All Eyez on Me
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''All Eyez on Me'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper
2Pac Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...
and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre,
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
, Redman,
Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of ...
, Nate Dogg,
Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Po ...
,
Daz Dillinger Delmar Drew Arnaud (born May 25, 1973), known professionally as Daz Dillinger (formerly Dat Nigga Daz and commonly Daz), is an American rapper and record producer. In the 1990s at Death Row Records, aided the catapult of West Coast rap and gang ...
,
E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens Sr. (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. He is a founding member of the rap group The Click, and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 26 studio albums to date, ...
,
K-Ci & JoJo K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey (born September 2, 1969) and Joel "JoJo" Hailey (born June 10, 1971). Natives of Monroe, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B ...
, and the
Outlawz Outlawz (formerly known as Outlaw Immortalz) are an American hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur. Most of the group m ...
, among others. The album features productions by Shakur alongside a variety of producers including
DJ Quik David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, ...
,
Johnny "J" Johnny Lee Jackson (August 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008) was a Mexican-American multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and rapper best known for his early career with Death Row Records, and for his work with 2Pac on ''Me Against the Wor ...
, Dr. Dre, DJ Bobcat,
Dat Nigga Daz Delmar Drew Arnaud (born May 25, 1973), known professionally as Daz Dillinger (formerly Dat Nigga Daz and commonly Daz), is an American rapper and record producer. In the 1990s at Death Row Records, aided the catapult of West Coast rap and gang ...
,
DJ Pooh A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...
,
DeVante Swing Donald Earle DeGrate Jr. (born September 29, 1969), better known by his stage name DeVanté Swing, is an American record producer, singer, rapper and songwriter. He is the older brother of fellow Jodeci member Dalvin DeGrate. Career In his ea ...
, among others. It was the only Death Row/Interscope release that was distributed through PolyGram in the United States. A gangsta rap album, 2Pac raps about his experiences of living in poverty and in luxury; critics particularly note that 2Pac widely diverges from the social and political consciousness of '' 2Pacalypse Now'' (1991) and '' Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...'' (1993). The album includes the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles "
How Do U Want It "How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, ''All Eyez on Me'' (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a double a-sided single with " California Love" from the same album and was his final single to be re ...
" (featuring K-Ci and JoJo) and "
California Love "California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first sing ...
" (with Dr. Dre, featuring Roger Troutman) and the hip-hop ballad " I Ain't Mad at Cha", along with the
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
collaboration " 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" as a
promotional single A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...
. It featured four singles in all, the most of any of Shakur's albums. Moreover, ''All Eyez on Me'' made history as the first ever double-full-length hip-hop solo studio album released for mass consumption globally. ''All Eyez on Me'' was the second album by 2Pac to chart at number one on both the ''Billboard'' 200 and the
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated ...
charts, selling 566,000 copies in the first week. Seven months later, 2Pac was fatally wounded in a
drive-by shooting A drive-by shooting is a type of assault that usually involves the perpetrator(s) firing a weapon from within a motor vehicle and then fleeing. Drive-by shootings allow the perpetrator(s) to quickly strike their target and flee the scene before ...
. The album won the 1997
Soul Train Music Award The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''Soul Train'', the pro ...
for Rap Album of the Year posthumously, and was also posthumously nominated for
Best Rap Album The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums with rapping at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories ...
at the
39th Grammy Awards The 39th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 26, 1997, at Madison Square Garden, New York City. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Babyface was the night's biggest winner, with 3 awards. Celine Dion, Toni B ...
in 1997. Shakur also won the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist at the
American Music Awards of 1997 The 24th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 27, 1997, at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. The awards recognized the most popular artists and albums from the year 1996. Performances Winners and nominees Referen ...
. Upon release, ''All Eyez on Me'' received instant critical acclaim, and it has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop albums, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was certified
Diamond Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon at room temperature and pressure, ...
by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2014, with shipments of over 5 million copies (each disc in the double album counted as a separate unit for certification), and in 2020 was ranked 436th on ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'''s updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.


