West Coast Connection Forum

Elements => Tha Vault => Album Review => Topic started by: ImmortalOne on March 26, 2003, 12:49:34 AM

Title: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: ImmortalOne on March 26, 2003, 12:49:34 AM
The "sophmore" album and on, in hip hop, seems to be something of a bane for most MC's. They are often at their hungriest on a debut album, which is why, more often than not, their debut album is their best. It has been seen in almost countless cases: Nas, the Wu, Redman, Snoop Dogg, NWA, DMX, and the list goes on.....not so with the late, great Tupac Shakur. With Pac, it was almost the opposite. His debut album, although very solid and promising, was only a SLIVER of what his true capabilities were. Pac seemed to get hungrier with each album, and his work got progressively better, leading up to the two critically acclaimed classics, Me Against The World and All Eyez On Me. With these two albums, Pac went from being a mere rap star into a hip hop BEHEMOTH of the musical world. All Eyez On Me pretty much confirmed him as the biggest artist in the history of the genre. After releasing the first double cd ever, and dictating the way rappers would record their albums well into the new millineum, what could he possibly do next?? Unfortunatly, we will never know, due to his tragic death on September 13th 1996, from gun shot wounds he suffered a week prior. Despite his death, his legacy continues to shine, as his albums still top the charts and sell millions, books continue to be published on him, and his influence on the hip hop world continues to be felt.....still, speaking strictly from a musical point, not all of our questions can be answered as to the direction Pac was gonna take next.......however, ONE album seems to be an indicator, the very last album he recorded: Makaveli.

Makaveli is the very last album Pac recorded. It's 12 songs, and all of them are among his last words ever spit into a mic. Although it was released 2 months after his death, it was completed prior, and was set to be released within weeks had he lived [his death pushed the album back]. Many wondered what he could accomplish after the recording of AEOM....well, the fruit of his labors are this album. Before I go into the details of this amazing 12 song gem, it should be noted that it was written and recorded in 7 days [would have been less if it werent for other projects that Pac was working on at the same time] in August of 1996.

Pac's final album is, quite simply, INGENIUS, and is (now) widely accepted as one of the greatest recordings in hip hop history. Is is also one of the most mysterious, as many of the lyrics have double meanings, and alot of the concepts point to some "plot" that he supposedly had. The album doesnt answer these questions fully, but one thing it does say is that Pac was reaching a level, as an artist, that few others have ever scaled. Lyrically, it is by far his most advanced album.....Pac was never known for his brilliant metaphors or punchlines, but they appear in abundance on this album. He still managed to spit some crazy and deep subject matter as well, and the intensity in his voice is greater than ever on this album.

Because of how deep this album was, as well as how far ahead of its time it was, Makaveli wasnt initially accepted as a great album like MATW or AEOM was....people were expecting Pac to simply drop another AEOM type album, but Pac clearly had other intentions. It is said among people who were close to him [mainly Shock G] that he had simply recorded AEOM for Suge, and that Makaveli is the REAL album he wanted to record from his heart......and it shows. This album returns to the emotional and rise against struggle themes seen on MATW, but it retains the intensity of AEOM [even stepping it up a notch from that album], while adding a new flavor in the production department.

Makaveli is an experimental album production-wise. Though it has a west coast feel, it is a much darker album than AEOM is. There is alot more use of guitars and mandolins combined with more sophisticated musical patterns. The result is a classic west coast sound, but with a more modern and fresh feel, even to this day. Pac didnt use any real big name producers on this album, and opted, rather, to use QDIII, Darryl Harper, and himself among other lesser knowns on the boards. From the mandolin in Life Of An Outlaw, to the spanish guitar in Me And My Girlfriend to the amazing piano loop in Hold Ya Head, this album had many nice surprises musically. Its arguably his best produced album, and certainly, without any question, his most modern and refined.

