This one's for my thugs

I was class of '95 in Northern California. Throughout my high school days, two musical artists were heard everywhere: Nirvana and 2Pac. White or black, the hood or the 'burbs, you would hear this. You may not have like it, but the sound permeated the surroundings.

By far Northern California's most successful rap artist, Oakland's own Tupac Shakur (alias 2Pac or Makaveli) provided an array of hit songs before his premature demise, and even a fair number after his death.

While 2Pac was no doubt a prolific and talented artist, none of his albums have that "classic album" level of quality, where every song is just plain great. Shakur was probably the closest thing to a definition of "street poet", reporting on his every feeling, emotion, and experience. However, in an attempt to reach a more "mainstream" audience, his albums tended toward filler tracks about violence and sex. With this album, we see his catalogue pared down to the (well, mostly) best, condensed into two CDs, 25 tracks.

The first track on CD number one is "Keep Your Head Up". Undoubtedly my favorite 2Pac song, a good start on my part. A paeon to black women to keep strong, and black men to treat them better, the song goes beyond that to describe the sense of hopelessness in the inner city, desperate to move up but not seeing the next step. As 2Pac says, "I was given this world, I didn't make it."

Next up is "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted", featuring Snoop Dogg. Recorded as both were having legal woes, the song is a battle against those who want them behind bars (apparently, everyone). "Living in fear of a felony", the two rappers, each of whom have distinctly different rhyme styles match up well with a gentle funk beat behind them. A picture of strength, both artists show confidence in the face of fear. Sure, its bragadocio, but it is still well done.

"Temptations", from the Me Against the World LP, is about...well, temptations. Specifically the temptations of women while on the road. Admitting his personal foibles, 2Pac tells us of desires for a real relationship he has trouble keeping in real life.

"God Bless the Dead" is an unreleased track that is new to this collection. Oddly enough, it references the Notorious B.I.G.'s death, which occurred several months after Tupac Shakur's. Whether a premonition, or an indication of some conspiracy, I don't know. Backed by a sparce, industrial beat, the song is a simultaneous eulogy and tribute to Biggie Smalls, the Notorious B.I.G. In his typical nihilistic fashion, it also describes his own fear of death, particulary under violent circumstances. An odd mix of irony and tragedy pervades this track.

"Hail Mary" is a song from the posthumous "Makaveli" album, and is one of the weakest tracks on this collection. With an odd meter and the xylophone and church bell beat, it just seems a little too esoteric for my ears. However, it does contain the fairly well known lyric "Revenge is the sweetest joy / next to getting p*ssy". I don't know; I just don't like the sound of the song. However, lyrically, it does contain the same nihilistic anticipation of death many of his later songs contain.

"Me Against the World", the title track from the album, has a bouncy beat against lyrics of a man who is alternately a crusader and a villain. As his compatriots die, no one notices, for, as he says, "unless we're shooting, no one notices the youth". The tragic nature of the song melds with the mellow backing track to make a song with a serious tone that could still play in a club.

"How Do U Want It", featuring KC and JoJo from Jodeci, has an obvious R&B tone to it, with a Quincy Jones, is one of those R&B/hip-hop tracks about hooking up with a girl. Not necessarily bad, it is still somewhat standard; it really doesn't sound that different from other songs of its ilk.

"So Many Tears" is a decidedly more serious track describing the tragedies leading up to his fame and the new tragedies fame has brought him. Based around a classic Stevie Wonder sample, it has a poignance in spite of the despair. This is a song that brings a real-ness to the insecurities behind 2Pac's persona.

"Unconditional Love" is another new track. Once again, the theme is needless death in the inner city, and its conflicts with finding love. Backed by female soul singers and a springy bass, this song feels less "put together" than the other unreleased tracks on the album, less like the beat was added at the last minute before release.

"Trapped" is a song from 2Pac's first album, 2Pacalypse Now, and was the initial source of controversy in his career. A protest against the institution which sought to put black men in prison, entering them into a cycle of violence on the streets and violence in prison, he sees a world where he is "trapped". A "storytelling" track, something he rarely did on later albums, the song tells the tale of violence and encounters with police. Taken as a call-to-arms against police by various politicians, this really jump-started his career. While the production is sophomoric compared to later work, the lyrics are good, and 2Pac's delivery is as good as ever.

"Life Goes On" is a memento mori to friends since fallen, and one of 2Pac's rare optimistic songs. Looking back fondly at lost friends, he finds some joy in his memories.

"Hit 'Em Up" was a B-Side to "How Do U Want It", and an answer track to "Who Shot Ya" by Notorious B.I.G. Believing his former friend Biggie (and Biggie's friend, Sean "Puffy" Combs) were behind a shooting that left Shakur with five bullets in him. A vicious, take-no-prisoners battle rap track, it has an admittedly infectious beat and sometimes clever lyrics, but it is overly long (over five minutes) and redundant, and just too harsh. Not bad, but flawed.

Now, pause. Take a cigarette break or whatever. We've got another CD to review.