Background

In October 1995, Suge Knight and
Jimmy Iovine James Iovine ( ; ; born March 11, 1953) is an American entrepreneur, record executive, and media proprietor best known as the co-founder of Interscope Records. In 2006, Iovine and rapper-producer Dr. Dre founded Beats Electronics, which produces ...
paid the $1.4 million bail necessary to get Shakur released from jail on charges of sexual abuse. At the time, Shakur was broke and thus unable to make bail himself. ''All Eyez on Me'' was released following an agreement between Knight and Shakur which stated Shakur would make three albums under Death Row Records in return for them paying his bail. Fulfilling part of Shakur's brand new contract, this double-album served as the first two albums of his three-album contract. ''Euthanasia'' was the initial title of the album until it was changed to ''All Eyez on Me'' during the recording process. Shakur explained to MTV's
Bill Bellamy William Bellamy (born April 7, 1965) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Bellamy first gained national notoriety on HBO's Russell Simmons' ''Def Comedy Jam'', where he is credited for creating or coining the phrase "booty call", descri ...
in December 1995 saying: ''All Eyez on Me'' was originally intended for a Christmas 1995 release but was pushed back as Shakur continued to record music and shoot music videos for the album.


Recording and production

The album features guest spots from 2Pac's regulars, such as former- Thug Life members and The Outlawz, as well as Dr. Dre,
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
,
Tha Dogg Pound Tha Dogg Pound is an American Hip hop music, hip hop duo made up of rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. Kurupt and Daz went on to release solo albu ...
, Nate Dogg, George Clinton,
Rappin' 4-Tay Anthony H. Forté (born March 2, 1968), better known by his stage name Rappin' 4-Tay, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. Early life Anthony Forte was born March 2, 1968 and grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore District. He has ...
,
The Click The Click was a hip hop group consisting of 4 members from Vallejo, California. The group's members are E-40 (Earl Stevens), his cousin B-Legit (Brandt Jones), his brother D-Shot (Danell Stevens), and his sister Suga-T (Tanina Stevens). Toge ...
,
Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of ...
, and Redman among others. The song "Heartz of Men" samples a portion of Richard Pryor's comedy album ''
That Nigger's Crazy ''That Nigger's Crazy'' is the third album by American comedian Richard Pryor. It was recorded live at Don Cornelius' Soul Train nightclub in early 1974. The album's title was derived from a remark made by Pryor himself in '' Wattstax''. Initiall ...
''. Most of the album was produced by
Johnny "J" Johnny Lee Jackson (August 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008) was a Mexican-American multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and rapper best known for his early career with Death Row Records, and for his work with 2Pac on ''Me Against the Wor ...
and
Daz Dillinger Delmar Drew Arnaud (born May 25, 1973), known professionally as Daz Dillinger (formerly Dat Nigga Daz and commonly Daz), is an American rapper and record producer. In the 1990s at Death Row Records, aided the catapult of West Coast rap and gang ...
, with help from Dr. Dre on the songs "
California Love "California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first sing ...
", which he himself appeared in also as an album guest spot, and "Can't C Me", which was Clinton's appearance.
DJ Quik David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, ...
also produced, mixed and made an appearance on the album, but had to use his real name on the credits because his contract with
Profile Records Profile Records was one of the earliest hip hop labels. As well as hip-hop they released disco, dance, and electro records. History In 1980, Cory Robbins, who was 23 at the time and had worked briefly for MCA, wanted to start a record label. H ...
prevented him from using his stage name.


Lyrical themes

The songs on ''All Eyez on Me'' are, in general, unapologetic celebrations of living the "Thug Lifestyle". Though there is the occasional reminiscence about past and present friends, it is a definite move away from the social and political consciousness of '' 2Pacalypse Now'' and '' Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...''. The songs on the album along with the name of the album itself, allude to the feeling of being watched. With songs like "Can't C Me" and "All Eyez on Me", 2Pac makes it known that he feels the presence of surveillance, most notably by the police. The album also references the fact that 2Pac is under the attention of many fans, being his fourth studio album.


