2Pac + Outlawz - Still I Rise

[ImmortalOne]

This 1999 post humous album was recorded during Pac's most prolific period, his "Makaveli" era.......The album was made with his group the Outlawz, whom he was recording many songs with at the time. This album was one of many projects that Pac was working on just before his death, including the One Nation album, Gang Related, the Makaveli album, among other things. Lets start with the positives. Still I Rise contains some of Pac's most prolific, political, heart felt, and profound work ever. Lyrically, you could tell he was improving rapidly [also seen on the Makaveli album] and he was putting even more passion into his words than ever before. He starts off the album with one of his best verses on Mr. President. The content has a strong message, and some nice punchlines. Other great verses from him can be seen in songs like Black Jesuz, Still I Rise, The Good Die Young, and Teardrops.  The production here is much less commercial sounding than on UTEOT or even BD, and this sounds more like production that we are used to Pac rapping over. Fatal's verses have been removed from almost every song though. Pac does his part here, but what about the Outlawz?......Ive always thought the Outlawz were decent rappers, but not much more. They do come nice at times, but when you have Tupac on a track, that raises the standards of things, and the Outlawz get outshined everytime. In many songs, they bring the quality down a bit, because they overrun the tracks. Pac often only drops one verse [sometimes we'll get lucky and get two], usually the first verse, and the rest of the song is Outlawz. They have their moments, but they lyrics and content are very repetitive overall, and this brings the overall quality of the album down. I think they had potential to be good rappers, but Pac died in the middle of teaching them everything. We will probably never see their full potential. This is almost like the Death Row version of "Thug Life Vol.1", but the Outlawz take up much more of this album than Thug Life did on their cd. Overall, Id say this album had alot of potential, but I can only take so much of the Outlawz......track by track review:

1. Mr. President - This was only slightly changed from the original. The beat is the same, but it was remastered a bit to give it a clearer sound, and Sykes verse is different. This is a great political song, and both Pac and the Lawz are on point......5/5

2. Still I Rise - Ive never heard the og version of this, but I like this version here just fine. Beat is on point and goes well with the content of the song. Pac's verse is AMAZING....the Outlawz are on point too.....5/5

3. Secretz Of War - Not a bad track, but this isnt as strong as the first two.....The content is your typical thug subject matter.....production is decent, but very simplistic......listenable song, but not a great song like the first two.....3/5

4. Baby Dont Cry - Good sequal to Keep Ya Head Up. Great lyrics from both Pac and the Lawz. However, you still cant beat the original, which is an all time classic.....4/5

5. As The World Turns - Ok, this is where it starts.....Great Pac verse, but mediocre Outlawz performances.....the production is point though.....listenable song, but too much Outlawz.....3.5/5

6. Black Jesuz - Ive havent heard many of the og's from this album, but ive heard the OG version of this, and thought it sounded dated. This version is amazing though. The beat is beautiful, with the bells in the background. The Outlawz come nice, especially Young Noble, and Pac's second verse is UNBELIEVABLE, and a fine example of the incredible song writing he was capable of......classic song..........5/5

7. Homeboyz - Normally, Daz produced hot beats for Pac, but this one is a snoozer......what happened to that hardcore heavy hitting production like on Life's So Hard? His production here is bland. The content is pretty self explanatory: song about your crew backin you up but you aint being shit solo....overall, its a pretty boring song, despite a dope second verse from Pac.....2/5

8. Hell 4 Hustler - Hot song. The beat is very intense, and overall, this song reminds me of the UTEOT version of "All Out".....Pac spits two verses of venom, and the chorus sticks in your head for ages.....Outlawz are ok here....4.5/5

9. High Speed - Maybe its just me, but I see alot of similiarties to "Life Of An Outlaw" here, both production wise and content wise. Both songs are about struggling and living life in the fast lane. Pac comes nice again, the Outlaw verses are aight, but nothing great.....3/5

10. The Good Die Young - This is a classic 2Pac/Outlawz song. They seem to be best when they make meaningful songs, like here. Production is on point, all verses are on point. Pac's verse is :O.............5/5

