November 21, 2006 @ 10:50 am
Pac’s Life
While “Untouchable” comes closest to capturing Pac’s energy and vocal prowess, that feeling doesn’t last. It’s a setup to get your adrenalin flowing, only to drop you quick and dirty like a bad high. 'Cause next up on the track-list is the severely watered-down (like someone slipped ice cubes in your Patrón), “Pac’s Life.” The single that sounds so dated, it should have come out when Ashanti was actually hot. Would Tupac have rhymed over a track that is more suited for twelve-year-old girls to blast in their iPods? Keyshia Cole should have been on the hook to bring a little grit (who's actually on another track called “Playa Cardz Right”).
Talking 'bout "Playa Cardz Right," between the mellow R&B-induced beat, which is designed for loving but is more effective in putting you to sleep, and Keyshia’s dominance on the song, you forget you’re listening to a Tupac album. Note: This will happen often throughout your listening experience. Whose album is this really?
But remember, dead artists are big money (think Elvis Presley and Bob Marley). This is Pac’s eleventh posthumous album in ten years. You do the math and it’s then that you realize that there’s a method to the madness. And it ain’t all good.
The plan starts by gathering a T.I., Chamillionaire, Snoop Doggy Dogg or other “hot” collaborator for guest appearances. The more the better. It’s not necessary to consider chemistry. The goal isn’t cohesiveness. You’ve got verses from a deceased artist that you have to stretch for the length of an album. Remember, true fans will buy into it.
Secondly, get at least one well-known producer for name-dropping purposes. But don’t worry about production. Many of the beats can be sub-par, whack even. Throwaway tracks are also welcome. If you get desperate for songs, toss in a couple of remixes.
Thirdly, include friends and family in the creation of the album. This will validate and justify it for fans.
Most importantly, don’t stress about the overall quality of the album. Play on fans emotional connection with the artist.
The hip hop nation is going through one of those periods when we desperately need some Tupac in our lives. We’re craving his authentic rawness (“I Don’t Give a Fuck”), acute world observations (“Me Against the World”), and what-you-see-is-what-you get attitude (“Ambitionz Az a Ridah”).
But Pac’s Life is a placebo. Point blank: The heart of the album is absent. The assumption that fans will buy a Tupac album to hear Ludacris, is well, ludicrous. Tupac wasn’t one of those dependent rappers that needed others to justify his talent. Alas, the focus has shifted away from him and the result is an album by Tupac, but not really. And if there’s one thing we know about Pac, it was that he was a real N.I.G.G.A. with mad heart.
So yeah you may nod your head to “Dumpin’” which features Carl Thomas (but sounds like Akon on it) and Papoose. It’s one of the smarter collaborations and you’ll wish Pac was still here to spit verse for verse. If you’re an Outlawz fan, you’ll bump, “Don’t Stop.” You may think “Don’t Sleep” with its southern influences brings Pac into the current hip hop fold. And “Whatz Next” could be a song that he might actually release. The eerie track complements his flow and Jay Rock is a welcomed appearance.
The entire time, however, you’d much rather listen to the real Pac and so you’ll reach for All Eyez on Me.
“Am I wrong cause I wanna get it on till I die?” Pac asks. And we know he did. Consequently, the hip hop nation isn’t wrong to want to hear him rock past his death. But on Pac’s Life he sounds tired (naturally the result of ten years of manipulation), like he wants to rest. And we should let him. He deserves it.
Read more vibe.com reviews.
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Article tags: 2Pac, Pac's Life, Tupac
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Comments
1.
george says:
I thought I was the greatest Pac fun till ma cousin in the Uk told me he spent over 400 pounds sterling collecting Pac`s albums. U know, I`ve only listened to fragments of a couple of songs on the new album and its Pac alright. For me the issue goes beyond whether the album was great or not. All true
February 16, 2007 at 5:50 am
2.
nevaumind says:
tupacs album is siiiikkk dnt hatee
January 26, 2007 at 8:05 am
3.
starlin pena says:
this cd is hot hot hot.stop talking shit about 2pac would never work with this rapper with that rapper yall mothafuckaz dont know that shit.i love this cd and every rapper who came up on this cd stepped they game up.i use to listen to yall ignorant asses and agree with yall bout this guest apperance.you have to listen to the cd's message and you'll hear what i hear.pakaveli emineim white ass fucked tupac cd up all right.and to all yall niggaz speaking down on me this is the night why is every body so cought up in pac's life.2 all yall niggaz mind yo mothafucking bizzness.is starlin from the boogie down bronx pac's life is hot.
January 15, 2007 at 1:07 pm
4.
JUSTICE says:
It doesnt matter who features on the album becoz i quite remember reading that Tupac was on a project called one nation before a pussy hater shot him,this project was for everybody whos was real right,n i cant name any rapper or singer on the album whos isnt real,i like some songs on the album but dumpin is the best,it feels so good to hear Fatal spittin his ill shit on the album,im just happy to listen to Pac again although i know it would have been better with the old stuff like dont sleep original version.
