After the recent release of mixes and albums with Tupac featuring the entire music industry and their mama, “The Sessions” finds its way to the public. It consists of 2Pac’s actual recording sessions (filmed originally on video by associate – Gobi) onto audio recording; making for live intros and opinions on tracks being worked on at the time. Recorded during ‘Pac’s infamous “One Nation” sessions (July ’96), this is a double disc not available in stores, and retails at $130.
*Note: This is not CDQ Tupac material, it is raw studio sessions and should be viewed as just that.*
1.) The *****es Session I:
Tupac can be heard hear calling out one of the homies, with his now infamous phrase “Goat mouth mutha*****a!”, while “*****es” aka “International” (from Pac’s Life) original production can be heard in the background. Interesting way to open up the album.2.) The Medicate Freestyle Session feat. Kadafi, Storm, Napoleon: This is a 20 minute long freestyle session featuring ‘Pac’s lil homies – The Outlaw Immortalz. Great song, just based on the fact it gives a glimpse at the talent these artists actually had. And while it does get a little repetitive after a while, it’s a gem to hear these artists together as Storm has retired, and Kadafi passed on only 5 months after this was recorded.
3.) N E W Jerz: Kadafi is just yelling “NEW JERZ!” here. Skip.
4.) The Brotherz At Armz Session I: This unreleased “One Nation” album cut, features ‘Pac and the Boot Camp Clik going back and laying their vocals over the course of 9+ minutes. Raw track, as you can hear the instrumental being looped with different effects being added.
5.) The Brothaz At Armz Session II: Blended in from the previous track, this features ‘Pac and the homies talking and expanding on the song, while the instrumental is still being looped and completed, showing that ‘Pac did, indeed, rap over the very basics of an instrumental, while letting engineers and mixing take place later.
6.) The Let’z Fight Session: At a solid 9 minutes, this is the infamous “Let’z Fight” session. Portions of the video of this recording have leaked to the net, as the verse has now been releaed on “Realest Killaz” featuring 50 Cent. This however is completely different, as you get to hear a drunken Pac fumble words and lace his adlibs, as the Boot Camp Clik perform their 16’s. Great, great track.
7.) The Military Mindz Session I: To anybody that’s heard the instrumental used on the Original Version of this song, you’ll know how much better it is then the released version. This track features ‘Pac performing his famous outro, over the pounding production, with Boot Camp right there with him. Classic track.
8.) The Coast II Coast Session: This track was released to the net as “Thug Nigga” with Greg Nice, and actually contains 2Pac’s acapella’s on here, making for a track worthy of remixing. This is once again, them just running the track back, live in the studio with Smif N Wessun in the background.
9.) That’s Sick (Interlude): Pointless skit, blended in from the last track.
10.) The *****es Session II: Featuring the Outlawz and Boot Camp Clik going “Puerto Ricoooo”, with 2Pac’s “World Wide Dimepiece” verse being used, this is another preview of what a classic track this would’ve been. Snoop Dogg is featured on the outro.
11.) Too Much Hennessey (Outro): Although Pac is notably absent, this is The Outlawz clowning around, drunk as *****, and enjoying every minute of it.
12.) When Thugz Cry (Alternate Original): Hailed as a bonus track, this track (when compared to UTEOT’s remix) is perfect. A very mellow beat, and smooth singing, allow ‘Pac’s harsh lyrics to bounce over the production perfectly. Great way to close out the first disc.
[Disc 2]
1.) The Military Mindz Session II: A continuation of the last track, featured on Disc 1, these are added vocals and layers over the already pounding instrumental.
2.) Kadafi & Kastro Freestyle: A very entertaining freestyle, making it apparent this was originally recorded on video, as Kastro and Kadafi trade verses about fellow Outlaw – Storm, and how she’s “creeping up behind them”. Enteraining, and shows the youth and talent that both of these ‘Lawz had.
3.) The Lastonesleft Session: I expected more out of this track. This is, however, just ‘Pac and the homies listening to a studio cut of the track with nothing more then what has already been leaked for some time. Good song, but not recommended as the quality is subpar.
4.) Back To Thugz Mansion (Interlude): A very random, but entertaining video cut of Kadafi, obviously drunk as hell, calling two cabs for three people while freestyling to the infamous “Hit Em Up” track. He also tries getting a girl to go back to ‘Pac’s place at Wilshire for a little something.
5.) The East Coast War: An amazing 14 minute session, the first part of this segment features an interviewer asking ‘Pac what it would take for him to get together with the East Coast, and with him replying he would if America had community centers built. Cut to Kadafi, who is high once again, giving what sounds like his first real interview, being only 18 years of age at the time. Great interview, taken directly from Gobi’s home videos.
6.) Basket Case Instrumental: The instrumental to Greg Nice and 2Pac’s unreleased and previously unheard track, “Basket Case.”