Singles

The first single, "
California Love "California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first sing ...
" featuring Dr. Dre and
Roger Troutman Roger Troutman (November 29, 1951 – April 25, 1999), also known as Roger, was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and the founder of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the funk movement and heavily influence ...
was released, December 3, 1995. This is perhaps
2Pac Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...
's best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for eight weeks (as a double
A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
single with "
How Do U Want It "How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, ''All Eyez on Me'' (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a double a-sided single with " California Love" from the same album and was his final single to be re ...
") and 12 weeks at number one in
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. The song was nominated for a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
for
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded between 1991 and 2011, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance. The award was discontin ...
(with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997. A remix version also produced by Dr. Dre appeared on the album. The song has since been certified 2× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. " 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" featuring rapper
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
, was released as a
promotional single A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...
on, May 7, 1996. The video was directed by one of 2Pac's production partners, Gobi M. Rahimi and was filmed four months prior to the September 1996 shooting of 2Pac. The prelude for the song shows a parody of
Biggie Smalls Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta ...
("Piggie") and Puff Daddy ("Buff Daddy") in discussion with Shakur about the November 1994 shooting. The beginning of the scene where Tupac is speaking to Biggie is in reference to the scene in the film '' Scarface'' in which
Tony Montana Antonio Montana is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1983 film ''Scarface''. This character is portrayed by Al Pacino in the film and is voiced by André Sogliuzzo in the 2006 video game '' Scarface: The World Is Yours''. Embod ...
speaks to his alleged killer before shooting him. The song peaked at number 46 on the US '' Billboard''
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (previously known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay) is a chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the top R&B and hip hop songs in the United States, based on audience impressions from a panel of radio stations monitored ...
chart. The second single, "
How Do U Want It "How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, ''All Eyez on Me'' (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a double a-sided single with " California Love" from the same album and was his final single to be re ...
" featuring R&B duo
K-Ci & JoJo K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey (born September 2, 1969) and Joel "JoJo" Hailey (born June 10, 1971). Natives of Monroe, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B ...
, was released, June 4, 1996. It was paired with "California Love" as a double A-side single, with 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted and the non-album track, Hit 'Em Up serving as the B-sides. The song reached number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. There were three videos filmed for the song: two in the same set for the single in April 1996. The video was directed by Ron Hightower and produced by Tracy D. Robinson. These two are distinguished by
MPAA rating The Motion Picture Association film rating system is used in the United States and its territories to rate a motion picture's suitability for certain audiences based on its content. The system and the ratings applied to individual motion pictures ...
(one is certified adult material). The video portrays a wild sex party with Jacuzzi, mechanical bull riding, cage dancing and pole stripping. All actors and actresses are dressed in
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
-era costumes, though all clothes are removed for the nude clip. The adult-material video also features numerous porn stars, including
Nina Hartley Marie Louise Hartman (born March 11, 1959), known professionally as Nina Hartley, is an American pornographic film actress described by CNBC as "a legend in the adult world". Early life and education Hartley was born on March 11, 1959 in Ber ...
, Heather Hunter, and Angel Kelly. The limousine segment seen in the clean version is the same except no nudity. The third one is the concert version, mostly them performing on stage. There are cameo appearances by
K-Ci & JoJo K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey (born September 2, 1969) and Joel "JoJo" Hailey (born June 10, 1971). Natives of Monroe, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B ...
, and fellow group member of
Digital Underground Digital Underground was an American alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. Their personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour. Digital Underground's leader and mainstay was Gregory " Shock G" Jacobs (also known as Humpty H ...
Shock G Gregory Edward Jacobs (August 25, 1963 – April 22, 2021), known professionally as Shock G and by his alter ego Humpty Hump, was an American rapper and musician who was best known as the lead vocalist of the hip hop group Digital Underground. ...
both in the concert and studio segments. " I Ain't Mad at Cha" featuring singer Danny Boy, was released in Europe and parts of Oceania shortly after Shakur's death as the final single from the album, on September 15, 1996. For the video the song was re-recorded with a live band. The new track was recorded at Can-Am Studios by Conley Abrams. The video was shot weeks before Shakur's death.


