The Rose That Grew From Concrete

The Outlawz are a group of rappers that were joined together by 2Pac shortly before his death. Still I Rise is the album that they released with 2Pac before they went onto doing other solo projects after his death such as Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us and Novakane. In these solo projects the artists have not had the guidance and expertise to guide them as with Still I Rise because of course 2Pac is dead and there was a lot of controversy as to if the artists would be able to rap and produce a good album by themselves. Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us showed that the artists were definitely talented and collaborations with artists such as Val Young in a song called Black Rain who had previously worked with 2Pac in hits such as 2 Live & Die In L.A and r ‘n’ b artist TQ showed that 2Pac’s influence had definitely made an impact on them. Although the artists further improved in Novakane, Still I Rise is still considered the Outlawz best album, mainly because of 2Pac’s presence.


2Pac and the Outlawz within the album adopt a poetic writing style and the beats implanted definitely promote this fact. Although 2Pac is definitely the best rapper on the album, it is E.D.I who is the most prominent out of the rest of the Outlawz and his role as producer further establishes this point. This is good in some aspects as E.D.I is the most lyrically talented out of the Outlawz and his flow resembles 2Pac’s in the sense that he does not simple rhyme words with common ending but instead with similar syllables and sounds that they create. This is appreciated especially when emcees such as P.Diddy and Mase persist on making up their own words in a desperate attempt to make their lyrics rhyme. This is why Pac felt so aggravated when Notorious B.I.G came out with his Ready To Die album with hits such as Juicy because it was clear that he had emulated his rapping patterns and style of hip hop. Throughout the album a high standard of lyrical writing and execution is preserved and this makes the album very nice. But because it is rappers such as 2Pac and E.D.I who take charge of the rap, other rappers such as Napoleon are not given enough exposure and don’t shine as much as their counterparts.


The production on the album is led by E.D.I, there are no big names such as the Neptunes etc, and this is not a bad thing. The purpose of this album was for 2Pac to promote the Outlaw Immortalz, as he wanted to start a new record company entitled Makaveli Records and exposure for the artists was a necessity. 2Pac hoped that with his already established and influential position in the hip hop world the Outlawz could retain a similar status. E.D.I production is part of this idea as E.D.I was supposed to be the producer of the album alongside the likes of other Death Row producers such as Daz Dillinger. It was crucial the E.D.I made an impression and the care that he takes in the production and fine tuning of songs on the album are essential and the quality of the songs are all round bettered. The beats are similar to that on DMX’s The Great Depression in the sense that they are quite dark and base heavy, mostly motivated by a base vibe and the deep vocals of the artists nicely interlink with the instrumentals. Songs such as Tear Drops and Closed Caskets, Still I Rise and Tattoo Tears use this style of hip-hop. Tattoo Tears is probably the mostly successful at this because of Nate Dogg as a feature. His dark, deep G Funk Death Row vocals are well appreciated by the beats and further more the harmony that he forms with the rappers is exceptional. There are also beats that are up-tempo and jazzy such as Hell 4 A Hustler in which the flopping of disc and jazzy instrumentals make for an excellent song.


The Outlaw Immortalz, first and for most were supposed to be a rap group, but in a song entitled Hell 4 A Hustler in which several of the Outlawz sing the hook, “Help me change my ways/Show a little mercy on judgement day”, I was surprised to see that the Outlawz were also good singers and despite their unusual singing vocals the harmony that they as a group create behind Pac’s fast and automatic lyrical execution is delightful. In addition E.D.I’s production really shines through on the single.


The subject matter for Still I Rise is very underground and nothing like what mainstream rappers such as Jay Z and Fabolous are producing. Baby Don’ Cry sees that the Outlawz story telling ability is a rare but crucial necessity for the album and it is becoming an acquired taste in the mainstream with songs such as Ja Rule’s Lost Little Girl. But it is songs such as Hell 4 A Hustler, Letter To the President and Killuminati that the album is based around. Real subject matter, the Outlawz and Pac rapping about the situations in the ghettos and political issues. In Killuminati Pac adopts the name Killuminati which means kill the Illuminati. The Illuminati were a racist group of people living in America, by putting Kill in front of their name 2Pac showed that he was strongly against them. The subject matter is best related to that of 2Pac’s song Changes in which he raps about things in America for black people not changing.


Nate Dogg is the only feature on the album and in retrospect this is good because it allows the Outlawz a whole LP to demonstrate what they are capable. It was disappointing to see that Storm the only female member of the Outlawz never made an appearance on Still I Rise. He light female vocals would have definitely been appreciated as they were in songs such as Thug Passion on the All Eyez On Me album. Still I Rise is a great album for a fan of gangster west coast rap and 2Pac. Still I Rise will mesmerize people that enjoyed the Outlawz latest work whereas fans of Makaveli The 7 Day Theory will also remain in awe.


Here are the tracks available on the album:

1. Letter To The President (10/10 – Dark base heavy beats and vocals for the hook)

2. Still I Rise (9/10 – Light overlapping vocals and mid-tempo instrumentals)

3. Secretz Of War (7/10 – Monotonous chorus but good verses)

4. Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II) (10/10 – Excellent sequel to 2Pac’s smash hit Keep Ya Head Up)

5. As The World Turns (9/10 – Tupac shines)

6. Black Jesuz (7/10 – Not daring enough of the Outlawz, the beats and lyrics are very central)

7. Homeboyz (8/10 – Similar to Pac’s original song When My Hommie Calls)

8. Hell 4 A Hustler (10/10 – E.D.I’s production is sheer brilliance and is supported by superb lyrics)

9. High Speed (9/10 – Up-tempo lyrics with mid-tempo beats)

10. The Good Die Young (10/10 – Similar in subject content to 2Pac’s Changes)

11. Killuminati (9/10 – The Outlawz melody is a great addition)

12. Teardrops And Closed Caskets (7/10 – Average beats and good lyrical content)

13. Tattoo Tears (10/10 – Nate Dogg’s vocals are excellent for the base heavy track)

14. U Can Be Touched (8/10 – Good lyrical content)

15. Y'all Don't Know Us (8/10 – good single, but not the best outro to an album)