7.) Basket Case aka ’96 Sho Shot: Featuring the instrumental heard on the previous track, this 47 second clip features an unheard Tupac verse, adding on to speculation that “One Nation” was, in fact, finished and completed, being that there are so many tracks done. Good verse, and will hopefully get treated well on a future release.
8.) 2Pac’s Studio Philosophy: Although this video has been used on countless do*****entaries (“We don’t have the time or the luxury, to just sit here…we dont have it. I knocked my whole album out, doing like three songs a day. Get them niggaz on the track, get that beat poppin, and lace it!”), it’s great to hear it in full quality, with ‘Pac showing his more humorous side, clowning Gobi after his speech.
9.) The Troublesome ’96 Session: Much like “Lastonesleft”, this is just Troublesome ’96 played in the background, leading some to believe this track was intended for “One Nation”, as most of these songs were.
10.) Reincarnation: Undoubtedly the track on the album. It’s well known Tupac had habits of taking unreleased songs (from his Thug Life era), and re-recording them for Deathrow. Examples are “When I Get Free”, etc. This is no different. However, putting a twist on “Only Fear Of Death”, this song is much more relaxing and actually quite sad when hearing what great potential ‘Pac could’ve reached with songs like these.
“My only fear of death, is reincarnation…
I use my last breath, to reach the whole nation
How can they call me murderer for my spoken words?
This composition be my prophecy, I hope it’s heard…”
Great, great track. Classic in every aspect.
11.) Secretz Of War (Outro): Just somebody shouting. More a skit; skip it.
12.) M.O.B. (Original): A lot different then the released version. Featuring all the same vocals however, this track is above average.
13.) Just Like Daddy (Dramacydal Version): No where near the original version, this track is noteworthy for Edi’s appearence and verse alone. Otherwise, skip.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
From a brief 3 year stint at Deathrow Records (billed as the label’s leading artist, along with Tha Realest), Top Dogg has been on a very long hiatus since his departure from the label in 2001. Top Dogg returns with his “debut” album, ‘Every Dogg Has His Day’ (featuring cuts from his Deathrow album that never dropped) released via internet in mid-2006.
Tha Realest’s name is synonamous with ‘Pac biting. Ever since his debut in 1997 on the “Gang Related Soundtrack”, Tha Realest’s style, demeanor, and even tattoos and looks have been 2Pac related. Ironically signed to Deathrow Records for 5 years, Tha Realest made his name known nationally appearing on compilations like “The Chronic 2000” and “Too Gangsta 4 Radio”. However, after being shelved like everyone else on Tha Row, Tha Realest left after his contract expired in late 2001. Serving up the prequel to his national debut “Witness Tha Realest”, Tha Realest offers the mixtape (of the same title), which features renowned artists C-Bo, Kurupt, WC, Roscoe, Dru Down, and Devin The Dude.
With the recent release of Deathrow’s catelogue, many fans have wondered what happened to former inmate’s albums that never saw the light of day (Danny Boy, Tha Realest, Top Dogg, J-Flexx, etc.). O.F.T.B. easily fits that category, as they were around when Tha Row was the reigning label in rap. 1996 saw the completion of their album (here titled “The Missing DR Files”), which featured the likes of Tupac, Kadafi, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, and MC Hammer. Released in 2007, this is definatley regarded as a highly anticipated album.
After 4 albums with Mobb Deep, Prodigy made the leap from 1/2 of one of the greatest duos hip hop has seen, to solo artist. “H.N.I.C.” was critically aclaimed and solidified Prodigy as a commendable soloist. However, it was another 7 long years, a potential break up with Havoc, and a questionable G-Unit deal later that P released his sophomore effort, “Return Of The Mac.” Produced entirely by The Alchemist, this is a prequel to “H.N.I.C. II.”
Young Buck has been through a lot. Three years removed from his debut “Straight Outta Cashville”, an album that went gold, it would appear G-Unit is falling apart. An industry backlash has seen 50 Cent & Co. take a lot of verbal abuse. However, Young Buck manages to serve up his sophomore effort “Buck The World”, after the recent dissapointments of Lloyd Banks and Mobb Deep. Boasting production from Dr. Dre, Polow Da Don, and Hi-Tek, Young Buck hopes to revive the energy and fans the Unit once had.
1. The Return(Intro)
1. Vans
With the recent decline in G-Unit’s popularity, and more importantly; sales, Lloyd Banks has been put in a “make or break” situation. The first G-Unit artist not named 50 to go platinum, the weight of his label is put soley on his shoulders. With recent flops from Mobb Deep (an album that has yet to go gold), and the extremely popular “G-Unot” campaign still in full effect, does Banks have what it takes to bring back the once powerful label? Or does he even have enough savvy punchlines and slick hooks to top his well received solo album, “The Hunger For More”??? He answers these questions with his sophomore effort, “Rotten Apple”.
01. Lookin’ At You Produced By Urban EP Pop