All Eyez on Me

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the 2Pac album. For other uses, see All Eyes on Me (disambiguation).
All Eyez on Me
Studio album by 2Pac
Released February 13, 1996
Recorded October 13–27, 1995
Genre West Coast hip hop
Length 132:18
Label Death Row, Interscope
Producer Suge Knight (exec.)
DJ Quik, Dat Nigga Daz, DeVanté, DJ Pooh, Dr. Dre, Lawlay, Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin, Johnny "J", Mike Mosley, Doug Rasheed, Rick Rock, QD3, 2Pac
2Pac chronology
Me Against the World
(1995)		 All Eyez on Me
(1996)		 The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
(1996)
Singles from All Eyez on Me
  1. "California Love"
    Released: December 28, 1995
  2. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted"
    Released: May 7, 1996
  3. "How Do U Want It"
    Released: June 4, 1996
  4. "I Ain't Mad at Cha"
    Released: September 15, 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 5/5 stars link
Entertainment Weekly B+ link
NME (9/10) link
Q 4/5 stars link
Rapreviews 6/10 stars [3]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars 1996
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 5/5 stars 2004
The Source 5/5 stars[1]
Spin (7/10) link
USA Today 3/4 stars link
XXL 5/5 stars (XXL)[2]

All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and distributed by Interscope Records.

The album is frequently recognized as one of the crowning achievements of 1990s rap music.[3] AMG stated that "despite some undeniable filler, it is easily the best production 2Pac's ever had on record".[4] It was certified 5× Platinum after just 2 months in April 1996, it was later certified 9x multi platinum in 1998. The album featured the Billboard Hot 100 number one singles "How Do U Want It" and "California Love". It featured 5 singles in all, the most of any 2Pac album. Moreover, All Eyez on Me (which was the only Death Row release to be distributed through PolyGram by way of Island Records) made history as the first double-full-length hip-hop solo studio album released for mass consumption. It was issued on two compact discs and four LPs. Chartwise, All Eyez on Me was the second album from 2Pac to hit number-one on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.[5] It sold 566,000 copies in the first week of its release, and was charted on the top 100 with the top one-week SoundScan sales since 1991. It has sold 4,472,000 copies in the US as of April 2013.[6]

The album won the 1997 Soul Train R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year Award.[7][8] Shakur also won the Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist at the 24th Annual American Music Awards and is also commonly referred to as one of the greatest hip hop/rap albums of the 1990s.[9]

Contents

Recording [edit]

All Eyez on Me was released after Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, bailed 2Pac out of jail in exchange for signing to Death Row, fulfilling part of 2Pac's brand new contract. This double-album served as the first two albums of his three album contract.[citation needed]

The songs on All Eyez on Me are, in general, unapologetic celebrations of living the "Thug Lifestyle". Though there is the occasional reminiscence about past and present friends, it is a definite move away from the social and political consciousness of 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.. The hit single "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is a collaboration with Snoop Dogg.

The album features occasional guest spots from 2Pac's regulars, such as former-Thug Life members and the Outlawz, as well as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg, George Clinton, Rappin' 4-Tay, Method Man, Redman, and other guests. The song "Heartz of Men" samples a portion of Richard Pryor's comedy album "That Nigger's Crazy". Most of the album was produced by Johnny "J" and Daz Dillinger, with help from Dr. Dre on the songs "California Love", which he himself appeared in also as an album guest spot, and "Can't C Me", which was Clinton's appearance.

All Eyez On Me is 2Pac's second best selling album (behind only his Greatest Hits album). The album was certified 5x Platinum in the United States after just 2 months and was later certified 9x platinum.[10] It was re-released in 2001 as enhanced CDs containing the "California Love" music video. Both discs contained the same data track. It was also re-released as a Dual-Disc in 2005.

Reception [edit]

All Eyez on Me received critical acclaim from music critics.

 This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (July 2009)

Rolling Stone (May 13, 1999, p. 74) – Included in Rolling Stone's Essential Recordings of the 90's.