This is quite possibly the deepest hip hop album ever recorded. Blasphemy is a mind blowing song, surely one of the finest Pac has ever written. If you listen to the lyrics, you will see how far ahead of its time it is.....few, if any rappers, were making songs like this at the time. Hail Mary is another ahead-of-its-time song, with Pac dropping two endlessly quotable verses [even noted by the once credible Source as some of the greatest lyrics ever written]. To Live And Die In LA is the sequal to California Love, but with a less commercial feel, and more mature and uplifting songwriting on Pac's part. Me And My Girlfriend put to rest all the critics who thought Pac couldnt write a conceptual song using a similie.......The album of course also contains the classic emotional Pac that everyone likes, with songs like Krazy and White Mans World.

Many people felt the album was too "intense" or "hostile", and some people to this day use it at a criticism against the album, but personally, I think that is one of the things that makes the album as great as it is......this is a raw, vibrant, and intense album, and unless you hate that style of music [if you do, why are you listening to hip hop to begin with?], there is no reason why this album should be criticised in that way. Pac was an MC who was loved for his passion, intensity, and charisma; and he displays it on this album to perfection. His second verse in "Hold Ya Head" is quite possibly one of the most emotional verses ever penned in a rap song.

So, what is the overall verdict of this loved but yet often misunderstood album?? Its in the eye of the beholder.........however, despite the criticism this album recieved when it first came out, the album is now considered a classic by pretty much everyone who bought the album when it first came out, even those who werent feelin it at first. Although MATW and AEOM were loved from day 1, I think Makaveli is starting to [if it already hasnt] surpass them as being considered Pac's greatest album, and for good reason. Pac was simply far too ahead of his time on this album for people to have been able to appreciate it in 96'...Makaveli is like a combintion of those two albums, with a new twist....only in the last couple years have people come to realize how brilliant this LP really is. In the words of Ghostface Killah, "you cant feed a baby a steak!!!".....those words ring utterly true with The 7 Day Theory. In an interview just before his death, with Shock G, Pac said that this album was gonna blow peoples minds, and that we werent ready for it. He was right........if AEOM certified Tupac as a hip hop icon, than Makaveli crowned him as a hip hop PROPHET.

Are there any flaws to this album, you ask?? Well, quite simply, no. Well, there might be ONE arguable flaw....Toss It Up. Now, I like this song, but it feels somewhat misplaced on this album. It has kind of a party feel to it, something you would see on AEOM, since Makaveli is a more serious and profound album. Yet, the song rounds out the album nicely, give it a sorta "happy" feel on an otherwise extremely abbrasive album. One could also try to say the Outlawz are on too many songs, but they are only on 4 of the 12 songs, and on this album, they actually come off pretty nice. Some of the verses they drop are definatly above the normal quality of the typical lyrics they write, and one can only suspect that Pac may have wrote their verses.....who knows? In any case, if this album isnt flawless, its as close as you can get. Some people have criticised the album because they think it has alot of disses to the east, but comes with the territory for the time this album was made, and besides, there are only two real diss tracks on the album [Bomb First and Against All Odds].....Toss It Up has some disses in it, and at the very end of To Live And Die In LA, Pac refers to Dre as "gay ass Dre".........but thats about it........the rest is pure, classic, emotional, profound Tupac.

Overall, this is truly a phenominal album, one of the finest ever recorded in hip hop history, and the greatest work of the legendary Tupac Shakur. A classic album indeed. We are truly blessed that this album wasnt changed in any way [unlike most of his other post humous albums, which have been butchered by poor remixing], and that Pac recorded an album of this caliber for us. Its just a shame he is not here to see it shine.......there are still many questions regarding the mystery of the album, many of which will probably never be answered, but that lies in the true brilliance that is the The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, the greatest album ever recorded.....an album for the ages. The scary thing about this album is that Pac was continuing to get better on each album, but what would have happened after this album?? Would he have been able to top the lyrical and conceptual wizardry of this album?? One can only speculate. However, if the pace he was on was any indication, Pac was NOT yet at his full potential on this album...........a very scary thought indeed [for his competition, that is].