Critical reception

''All Eyez on Me'' received widespread critical acclaim. '' Spin'' magazine gave it 7 out of 10 and said: "As long as you don't expect philanthropy from Tupac, you'll find honesty and some pleasurably twisted scenarios." The record ranked No. 3 on ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
''s list of Top 10 albums of 1996.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
stated, "Maybe it was his time in prison, or maybe it was simply his signing with Suge Knight's Death Row label. Whatever the case, 2Pac re-emerged hardened and hungry with ''All Eyez on Me'', the first double-disc album of original material in hip-hop history. With all the controversy surrounding him, 2Pac seemingly wanted to throw down a monumental epic whose sheer scope would make it an achievement of itself. But more than that, it's also an unabashed embrace of the gangsta lifestyle, backing off the sober self-recognition of ''
Me Against the World ''Me Against the World'' is the third studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on March 14, 1995, by Interscope and Jive Records. 2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and pove ...
''. Sure, there are a few reflective numbers and dead-homiez tributes, but they're much more romanticized this time around. Despite some undeniable filler, it is easily the best production 2Pac's ever had on record". In the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
'',
Cheo Hodari Coker Cheo Hodari Coker (born December 12, 1972) is an American former music journalist turned television writer and producer known for such television series as ''Luke Cage'', '' NCIS: Los Angeles'', '' Southland'' and '' Ray Donovan''. Coker also wro ...
praised the album: "''All Eyez on Me'', a 27-song, 133-minute gangster's paradise, finds the rapper even more venomous than he was before his 11-month incarceration for sexual abuse. He displays no remorse for his tough life, and even less feeling for his enemies. The only thing jail time did for 2Pac was make his creative fires burn even hotter—he raps here with a passion and skill matched in gangsta rap only by
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
and the Notorious B.I.G. And with such producers as
DJ Pooh A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...
,
DJ Quik David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, ...
, Dr. Dre and Johnny J laying down the tracks, he finally has a musical team worthy of his talent."
Jon Pareles Jon Pareles (born October 25, 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' considered the album typical gangsta-rap fare, but with superior production. "Standard images of ghetto desperation turn up...but far more of 2Pac's rhymes are about living in luxury: driving a plush car, drinking cognac, smoking weed and having all the women he wants." Pareles notes that, "while 2Pac used to show some sympathy for women, he has returned to hard-line gangsta machismo, with women as either gold-digging 'bitches' or heavy-breathing, pliant 'hos'." ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' gave the album two stars out of five, declaring it "one of these angry recriminatory discs would have been more than enough, thanks." finding that "too much of the two hours is consumed by self-justifying rants like Only God Can Judge Me and Skandalouz." The review concluded that "There is some delicious g-funk here ..but 2Pac's attitude sours the whole thing." "It's like a Cali thug-life version of Pink Floyd's ''
The Wall ''The Wall'' is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest/EMI and Columbia/ CBS Records. It is a rock opera that explores Pink, a jaded rock star whose eventual self-imp ...
'' – pure gangsta ego run amok over two CDs," complained ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
''. "At that length, the album's all-hard-all-the-time tone approaches caricature." Nonetheless, the album was included in the magazine's essential recordings of the 1990s.


Accolades

* The information regarding accolades attributed to ''All Eyez on Me'' is adapted from Acclaimed Music. * Asterisk (*) signifies unordered lists.


Commercial performance

''All Eyez on Me'' debuted at number-one on both the US ''Billboard'' 200 and the US
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated ...
charts, selling 566,000 copies in its first week, becoming 2Pac's second number one album on the chart. The album was eventually certified
diamond Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon at room temperature and pressure, ...
by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of September 2011, ''All Eyez on Me'' has sold 5,887,630 in the United States, making it 2Pac's highest-selling album. It has charted on the ''Billboard'' 200 for 105 weeks in total. In the United Kingdom, the
British Phonographic Industry British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with ...
certified the album silver on January 1, 1997, followed by gold on July 22, 2013, and platinum on November 14, 2014, for sales of over 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom. It was re-released in 2001 as enhanced CDs containing the "California Love" music video. Both discs contained the same data track. It was also re-released as a Dual-Disc in 2005.


Lawsuit

Civil rights activist and fierce rap critic C. Delores Tucker sued 2Pac's estate in federal court, claiming that lyrics in "How Do U Want It" and "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" inflicted emotional distress, were slanderous, and invaded her privacy. The case was later dismissed.


Track listing

* Track listing adapted from the album booklet Notes * "All Bout U" features additional vocals from Hussein Fatal and
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "Life Goes On" features vocals from Stacey Smallie and Nanci Fletcher. * "California Love (Remix)" features background vocals from Barbara Wilson, Nanci Fletcher, and Danette Williams. The full original version can only be found on promo vinyl versions. * "Can't C Me" features additional vocals from Nanci Fletcher * "Got My Mind Made Up" originally was a Dogg Pound song featuring
Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...
member Inspectah Deck,
The Lady Of Rage Robin Yvette Allen (born February 6,1966), known professionally as the Lady of Rage, is an American rapper, singer and actress best known for her collaborations with several other Death Row Records artists, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on th ...
& RBX, but their vocals were removed when Daz gave 2Pac the song for his album. * "Wonder Why They Call U Bytch" originally featured former
Bad Boy Records Bad Boy Records (or Bad Boy Entertainment) is an American record label founded in 1993 by rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs. It operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. It has been home to many artists, including ...
singer
Faith Evans Faith Renée Evans (born June 10, 1973) is an American singer and actress. Born in Lakeland, Florida, and raised in New Jersey, she relocated to Los Angeles in 1991 for a career in the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al ...
, but her vocals were replaced. * "Check Out Time" features background vocals from Natasha Walker. * "Ratha Be Ya Nigga" features background vocals from Stacey Smallie.


