All Eyez on Me
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All Eyez on Me is an album by American rapper Tupac Shakur, released on February 13, 1996 (see 1996 in music). The album has become one of the most influential albums in hip hop history and is often considered one of the crowning achievements of 1990s gangsta rap. All Eyez on Me is also notable for being the second best-selling of the genre of all time, selling over 9 million copies. The album was the first (and second) of three albums that Tupac promised for Death Row Records in exchange for Suge Knight bailing him out of jail. Though naturally many argue whether the album is Shakur's "best", it is probably safe to say that it is his most well known.
In contrast to his previous album, Me Against the World, Eyez stands out as being a no-holds barred tribute to Shakur's thug lifestyle. Though there are the occasional reminiscings and tributes to friends, it is a definite move away from Pac's earliest political and social commentary, or his latest sorrowful soul searching. In All Eyez on Me, Shakur vents his anger at lying in jail for nearly a year while men whom he was convinced attempted to kill him continued to badmouth him in the press. He hit the studios literally hours after being released from prison to begin work on this 27 track hip-hop tour de force. The prolific rapper finished this album in only two weeks.
The occasional friend from Thug Life or newly-created group The Outlawz show up, as well as the requisite 2Pac collaborator, Nate Dogg, among other strong guests. Daz Dillinger, along with Johnny J, handle most of the production and do a fine job, while adding the classic beats of Death Row, especially with help from Dr. Dre on tracks such as Can't C Me. Arguably, many rappers have attempted to duplicate this album's commercial success by buying hot beats, and coercing popular rappers into doing collaborations, with mixed success.
The album ranked at #26 for the Top Rated Albums of 1996 by Rate Your Music.
| Contents |
Comments on Some Tracks
Disc One
Ambitionz Az A Ridah starts things off with a strong beat. 2Pac is mainly rapping about his life as a thug, gleeful at having survived the first attempt on his life and an unpleasant trip to jail.
2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted is a gangster-themed rap collaboration with Snoop Dogg, with the title referring to the two of them. Snoop has a large part in this track, and is strong on the gangster rhymes, in contrast to most of his later pop-oriented work. Although it is uncredited, Krayzie Bone can be heard singing in the chorus, "ain't nothin' but a gangsta party".
Heartz of Men is an upbeat track with a lively beat. 2Pac lays down the rhymes fast and in-tempo, bragging to Suge about getting out of jail and offering a warning about trusting friends.
Life Goes On is a sobering, albeit optimistic shout-out to dead friends, and general reflection on his own wild life. He sees himself as the last of a generation and alone in the world, paying specific homage to deceased Thug Life member Kato. In the wake of his own death, the message to have a party at his funeral and pour out liquor in remembrance makes this song more sorrowful than perhaps it should be.
In Only God Can Judge Me, Shakur lays down tightly spun rhymes, mostly in defiance to detractors who judged his music on his lifestyle. Like much of 2Pac's work, it contains much religious imagery and descriptions of his impending death.
Unfortunately, the remix of California Love falls far short of the original version that Tupac himself preferred, and which is available on his Greatest Hits. He made later references to his view that he thought that Dr. Dre messed up this remix.
I Ain't Mad At Cha is an optimistic piece, daringly mixed with some piano beats in the background. 2Pac explains that he has nothing but love for his former friends who have matured, married, found religion, and otherwise gotten out of the streets in which Shakur himself grew up.
What'z Ya Phone # is generally agreed to be filler material.
Disc Two
Kicking off the second disc with an eery intro, Can't C Me is a well-produced track featuring a tight beat from Dr. Dre, underneath heavy lyrics by 2Pac. Tupac reflects on his rise to stardom, the failed attempt on his life, and does a little bragging on his newfound wealth and popularity.
Shorty Wanna Be A Thug is another thoughtful track, reflecting on the more sombering aspects of thug life.
Wonder Why they Call you Bitch stands in somewhat of a contrast to Shakur's earlier unabashed praise of single black women. He mainly talks of prostitution and his lack of respect for the practice.
