Big mistake to leave "Runnin" off of the Thug Life album...

[TraceOneInfinite]

If they had added that song years ago when the album was released people may look back on that project as a classic.  It only had like 10 tracks on it, no reason to leave it off unless there was a sample clearance issue or somethin?

[Soopafly DPGC]

Record company made them take it off the album.  The original Thug Life album was way different than what ended up getting released.  It wasn't a decision made by anyone in the Thug Life group.

[donfathaimmortal]

"Runnin" actually was on the tracklist. I remember The Source review which was talkin bout the song. Anyway, a lot of tracks were recorded for this project but Interscope was (first) unhappy with Thug Life compilation, that's why they had to remove all the tracks that leaked then. Like Soopafly DPGC said, Thug Life Volume One was way different and I mean, not because artists change the tracklist, but just because of Interscope who didn't love the original concept.

[Hack Wilson - real]

It wasn't a decision made by anyone in the Thug Life group.

this....


thug life was supposed to be a compilation with a ton of bay area dudes on it and it morphed into a 5 member group  (6 if you count Stretch)

[TraceOneInfinite]

Damn.. who is the idiot at Interscope that made this mistake?   I mean, especially in retrospect with all the history that came after between Pac and Biggie they really made a huge mistake.  The album would of resurfaced with popularity as Biggies career took off and after their deaths it would have probably doubled the magnitude, importance, and sales of the album.  Not to mention the simple fact that it's just a good song, and there were much worse songs left on the album.

Maybe Interscope was worried about all the fuck the police type lyrics, but Interscope promoted a lot of gangsta rap in that era (and even 2pac's first album had similar content), so that doesn't really make sense. 

[Jimmy H.]

Everybody is a marketing genius in hindsight.  The album was what it was.  I personally think it's a great project and is fine as is. Putting a Biggie song on it would not have made or saved it. There's plenty of high-profile guest appearances that don't end up amounting to much commercially or critically when it comes to the perception of an album. 

[Hack Wilson - real]

Everybody is a marketing genius in hindsight.  The album was what it was.  I personally think it's a great project and is fine as is. Putting a Biggie song on it would not have made or saved it. There's plenty of high-profile guest appearances that don't end up amounting to much commercially or critically when it comes to the perception of an album. 

yeah

sadly Eminem never helped blow up Thirstin Howl despite doing a song for his LP at the height of his fame

[abusive]

I bought thug life the day it came out. It's a classic as is. I was never that impressed with runnin' anyway. Big Strech > Biggie he should have been on the album more.

[Hack Wilson - real]

I bought thug life the day it came out. It's a classic as is. I was never that impressed with runnin' anyway. Big Strech > Biggie he should have been on the album more.

agreed.  Stretch didn't have the funny punchlines that biggie has but Stretch was doper.

[Jimmy H.]

yeah

sadly Eminem never helped blow up Thirstin Howl despite doing a song for his LP at the height of his fame

  It's that one thing that always drives me nuts with these wannabe A&R's on the Internet.  They all seem to think that putting out one or two songs with a mainstream artist is going to be the difference-maker in the success of a project.  I'm particularly fond of the ones who seem to think if only Death Row had more promotion when they were doing songs with Ja Rule and Jay-Z, they would somehow be more relevant. You don't get that much hype off of just a feature. You may get the temporary shine from standing next to someone with huge success but once they walk away, people stop caring.

50 Cent gave Lil Kim a huge-ass hit single with "Magic Stick" after he just came off the biggest sales of his life.  It was a huge record for her but in the long run, it wasn't like it revitalized her mainstream status.  And how many 80's heads know any Rockwell songs besides that one where he had Michael Jackson singing the hook?  That song is still HUGE to this very day but you take Michael off, nobody would ever give a fuck.

Tracey Lee had a goddamn amazing and underrated album in 1997.  He had Biggie on that mother fucker too.  Do any of you even know who I am talking about? Moral of the story. People don't pay attention to the guy who has the hot rapper doing the guest feature on his album.  They'll start listening when the hot rapper puts you on his.