Spin (5/96, p. 106) – 10 (out of 10) – "As long as you don't expect philanthropy from him, you'll find honesty and some pleasurably twisted scenarios."

Entertainment Weekly (12/27/96-1/3/97, p. 146) – Ranked #3 on Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 10 Albums And Singles Of 1996.

Q magazine (12/99, p. 90) – Included in Q magazine's 90 Best Albums Of The 1990s.

Musician (6/96, p. 90) – "...gangsta rappers pretty much share the values of their Republican detractors: the emphasis on making money, the righteousness of bearing arms, the wonderfulness of consumption, respect for hierarchy and loyalty to one's own as overriding principles..."

Rap Pages (5/96, p. 30) – 10 (out of 10) – "Backed by 'everything we push goes platinum' Death Row Records and a new crew of comrades...the lyrical Jesse James is back to expound on his lengthy dogmas within the infrastructure of his music....[T]his album conveys sudden gleams of brilliance and thick and chunky hits, radio-friendly or not."

NME (3/2/96, p. 47) – 9 (out of 10) – "All Eyez is his angry, end-of-tether, couldn't-give-a-shit meditation....an immense spewing of indignation and provocation, set to a brilliantly varied range of G-funk grooves....Tupac blasts out his non-PC opinions...with a competition-eliminating relentlessness."

Track listing [edit]

Book 1 disc
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Ambitionz Az a Ridah"   Tupac Shakur, Delmar Arnaud Dat Nigga Daz 4:39
2. "All About U" (featuring Nate Dogg, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dru Down, Fatal and Yaki Kadafi) Shakur, Johnny Jackson, Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins Johnny "J", 2Pac 4:37
3. "Skandalouz" (featuring Nate Dogg) Shakur, Arnaud Dat Nigga Daz 4:09
4. "Got My Mind Made Up" (featuring Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt, Redman and Method Man) Shakur, Arnaud, Ricardo Brown Dat Nigga Daz 5:13
5. "How Do U Want It" (featuring K-Ci & JoJo) Shakur, Jackson Johnny "J" 4:47
6. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg) Shakur, Calvin Broadus, Arnaud Dat Nigga Daz 4:07
7. "No More Pain"   Shakur, DeVanté Swing, Clifford Smith, R. Diggs, Jr. DeVanté 6:14
8. "Heartz of Men"   Shakur, David Blake, Prince, George Clinton, Jr., William Collins, Clarence Haskins, Bernard Worrell DJ Quik 4:43
9. "Life Goes On (featuring Stacy Smallie and Nanci Fletcher)"   Shakur, Jackson Johnny "J" 5:02
10. "Only God Can Judge Me" (featuring Rappin' 4-Tay) Shakur, Doug Rasheed Rasheed, Harold Scrap Freddie 4 The Bullets Production Team 4:57
11. "Tradin' War Stories" (featuring Dramacydal, C-Bo and Storm) T. Shakur, Mike Mosley Mosley, Rick Rock 5:29
12. "California Love (Rmx)" (featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) Shakur, Andre Young, Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Norman Durham, Woody Cunningham Dr. Dre , D Maq, & Laylaw 6:25
13. "I Ain't Mad at Cha" (featuring Danny Boy) Shakur, Arnaud Dat Nigga Daz 4:53
14. "What'z Ya Phone #" (featuring Danny Boy) Shakur, Jackson Johnny "J", 2Pac 5:10
Book 2 disc
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Can't C Me" (featuring Dr. Dre, George Clinton and Nanci Fletcher) Shakur, Young Dr. Dre 5:30
2. "Shorty Wanna Be a Thug"   Shakur, Jackson Johnny "J" 3:51
3. "Holla at Me (featuring Nanci Fletcher)"   Shakur, Bobcat Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin 4:56
4. "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch"   Shakur, Jackson Johnny "J", 2Pac 4:19
5. "When We Ride" (featuring Outlaw Immortalz and Nanci Fletcher) Shakur, DJ Pooh DJ Pooh 5:09
6. "Thug Passion" (featuring Jewell, Dramacydal and Storm) Shakur, Jackson, L. Troutman, R. Troutman, Shirley Murdock Johnny "J", 2Pac 5:08
7. "Picture Me Rollin'" (featuring Danny Boy, Big Syke and CPO) Shakur, Jackson, Tiruss Himes Johnny "J" 5:15
8. "Check Out Time" (featuring Kurupt and Big Syke) Shakur, Jackson, Himes, Brown Johnny "J", 2Pac 4:39
9. "Ratha Be Ya Nigga" (featuring Richie Rich) Shakur, Rasheed Rasheed 4:14
10. "All Eyez On Me" (featuring Big Syke) Shakur, Jackson, James Pennington Johnny "J" 5:08
11. "Run tha Streetz" (featuring Michel'le, Mutah and Storm) Shakur, Jackson Johnny "J", 2Pac 5:17
12. "Ain't Hard 2 Find" (featuring E-40, B-Legit, C-Bo and Richie Rich) Shakur Mosley, Rick Rock 4:29
13. "Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find"   Shakur, QD3 QD3 3:58
Notes
  • "All About U" features additional vocals from Nate Dogg and Snoop Doggy Dogg and uncredited vocals from Dru Down.
  • "Life Goes On" features background vocals from Nanci Fletcher and Stacey Smallie.
  • "Tradin War Stories" features uncredited vocals from CPO.
  • "California Love (Rmx)" features background vocals from Barbara Wilson, Danette Williams and Dorothy Coleman.
  • "Can't C Me" features additional vocals from George Clinton and Nanci Fletcher.
  • "Check Out Time" features background vocals from Natasha Walker.
  • "Ratha Be Ya Nigga" features background vocals from Puff Johnson and Ebony.
  • "Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find" features background vocals from Danny Boy.
  • Track list, writing and production credits adapted from Allmusic and CD booklet.[11][12]
Sample credits