When We Ride is another straight thug anthem. Thug Passion refers to a drink apparently favored by 2Pac, consisting of "One Part Cristal / One part Alizee"
Rather Be Ya N.I.G.G.A, an overall cheerful track, expresses 2Pac's reiterate that he is a proud to be a thug
All Eyez On Me is a more serious note about fame and its consequences for 2Pac.
Track listing
Disc 1
- Ambitionz Az a Ridah
- All Bout U
- Skandalouz
- Got My Mind Made Up
- How Do U Want It
- 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
- No More Pain
- Heartz of Men
- Life Goes On
- Only God Can Judge Me
- Tradin War Stories
- California Love [Remix]
- I Ain't Mad at Cha
- What'z Ya Phone No.
Disc 2
- Can't C Me
- Shorty Wanna Be a Thug
- Holla at Me"
- Wonda Why They Call U Bitch
- When We Ride
- Thug Passion
- Picture Me Rollin'
- Check Out Time
- Ratha Be Ya N.I.G.G.A
- All Eyez on Me
- Run tha Streetz
- Ain't Hard 2 Find
- Heaven Ain't Hard 2
Chart positions
Billboard Music Charts - album
| 1996 | The Billboard 200 | No. 1 |
| 1996 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | No. 1 |
Billboard Music Charts - singles
| 1996 | How Do U Want It/California Love | The Billboard Hot 100 | No. 1 |
| 1996 | How Do U Want It/California Love | Hot Rap Singles | No. 1 |
| 1996 | California Love | Rhythmic Top 40 | No. 2 |
| 1996 | How Do U Want It | Rhythmic Top 40 | No. 23 |
| 1996 | How Do U Want It/California Love | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | No. 1 |
| 1996 | California Love | Top 40 Mainstream | No. 34 |
Personnel
- Cpo - Performer
- Redman - Performer
- Dr. Dre - Producer, Performer, Mixing
- B-Legit - Performer
- E-40 - Performer
- Snoop Dogg - Vocals, Performer
- C-BO - Performer
- Rappin' 4-Tay - Performer
- Dru Down - Performer
- 2Pac - Producer, Assistant Producer
- Dave Aron - Engineer, Mixing
- David Blake - Producer, Talk Box, Mixing
- Rick Clifford - Engineer
- George Clinton - Vocals, Performer
- Tommy D - Engineer
- Ebony - Vocals (bckgr)
- Bobby Ervin - Producer
- Brian Gardner - Mastering
- Michael Geiser - Assistant Engineer
- Puff Johnson - Vocals (bckgr)
- Michel'le - Performer
- DJ Pooh - Producer, Mixing
- Doug Rasheed - Producer
- Carl "Butch" Small - Percussion
- DeVante Swing - Producer, Mixing
- Sean "Barney" Thomas - Keyboards
- Roger Troutman - Performer, Talk Box
- Barbara Wilson - Vocals (bckgr)
- Keston Wright - Engineer
- Method Man - Performer
- Dat Nigga Daz - Producer, Performer
- Michael Mosley - Producer, Assistant Engineer, Mixing
- Storm - Performer
- Nate Dogg - Vocals
- Johnny J - Producer, Mixing
- Jojo the Elf - Performer
- Big Syke - Performer
- Carlos Warlick - Engineer, Mixing
- Troy Staton - Engineer
- Ken Nahoum - Photography
- Tom Daugherty - Engineer
- Alvin McGill - Engineer, Assistant Engineer
- Patrick Shevelin - Assistant Engineer
- Stacey Smallie - Vocals (bckgr)
- Roy Tesfay - Project Coordinator
- Suge Knight - Executive Producer
- George Pryce - Art Direction, Design
- Rick Rock - Producer
- Barbara Warren - Stylist
- Natasha Walker - Vocals (bckgr)
- Danette Williams - Vocals (bckgr)
- Danny Ray - Vocals (bckgr), Performer
- Fatal - Performer
- Kurupt - Performer
- Larry Chatman - Production Assistant, Assistant Producer
- Outlawz - Performer
- Henry "Hendogg" Smith - Illustrations
- Norris Anderson - Project Supervisor
- Dorothy Coleman - Vocals (bckgr)
- Mike Mosley - Producer, Mixing
- Richie Rich - Performer
- Yani Hadati - Performer