I just got my hands on the Pac's Life CD a couple days ago. I've been listening to it non-stop for the last 48 hours, so I figure I'll go ahead and provide a track by track review for those that haven't gotten their hands on it as yet. Now, those of you who know me know I am not very active on these boards, nor do I have much respect for the way Shakur's estate and body of work have been (mis)handled since 2pac was taken from us in 96 (which is probably the reason I am no longer active on these boards)... so this is something I feel I need to chime in on.
- Track 1 - untouchable (swizz beatz remix)
Horrible... no words can describe how annoying this beat is or how lame the remix itself is both is concept and execution. Whoever came up with the verse "it's that two pac pac, it's that 2pac, 2pac..." should never be allowed near a microphone again... I've always liked bone (for the most part), but this is just a bad song, period. 2pac was all about the west coast, this doesn't sound like something 2pac would have endorsed. I have only been able to sit through the entire song once. Swizz beatz should be ashamed, and honestly, I'm embarrassed for him.
*1 out of 5 Stars
- Track 2 - pacs life (ft. t.i. ashanti)
The beat... it's ok I suppose... but I expected to hear Ja Rule's cookie monster soundin' ass during the track lead in. The track itself sounds like something that would be produced for Mariah or Ashanti, but not for 2pac. There was so much potential with this track too... it's kind of a shame. The song does grow on you, but I think that is more about 2pac and less about the track itself. One thing that bothers me about this song is... 2pac didn't know any of the people on this song with him, none of them. It always bothers me when they do that. I suppose this was done to get radio play, and I guess I understand that, but they really butchered it and it is a damn shame
*2 out of 5 Stars
- Track 3 - dumpin (ft. hussein fatal, papoose, carl thomas)
In my opinion this is by far the hottest track on the entire album. Easily the best "dumpin" remix I've heard and man... FATAL'S VERSE IS FIRE! I've never heard him come like this, I was so impressed that at one point I found myself forwarding past Pac's verse to get to Fatal's... I think that was the first time I've skipped past 2pac on a track to listen to another verse. If Fatal drops an album, I'm coppin that shit for sure. The third verse (I assume that is Papoose) leaves a lot to be desired, but overall, it's not bad, but definitely the weakest of the three verses. The beat is great as well, I like the piano and strings in the back ground and the bell chime. The beat works, the lyrics work (mostly), the track just works!
* 4.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 4 - Playa cardz right (female)
Something about this track just doesn't work for me. It's not the beat, it's not the vocals, it's not the blend... but it's missing something. First, it only has the one 2pac verse, which is over at 1:09 into the track. the remaining 3 and 1/2 minutes is just Keyshia Cole singing. Additionally, 2pac opens with this verse "Another shady mission, ___ ______ __ _____ Tricks, ___ __ __________, ___ watchin pictures in hazy vision". Now, the blanks are just that, blank. They removed the lyrics for some, as yet unknown reason. I also notice that there appears to be at least one layer of Pac's vocals that were removed (which is why his voice sounds so raspy), but if you listen to the verse that is missing, it sounds like they intentionally blanked that part out. I think they either did not have the full acapella vocal track (but they did possibly have the background layers, generally laid down separately) or there was an idiot mixing this track.
* 2 out of 5 Stars
- Track 5 - Whatz Next (Ft A3 Jay Rock)
This is a tough one. I really liked the original version. I am of the opinion that this mix is not as good. Having said that, it's not bad song. The beat is actually rather basic, but blends with the lyrics well and for that reason the mix succeeds. It sounds way to "crunk" for 2pac though and that is a shame because Pac's verse is very deep and meaningful and I think some of his message gets lost in the mix. I didn't care much for the part in the chorus when they keep saying "Whats Next" in that monotone voice. They should have let the hook go as it is, minus that part of it.
* 2.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 6 - Sleep (Ft. Young Buck, Chamillonaire)
Ok, so... how many times are we going to release this song? I feel like I've heard this song mixed a million times. From the Makaveli & Dillinger release (and all the subsequent mixes)... enough already. Why aren't we hearing "Just watchin", "My Own Style", "Tongue Kissin", "Streetlife", or any of the other neglected classics that have yet to see the light of day (officially). The beat is average and forgettable and Young Buck comes in sounding like every other G-Unit posse clown out there and doesn't really bring anything to the track (is that 50, yayo, banks, or buck... I just can't tell anymore), the same goes for Chamillonaire. Again, 2pac didn't know any of these dudes... where is DJ Quik, DAZ, DPG, Treach, or any of 2pac's ACTUAL homeboys? Other then Sike, the Lawz, and Snoop, every guest appearance on this album are from those that could afford to pay to get on the album, not those who deserve to appear on it.
