Loyal To The Game [PA] - 2Pac

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Well Produced  Raw 2Pac  Great Guest Appearances
Disadvantages:	Only 1 Song Reuniting Him With Nate Dogg

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

Since 2Pac died in 1996 it appears that he has not only left a hip hop legacy, but also a neverending archive of unreleased material. When comparing his multiple posthumous releases to other deceased rappers such as the Notorious B.I.G and Big L he makes it seems unbelievable that he alone has produced so much material especially considering that he spent about half his life in prison. Recently released has been a new Notorious B.I.G entitled "The Duets" which aside from featuring every single rapper on the planet doesn't contain a single original Biggie verse. However, be under no illusion about this album, this is no revamped, remade classic collection of 2Pac material or even old verses looped over new beats. This is a genuine album containing unheard 2Pac verses over brand new Eminem beats. The first factor that is worth mentioning about this album is the production. Eminem produces 13 of the tracks on this album which before I heard the album was a serious concern for me. In my opinion up to this album none of his production has set my world on fire and I was also sceptical about how his production style would suit 2Pac's West Coast flow. In turns out that Eminem's production isn't particularly spectacular but 2Pac's flow matches his style perfectly. Onto the tracks:

Tracklisting

1. Soldier Like Me feat Eminem - 9/10
2. The Uppercut feat The Outlawz - 7/10
3. Out On Bail - 7/10
4. Ghetto Gospel feat Elton John - 8/10
5. Black Cotton feat Eminem and The Outlawz - 6/10
6. Loyal To The Game feat G Unit - 8/10
7. Thugs Get Lonely Too feat Nate Dogg - 9/10
8. N.I.G.G.A. feat Jadakiss - 8/10
9. Who Do You Love - 6/10
10. Crooked Nigga Too - 5/10
11. Don't You Trust Me - 9/10
12. Hennesy feat Obie Trice - 7/10
13. Thug 4 Life - 6/10
14. Po Nigga Blues (Scott Storch Remix) - 8/10
15. Hennesy (Red Spyda Remix) - 7/10
16.Crooked Nigga Too (Raphael Saadiq Remix) - 7/10
17 Loyal To The Game (DJ Quik Remix) - 9/10

Best Tracks

Soldier Like Me a.k.a Return Of The Soulja - This track is the perfect intro, with a small piano intro with 2Pac talking and then a heavy drum driven beat drops and 2Pac starts shouting "Guess who's back". He then spits out one of his rawest raps to date. He raps, "Posse deep as I roll through the streets Mother f**k the police as we creep in our jeeps". Eminem half sings, half raps the chorus basically saying how he's got the courage to fight if necessary. Great adrenaline inducing track.

Thugs Get Lonely Too - This is definately what 2Pac fans have been waiting for. The first reunion of Pac and R&B legend Nate Dogg since All Eyez On Me. Eminem drops probably the best beat of his career (Similar to "Moment Of Clarity" on Jay-Z's Black Album) and 2Pac rips up the beat with his trademark flow, talking about how even thugs like him get lonely sometimes. This track has to go down as one of 2Pac's best posthumous releases to date.

Don't You Trust Me - This track is a really laid back one. The beat verges on orchestral and is quite unusual considering Eminem's style. The track is basically about the stress of relationships and how their both sending out mixed signals. 2Pac raps, "I hang up the phone, I hate to hear you yelling at me, maybe we should end it, neither one of us is happy". On the chorus is Dido of all people whose voice blends in perfectly with the track and adds to the laid back feel of the song.

Loyal To The Game (DJ Quik Remix) - This track is simply a remix of the original Loyal To The Game track (No. 6). The beat however laid out by DJ Quik (West Coast legend) is an absolute banger. This combined with the tight 2Pac verse (same as the original) makes for a classic track. 2Pac raps," Now picture me scared of a penetentiary, I moving these things since the days of elementary". Big Syke also drops in to deliver one of his finest verses. Definately worth checking out.

Other tracks worth checking out are:

Ghetto Gospel
Loyal To The Game
N.I.G.G.A.
Hennesy (Red Spyda Remix)

Overall this album is something different to the standard hip hop album and may take a few listens to adjust to Eminem's production style but in my opinion is a breath of fresh air in the horribly commercial world of hip hop at the moment.

My Rating: 8.5/10