With this album, I will not provide a description of each song. Simply put, if you havent heard this album, go do so ASAP......here are the ratings though:

1. Bomb First - 5/5
2. Hail Mary - 5/5
3. Toss It Up - 4/5
4. To Live And Die In LA - 5/5
5. Blasphemy - 5/5
6. Life Of An Outlaw - 5/5
7. Just Like Daddy - 4.5/5
8. Krazy - 5/5
9. White Mans World - 5/5
10. Me And My Girlfriend - 5/5
11. Hold Ya Head - 5/5
12. Against All Odds - 5/5


5 mic classic, and the greatest album ever recorded IMO.
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Lord Funk on March 26, 2003, 03:33:53 AM
Hellrazor, I've said it before mate - your reviews of Pac's catalogue have been tight - actually enjoyable to read rather than just "4/5  - good beat, not bad lyrics".

You're right of course - 7 Days is mind blowing; only slightly behind MATW. It's my honest opinion that this album makes AEOM look simply childish. If you're a sopihisticated music lover you would never need to go back to AEOM once 7 Days is in your system.

High point of the album for me? That first verse of Krazy. It sends chills down my spine everytime. One of the dopest lyrics Pac EVER wrote, full stop.
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Disceptive AssAssin on March 26, 2003, 06:29:02 AM
ya he puts alot of emotion into these particular songs...
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Twentytwofifty on March 26, 2003, 10:31:02 AM
My favourite 2Pac album, 9/10.
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: _That_Cracka_J on March 26, 2003, 07:14:56 PM
Great review....this album DOES grow on you over time.  When I first heard it I thought it was good, but not surpassing AEOM.  Eventually I like it more and more and now I like it better than any other Pac album.  BTW...I didn't know this was recorded in 7 days...
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: TheSheriff on March 28, 2003, 08:29:21 PM
Toss It Up, 4/5? Good review overall, but that rating...

In 5 lines or so, he came with the best diss verse up until that time, perhaps ever...It may even be better than the whole Quitter/Bobby Fisher saga.
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: E. J. Rizo on April 03, 2003, 03:02:21 AM
i guess since i lived in the LA area my whole life that to live and die in LA always hits really hard to me........to me this is the song thats hits the hardest to me cause i can relate to it....always sends chills down my back when i hear this track.  No matter what the mood of the song is crazy.... "It wouldn't be LA without Mexicans.... man i mean just imagine me a Mexican living in LA my whole life i know he is dead and im about 13-14 years old listening to that line and the whole song....and although my fav artist is Dre and he ends it with saying gay as dre that didnt faze me one bit...to me this is better than california love of course unless you in the club or something.....anyway great album and great song...im 19 now close to 20....and damn i wish i was 10-15 again so i can experience this music as new once again cause at the time this shit was and still is amazing but just imagine a release like this released now when most albums suck balls...... :-X
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: smartass on April 09, 2003, 10:06:28 AM
Great review....this album DOES grow on you over time.  When I first heard it I thought it was good, but not surpassing AEOM.  Eventually I like it more and more and now I like it better than any other Pac album.  BTW...I didn't know this was recorded in 7 days...
storm said it was recorded in 3.
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: White-Chocolate on April 09, 2003, 07:23:16 PM
i'd give that album 10/10

as for 7. Just Like Daddy - 4.5/5
 - this honestly deserves 5, this track is some good chillin' shit on the real
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Machiavelli on January 25, 2005, 10:29:22 AM
great review...

This the best and most advanced album lyrically and musically and is pacs best work.

But yeah, this album was recorded in 3 days.
Title: Re:here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Juronimo on January 27, 2005, 05:07:41 PM

High point of the album for me? That first verse of Krazy. It sends chills down my spine everytime. One of the dopest lyrics Pac EVER wrote, full stop.

Hell yeah. That song is so moving, I get emotional every time I hear that song.

Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Twentytwofifty on January 27, 2005, 05:21:33 PM
This the best and most advanced album lyrically and musically

You haven't listened to many albums, have you?
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: white Boy on January 27, 2005, 05:23:25 PM
^ hopefully he means by 2pac
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: authentic on January 27, 2005, 10:38:46 PM
sickest CD from pac... this CD was sooooo tight...one of my favs
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: doubletrouble™ on March 10, 2005, 06:34:18 AM
My favorite rap album of all time............this shit has all bangers on it and this album touches on everything even Religion . I call this album tha Hip Hop Bible coz it really is tha Hip Hop Bible. Even people who i know hates 2Pac witt a passion have told me that's tha only 2Pac album they'll listen to coz it has so much content.
 It's a 10/10 IMO..............i'm going to listen to it now  :)
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Sikotic™ on March 13, 2005, 02:49:38 PM
2pac's best album. One of te greatest albums of all time.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: gchild213 on May 12, 2005, 04:02:51 PM
great album
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: ImmortalOne on May 31, 2005, 02:36:33 AM
Man, its been over 2 years since I wrote this review.