January 15, 2007 at 7:57 am
5.
Nick (A real fan) says:
WHAT THE $&%# IS PAKAVELI TALKING ABOUT?!?!
Saying they should have had EMINEM produce the Pac's Life album!?
Quoting him:
"He did an awesome job last time!!"
..end quote.
You obviously have no knowledge or any kind of likng for 2Pac. I thought, and millions will agree with me, that Loyal to the Game was the worst release since his death and it should have ended there. Eminem took the opportunity to make 2Pac sound like he was in the studio with Pac! You ought to be slapped for what you think! To hell with fake ass fans who like 2Pac becuase they liked "Changes".
"Fake ass mother f*$%in' bitch" -2Pac
December 27, 2006 at 8:12 pm
6.
Zo says:
yo the dude ein lyin dis cd sounds like its one of those hip hop mix cd's i mean i thought i popped in the wrong cd but u kno once u hear pacs voice it makes u wanna listen even though it ein wat am use to frm pac its aite
December 21, 2006 at 3:07 pm
7.
trench opera says:
straight up, there never was and never will be a street poet like Tupac. Its funny how everyone is either justifying or hating on his new material. If you dont like the new shit, then dont listen to it. If you like it then thats your choice. Fact of the matter, we have all have our own connection to Pac so lets let the memories and his words keep him alive. 1 Love
December 18, 2006 at 6:05 pm
8.
thug life says:
yo wats happenin pac, fuc yal niggaz out there u need to stop shit just admit it pac is the best
December 17, 2006 at 10:55 pm
9.
Who do you believe in? says:
Nah, you guys are trippin' see...TRUE fans have the original tracks to this poor excuse of an album, I'm almost in tears listening to Afeni desecrate pac's legacy. For all you idiots buying into this..fuck all y'all. Keep putting money in "Chamillionaire's" pocket, stupid tricks. And fuck eminem for DESTROYING Loyal to the Game. Who is he to take over his tracks anyways.
I"m glad I'm stacked with Pac's originals. Love you pac, R.I.P
December 15, 2006 at 12:02 am
10.
PACOLOGY says:
To all the true Tupac fans of the true 2Pac generation. We can all agree that we can appreciate a little Pac in our lives right now. Remmber those nights when shit just seemed so fucked up and I know everybody who loves Pac has said this, "DAMN, I NEED SOME MUTHERFUCKING PAC IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW". So with that said do what you do and just back and ride with your Pac.
December 8, 2006 at 8:57 pm
11.
FLEXXAVELI says:
PAC IS THE BEST EVER!! SO STOP HATIN & EXCEPT IT. AND IF HE WERE HERE HE WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE WORLD JUST LIKE HE IS NOW. EVERY RAPPER PRESENT STUDIES HIS WORK RELIGOUSLY. THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME CAN ONLY DO THAT. STILL SELLING RECORDS IN TOP SPOTS. THE MAN IS A LEGEND. BOB MARLEY,ELVIS,LIKE I SAID LEGEND. AND FAR AS THIS ARTICLE FUCC YAW!!!!!!!! WEST SIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
December 5, 2006 at 8:35 pm
12.
Shonny T says:
Hey I feel you, Mac Dre. I think if you're a true Tupac fan like myself, it shouldn't matter how or who is on his album. We know how real he was and still is i might add so that little shit like that should bother no one. I going to keep buying his albums as long as they keep them coming. R.I.P. 2Pac with much love and respect. To me, you're still here anyway so let the haters hate on because that's they job.
December 2, 2006 at 7:04 pm
13.
Mac Dre says:
yall niggaz r stupid. shut tha fuck up, i mean shit i dont agree on tha apperances and tha production either but fuck, pac iz tha best rapper of all time so ill support my nigga and his famliy. yall niggaz need 2 stop hatin.
November 23, 2006 at 3:19 am
14.
Sinner says:
Yo pac whuts up
every since you been gone
your clones be going nuts
I still picture you rollin
Blowin smoke in a tux
adopted the attitude i dont give F%&*
Because this world so corrupt
your politics killed you
your convicts feel you
no one can be as real as you
November 22, 2006 at 3:16 pm
15.
PAKAVELI says:
I wish Eminem produced this album - He did an awesome job last time!!
Regardless, I love PAC and I love the album. And I know that if he were here in physical form, all those fakers like diddy wouldn't have lasted. I wish the younger generation knew the truth about how real PAC is even after this death and how fake diddy is even though he's still alive!!
November 22, 2006 at 6:58 am
16.
Detroit D says:
Let Pac Die.
November 21, 2006 at 5:13 pm
17.
JET says:
I totally agree with u!!! At least there is the true 2pac on "soon as i get home" the wole posthumous album should be done by QD3 and Johnny J which use 2 work with him at the end.all thoses collaboration don't give the feel we use 2 get listening 2 pac!
November 21, 2006 at 4:49 pm