Makaveli - 2pac arises from the grave

In celebration of the new movie "Tupac: Ressurection", i've decided to go back and re-review 2pac's final album that he completed before his death. In 1996, Tupac Shakur was on top of the world. With his highly successful two-disk album All Eyez on Me going multiple-times platinum, the man was rolling in money... and controversy. At the same time, his beef with east-coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. was beginning to ignite and enlargen from just simple disses to some acts of street violence. For his fifth studio album, 2pac decides to take a twist into darkness, adopting his alter ego of Makaveli, the Don Killuminati, on the microphone. The name derives from a long-dead Italian War Strategist named Nichollo Machiavelli, who wrote philosophical literature about the secrets to winning wars and faking your own death. It was because of this simple fact that 7 Day Theory was so shrouded in controversy. Throughout the album, Makaveli drops several lines indicating clues that perhaps he might be alive. The subliminal messages are actually fun to spot and add to the album, but sadly, just circumstantial evidence. It has yet been proven that 2pac is indeed alive. However, it has been proven that 7 Day Theory is one of his best albums.

Track List & Rating

7 Day Theory doesn't kick into high-gear until we get to the lead-single "Hail Mary", one of the more famous 2pac joints of his allustrious career.

Makaveli returns to his All Eyez on Me mentality, which is more thuggish on the single "Toss It Up", with R&B duo K-Ci and JoJo. This is one of those pro-female love songs similar to his previous collaborations with K-Ci and JoJo. Besides the obvious lavish subject matter, 2pac decides to throw in some disses towards Dr. Dre who had left Death Row a couple of months prior to the release of this album. The instrumental is a G-Funk inspired track with high-pitched whistling and thumping bass, providing another memorable song.

After the light-hearted previous song, 2pac takes a MUCH darker turn on the incredibly eerie "Blasphemy". Opening with a passage from the Holy Bible, we get more of that eerie production found earlier on the album. This time, we are given some eerie violins, mesmerizing drum loops, and a variety of instruments which are difficult to point out. But I can tell you that it is perfectly fitting for the subject matter. Makaveli gets angry on this track, throwing out shots at his enemies showing that he has no fear. Hardcore 2pac fans should know that this particular song is chock-full of posthumous lines and clues to his ressurection, which are incredibly eerie to be quite honest. Lines like: "Brothas getting shot, comin back resurrected, It's just that raw sh*t, n*gga check it", and "There's ten rules to the game, but I'll share with you two, Know, n*ggaz gon' hate you for whatever you do, Now rule one -- get your cash on, M.O.B., That's Money Over B*tches, cause they breed envy, Now rule two is a hard one, watch for phonies, Keep yo', enemies close n*gga, watch yo' homies", its no wonder fans search through this song for clues.

Skipping ahead, "White Manz World" soon enters the speakers. Makaveli goes to a nice mix of political and social commentary, reminiscent of a lot of his older, early 90s work. 2pac speaks about female African-Americans struggling through the world of white men and having to put up with their racial injustices. Lyrically, the song shines and each message that Makaveli puts out is thought-provoking and poetic, which is what he has always been good at. Backed by a nice beat featuring synthesizers and windpipes, 'Pac provides another easy listen.

Being one of 2pac's greatest songs ever, of course you know the production is going to be top-notch. Featuring mafiosio guitar flicks, backed by thumping bass, you can easily tell it is going to be a street joint. However, the lyricism and the concept of the song is exactly what makes it a pure classic. 2pac uses an incredible extended metaphor comparing his gun to his girlfriend, which takes a couple of listens to understand. Makaveli never acknowledges that he is talking about a gun, but you have to take the context clues that he throws in the lyrics to fully understand, which is what truly makes the song poetic, metaphoric, and basically, an untouchable classic. Listening to lines like: "Picked you up when you was 'nine', started out my life of crime, wit you, bought you some 'shells' when you turned 'twenty-two'". Calling his gun his "girlfriend" was a genius idea and shuts down any head who doesn't think that 2pac is creative. Overrated, indeed, but he is definetely not a bad rapper whatsoever.

The album comes to a close after the memorable "Against All Odds" where 2pac basically drops disses towards all of his east-coast enemies, such as Nas and Mobb Deep. Definetely a good listen...