Thug Life: Volume 1

Volume 1
Studio album by Thug Life
Released	September 26, 1994
Recorded	1993 – 1994
Genre	Hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap
Length	42:28
Label	Out Da Gutta Interscope
Producer	Big Syke Easy Mo Bee Jay Johnny "J" Mopreme Nate Dogg Stretch Thug Music Warren G
2Pac chronology
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...1993 Thug Life: Volume 1 (1994) Thug Life: Volume 11994 Me Against the World (1995) Me Against the World1995
Singles from Volume 1
"Pour Out A Little Liquor" Released: August 23, 1994 "Cradle to the Grave" Released: November 4, 1994

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Entertainment Weekly	A− link
Q	[1]
Select	[2]
Sputnikmusic	link

Volume 1 is the only studio album by American hip hop group Thug Life, started by rapper Tupac Shakur, and was released on September 26, 1994. The group featured Big Syke, Macadoshis, Mopreme, The Rated R and Tupac Shakur. Among the notable tracks on the album are "Bury Me a G," "Cradle to the Grave," "Pour Out a Little Liquor" (which also appears on the soundtrack to the 1994 film Above the Rim), "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" and "Str8 Ballin'." The album was originally released by Shakur's label Out Da Gutta Records. Due to heavy criticism on gangsta rap at the time, the original version of the album was scrapped and re-recorded with many of the original songs being cut. The album only contains ten tracks because Interscope Records felt many of the other recorded songs were too controversial to release. It has been said that 2Pac created two other versions of this album, with many of the songs still remaining unreleased.^[3]

Although the original version of the album never came to fruition as the album went through a number of changes, Tupac performed the planned first single from the album, "Out on Bail" at the 1994 Source Awards.^[4] Although the album was originally released on Shakur's label Out Da Gutta, Amaru Entertainment, the label owned by Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, gained the rights to it. Thug Life: Volume 1 was certified Gold. The track "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" appeared later in 1998 from 2Pac's Greatest Hits album.^[5]

It sold 500,000 copies in the United States in 1994.^[6]

Critical reception

"Full of machismo and do or die stances," wrote Jake Barnes in Q, "the lyrics' hardcore posturing is perversely undercut by sweet and delicate backings from artists like Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton and The Isley Brothers."^[1]

"A shockingly considered, thoughtful rap record," opined Select's Matt Hall. "And a very chilling one."^[2]

Track listing

Samples

Bury Me a G^[7]

• "For the Love of You" by The Isley Brothers

Don't Get It Twisted^[8]

• "Symphonette" by David "Fathead" Newman feat. Roy Ayers
• "The Back Down" by Richard Pryor

Shit Don't Stop^[9]

• "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" by Parliament

Pour Out a Little Liquor^[10]

• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
• "Cry Together" by The O'Jays
• "Welcome to the Ghetto" by Spice 1
• "Eastside Rendezvous" by Kid Frost

Stay True^[11]

• "Just Want to Be With You" by Curtis Mayfield

How Long Will They Mourn Me?^[12]

• "Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)" by One Way

Str8 Ballin'^[13]

• "What's a Telephone Bill?" by Bootsy's Rubber Band

Album chart positions

Singles chart positions

References