Track number one is "Troublesome '96", the third new track on the album. Based around an intense sample by hip-hop legends Whodini, the song is basically about what a badass 2Pac is. Recorded upon his release from prison, he demonstrates his "young, strapped, and don't give a fu*k" attitude, a man not willing to go back. Knowing folks like this, I can relate. Hard-driving and very nice.

"Brenda's Got a Baby" is one of 2Pac's most deliberately socially conscious songs. Opening with the lines "I hear Brenda's got a baby / but Brenda's barely got a brain / damn shame / the girl can hardly even spell her name", this is a song about a neglected child lost in the system, eventually resulting in the type of story we might read in the paper and think, "Well, what do you expect from that type of a person?" In personalizing the story, one can see that all tragedies have their root somewhere, and even those we see as the worst in society have their demons.

"I Ain't Mad at Cha" is another R&B-sounding track from later in 2Pac's career. A rather nice rememberance of his past, and how others in his life changed while he changed. While I'm not typically a fan of this type of song, this is a pretty good track.

"I Get Around", the first of 2Pac's songs to get heavy play on MTV, is probably one of the first songs by him most people heard. Produced by Shock G of Digital Underground, the track is built around a sample of "Computer Love" by Zapp and Roger, and features guest appearances by Shock G and Money B from Digital Underground. 2Pac's career started as a breakdancer for the Underground, and the band returns the favor with a great beat for a great party rap song about having sex with lots of women. The beat is classic, and the hook is great.

"Changes" is another new track, built around the hook to Bruce Hornsby and the Range's "The Way It Is". An indictment of the system's treatment of the poor, young and black in this country. The Hornsby track provides a great foundation for a song about the harsh inequities inner-city youth face in life, the use of the "drug war" to harass black youth, and the need to stand up for our own rights.

Next up is "California Love". If you, like me, grew up in California, you've heard this song hundreds of times. Pretty much every club DJ is required to play this at least once a night. Produced by Dr. Dre, and featuring performances by Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman of Zapp and Roger, this song is the definitive party-rap track for the West Coast. The song has no real lyrical substance or deep inner meaning, but I still love it every time I hear it. Probably 2Pac's biggest hit, he uses Dre's great, super funky beat to deliver lyrics with the incredible flow for which 2Pac is best known.

"Picture Me Rollin'" uses a Kool and the Gang sample to maintain a smooth sound in a song which is basically about cruising around town. Like many tracks on All Eyez on Me, the song relies heavily on 2Pac's lyrical skills to carry it through. He does quite well, but this song isn't up to the level of many other songs on the album.

"How Long Will They Mourn Me?" has a spare funk beat provided by Warren G and Nate Dogg and intense, deeply nihilistic lyrics by 2Pac. Bookended by inferior songs with superior production values, this song is a surprise; many songs 2Pac wrote are about dead friends and compatriots, but this song is uniquely personal, about a special friend. Lacking the fancy production values in many ways increases the intimacy of the song.

"Toss It Up", from the "Makaveli" album, has a very Teddy Riley "pop-rap" feel to it. Not necessarily bad, it doesn't quite seem to fit the performer, and the song hurts for this fact.

"Dear Mama" is such a sweet song it almost defies belief the same artist could also produce songs like "Hit 'Em Up". But such is the schizophrenic brilliance that is 2Pac. In many ways, he knows his mother wasn't the perfect mom, he still wants her to understand that he knows why she did what she did, and that he knows she tried. While not a technically perfect song, he evokes emotion few rappers can even attempt to bring out.

"All About U" features Top Dogg, Nate Dogg, and fellow Bay Area rapper Dru Down, backed by a track using a sample by the classic song "Candy" by Cameo. The song has a funky, lightweight sound. While the song is about the impossibly generic topic of women that aren't faithful, the beat, the hook by Nate Dogg, and 2Pac's lyrics elevate it above the average track.

"To Live & Die in L.A." is about his entry into the life at Death Row in Los Angeles. From the "Makaveli" album, the song has a desperate quality to it, mixed with cautious optimism. I suppose the desperation has its merits, based on the results in the life of 2Pac. The song has a gentle, rolling beat, a la early 80's funk. Not his best song, but quite good.

"Heartz of Men" is a brilliantly produced song, courtesy of DJ Quik. Using elements of tracks from Prince, Richard Pryor and Parliament, this song is largely a "boast" track, recorded following his incarceration. While 2Pac's lyrics are quite good, I think this is the only song I've heard where his lyrical flow was over-shadowed by the beats. That said, this is a great ending to this compilation.

I will admit, I would have liked it if some album cuts like "Fu*k the World" had been included rather than some of the more filler tracks like "Toss It Up". However, this compilation does include pretty much all of his singles from before his death, and several new songs, mostly good. All in all, while far from imperfect, 2Pac's Greatest Hits is an excellent compilation of songs from all points in his career, fairly evenly distributed, and placed on the album well enough you could put in on your car stereo without having to skip tracks. For a "best of" compilation, that's probably the best you can ask of the record company.