‘All Eyez On Me’ By 2Pac — A Review
yo,
‘All Eyez On Me’ is 2Pac’s fourth studio album released in February 1996.
The record made history by becoming the first full-length double album in hip-hop history and also the last album Pac would record in his lifetime before passing away later that year.
The album showcases Tupac’s unapologetically thuggish style, celebrating life as a free man after being allegedly convicted for sex abuse. He reportedly got to the studio and got to work immediately upon release.
A lot was going on in Pac’s life as demonstrated on the title track, All Eyez On Me. This classic shows what the media was doing with his life.
Indeed, all eyes were on Pac due to the controversy around his jail release, his signing to Death Row Records in exchange for getting bailed out of prison, and the rivalry between 2Pac/Death Row/West Coast against Biggie/Bad Boy/East Coast beef.
Musically speaking, this a sensational album — the pinnacle of hip-hop, a blueprint, a classic, whatever you wanna call it.
Released in 1996, one of the most STACKED years of hip-hop, this album still manages to stand out as one of the greatest that year.
The album features productions by Tupac himself alongside a variety of producers including DJ Quik, Johnny ‘J’, Dr. Dre (who is also lyrically featured), DJ Bobcat, Dat Nigga Daz, and DeVante Swing, among others. It was mixed by DJ Quik, ensuring a cohesive sound throughout.
Possessing immense replay value, the album focuses solely on the hip-hop/rap genre while covering a broad range of themes such as life in the streets, gangsta living, and incarceration. Tupac’s versatility is evident as he effortlessly switches from strong, aggressive tracks to smooth, reflective ones, showcasing both his tough and sensitive sides.
The beats and instrumentals throughout the album provide a perfect backdrop for Tupac’s powerful storytelling. These elements enhance the vividness and emotional impact of his lyrics, making the listener feel deeply connected to the narratives he weaves.
It’s also incredible how there are nearly no skips here, considering that this runs for nearly 2h15.
The only one that comes to mind is the remix of California Love. Not being a big fan of the original version anyway, this remix goes way longer than necessary with some annoying vocals at the end.
However, speaking of the tracks, the record kicks off super hard with Ambitionz Az A Ridah, a hip-hop classic that sets a high bar right from the start (like seriously, the initial ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ sample sounds a lot like when you start a match in ‘Super Smash Bros.’, love it).
Yet, this album’s strength lies not only in its big hits but also in its hidden gems like Picture Me Rollin’, Thug Passion, Got My Mind Made Up and Heaven Ain’t Hard 2 Find to name a few.
These tracks showcase Pac’s versatility and depth, offering a more nuanced look at his artistry. They also highlight its complexity and emotion, providing a deeper connection to Tupac’s experiences and thoughts. This gives the album its lasting impact, proving its value extends beyond mainstream appeal.
In terms of the artist’s skills, we can’t put aside storytelling. Tupac’s storytelling is on point on this album, with tracks like Check Out Time, Tradin’ War Stories or Wonda Why They Call U Bytch.
Painting vivid pictures of his experiences and thoughts. His narratives are compelling, making the listener feel immersed in his world.
Some more relaxed and carefree, some others more serious or introspective, as mentioned already, Pac’s offers something for every kind of listener due to the immense versatility of this record.
Another big point is the consistently strong features from a strong variety of artists. I want to highlight Nate Dogg with the smooth hooks, Big Syke’s gritty verses, and Snoop Dogg’s laid-back flow complement Tupac’s style perfectly, adding depth and variety to the record.
Some other names worth mentioning are Redman, Method Man, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, Danny Boy, Storm and the legendary hip-hop group founded by 2Pac himself, Outlawz.
Despite these top-tier features, Tupac’s solo performances shine just as brightly. Ambitionz Az A Ridah and Can’t C Me are obvious and more well-known examples that command Pac’s presence and lyrical prowess.
However, less-known tracks such as Holla At Me, No More Pain and Heartz Of Men go super hard also. Other notable solo tracks include Life Goes On, Wonda Why They Call U Bytch and Heaven Ain’t Hard 2 Find, which highlights Pac’s more introspective side.
There’s a slight discrepancy in quality on some of the tracks, especially towards the end of the Disc 1/the beginning of Disc 2. This could be due to the duration of the record and its almost constant tone, but, I don’t see this as a bad thing. In fact, the record’s length is undoubtedly justified and removing a few tracks would kill the whole point of the release.
As it stands, when it comes to hip-hop double albums, this one from Pac, (along with Biggie’s ‘Life After Death’ and Wu-Tang’s ‘Wu-Tang Forever’ arguably) ultimately set the standards for what a hip-hop double album is supposed to sound like justifying their lengths.
This is the first thing Pac dropped after being released from prison, he certainly had a lot to say. A combination of the ‘ambitionz’ and thoughts while locked down; or in his own words, the album was more:
celebratory of life, fun, upbeat, energetic and harsher in terms of the language cause I was in jail for 11 1/2 months.
This explains his smug delivery, almost saying ‘f*ck yall, imma enjoy my life’. It also explains the multiple songs for the ladies, which I’m not a big fan but I’ll let it slide because some of the beats are still pretty enjoyable.
Even though I’m not super deep into Pac’s catalogue, think it’s safe to say that this is his best record, at least objectively, and personally one of my favourites.
I mean, let’s look at the numbers — The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 a few weeks after it was released. 18 years after its release, it attained Diamond status, demonstrating how timeless it really is. More recently got a respectable 62nd place on Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums.
It’s a must-listen for all my hip-hop/rap fans, and an interesting one if you’re not into the genre — you might be surprised, who knows.
Anyways, hope you liked this one and share your thoughts on the record down below.
R.I.P Tupac Shakur.
9/10
Highlights:
- Picture Me Rollin’
- All About U
- Check Out Time
Peace,
Isi
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