2Pacalypse Now

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2Pacalypse Now
2pacalypse now.jpg
Studio album by 2Pac
Released November 12, 1991 (1991-11-12)
Recorded June – September 1991
at Starlight Sound Studios
(Richmond, California)
Genre Hip hop, political hip hop, West Coast hip hop
Label Jive Records, Interscope Records
Producer Atron Gregory (exec.), Big D the Impossible, Jeremy, Live Squad, Raw Fusion, Shock G, Underground Railroad
2Pac chronology
2Pacalypse Now
(1991)		 Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
(1993)Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...1993
Singles from 2Pacalypse Now
  1. "Trapped"
    Released: September 25, 1991
  2. "Brenda's Got a Baby"
    Released: December 20, 1991
  3. "If My Homie Calls"
    Released: February 25, 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 3.5/5 stars[1]
Q 4/5 stars[2]
RapReviews 8/10[3]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[4]

2Pacalypse Now is the debut studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released on November 12, 1991.

Less polished than his later studio albums, 2Pacalypse Now is 2Pac's commentary on contemporary social issues facing American society, such as racism, police brutality, poverty, black on black crime, and teenage pregnancy, some issues giving a lyrical glimpse into the world of a young black man on the urban streets of the United States.

Album information

The album was originally released on Jive Records and T.N.T. Recordings, the rights of it are now owned by Amaru Entertainment and Interscope Records, founded by Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur. The album's name is a reference to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.

It featured three singles; "Brenda's Got a Baby", "Trapped", and "If My Homie Calls".

2Pacalypse Now can be found in the Vinyl Countdown and in the instruction manual for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas along with the track "I Don't Give a Fuck" which appeared on the in-game radio station, Radio Los Santos.

Prominent faces wearing hoods on cover photo : Kendrick Wells (front left) Al Jones III (right rear) Photo by Victor Hall Oakland CA

Controversy

The album generated significant controversy stemming from then-U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle's public criticism after a youth in Texas shot a state trooper and his defense attorney claimed he was influenced by 2Pacalypse Now and its strong theme of police brutality. Quayle made the statement, "There's no reason for a record like this to be released. It has no place in our society."

Commercial success

2Pacalypse Now was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It has sold 923,455 copies in the United States as of 2011.[5]

The record performed poorly compared to 2Pac's later albums, but it was important in showcasing 2Pac's political conviction and his focus on lyrical prowess.

Accolades

"Full of promise," wrote Ian McCann in Q. "The uncompromising 'I Don't Give a Fuck' could almost be Ice Cube; 'Brenda's Got a Baby' was the breakthrough hit with surprising sensitivity."[6]

On MTV's Greatest Rappers of All Time list, 2Pacalypse Now was listed as one of 2Pac's "certified classic" albums, along with Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., Me Against the World, All Eyez On Me, and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. [7]

Track listing

All lyrics by 2Pac, music compositions listed below.

No. Title Producer(s) Length
1. "Young Black Male"   Big D The Impossible (D Evans) 2:35
2. "Trapped" (featuring Shock G) The Underground Railroad 4:44
3. "Soulja's Story"   Big D The Impossible 5:05
4. "I Don't Give a Fuck" (featuring Pogo) Pee-Wee (R Gooden) 4:20
5. "Violent" (featuring DJ Fuze, Money B and Mac Mone) Raw Fusion (R Brooks & D Elliot) 6:25
6. "Words of Wisdom"   Shock G (G Jacobs) 4:54
7. "Something Wicked" (featuring Pee-Wee) Jeremy 2:28
8. "Crooked Ass Nigga" (featuring Stretch) Stretch (R Walker) 4:17
9. "If My Homie Calls"   Big D The Impossible 4:18
10. "Brenda's Got a Baby" (featuring Dave Hollister) The Underground Railroad 3:55
11. "Tha' Lunatic" (featuring Stretch) Shock G 3:29
12. "Rebel of the Underground" (featuring Ray Luv and Shock G) Shock G 3:17
13. "Part Time Mutha" (featuring Angelique and Poppi) Big D The Impossible 5:13

Samples

Crooked Ass Nigga

If My Homie Calls

The Lunatic

Part Time Mutha

Rebel of the Underground

Soulja's Story

Violent

Words of Wisdom

Young Black Male

Trapped

Something Wicked

Unused tracks

  • "Crooked Nigga Too" (Original featuring Stretch) (Remixed On Loyal To The Game)
  • "Tears Of A Clown" (Unreleased)
  • "Scared Straight '91" (Original featuring Ray Luv) (Remixed On Pac's Life)
  • "Resist The Temptation" (Remixed On Best of 2Pac)
  • "Dopefiend's Diner" (Remixed On Best of 2Pac)
  • "Crooked Cop Killer" (Produced By Stretch) (featuring Ice-T) (Unreleased)
  • "Fever In The Funkhouse" (Unreleased)
  • "Revenge Of Tha' Lunatic" (featuring Money B)(Unreleased) (Original Version & Remix)
  • "Funky Freestyles" (featuring Money B, Del the Funky Homosapien & Deb-E) (Unreleased)
  • "Hymn of The 90's N.I.G.G.A." (Original featuring Mouse Man & The Wycked) (Remixed On Loyal To The Game) (Partially)
  • "Backstabbaz" (Unreleased)
  • "What U Won't Do 4 Love" (featuring Schoovy Schmoov) (Early 1991 Version of "Do For Love")
  • "Use Me" (Unreleased)
  • "This Is The Brain On a 40 Ounce" (featuring Treach) (Unreleased)
  • "2FLY4ME" (Unreleased)
  • "Trapped" (Remix) (Unreleased)
  • "You Don't Wanna Battle" (featuring Ryan G.) (Unreleased)
  • "It Ain't Necessarily So" (featuring Shock G) (Unreleased)
  • "Break 'Em Off" (featuring Money B, Debby & WC) (Unreleased)
  • "Don't Call Me Bitch"
  • "I Still Don't Give A Fuck"

Singles

Single information
"Brenda's Got a Baby" (feat. Dave Hollister)
"Trapped" (feat. Shock G)
  • Released: September 25, 1992
  • B-side: Tha' Lunatic (feat. Stretch)
"If My Homie Calls"

Charts and certifications

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[8] Gold 923,455[5]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Album

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1992 2Pacalypse Now 64 13

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1992 "Brenda's Got a Baby"/ "If My Homie Calls" 11 23

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ McCann, Ian: reissue reviews, Q, April 1997
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Portions posted at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ McCann, Ian: reissue reviews, Q, April 1997
  7. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index10.jhtml
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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