Happy Birthday Pac

June 16th, 1971, mama gave birth to a hell raising heavenly son 

These are the opening words from 2Pac on Cradle To The Grave from the Thug Life album released in 1994.  It's probably the main reason that I remember Pac's birthday.  If you're reading this blog, I don't think It's really necessary to explain who Pac is and where he stands in hip-hop.  For me, Pac was probably my first favorite rapper.  Pac had a certain appeal that's hard for me to put into words. He's not the best lyricist, but I think Pac had an uncanny ability to convey his emotions through music and make the listener feel him emotionally.  It's this ability that I think will always set Pac apart from any other rapper because I can't think of any other rapper that comes close to Pac in pulling that off.  Sure there are others that have made valiant attempts.  I've had a few people mention Jeezy to me, but I just don't think that Jeezy or any other rapper has come close to matching Pac's ability to make his listeners feel him emotionally.   

With that said, I was trying to think of something to write about in honor of Pac.  I had considered listing 44 of his greatest songs since this would've been his 44th birthday, but that's a lot of songs and I really didn't feel like listing 44 songs.  Also, I mean, 44 songs is a lot.  It increases the chances that songs make the list that shouldn't be considered great.  So, I decided to give you my ranking of Pac's catalog of solo albums.  Unfortunately, that means the aforementioned Thug Life group album will not be on this list, but if you were wondering, it would've easily been last.  I mean, honestly, it's really only good for the Pac verses.  Also, for me, the Pac catalog ends with the Makaveli album.  With the exception of the Makaveli album, I don't consider the other posthumous albums as part of his catalog because he had no input in putting the albums together.  I understand he made the songs, but I can't be sure that he intended for those songs to see the light of day and I don't know that he would have approved of the changes in production or guest appearances that some of the albums featured.  So, here is my ranking of Pac solo albums.  I'm sure they will be some disagreement over the rankings, so feel free to let me know how you would rank them. 

The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (released November 5, 1996) 

Considered the Makaveli album, it was released almost two months after his death.  In my opinion, this is Pac's best work.  He had quality production and the lyrics to go with the production.  It's hard to believe that this album is almost 20 years old and over the years, I have learned to appreciate this album even more than when it was first released.  This album is so dope to me that three years ago, I decided to give my nieces and nephews a classic hip-hop album for Christmas and this was the first album I gave them.  This was his second album on Deathrow and while I think All Eyez On Me was dope, the album did seem somewhat rushed and it had a bunch of high profile guest appearances on it.  While this album still had guest appearances, most of them were from his Outlawz crew so Pac was able to shine more on this album.  

Tracks to check for: Hail Mary, To Live and Die in L.A., Blasphemy, Against All Odds 

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (released February 16, 1993) 

I know this is going to be the ranking almost everyone disagrees with and I understand, but for some reason, this is my favorite Pac album.  I only put the Makaveli album at the top because I can't deny that the production and lyrics are at a high level.  However, this album just resonates with me.  I think it's the timing of the album and where I was at as a person.  I was 16, had probably read the Autobiography of Malcolm X within the past couple of years.  I was feeling like black was the thing to be.  The Rodney King verdict and subsequent L.A. riots were probably still fresh in my mind.  And this album just seemed like an angry and frustrated young, black male trying to make sense of the world he was living in.  This album didn't seem to have any cohesiveness, but there was an interlude called "Something 2 Die 4" where he mentioned 15 year old Latasha Harlins who was murdered by a Korean store owner (click here for Wikipedia article).  He also had this recurring lyric throughout the album that went, "one nigga, teach two niggas, teach three niggas, teach mo niggas".  That was kinda inspiring considering everything that was going on at the time.  I remember reading a review of the album in the Source magazine and their description of the album was that it was chaotic and I think that's the best description for this album. 

Tracks to check for: Holla If Ya Hear Me, Keep Ya Head Up, Papa'z Song, I Get Around 

All Eyez On Me (released February 13, 1996) 

Pac's first release on Deathrow and his double album.  Pac dropped this double album when it was unheard of to drop a double album especially as a solo artist.  A lot of people love this album and I do think that it's a dope album.  It could have probably been consolidated into one album with 14 tracks and been an undeniable classic, but I feel that way about any solo artist that has dropped a double album.  I do give Pac credit for putting together a dope album in a short time period.  He was released on bail in October of 1995 and this album was released in February of 1996, so he put this album together in 3-4 months.  This was the first album where Pac had high quality production.  He had the Deathrow sound behind him which featured Dr. Dre and Daz on the production.  The album also had a few high profile guest appearances from Snoop, Redman, Method Man, and Tha Dogg Pound.  Actually, I just looked at the track listing for this album and there aren't that many high profile guest appearances on there as I had originally thought.  That makes it a little bit more impressive.  I still can't put it ahead of the other two albums on this list, but I can understand if some of you would put this in the number two slot instead of the undeniable, certified classic, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. 

Tracks to check for: Ambitionz Az a Ridah, No More Pain, I Ain't Mad at Cha, Wonda Why They Call U Bitch 

2Pacalypse Now (released November 12, 1991) 

This is Pac's first solo album.  The one that made me declare him my favorite rapper.  I borrowed the tape from someone and made myself a copy.  I wasn't really up on Pac at the time, but when I heard the album, I had to get my own copy.  This was an album for young black males.  It gave a voice to the frustrations that we had with how we were being treated.  I'm not trying to get all political or anything, but early Pac was an inspiration to me.  It's because of him that I learned about people like Assata Shakur, Geronimo Pratt and Mumia Abu-Jamal.  I think mainstream fans got put on to Pac with the Me Against The World and All Eyez On Me albums and I won't say that he was watered down on those albums, but if you listen to his first two albums you get a rawer version of Pac.  Sure, the production wasn't that great, but if you listen to what he was saying, you couldn't help but be inspired.   

Tracks to check for: If My Homie Calls, Trapped, Brenda's Got a Baby, Violent 

Me Against the World (March 14, 1995) 

Don't get me wrong.  I like this album.  I think it's a dope album.  I think every album on this list is at least 3.5 mics and I consider a 3.5 mic album to be solid. However, I have bittersweet feelings about this album.  Because this album was released when he was in prison, I believe that Pac had input on the album, but a part of me feels like the label may have had a heavy influence on what the final product was.  This album seemed to be more soul-baring and reflective than the first two.  It wasn't as rebellious as the first two and maybe that's why the album doesn't rank higher for me.  At the time it was released, I do feel that it was probably his best album production-wise and it was in heavy rotation when I first got it.  Honestly, where I've grown to appreciate the Makaveli album over the years, I've probably come to under appreciate this album.  With that being said, even if I go back and listen to this album, it will probably always be in the last spot because of Temptations.  I hate that song and when I say hate, I mean that it goes on the Hate List.  The Hate List that has Duke, Ray-J and Lupe Fiasco on it.  I hate the production.  I think my ears bleed a little bit anytime I hear the opening, "Yo Mo Bee man, drop that shit" and than the beat drops.  I have no idea if the song is dope lyrically.  I probably haven't listened to that song in its entirety in 20 years.  If Pac comes back from the dead and says, "My bad, here's a version without Temptations", I'll move this album up to the one spot. 

Tracks to check for: Dear Mama, So Many Tears, Heavy in the Game, Outlaw