2Pacalypse Now

2Pacalypse Now
Studio album by 2Pac
Released November 12, 1991
Recorded June – September 1991
at Starlight Sound Studios
(Richmond, California, U.S.)
Genre Political hip hop, gangsta rap, golden age hip hop, new jack swing
Length 53:00
Label Interscope Records, T.N.T. Recordings
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)
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 [1]
RapReviews 8/10[2]
Rolling Stone [3]

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

Though less polished than his later studio albums, 2Pacalypse Now is 2Pac's most overtly political work. In it, he addresses contemporary social issues facing American society, such as racism, police brutality, poverty, 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 Interscope Records, the rights of it are now owned by Amaru Entertainment, 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.[4]

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.

Accolades

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.[5]

Track listing

All lyrics by 2Pac, music compositions listed below.

No. TitleProducer(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

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)[6] Gold 923,455[7]

*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" 10 3

References

  1. ↑ Marisa Brown. "2Pacalypse Now - 2Pac". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  2. ↑ Emilee Woods. "2Pac :: 2Pacalypse Now :: Interscope Records". rapreviews.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  3. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 April 2011. Portions posted at "Tupac Shakur: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  4. ↑ "Tupac Month: 2Pac’s Discography". Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index10.jhtml
  6. ↑ "American certifications – 2 Pac – 2Pacalypse Now". Recording Industry Association of America. June 23, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  7. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (March 13, 2015). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: 'Hozier' Has Sold a Half-Million". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 14, 2015.