Greatest Hits (Edited) [PA] - 2Pac

Greatest hits albums are usually not considered as classics nor generally do they define the pinnacle of an artist's career. However when it comes to 2pac's greatest hits there is an exception.

Why is there an exception, well it can be put down to 2 major reasons. Firstly he was in the mid 90's the most famous rapper. Although his fame did not reach the heights as the likes of Eminem or Jay-Z today, he was still nevertheless reasonably ...
...'Death Row') to release a greatest hits album that could reach newly converted fans and capitalise on his fame. This turned out to be a great move as the CD went on to sell 9 million copies. Greatest Hits was sold as a double album and consisted of 25 tracks, 4 of which were previously unreleased.


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Greatest hits albums are usually not considered as classics nor generally do they define the pinnacle of an artist's career. However when it comes to 2pac's greatest hits there is an exception.

Why is there an exception, well it can be put down to 2 major reasons. Firstly he was in the mid 90's the most famous rapper. Although his fame did not reach the heights as the likes of Eminem or Jay-Z today, he was still nevertheless reasonably famous and an exceptionally talented rapper. Secondly and perhaps most importantly though was the tragic fact that he had died just shortly before the release of this album. 2pac had been shot dead in a murder case that is still unresolved till this day and has been the subject of many conspiracy theories. However sad this event was it can not hide the fact that it catapulted 2pac into a famous household name across the USA and then to become one of the most inspirational rappers of all time. Whether he would have achieved such an accolade if he was alive is debatable but the fact remains that this album showcased his undoubted to his talent and affirmed his legacy.

In my opinion this album was the culmination of the fame 2pac had gathered after his death. There was plenty of new material that was still unreleased but rather it was decided (by the record label 'Death Row') to release a greatest hits album that could reach newly converted fans and capitalise on his fame. This turned out to be a great move as the CD went on to sell 9 million copies. Greatest Hits was sold as a double album and consisted of 25 tracks, 4 of which were previously unreleased.

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Disc 1:
1. "Keep Ya Head Up" - 4:23
2. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (Featuring Snoop Dogg) - 4:07
3. "Temptations" - 5:02
4. "God Bless the Dead " (Featuring Stretch) - 4:22
5. "Hail Mary" - 5:12
6. "Me Against the World" - 4:39
7. "How Do U Want It" (Featuring K-Ci and Jojo) - 4:48
8. "So Many Tears" - 3:58
9. "Unconditional Love " - 3:59
10. "Trapped" - 4:45
11. "Life Goes On" - 5:02
12. "Hit 'Em Up" (Featuring Outlawz) - 5:12

Disc 2:

1. "Troublesome 96'" - 4:36
2. "Brenda's Got a Baby" - 4:54
3. "I Ain't Mad at Cha" (Featuring Danny Boy) - 4:19
4. "I Get Around"(Featuring Digital Underground) - 3:54
5. "Changes " - 4:29
6. "California Love [Original Version]" (Featuring Dr. Dre) - 4:45
7. "Picture Me Rollin'" (Featuring Danny Boy & Big Syke) - 5:15
8. "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" - 3:52
9. "Toss It Up" (Featuring K-Ci and Jojo & Danny Boy) - 4:43
10. "Dear Mama" - 4:40
11. "All Bout U" (Featuring Dru Down, Nate Dogg & Outlawz) - 4:33
12. ""To Live & Die in LA (Makaveli song)" - 4:33
13. "Heartz of Men" - 4:41/4:42