Leftover and extra tracks

Most of the songs on the list were remixed on posthumous 2Pac albums '' Still I Rise'', '' Until the End of Time'', '' Better Dayz'' and '' Pac’s Life''. * "All About U (Solo Video Version)" featuring Nate Dogg * "Ambitionz Az A Fighta (Mike Tyson Mix)" * "Better Dayz" * "Come With Me (Interlude)" feat. Danny Boy * "Da Struggle Continuez" feat. Hussein Fatal, O.F.T.B. & Big Syke * "Don't Fall Asleep (Original Version)" feat.
Daz Dillinger Delmar Drew Arnaud (born May 25, 1973), known professionally as Daz Dillinger (formerly Dat Nigga Daz and commonly Daz), is an American rapper and record producer. In the 1990s at Death Row Records, aided the catapult of West Coast rap and gang ...
, E.D.I. Mean, Hussein Fatal & Kastro * "Don't Stop The Music (Original Version)" feat. E.D.I. Mean, Hussein Fatal & Nanci Fletcher * "You Can't (Fade Me)" feat. Jewell, Kastro &
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
* "Fair Xchange (Original Version)" feat. Tyrone Wrice & Cappucine Jackson * "Fuck Em All (Original Version)" feat. E.D.I. Mean, Kastro &
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
* "Give Me Love" feat.
6 Feet Deep ''6 Feet Deep'' (also titled ''Niggamortis'' in some regions) is the debut album of the American hip hop supergroup Gravediggaz. Formed by former Tommy Boy Records artists Prince Paul, RZA, Frukwan and Poetic, the group utilized horror-them ...
* "Good Life" feat. Big Syke & E.D.I. Mean * "Komradz" feat. E.D.I. Mean, Kastro,
Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...
,
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
&
Storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), ...
* "Late Night" feat.
DJ Quik David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, ...
& AMG * "Letter 2 My Unborn (Original Version)" feat. Natasha Walker * "Ma Babiez Mama" featuring
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "M.O.B. (Original Version)" feat. Big Syke, Hussein Fatal, Mopreme Shakur &
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "Penitentiary Bound" feat. Dramacydal & Mopreme Shakur * "R U Still Smiling For Me?" * "Secretz Of War (Original Version)" feat. Hussein Fatal,
Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Po ...
&
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "Soon As I Get Home" feat.
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "Still Ballin (Original Version)" feat.
Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Po ...
* "Still I Rise (Original Version)" feat. Big Syke, Hussein Fatal &
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "There U Go (Original Version)" feat. Big Syke, Kastro &
Yaki Kadafi Yafeu Akiyele Fula (October 9, 1977 – November 10, 1996), better known by his stage name Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper and a founder and member of the hip hop groups Outlawz and Dramacydal. Early life and education Yafeu Fula was born ...
* "The: Thugz" * "U Can Call (Original Version)" * "What'z Next (Original Version)" feat. Mopreme Shakur, Big Syke, Prince Ital Joe & Natasha Walker * "When I Get Free III (Original Version)" * "Where U Been" feat. Danny Boy, Hussein Fatal,
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
& Big Syke


