Hip Hop Album Review Part 2: Pac’s Life by John – Newsletter Editor and UK Staff Reporter

It has been a month since the hip hop icon Tupac Shakur (2Pac) released his latest album. I wanted to take a bit of time out before writing the review so I didn’t jump on the band wagon of some other fans who review the album before it is even released. This album has a place in hip hop, trust me.

It has been 10 years since Tupac was taken from us, and hip hop has changed incredibly since his departure. We can’t obviously comment on the direction that Tupac would have taken, but we all know that he would be on a higher level than the rest of the peeps and I am sure that some artists that are out today would not be as popular if Tupac was still with us.

All of that to one side I was highly anticipating this album. I wasn’t a fan of Loyal to the Game, I thought the production was all too similar and the distorting of Tupac’s lyrics really put me off the album.

What I want to say before I review the album is that this is my dedication to Afeni Shakur, I am so proud of the work that she has brought to us in this record and she should be proud of herself and the whole Amaru Camp. They have put together a great album for us and it’s great to hear Tupac’s voice pumping through the speakers again.  Afeni is truly keeping the legacy alive, and we could all take a leaf from her pages and do the same.

Total rating for Pac’s Life is 8.5/10

1.       Untouchable Swizz Remix featuring Bone Thugs – Produced By Swizz Beatz – On first hearing this track I didn’t really feel the track.  Upon a couple of listens I love this track so much. It shows Tupac and being raw and Bone Thugs add their own Westside touch to the track.  This has become one of my favourite trackz off the album. 9/10

2.       Pac’s Life featuring T.I., Ashanti – Produced By LT Hutton – One of the lead singles from the album and a great video to help top it all off. Ashanti did a great job with the chorus and T.I. definitely held his own on the track. Great production by LT Hutton, bringing a fresh up to date beat that complemented Tupac’s vocals. 8/10

3.       Dumpin’ featuring Hussein Fatal, Papoose, Carl Thomas – Produced By Sha Money XL and Canei Finch – I got to say that I love this track. I can almost picture Tupac bumping in the studio to this beat. It kind of surprised me because the usual Sha Money XL productions haven’t really been to my taste. The production on the track is great though, I really like Papoose’s verse on this track.  Another 16 bars from Tupac would have made this track a classic.  9/10

4.       Playa Cardz Right (Female) featuring Keyshia Cole – Produced By Carvin and Ivan – This is one of my favourite original Tupac tracks.  But this version is a great version. We all know that Tupac would have made Keyshia laugh and we can hear that in her voice and lyrics.  A great partnership. A track that you can have bumping late a night rolling in your car or just chilling at the crib.  8/10

5.       Whatz Next Featuring A3, Jay Rock – Produced By Salih – I am not really sure about this track. It feels like something is missing from it. It doesn’t really seem to fit the album. Not one of my favourite trackz from the album.  5/10

6.       Sleep featuring Young Buck, Chamillionaire – Produced By Sha Money XL – Another Sha produced track and again good beat to fit Tupac’s lyrics. Two good guest appearances too, by Young Buck and Chamillionaire. I really feel this track.  8/10

7.       International featuring Nispey Hussle, Young Dre – Produced By LT Hutton -  LT Hutton on the beat again and another great track. It fits well with Tupac and compliments his flow. Good track.  8/10

8.       Don’t Sleep featuring Lil Scrappy, Nutso, Kadafi – Produced By E.D.I – I thought this would be a banger with E.D.I producing but the track hardly features Tupac, it is more like him featuring on someone else’s track than his own. But Tupac’s verse flows like a waterfall.  6/10

9.       Soon As I Get Home featuring Yaki Kadafi – Produced By QDIII – What can I say about this track. Two of the best MCs ever over a banging Quincy Jones jnr track. My advice is to turn the volume up and kick back.  10/10

10.     Playa Cardz Right (Male) featuring Ludacris, Keon Bryce – Produced By Sha Money XL – Ludacris is the man of the moment, so it fits well that he should be on this track. A really good sounding track by Sha Money XL again.  8/10

11.     Don’t Stop featuring Big Syke, Yaki Kadafi, Fatal Hussain, E.D.I., Young Noble, Stormy – Produced By LT Hutton – Great to see the whole family spitting together and big shout out to Big Syke, still holding it down. Another great track for the album.  9/10

12.     Pac’s Life Remix featuring Snoop – Produced By LT Hutton – A remix track featuring the Big Snoop Dogg, I love how he reminisces about him and Tupac kicking it. A good remix bringing two old homies back togther again.  9/10

13.     Untouchable featuring Yaki Kadafi, Fatal Hussain, Kastro – Produced By Sha Money XL – A good track to finish the album off. I do have to say I do prefer the Swizz Beatz version, but I like the Outlawz featuring on the track.  8/10

This is a great album, not just for Tupac fans but fans of hip hop.  People should pick up a copy, that’s my best advice.

One more time, my thanks go out to Afeni and the whole Amaru Camp. You have truly blessed us with another project that Tupac would be proud of and I thank you for that. My blessings go out to you all.

Buy the album, don’t download it. Listen to it and then make your own mind up. Please don’t judge it before you have heard it. This is a great Tupac project.

Related article on Pac’s Life from ThugLifeArmy.com

http://www.thuglifearmy.com/news/?id=3090

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