[Hack Wilson - real]

yeah

sadly Eminem never helped blow up Thirstin Howl despite doing a song for his LP at the height of his fame

 It's that one thing that always drives me nuts with these wannabe A&R's on the Internet.  They all seem to think that putting out one or two songs with a mainstream artist is going to be the difference-maker in the success of a project.  I'm particularly fond of the ones who seem to think if only Death Row had more promotion when they were doing songs with Ja Rule and Jay-Z, they would somehow be more relevant. You don't get that much hype off of just a feature. You may get the temporary shine from standing next to someone with huge success but once they walk away, people stop caring.

50 Cent gave Lil Kim a huge-ass hit single with "Magic Stick" after he just came off the biggest sales of his life.  It was a huge record for her but in the long run, it wasn't like it revitalized her mainstream status.  And how many 80's heads know any Rockwell songs besides that one where he had Michael Jackson singing the hook?  That song is still HUGE to this very day but you take Michael off, nobody would ever give a fuck.

Tracey Lee had a goddamn amazing and underrated album in 1997.  He had Biggie on that mother fucker too.  Do any of you even know who I am talking about? Moral of the story. People don't pay attention to the guy who has the hot rapper doing the guest feature on his album.  They'll start listening when the hot rapper puts you on his.

you gotta admit RA the Rugged Man made an entire career of doing a song with Biggie.  Did you know RA did a song with Biggie?  If not he'll let you know he did because he did a song with Biggie.  Oh yeah and he did a song with biggie....ok i'll stop  



wonder why keep your hands high wasn't put on Born Again.  then again I wonder that with a lot of Big's better work.

[⠀]

You may get the temporary shine from standing next to someone with huge success but once they walk away, people stop caring.

Tell that to Fat Joe He's actually carved out a decent career based entirely on that credo.

Or you could take the Jay Z route and stand next to someone hot but unknown and straight shark their style.

But, in reality, it's who the white people in charge of the "urban music departments" decide will become hot that does. You (the chosen one) can try and put on your man but unless they have their own grind, plan and hustle ready more than likely they're going right back on the bench.

Look at 50, he gave his people careers. Straight gave them - beats, hooks, concepts, appearances, tours - everything and they still foofed it up.

you gotta admit RA the Rugged Man made an entire career of doing a song with Biggie.  Did you know RA did a song with Biggie?  If not he'll let you know he did because he did a song with Biggie.  Oh yeah and he did a song with biggie....ok i'll stop 

Here's what Biggie had to say about the experience:

The white boy??!! The one that I did the jam with???
That’s who you talkin’ about? Two…might be a three, I did the song, they
paid me a lot of money, that’s why I did it. The beat was knockin’.

[U.N.T.O.U.C.H.A.B.L.E.]

If they had added that song years ago when the album was released people may look back on that project as a classic.  It only had like 10 tracks on it, no reason to leave it off unless there was a sample clearance issue or somethin?

that was actually the issue with runnin, they couldn't get sample clearances in time for the release, also the thug life project was rejected 2 times by interscope for the tracks simply being too hardcore at the time, with the cop killer issue with ice t & time warner interscope didnt wanna take any more chances...the original tittle of thug life album was out on bail....way too many issues with that album and it still passed gold easily

[adi760]

2 yrs after release I wouldnt name "easy reach gold" 
They did many demos and version of this project, Interscope rejected everything. Good that this album was released anyway.

[TraceOneInfinite]

Everybody is a marketing genius in hindsight.  The album was what it was.  I personally think it's a great project and is fine as is. Putting a Biggie song on it would not have made or saved it. There's plenty of high-profile guest appearances that don't end up amounting to much commercially or critically when it comes to the perception of an album. 

ohh.. I still love the album... but... That song would of fit perfect and been a great moment in hip-hop history