echo)
The world seems strange at times
Somewhat insane (echo)”
If fame is what Pac was searching for, he certainly achieved this goal… he has reached icon status.

8. Fair Xchange-remix (featuring Mya) – One things for sure; Pac would have LOVED to fu*k Mya. And topic wise, Mya fits the role perfectly and her chorus is unadulterated. The beat and production is a lil too Hollywood for my taste, but so is 99.9% of the music out there these days. Gotta love Pac’s sex-filled verses:
“Got me marching like its a million, you tremble from the feeling
Look up
Coz I got mirrors on the ceiling
And if your willing
Then we can ride 'till the sunshine
And just for for fun I bet you I can make you cum 61 times
Close your eyes”

9. Catchin Feelins (featuring Young Noble) – I preferred the original version when it was still in solo form. The subject matter, Pac’s enemies was something personal and should have been left untouched. Again, Notorious BIG is the main figure in conversation:
“Cross this n*gga here
Now Biggie tell me who do you fear?
Ain't a living soul breathing shall pump no fear here
My last four flashed then I mashed his a*s
B*stard
Fu*k with me bet I blast you’re a*s
So many follow but can't reach me”

10. There U Go (featuring Outlawz & Big Syke) – An excellent collaboration of Pac’s true homies… along the illustrious fame of the track “Check Out Time.” The focus of the track is outrageous wh*res – girls that lie and deceive men and believe me, girls play just as many games as guys do. I’m sure Pac was speaking on a situation he went through:
“I'm sick of this scandalous sh*t I deal with
Trying to pain a perfect picture
My memories of jealousy
No longer carefree
So much bullsh*t
Your girlfriends keep telling me
I'm on tour
But now my bed rooms an open door
So it got me thinking
What am I trying for
When I was young
I was so very dumb
Eager to please”

The best part of the track is when Tupac is talking at the end (I can relate to he’s saying):
“You were gonna change
You don't wanna go to the clubs no more
And you weren't fin to dress crazy no more
And you were gonna stay home and try to chill
What happened baby?
Ohhhh, so your friend wanted to go out
That wasn't you that wanted to
You was just going out cause it was your friend wanted to
Ok
So you were pis*sy drunk up in that lil' club
Cause your friend wanted to get you drunk”

11. This Life I Lead (featuring Outlawz) – Wicked beat made for mashing! A definite improvement from its original translation and the diss to Biggie is still in it... Pac was at his finest when rapping about crooked sh*t (whether it was his enemies or cops) that went on in his life:
“My automatic keep 'em weary
While you fronting like you Billy bad a*s
N*gga you scary
I been knowing you for years
We was high school peers
In Junior High
I was itchin' to kill
And you was ready to die”
The Outlawz should have been left out of this track…


12. Who Do U Believe In (from the Chronic 2000 Still Smokin, featuring Kadafi) - ‘Who Do U Believe In?’ features Tupac’s late half-brother, Yafeu Fula (Khadafi of Tha Outlawz). The pair’s thought-provoking lyrics on this collaboration are some of the deepest they ever crafted (I think it’s their only track where the other Outlawz weren’t included); an extremely immersed song:
“Watching our on downfall, witness the end
It's like we don't believe in God cause we living in sin
I asked my homie on the block why he strapped
He laughed
Pointed his pistol as the cop car passed and blast
It's just another murder
Nobody mourns no more
My teardrops getting bigger
But can't figure what I'm crying for”

13. They Don't Give a Fu*k About Us (featuring Outlawz) – This track was left in original form which is probably why it is triumphant over other tracks on this album. The message too, is quite compelling and like the news reporter in the intro says, is still relevant in today’s society:
“I'm seeing it clearer
Hating the picture in the mirror
They claim we inferior
So why the fu*k these devils fear ya?
I'm watching my nation die genocide the cause
Expect a blood bath
The aftermath is y'alls
I told ya last album, we need help cause we dying
Give us a chance, help us advance cause we trying
Ignore my whole plea, watching us in disgust
And then they beg when my guns bust
They don't give a fu*k about us”

14. Outro – A message with truth behind it? Or a message from Suge Knight letting his fans know that more albums are coming out…
“Expect me n*gga, like you expect Jesus to come back
Expect me n*gga
I'm coming ...”

“Better Dayz” is an album primarily depicting the stressed out side of Pac. When I listen to this album, a line from “Who Do You Believe In” comes to mind: “Can't close my eyes because all I see is terror / I hate the man in the mirror / Cause his reflection makes the pain turn realer.” I just hope Pac knows how great he was – but like most people who die prematurely, this is highly unlikely.

Rest in peace 2Pac – for any fan of Pac, be sure and snatch this album up. There will NEVER be anyone like Pac…