Personnel [edit]

Credits for All Eyez On Me adapted from Allmusic and CD booklet.[13][14]

  • 2Pac — associate producer, composer, primary artist, producer
  • Suge Knight — executive producer
  • Norris Anderson — production manager
  • Delmar "Daz" Arnaud — composer
  • Dave Aron — engineer, mixing
  • Big Syke — featured artist
  • Larry Blackmon — composer
  • David Blake — composer, mixing, producer, talk box
  • B-Legit — featured artist
  • Bobcat — composer
  • Calvin Broadus — composer
  • R. Brown — composer
  • C-BO — featured artist
  • Larry Chatman — associate producer
  • Rick Clifford — engineer
  • G. Clinton, Jr. — composer
  • George Clinton — composer, featured artist, vocals
  • Nanci Fletcher - featured artist, vocals
  • Dorothy Coleman — background vocals
  • W. Collins — composer
  • Kenn Cox — composer
  • CPO — featured artist
  • Woody Cunningham — composer
  • Tommy "D" Daugherty — engineer
  • Danny Boy — featured artist
  • Dat Nigga Daz — featured artist, producer
  • Robert Diggs — composer
  • DJ Pooh — composer, mixing, producer
  • Dr. Dre — composer, featured artist, mixing, producer
  • Tha Dogg Pound — featured artist
  • Nate Dogg — featured artist, vocals
  • Dramacydal — featured artist
  • Dru Down — featured artist
  • Norman Durham — composer
  • E-40 — featured artist
  • Ebony — background vocals
  • Bobby Ervin — composer, producer
  • Fatal — featured artist
  • Brian Gardner — mastering
  • Michael Geiser — associate engineer
  • Yaki Kadafi — featured artist
  • Nathaniel Hale — composer
  • C. Haskins — composer
  • Johnny Jackson — composer
  • Jewell — featured artist
  • Johnny "J" — mixing, producer
  • Puff Johnson — background vocals
  • Jojo the Elf — featured artist
  • E. Jordan — composer
  • Kurupt — featured artist
  • Alvin McGill — associate engineer, engineer
  • Method Man — featured artist
  • Michel'le — featured artist
  • Mike Mosley — assistant engineer, composer, mixing, producer
  • Shirley Murdock — composer
  • Ken Nahoum — photography
  • Outlawz — featured artist
  • J.P. Pennington — composer
  • Prince — composer
  • George Pryce — art direction, design
  • QD3 — composer
  • Rappin' 4-Tay — featured artist
  • Doug Rasheed — composer, producer
  • Danny Ray — background vocals
  • Redman — featured artist
  • Richie Rich — featured artist
  • Rick Rock — producer
  • Patrick Shevelin — associate engineer
  • Carl "Butch" Small — percussion
  • Stacey Smallie — background vocals
  • C. Smith — composer
  • Henry "Hendogg" Smith — illustrations
  • Snoop Doggy Dogg — featured artist, vocals
  • Troy Staton — engineer
  • D. Stevens — composer
  • E. Stevens — composer
  • D. Stewart — composer
  • The Storm — featured artist
  • DeVanté Swing — composer, mixing, proucer
  • Roy Tesfay — production co-ordination
  • Rahiem Prince Thomas — composer
  • S. Thomas — composer
  • Sean "Barney" Thomas — keyboards
  • Larry Troutman — composer
  • Roger Troutman — composer, featured artist, talk box, unknown contributor role
  • Natasha Walker — background vocals
  • Carlos Warlick — engineer, mixing
  • Barbara Warren — stylist, unknown contributor role
  • Bruce Washington — composer
  • Danette Williams — background vocals
  • Barbara Wilson — background vocals
  • Nanci Fletcher - background vocals
  • Keston Wright — engineer