Sample credits

;Ambitionz az a Ridah * "Pee-Wee's Dance" performed by Joeski Love ;All Bout U * " Candy" performed by Cameo ;Got My Mind Made Up * " I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" performed by Instant Funk * " Sucker M.C.'s" performed by Run–D.M.C. * " Eric B. is President" performed by Eric B. & Rakim ;How Do U Want It * " Body Heat" performed by
Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
; 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted * " The Message" performed by
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were an American hip hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. The group's members were Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Kidd Creole (not to be confused with Kid Creole), Keef Cowboy, S ...
* Radio Activity Rapp (Let's Jam)" performed by MC Frosty and Lovin' C * " The Posse (Shoot 'Em Up)" performed by Intelligent Hoodlum ;No More Pain * " Bring the Pain" performed by Method Man ;Heartz of Men * "
Darling Nikki "Darling Nikki" is a song produced, arranged, composed, and performed by American musician Prince, originally released on his sixth studio album '' Purple Rain'' (1984). Though the song was not released as a single, it gained wide notoriety for ...
" performed by Prince and The Revolution * " Mudbone - Intro" performed by
Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...
* " Up for the Down Stroke" performed by
Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
* "
You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" is a song written by Abrim Tilmon and performed by the Detroit Emeralds. It reached number 10 on the R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United Stat ...
" performed by
The Detroit Emeralds The Detroit Emeralds are an American R&B/soul vocal group, best known in the early 1970s. They enjoyed a run of successful records in the decade including their 1973 transatlantic hit single, " Feel the Need in Me". Career "The Emeralds" were ...
* "The Back Down" performed by
Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...
* "Nigger With a Seizure" performed by Richard Pryor * "Jim Brown" performed by Richard Pryor ;Life Goes On * " Brandy" performed by The O'Jays ;Only God Can Judge Me * "
Top Billin' "Top Billin'" is a single for American hip-hop duo Audio Two, released as the B-side of the single "Make It Funky" from the album '' What More Can I Say?'' It was released before First Priority Music inked a distribution deal with Atlantic Reco ...
performed by Audio Two ;Tradin' War Stories * "Too Little in Common" performed by Randy Brown ;California Love (Remix) * " So Ruff, So Tuff" performed by Roger Troutman * "
Intimate Connection ''Intimate Connection'' is the sixth album by New York City-based band Kleeer released in 1984 and produced by Eumir Deodato. Track listing #"Ride It" (Woody Cunningham) 5:40 #"You Did It Again" (Norman Durham, Paul Crutchfield) 4:30 #"Go Fo ...
" performed by Kleeer * " Woman to Woman" by Joe Cocker * "West Coast Poplock" performed by Ronnie Hudson and The Street People * " Dance Floor" performed by Zapp ; I Ain't Mad at Cha * "A Dream" performed by
DeBarge DeBarge was an American musical recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family. In addition to various solo projects completed by members of the family, DeBarge was active between 1979 and 1989. The group originally consisted ...
;What'z Ya Phone # * " 777-9311" performed by The Time ;Can't C Me * "
(Not Just) Knee Deep "(Not Just) Knee Deep" is a funk song, with a running time of 15 minutes, 21 seconds, on Side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album ''Uncle Jam Wants You''. Song information An edited version of the song, appearing as Side A on the single release, reache ...
" performed by
Funkadelic Funkadelic was an American funk rock band formed in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1968 and active until 1982. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, pioneered the funk music culture of the 1970s.John, Bush. Funkade ...
* "I'm Only Out for One Thang" performed by Ice Cube * "Get Off My Dick and Tell Yo Bitch to Come Here" performed by Ice Cube * " What's My Name" performed by Snoop Dogg * "
Shake, Rattle and Roll "Shake, Rattle and Roll" is a song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone (usually credited as Charles Calhoun, his songwriting name). The original recording by Big Joe Turner is ranked number 127 on the ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of The 500 Grea ...
" performed by Big Joe Turner ;Shorty Wanna Be a Thug * "Wildflower" performed by Hank Crawford ;When We Ride * " What Would You Do" performed by
Tha Dogg Pound Tha Dogg Pound is an American Hip hop music, hip hop duo made up of rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. Kurupt and Daz went on to release solo albu ...
;Thug Passion * " Computer Love" performed by Zapp & Roger ;Picture Me Rollin' * " Winter Sadness" performed by
Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...
* "Better Off" performed by
Johnny "J" Johnny Lee Jackson (August 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008) was a Mexican-American multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and rapper best known for his early career with Death Row Records, and for his work with 2Pac on ''Me Against the Wor ...
;Check Out Time * " Candy Rain" performed by
Soul for Real Soul for Real (also known as Soul 4 Real and Soul IV Real) is an African-American R&B group from Wyandanch, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia made up of brothers Christopher Sherman Dalyrimple a.k.a. Choc (born April 30, 1971), And ...
* "Just Don't Bite It" performed by N.W.A ;Ratha Be Ya Nigga * " I'd Rather Be with You" performed by Bootsy Collins ;All Eyez on Me * "Never Gonna Stop" performed by Linda Clifford ;Run tha Streetz * " Piece of My Love" performed by Guy ;Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find * " What You Won't Do for Love" performed by
Bobby Caldwell Robert Hunter Caldwell (born August 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He released several albums spanning R&B, soul, jazz and adult contemporary. He is known for his soulful and versatile vocals. Caldwell released the ...