Still the g.o.a.t. album IMO.....Its pretty much written in stone that this album will always be at the top of my list of greatest albums ever.

I still remember when this album first came out November 96.....people were lining up by the hundreds at midnight to buy it, something you dont see anymore with todays music.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: RECOGNIZE187 on June 04, 2005, 09:37:26 AM
this is second best Pac album!
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Avalanche on July 10, 2005, 07:47:30 PM
one of my fac pac albums, i like the really raw feel that you get from it.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: tempo2 on July 21, 2005, 03:18:12 AM
dope album, shit on any modern day metrial
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Denial! Is Actively Joinin The Revolution on August 29, 2005, 05:28:05 AM
dope album, shit on any modern day metrial

I like the fact that that is the realist thing i have read today!
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: g unot on September 09, 2005, 12:29:32 PM
classic 1 of the best albums ever
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: tempo2 on September 15, 2005, 03:38:39 AM
definate classic but me against the world was his best work
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Thugpix on September 23, 2005, 04:27:17 PM
So were these tracks the last ones 2pac ever recorded? Or are the last tracks he ever recorded known?

I agree with you on your song "numbers". With the exception of 'To Live and Die In L.A.', for the life of me I just can't get into that song so I'd give it a 4/5 and for 'Toss It Up' I'd give it a 4.5/5 atleast...I give it a -.5 only because it does seem odd it being on this album.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Wicked977 on September 24, 2005, 10:34:04 PM
 8)
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: makaveli11 on October 01, 2005, 07:40:22 PM
Great fuckin review. This review and the one u wrote on all eyez on me were on point. Those reviews were so on point, it was actually kind of scary because it felt like u knew EXACTLY how I felt about this album. You really define the word articulate. Anyway I gave this album 9.8/10 because of 'toss it up'. Its beat is waaayyyyyyyyyy to poppy and doesn't go well with the 'makaveli sound' IMO. I took off .25 for that making it 9.75/10 but rounded it to 9.8/10 cuz of my biasness.  My fav. album followed by Illmatic of all time.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: IndianaMan on November 04, 2005, 09:00:04 PM
Yea i just bought this album again(got jacked before) the other night. This is my favorite pac album by far. When all eyes on me dropped i was real dissapointed, but this dropped and hella suprised how good it was. I still argue to people this is better than all eyes on me.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: Capo Di Tutti I Capi on November 10, 2005, 07:15:58 AM
Dope review, aint that much to say except that this is a classic cd and easily one of the ten greatest albums of all time.. One of my favorite albums
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: misskebina on November 17, 2005, 08:40:08 PM
yeah great album. Pac was the hungriest nigga in the game
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: J$crILLa on April 02, 2006, 09:12:12 PM
dope review. one of the best albums ever
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: KE3 on April 09, 2006, 06:51:38 PM
Makaveli got 4.5 Mics from The Source Magazine and they named it one of the top 100 albums of All-Time. It is a great album no doubt but I like All Eyez on Me much better. I like the fierceness and the emotion of the 7 Day Theory though.
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: evo on April 10, 2006, 05:12:29 AM
great review ya.......
easily a 5 mic album
pac was hungry and came so tight on every track.

this is the best deathrow / westcoast album ever released
Title: Re: here it is.....2Pac - Makaveli The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory...
Post by: SICBAZZ on April 11, 2006, 11:14:57 AM
Da baddezt shit PAC wrote, bettah than what Em did . Plus PAC would never split dat g-u not shit fuck 50 N them DA REALEZT IZ DA REAL TUPAC SHAKUR THUG LIFE OUT LAW WEST SIDE N im out  SPOON DAWG FROM DA RST