I regret ever being a part of the 2Pac world

[Rukas]

One other thing these "pay for unreleased music" situations did, is that back in the day people would leak Pac songs either for the love of it or for the net fame. Then when it became financially viable to sell them to select groups, the leaks stopped. People that had these songs started demanding money for them, and the trickle stopped.

Why would some engineer leak a track anymore, if he could get paid for it? Why would he give it to Amaru and have it shelved, if he could sell it to the bootleggers for thousands and thousands of dollars up front? So it not only damaged the leaks, but the official releases as well.

 

[Preach]

I'd say that's a natural evolution though. Everyone wanted new Tupac music, but some people were craftier in their attempts. It's the same way currency came into being. I'm sure way way back in the stone ages, people would hunt wild animals and share with the group. Then it evolved through trade into a monetary system. The same thing basically happened with the Tupac scene. Sucks, but hey, you move with the times or get left behind.

People still manage to get ahold of tracks btw. There's still new leaks. 2011 was maybe the biggest year of leaks since the late 90s.

 

[Da_Funk]

I'd say that's a natural evolution though. Everyone wanted new Tupac music, but some people were craftier in their attempts. It's the same way currency came into being. I'm sure way way back in the stone ages, people would hunt wild animals and share with the group. Then it evolved through trade into a monetary system. The same thing basically happened with the Tupac scene. Sucks, but hey, you move with the times or get left behind.

People still manage to get ahold of tracks btw. There's still new leaks. 2011 was maybe the biggest year of leaks since the late 90s.

Anything good? Care to share or at least list names so I can youtube.

Yep, I'm that lazy

 

[S O F I]

Only happens in Hip-hop. People who listen to other genres of music, don't listen to it to appear cool. A Beatles or Stones track is pretty damn timeless, and would always sell. Every generation loves them.

complete bullshit.

i would understand if masta wrote this. i imagine in poland kids think they're cool for listening to rap but that's cause poland is...poland.

in the US, listening to rap to be cool is not even...I mean, that time is over. rap is as popular than ever, and as the result, there's nothing cool about listening to it.

 

[Flipmo]

Not rare.

 

[Preach]

Anything good? Care to share or at least list names so I can youtube.

Yep, I'm that lazy

Most of the early leaks that year are on an old IDE harddrive and I haven't bought any gadgets to get it connected to the new computer yet. My new motherboard only has S-ATA connectors. I'm gonna get one, but point being, I don't remember all the songs on there. I have another folder with the rest that leaked later in the year on this comp though.

One thing that comes to mind is the (real) Makaveli demo. You will find it in a rar on the hulkshare account masta linked. Highlights include earlier versions of Krazy, White Man'z World (this sounds way different to the release), Niggaz Nature (which is a corny song for me to be listening to, but fuck it, the beat is catchy to me and I like this "sound"

An actual CDQ version of the original Unconditional Love leaked. Not a tape rip. It has that one new line at the end of the first verse that was edited on Greatest Hits to cover up a tag. Also, it's not slowed down. A few songs from the One Nation tape leaked in CD quality. Road To Glory finally leaked, and the first verse from that other song he recorded for Tyson called "Let's Get It On". I don't know if you ever heard the low quality clip of Let's Get It On that leaked a few years ago but that one is a real highlight for me. It's just a hard song, and the beat is cool. Several new versions of "Words To My Firstborn" leaked. This is my favorite one. It has a little piece of extra Pac rapping at the end of his first verse, and a chorus that seems to have inspired DJ Quik to make the chorus he did for the remix. This is just pure awesomeness. I uploaded it for you because finding a specific version of a song with 4-5 alt mixes is hard.

Some of you might not have noticed this, but a 3 CD Wideawake Death Row release called "The Ultimate Death Row Collection" which has a new mixdown of 2 Live & Die In L.A. I know some people are "meh" towards alternate mixes, but this is the most exciting alternate mix to me since I can't even remember. Different sounding drums, added guitars, drum drops here and there, new intro, etc. It's nice as hell. Here, cause I'm such a nice guy.

You probably remember the Untouchable freestyle, but Pac also recorded it as a song. It leaked in great quality, and I love this leak simply because the beat sounds awesome. I always loved this beat, and now it's way clearer, and the drums are way snappier. "Amerikkka Eats Its Young" leaked, which is the song where the verse for "Got 2 Survive" came from. This is actually a sorta good song if you like 92-94 Pac stuff.

There's lots more but those are the ones I remember off hand. I'll try and come back to this thread when I get my files transfered.

 

[Pittsey]

^^

Not rare.

complete bullshit.

i would understand if masta wrote this. i imagine in poland kids think they're cool for listening to rap but that's cause poland is...poland.

in the US, listening to rap to be cool is not even...I mean, that time is over. rap is as popular than ever, and as the result, there's nothing cool about listening to it.

Maybe not exactly. I was trying to annoy people, with my comments.

But rap music listeners (as a whole - it's not inclusive of them all) are a fickle bunch. And their opinions are not always formed with their ears.

 

[S O F I]

yeah, that's true.

 

[masta247]

i would understand if masta wrote this. i imagine in poland kids think they're cool for listening to rap but that's cause poland is...poland.

While it's true for Poland (at least as far as kids/young teenagers are concerned, because it's considered lame for "older" people to listen to rap) it's not what I would say.

 

[Kobe]

Several new versions of "Words To My Firstborn" leaked. This is my favorite one. It has a little piece of extra Pac rapping at the end of his first verse, and a chorus that seems to have inspired DJ Quik to make the chorus he did for the remix.