2pac's music has a wide variety of themes and addresses topics such as the hardships of growing up around violence in United States ghettos, poverty, racism, and his feuds with fellow rappers. He well documented for the messages of political, economic, and racial equality that pervade his work as well as the "Thug Life" (which he made notoriously famous) that he raps about living in. This dual role style has been used by countless rappers since. On one hand they highlight and propose solutions to the ills of western society to achieve a better existence while on the other hand promote many rappers promote and give their support to acts of violence and crime in order to achieve their aims. Many critics have attacked this policy which has lead to bad reputation of rap music in some parts of the media. Yet 2pac's album more than any other rapper of late shows a deep sense of pragmatism and acceptance of reality so when analysed carefully the message doesn't tend to be as contradictory as suggested by some. A perfect example of this can be found in the opening tracks 'Keep Ya Head Up' where the song is about encouraging black women to stay strong and men to respect them. Then in the next track '2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted' where he boasts hypothetically about being a wanted criminal. This dual dichotomy may seem a bit strange with conflicting messages. Yet they must be understood in terms of the audience of each individual track and also the mood. It must be remembered that the latter track was released after his short stint in prison which was preceded by a highly publicised court case. He felt the media had already criminalised him and many of his songs were a 'counter hit' to his critics by playing up to his stereotype. As strange as it may be to some, it definitely reached out to a wide group of people, in particular those with low aspirations or going through a struggling life.

What makes this album excellent is that he can have a totally different rapping style from one song to the next, its very hard to get bored with his music, or play out any of his songs, such is the variety.

The beats to his songs, and the melodies and lyrics flow together very nicely, unlike many other modern rappers today. The production credits go to the likes of Dr Dre, who is renowned for being of the leading producers even today in hip-hop music. No doubt the best track done by 2pac on this album or in fact any album was 'Changes'. The sample used in the song is 'That's Just The Way It Is' by Bruce Hornsby (Not very hip-hop is it?) However it works perfectly for the style and the message 2pac delivers. The song is very touching and challenging. The main changes he is talking about concern racism and how it is was still prevalent in society , he also proposed solutions by advocating different aspects that he would like changed in the world. For example:

"It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live"

Another standout track is 'I Ain't mad at cha'. This is a good song because he talks how just because he hasn't talked to you in a while it doesn't necessarily mean he is mad but that he just hasn't had time. He also talks about what has happened to some of his friends and how they have got on with their lives.
'So Many Tears' is a very dark song where 2pac talks about the pain he went through in life, and the guilt he feels over his sins. He talks about the struggle with his inner demons and his fears of being judged by God. It's also very heavy and rather unsettling listening but it is an important exorcism of 2pac's emotions and he does it well and maturely.

One of 2pac's most controversial is 'Hit em up', the song has history and concerns a fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G, with whom 2pac had a very infamous rivalry which eventually cost both their lives. The track has a lot of uncontrolled anger directed toward Notorious B.I.G. Although he claims that this rapper was involved in his shooting a couple of years earlier, nevertheless professing violence against him in such an abrasive and ruthless manner is likely to turn away many fans who would not support such violence even though its hypothetical.

'Dear Mama' is a 2pac classic, the song is a vivid tale of all the childhood emotions he felt and his regrets of the way he treated his mother and let her down. He doesn't use cliché's and he raps very slowly and contemplatively. It is so from the heart it makes the hairs stand on end. He describes his coming of age between the bitter boy he was who blamed his mother for all his deprivation, to the understanding man who reflects on how loving and dedicated his mother was to him. 2pac's wordplay and poetic style is top class and it's nice that he uses a slow and sentimental R'n'B song to describe a purely platonic love.
There are some songs which I personally do not like, but 2pac is so talented that there is inevitably going to be debate when you attempt to compile his best songs. The wide variety of tracks means there will be something for everyone on this album. We see 2pac in many different moods in different tracks. At times he is boastful and bullish about his qualities and achievements. At other times he is more reflective and considerate; this in effect shows him as real and allows people to empathise with him. Hence the reason he was loved by such a wide variety of people. Overall 2pac was a very talented rapper (some may say poet) and a radical protestor. He was a rapper who showed many sides to his personality- gangster, ashamed sinner, misogynist, gentleman, and thug and consequently his compilation shows this. 2pac was all things to all people, he was apologetic for the sins and disrespect he committed, but he refused to be entirely who you wanted him to be.

2pac has been established as the greatest rapper to have lived and this album is tribute to that and will mean that his legacy will live on for years to come. If your not a fan of hip-hop I doubt even this album will change your mind as it characterises all the major stereotypes of this genre. However, if you are a rap fan then you will find it difficult to find an album better than this, definitely a classic.
 

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