11. Killuminati - This is a hot song....Pac's flow here is sick, and his lyrics are simple but raw. The production is real fast, sounds like an AEOM type song. The Outlawz werent needed here though.....they bring the song down. 3.5/5

12. Teardrops & Closed Caskets - Great chemistry here. I like how all of them trade verses, instead of just rapping their verse and moving on to the next one. Pac and Kadafi tell some nice stories here about the drama of some named individuals [whether they know them or not, I dont know].....The production is excellent, it fits the song perfectly....5/5

13. Tattoo Tears - This is a war track right here, but not a great one. Pac's verse is decent, but not one of his better ones, and the Outlawz verses are so mediocre and repetitive its not even funny, except for Kadafi's verse. Production is ok, but rather simplistic......2/5

14. U Can Be Touched - I like the production on this song....it has that dark tragic feel.......Pac only sings the chorus, though the Outlawz hold their own here. Too bad Pac doesnt have an actual verse, because I know he woulda ripped this song...good song, though it could have been better if Pac woulda spit....3.5/5

15. Yall Dont Know Us - No Pac here at all......the Outlawz dont hold there own here, and the production, though not bad, doesnt save the song. EDI drops a dope verse, but the other verses arent anything special......2/5

Basically, Still I Rise is an album that would have been better with LESS Outlawz. Its ok that Pac and the Lawz made an album together, but if the Lawz time on this album was cut in half, it would have made the album much better. Outstanding performance from Pac on this album, and the production is very solid for the most part.

3.5/5

7 Day Theory review is in the works

[Skindiana bon3z]

yeah nice review...I think i'd rate it the same way as well...props..

peace

[_That_Cracka_J]

Good review, but I'd give "Homeboyz" a 4.5/5.  I like the production and Pac's flow.

[No Name Ever]

2. Still I Rise - Ive never heard the og version of this, but I like this version here just fine. Beat is on point and goes well with the content of the song. Pac's verse is AMAZING....the Outlawz are on point too.....5/5


4. Baby Dont Cry - Good sequal to Keep Ya Head Up. Great lyrics from both Pac and the Lawz. However, you still cant beat the original, which is an all time classic.....4/5



6. Black Jesuz - Ive havent heard many of the og's from this album, but ive heard the OG version of this, and thought it sounded dated. This version is amazing though. The beat is beautiful, with the bells in the background. The Outlawz come nice, especially Young Noble, and Pac's second verse is UNBELIEVABLE, and a fine example of the incredible song writing he was capable of......classic song..........5/5


8. Hell 4 Hustler - Hot song. The beat is very intense, and overall, this song reminds me of the UTEOT version of "All Out".....Pac spits two verses of venom, and the chorus sticks in your head for ages.....Outlawz are ok here....4.5/5



10. The Good Die Young - This is a classic 2Pac/Outlawz song. They seem to be best when they make meaningful songs, like here. Production is on point, all verses are on point. Pac's verse is :O.............5/5

11. Killuminati - This is a hot song....Pac's flow here is sick, and his lyrics are simple but raw. The production is real fast, sounds like an AEOM type song. The Outlawz werent needed here though.....they bring the song down. 3.5/5

12. Teardrops & Closed Caskets - Great chemistry here. I like how all of them trade verses, instead of just rapping their verse and moving on to the next one. Pac and Kadafi tell some nice stories here about the drama of some named individuals [whether they know them or not, I dont know].....The production is excellent, it fits the song perfectly....5/5


15. Yall Dont Know Us - No Pac here at all......the Outlawz dont hold there own here, and the production, though not bad, doesnt save the song. EDI drops a dope verse, but the other verses arent anything special......2/5


7 Day Theory review is in the works

yeah,all them tracks i quoted there are my fav's,and you pretty much rated them well,its an album that has some standouts,but its weakness show up big i guesss,.

alot o people have said to me that they think this album was pretty weak,and tossed it in with the rest of Pac's work released after his death,but i think it stand way above that,im proud to have this in my collection n bump it all the time,.

[Lost__Soul]

An aight, review, If i wrote it, I'd give some songs a higher rating ...