I prefer the version without the additional female vocals but thanks.

2 Live & Die In L.A. I know some people are "meh" towards alternate mixes, but this is the most exciting alternate mix to me since I can't even remember. Different sounding drums, added guitars, drum drops here and there, new intro, etc.

Awesome. I just love these alternate versions. The instrumental of the hook at the end of the second verse could have been done much better. That part has always been a highlight for me with this song. Still I'm loving the sound to it.

 

[Jon]

Anyone wondering why HitEmUp.com fan hasn't launched yet can refer to this thread.

Is there any "real" Tupac fans still out there? Anybody actually trying to change the world since then? Anybody trying to make some $$ and make a difference? Anybody trying to teach their kids better?

 

[Kobe]

Is there any "real" Tupac fans still out there?

I think what has happened is that the Tupac fan base has grown so much smaller ever since 1996. Those who are still listening to the music, reading the interviews, books and watching the documentaries are quite few.

However, there are still real Tupac fans out there, make no mistake. Not in the sense that they have all his unreleased music and all these measures we might set. I mean in the sense that these fans still listen to his music, enjoy it like nothing else out there right now, and always comment online that he was the best thing that happened to hip hop.

 

[Pittsey]

Anyone wondering why HitEmUp.com fan hasn't launched yet can refer to this thread.

Is there any "real" Tupac fans still out there? Anybody actually trying to change the world since then? Anybody trying to make some $$ and make a difference? Anybody trying to teach their kids better?

On the flip side. There isn't anybody catering to the "real" fans. There isn't a mature site delivering news and interviews to those who still want to know about Tupac and his legacy. Obviously the news front regarding Tupac is rather slow, but I would love to hear from his old label mates, friends and family what is going on these days. The official site doesn't cater to any of that. Fan sites are rather poor also.

 

[Da_Funk]

For me, its that i've discussed Tupac and listened to his music to death. I want to say that feeling applies to the majority.

 

[S O F I]

Anyone wondering why HitEmUp.com fan hasn't launched yet can refer to this thread.

Is there any "real" Tupac fans still out there? Anybody actually trying to change the world since then? Anybody trying to make some $$ and make a difference? Anybody trying to teach their kids better?

i think you need to do some market research if you're ever to relaunch hitemup lol.

 

[Ristol]

i think you need to do some market research if you're ever to relaunch hitemup lol.

Nothing to add. It just needs to be said again.

 

[Ristol]

Anyone wondering why HitEmUp.com fan hasn't launched yet can refer to this thread.

Is there any "real" Tupac fans still out there? Anybody actually trying to change the world since then? Anybody trying to make some $$ and make a difference? Anybody trying to teach their kids better?

What are you talking about? Trying to change the world? How was Tupac trying to change the world? Come on! We're all grown ups now. We dispensed with the illusions years ago. He was a great rapper. Why isn't that good enough?

I realize there's a bunch of books about Tupac's "cultural legacy." I've read most of them. They all failed to convey exactly what he meant beyond the art. The art is all that mattered. Stop the myth-making; everyone else has.

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

I still love Tupac

 

[Pittsey]

What are you talking about? Trying to change the world? How was Tupac trying to change the world? Come on! We're all grown ups now. We dispensed with the illusions years ago. He was a great rapper. Why isn't that good enough?

I realize there's a bunch of books about Tupac's "cultural legacy." I've read most of them. They all failed to convey exactly what he meant beyond the art. The art is all that mattered. Stop the myth-making; everyone else has.

I think he opened a lot of white surbuban eyes to black problems. I think he encouraged a lot of his dumber fans to learn about social responsibility and to open their eyes to government control. I know my interests in conspiracy theories were sparked when I was about 12 years old, Tupac was one of those that started that.

 

[Jon]

What are you talking about? Trying to change the world? How was Tupac trying to change the world? Come on! We're all grown ups now. We dispensed with the illusions years ago. He was a great rapper. Why isn't that good enough?
I realize there's a bunch of books about Tupac's "cultural legacy." I've read most of them. They all failed to convey exactly what he meant beyond the art. The art is all that mattered. Stop the myth-making; everyone else has.

"I don't want to be 50 years old at a BET We Shall Overcome Achievement Awards. Uh uh, not me. I want when they see me they know everyday, when I'm breathin', its for us to go farther. Everytime I speak, I want the truth to come out. Everytime I speak I want [them to] shiver, I don't want them to be like they know what I'm gonna say cuz it's [always] polite. They know what I'm gonna say? And even if I get in trouble, ain't that what we supposed to do? I'm not sayin' I'm gonna rule the world, or I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world and that's our job."

I somehow lived through my teenage and early twenties though sometimes I think back and wonder how I did it. Unfortunately Tupac wasn't as lucky and didn't get the chance to grow up. Now that I'm older I believe it my job to make the world a better place for myself and my children, not just leech off it and fuck the coming generations.

I don't find people who are successful and happy grew up to "dispense with illusions." On the contrary, in my experience people grow up, realize their time here is short, and determine what's important to them. Often when that happens childhood experiences are reframed from that new reference point and you become more of who you are and who you want to be rather than just who you simply were.

In Tupac's case, I have and will always see Tupac as a visionary, as someone who was able to articulate problems in the world and give them mass appeal. For me it wasn't just the awareness of "black" problems, it was the awareness of a classist system and the that I as a white kid in poverty faced many struggles as result of that system and shared those struggles with a diverse group of others. Tupac's message would never be more prevelant than now and I believe he played a part in the building of the collective consciousness that has sparked the Occupy Movement etc. - certainly he sparked my brain and I have sparked countless others.