Personnel

Credits for ''All Eyez on Me'' adapted from
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
and CD booklet. * 2Pac – associate producer, composer, producer, vocals * Suge Knight – executive producer * Norris Anderson – production manager * Delmar "Daz" Arnaud – composer * Dave Aron – engineer, mixing * Big Syke – vocals * Larry Blackmon – composer * David Blake – composer, mixing, producer, talk box * B-Legit – vocals * Bobcat – composer * Calvin Broadus – composer * R. Brown – composer * C-BO – vocals * Larry Chatman – associate producer * Rick Clifford – engineer * G. Clinton, Jr. – composer * George Clinton – composer, vocals * Nanci Fletcher – vocals * Dorothy Coleman – background vocals * W. Collins – composer * Kenn Cox – composer * CPO – vocals * Woody Cunningham – composer * Tommy D. Daugherty – engineer * Danny Boy – vocals * Dat Nigga Daz – producer, vocals * Robert Diggs – composer * DJ Pooh – composer, mixing, producer * Dr. Dre – composer, mixing, producer, vocals * Tha Dogg Pound – vocals * Nate Dogg – vocals * Dramacydal – vocals * Dru Down – vocals * Norman Durham – composer * E-40 – vocals * Ebony – background vocals * Bobby Ervin – composer, producer * Fatal – vocals * Brian Gardner – mastering * Michael Geiser – associate engineer * Yaki Kadafi – vocals * Nathaniel Hale – composer * C. Haskins – composer * Johnny Jackson – composer * Jewell – vocals * Johnny "J" – mixing, producer * Puff Johnson – background vocals * Jojo the Elf – vocals * E. Jordan – composer * Kurupt – vocals * Alvin McGill – associate engineer, engineer * Method Man – vocals * Michel'le – vocals * Mike Mosley – assistant engineer, composer, mixing, producer * Nanci Fletcher – vocals * Shirley Murdock – composer * Ken Nahoum – photography * Outlawz – vocals * J.P. Pennington – composer * Prince – composer * George Pryce – art direction, design * QD3 – composer * Rappin' 4-Tay – vocals * Doug Rasheed – composer, producer * Danny Ray – background vocals * Redman – vocals * Richie Rich – vocals * Rick Rock – producer * Patrick Shevelin – associate engineer * Carl "Butch" Small – percussion * Stacey Smallie – background vocals * C. Smith – composer * Henry "Hendogg" Smith – illustrations * Snoop Doggy Dogg – vocals * Troy Staton – engineer * D. Stevens – composer * E. Stevens – composer * D. Stewart – composer * The Storm – vocals * DeVanté Swing – composer, mixing, producer * Roy Tesfay – production co-ordination * Rahiem Prince Thomas – composer * S. Thomas – composer * Sean "Barney" Thomas – keyboards * Larry Troutman – composer * Roger Troutman – composer, vocals, talk box * Natasha Walker – background vocals * Carlos Warlick – engineer, mixing * Barbara Warren – stylist, unknown contributor role * Bruce Washington – composer * Danette Williams – background vocals * Barbara Wilson – background vocals * Nanci Fletcher – background vocals * Keston Wright – engineer


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Decade-end charts


Certifications


See also

*
Tupac Shakur discography The discography of Tupac Shakur, an American rapper, consists of 11 studio albums. Throughout his career, Shakur has sold 125 million records worldwide. He has scored 5 No. 1 albums on Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 albums on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums. I ...
* List of number-one albums of 1996 (U.S.) * List of number-one R&B albums of 1996 (U.S.) *
List of best-selling albums in the United States This is a list of the best-selling albums in the United States based on RIAA certification and Nielsen SoundScan sales tracking. The criteria are that the album must have been published (including self-publishing by the artist), and the album must ...


Notes


References


External links

* * * {{Authority control 1996 albums Albums produced by Daz Dillinger Albums produced by Dr. Dre Albums produced by DJ Pooh Albums produced by Rick Rock Death Row Records albums Interscope Records albums Tupac Shakur albums Albums produced by DJ Quik G-funk albums