| 2Pacalypse Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by 2Pac | ||||
| Released | November 12, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | June–September 1991 Starlight Sound Studios (Richmond, California, U.S.) |
|||
| Genre | West coast hip hop, political hip hop, conscious hip hop, underground hip-hop | |||
| Length | 53:00 | |||
| Label | TNT, Amaru, Interscope | |||
| Producer | Atron Gregory (exec.), Big D the Impossible, Jeremy, Live Squad, Raw Fusion, Shock G, Underground Railroad | |||
| 2Pac chronology | ||||
|
||||
| Singles from 2Pacalypse Now | ||||
|
||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [1] |
| RapReviews | [2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
2Pacalypse Now is the debut album by rapper Tupac Shakur, released in November 1991. Though less polished than his later albums, it is his most overtly political work. He addresses social problems such as racism, police brutality, poverty, and teenage pregnancy, some issues giving a lyrical glimpse into the world of a young black person on the urban streets of the United States.
Contents |
2Pacalypse Now is hailed by many critics and fans for its underground feel, with many rappers such as Nas, Eminem, Game, and Talib Kweli having pointed to it as a source for inspiration.[4]
Although the album was originally released on Interscope Records, rights of it are now owned by Amaru Entertainment. The album's name is a reference to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.
The album generated significant controversy stemming from 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."
The record never achieved the same success as many of 2Pac's later albums owing in part to rough construction and sometimes repetitive beats, but it was important in showcasing 2Pac's political conviction and his focus on lyrical prowess. On MTV's Greatest Rappers of All Time List, 2pacalypse Now was listed as one of 2Pac's "certified classic" albums, along with Me Against the World, All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
2Pacalypse Now went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA. 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.
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" | 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 & Shock G) | Shock G | 3:17 |
| 13. | "Part Time Mutha" (featuring Angelique & Poppi) | Big D The Impossible | 5:13 |
| Single information |
|---|
"Brenda's Got a Baby" (feat. Dave Hollister)
|
"Trapped" (feat. Shock G)
|
"If My Homie Calls"
|
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1992 | 2Pacalypse Now | 64 | 13 |
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | ||
| 1992 | "Brenda's Got a Baby/If My Homie Calls" | 23 | 3 |