* 2 out of 5 Stars
- Track 7 - International (ft. nipsey hussle young dre the truth)
Great Pac verse, but that's where it ends. Another "crunkish" beat that fails to deliver. The track itself sounds ok, but it's really nothing spectacular. I think somewhere along the way the producers must have forgotten they were working on a 2pac album and thought they were making tracks for Lil John... The hook isn't bad, but again, I know how much potential was there with these verses and it hurts to hear them ruin them like this.
- Track 8 - Don't Sleep (ft. a whole bunch of dudes...)
One of the better tracks on the album. The beat is slightly above average, but Pac spits fire on the first verse, as always. Nutso delivers as well and (probably the best part) a new verse by Kadafi (RIP). As with most of the tracks on this CD, this song needs more 2pac verses, but it still passes as is.
* 3 out of 5
- Track 9 - Soon as I get Home (Ft. Yaki Kadafi)
Well what do you know, an original track that is untouched... when I say untouched, I mean completely untouched. First let me state, this is a great song. It has always been one of my favorite Pac tracks. I like the beat, the delivery, the lyrics... it's great... but it sounds like it came off of a cassette. Just like "Unconditional Love" from the greatest hits, this track seems to be one of the tracks for which Amaru does not have the masters. It sounds like a remastered radio rip (about 96KHz equivalent). I'm sure this is the reason that the track was not remixed, and why it didn't become a duet with K-Fed or something...
* 4 out of 5 Stars (based on overall track quality)
- Track 10 - Playa Cards Right (male) Ft Ludacris, keon bryce)
I have mixed feelings on this... again, Pac's verse is heavily edited at the offset. The hook is a little weak, but the beat is mellow and is very catchy, Luda does his thing as usual and overall the track succeeds. The original version, in CDQ, would still be a better song then this version but this will do. Overall, this version is slightly better then the "female" version of the song.
* 2.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 11 - Don't Stop (Ft Outlawz, Big Syke)
Hmmm... ok, so... the original "Don't stop the music" didn't have the best production, this beat is definitely improved. Of course it could have been better, but on this record, it’s one of the better tracks. This song got stuck in my head pretty fast and just as before, Fatal was impressive... they did recycle Yaki Kadafi's verse from the OG "play your cards right", but at least they included the verse on the album. Overall I would rate this track above average.
* 3 out of 5 Stars
- Track 12 - Pac's Life Remix (Ft Snoop, T.I., Chris star)
Basically, the exact same song as track 2, except they threw Snoop in there. Now, it's still basically a pop song with rappers, but snoop adds a little bit to the song and he does talk about his relationship with Pac on the record. I've always said that if Snoop was actually sayin' something in his music (other then the usual blunts and bitches bullshit) he would be dangerous, but I am afraid this is as close as we are going to come to snoop making any music with any kind of serious message behind it. At face value, it's an average song, too bad it's on the album twice.
* 2.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 13 - Untouchable (Ft Yaki Kadafi, Outlawz, gravy)
shit... AGAIN? Ok, look, beat is basic, lyrics have been recycled 430987982348907 times, and who is fuck gravy? Anyway... Fatal comes to the rescue at about 3:18 in and the outlawz sound the same as ever. The track nothing amazing... Having said that, it's better then the swizz beatz remix by far. I just haven't heard a song mixed this many times since... since... who do you believe in :\
*2 out of 5 Stars
I think the problem that we have here is simple. All the true 2pac fans have already heard his music, released or not. Amaru is alienaiting the true fans with this over produced, guest cluttered, poorly marketed product and the only people who are actually buying these albums are people that are perhaps fans of the guest artists on the album or truly loyal fans who just want to show love and support for Pac. I'm sure most of us will listen to this album for a week or two, add a few tracks to our playlists, and go back to listening to the OG versions. Which is sad, because this is definitely not how 2pac would have wanted it. 2pac, or at least his name and music, are being shamelessly milked for every penny. It's like... if Dr. Martin Luther King's daughter just went and printed up 100,000 "I have a dream" shirts every year and just changed the font and shirt color to make big bucks. My point is Pac's message to us was not an advertising campaign, it was real talk, about real issues, issues that affect real people... Messages about hope, struggle, and staying positive. Although, it seems to some at least, 2pac's message was, and continues to be a winning lottery ticket.
2 out of 5 Stars
(sorry folks)
- Track 1 - untouchable (swizz beatz remix)
Horrible... no words can describe how annoying this beat is or how lame the remix itself is both is concept and execution. Whoever came up with the verse "it's that two pac pac, it's that 2pac, 2pac..." should never be allowed near a microphone again... I've always liked bone (for the most part), but this is just a bad song, period. 2pac was all about the west coast, this doesn't sound like something 2pac would have endorsed. I have only been able to sit through the entire song once. Swizz beatz should be ashamed, and honestly, I'm embarrassed for him.
*1 out of 5 Stars
- Track 2 - pacs life (ft. t.i. ashanti)
The beat... it's ok I suppose... but I expected to hear Ja Rule's cookie monster soundin' ass during the track lead in. The track itself sounds like something that would be produced for Mariah or Ashanti, but not for 2pac. There was so much potential with this track too... it's kind of a shame. The song does grow on you, but I think that is more about 2pac and less about the track itself. One thing that bothers me about this song is... 2pac didn't know any of the people on this song with him, none of them. It always bothers me when they do that. I suppose this was done to get radio play, and I guess I understand that, but they really butchered it and it is a damn shame
*2 out of 5 Stars
- Track 3 - dumpin (ft. hussein fatal, papoose, carl thomas)
In my opinion this is by far the hottest track on the entire album. Easily the best "dumpin" remix I've heard and man... FATAL'S VERSE IS FIRE! I've never heard him come like this, I was so impressed that at one point I found myself forwarding past Pac's verse to get to Fatal's... I think that was the first time I've skipped past 2pac on a track to listen to another verse. If Fatal drops an album, I'm coppin that shit for sure. The third verse (I assume that is Papoose) leaves a lot to be desired, but overall, it's not bad, but definitely the weakest of the three verses. The beat is great as well, I like the piano and strings in the back ground and the bell chime. The beat works, the lyrics work (mostly), the track just works!
* 4.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 4 - Playa cardz right (female)
Something about this track just doesn't work for me. It's not the beat, it's not the vocals, it's not the blend... but it's missing something. First, it only has the one 2pac verse, which is over at 1:09 into the track. the remaining 3 and 1/2 minutes is just Keyshia Cole singing. Additionally, 2pac opens with this verse "Another shady mission, ___ ______ __ _____ Tricks, ___ __ __________, ___ watchin pictures in hazy vision". Now, the blanks are just that, blank. They removed the lyrics for some, as yet unknown reason. I also notice that there appears to be at least one layer of Pac's vocals that were removed (which is why his voice sounds so raspy), but if you listen to the verse that is missing, it sounds like they intentionally blanked that part out. I think they either did not have the full acapella vocal track (but they did possibly have the background layers, generally laid down separately) or there was an idiot mixing this track.
* 2 out of 5 Stars
- Track 5 - Whatz Next (Ft A3 Jay Rock)
This is a tough one. I really liked the original version. I am of the opinion that this mix is not as good. Having said that, it's not bad song. The beat is actually rather basic, but blends with the lyrics well and for that reason the mix succeeds. It sounds way to "crunk" for 2pac though and that is a shame because Pac's verse is very deep and meaningful and I think some of his message gets lost in the mix. I didn't care much for the part in the chorus when they keep saying "Whats Next" in that monotone voice. They should have let the hook go as it is, minus that part of it.
* 2.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 6 - Sleep (Ft. Young Buck, Chamillonaire)
Ok, so... how many times are we going to release this song? I feel like I've heard this song mixed a million times. From the Makaveli & Dillinger release (and all the subsequent mixes)... enough already. Why aren't we hearing "Just watchin", "My Own Style", "Tongue Kissin", "Streetlife", or any of the other neglected classics that have yet to see the light of day (officially). The beat is average and forgettable and Young Buck comes in sounding like every other G-Unit posse clown out there and doesn't really bring anything to the track (is that 50, yayo, banks, or buck... I just can't tell anymore), the same goes for Chamillonaire. Again, 2pac didn't know any of these dudes... where is DJ Quik, DAZ, DPG, Treach, or any of 2pac's ACTUAL homeboys? Other then Sike, the Lawz, and Snoop, every guest appearance on this album are from those that could afford to pay to get on the album, not those who deserve to appear on it.
* 2 out of 5 Stars
- Track 7 - International (ft. nipsey hussle young dre the truth)
Great Pac verse, but that's where it ends. Another "crunkish" beat that fails to deliver. The track itself sounds ok, but it's really nothing spectacular. I think somewhere along the way the producers must have forgotten they were working on a 2pac album and thought they were making tracks for Lil John... The hook isn't bad, but again, I know how much potential was there with these verses and it hurts to hear them ruin them like this.
- Track 8 - Don't Sleep (ft. a whole bunch of dudes...)
One of the better tracks on the album. The beat is slightly above average, but Pac spits fire on the first verse, as always. Nutso delivers as well and (probably the best part) a new verse by Kadafi (RIP). As with most of the tracks on this CD, this song needs more 2pac verses, but it still passes as is.
* 3 out of 5
- Track 9 - Soon as I get Home (Ft. Yaki Kadafi)
Well what do you know, an original track that is untouched... when I say untouched, I mean completely untouched. First let me state, this is a great song. It has always been one of my favorite Pac tracks. I like the beat, the delivery, the lyrics... it's great... but it sounds like it came off of a cassette. Just like "Unconditional Love" from the greatest hits, this track seems to be one of the tracks for which Amaru does not have the masters. It sounds like a remastered radio rip (about 96KHz equivalent). I'm sure this is the reason that the track was not remixed, and why it didn't become a duet with K-Fed or something...
* 4 out of 5 Stars (based on overall track quality)
- Track 10 - Playa Cards Right (male) Ft Ludacris, keon bryce)
I have mixed feelings on this... again, Pac's verse is heavily edited at the offset. The hook is a little weak, but the beat is mellow and is very catchy, Luda does his thing as usual and overall the track succeeds. The original version, in CDQ, would still be a better song then this version but this will do. Overall, this version is slightly better then the "female" version of the song.
* 2.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 11 - Don't Stop (Ft Outlawz, Big Syke)
Hmmm... ok, so... the original "Don't stop the music" didn't have the best production, this beat is definitely improved. Of course it could have been better, but on this record, it’s one of the better tracks. This song got stuck in my head pretty fast and just as before, Fatal was impressive... they did recycle Yaki Kadafi's verse from the OG "play your cards right", but at least they included the verse on the album. Overall I would rate this track above average.
* 3 out of 5 Stars
- Track 12 - Pac's Life Remix (Ft Snoop, T.I., Chris star)
Basically, the exact same song as track 2, except they threw Snoop in there. Now, it's still basically a pop song with rappers, but snoop adds a little bit to the song and he does talk about his relationship with Pac on the record. I've always said that if Snoop was actually sayin' something in his music (other then the usual blunts and bitches bullshit) he would be dangerous, but I am afraid this is as close as we are going to come to snoop making any music with any kind of serious message behind it. At face value, it's an average song, too bad it's on the album twice.
* 2.5 out of 5 Stars
- Track 13 - Untouchable (Ft Yaki Kadafi, Outlawz, gravy)
shit... AGAIN? Ok, look, beat is basic, lyrics have been recycled 430987982348907 times, and who is fuck gravy? Anyway... Fatal comes to the rescue at about 3:18 in and the outlawz sound the same as ever. The track nothing amazing... Having said that, it's better then the swizz beatz remix by far. I just haven't heard a song mixed this many times since... since... who do you believe in :\
*2 out of 5 Stars
I think the problem that we have here is simple. All the true 2pac fans have already heard his music, released or not. Amaru is alienaiting the true fans with this over produced, guest cluttered, poorly marketed product and the only people who are actually buying these albums are people that are perhaps fans of the guest artists on the album or truly loyal fans who just want to show love and support for Pac. I'm sure most of us will listen to this album for a week or two, add a few tracks to our playlists, and go back to listening to the OG versions. Which is sad, because this is definitely not how 2pac would have wanted it. 2pac, or at least his name and music, are being shamelessly milked for every penny. It's like... if Dr. Martin Luther King's daughter just went and printed up 100,000 "I have a dream" shirts every year and just changed the font and shirt color to make big bucks. My point is Pac's message to us was not an advertising campaign, it was real talk, about real issues, issues that affect real people... Messages about hope, struggle, and staying positive. Although, it seems to some at least, 2pac's message was, and continues to be a winning lottery ticket.
2 out of 5 Stars
(sorry folks)