Charts [edit]

Chart (1996) Peak positions
Australian Albums Chart[15] 9
Belgium Charts (Flanders)[16] 4
Belgium Charts (Wallonia)[17] 4
Dutch Albums Chart[18] 11
French Albums Chart[19] 9
German Albums Chart[20] 16
Irish Albums Chart[21] 1
New Zealand Albums Chart[22] 1
Norwegian Albums Chart[23] 14
Swedish Albums Chart[24] 5
Switzerland Albums Chart[25] 15
UK Albums Chart[26][27] 2
US Billboard 200[28] 1
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[28] 1

End of decade charts [edit]

Chart (1990–1999) Position
U.S. Billboard 200[29] 97

Chart precession and succession [edit]

Preceded by
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette		 Billboard 200 number-one album
March 2, 1996 – March 15, 1996		 Succeeded by
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette

Accolades [edit]

  • The information regarding accolades attributed to All Eyez On Me is adapted from Acclaimedmusic.net.[30]
Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
FNAC France The 1000 Best Albums of All Time 2008 461
Rock & Folk The Best Albums from 1963 to 1999 1999 *
Babylon Greece The 50 Best Albums of the 1990s 48
Hip-Hop Connection United Kingdom The 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995-2005 2005 35
The New Nation Top 100 Albums by Black Artists 64
Q The Ultimate Music Collection *
90 Albums of the 90s 1999 *
About.com United States 100 Greatest Hip Hop Albums[31] 2008 80
Best Rap Albums of 1996[32] 1
Tom Moon 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die *
Ego Trip Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98 1999 8
Rolling Stone The Essential Recordings of the 90s *

See also [edit]

Portal icon Hip hop portal

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ Kazeem (August 4, 2010). "The Complete List Of 5 Mic Hip-Hop Classics". The Source. Retrieved on December 23, 2010.
  2. ^ XXL (2007). "Retrospective: XXL Albums". XXL Magazine, December 2007 issue. 
  3. ^ XXLMagazine October 2004, Page 104
  4. ^ All Eyez on Me AMG review
  5. ^ "All Eyez on Me - 2Pac". AllMusic. February 13, 1996. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  6. ^ Paul Grein (May 1, 2013). "Week Ending April 28, 2013. Albums: Snoop Lamb Is More Like It". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved May 1, 2013. 
  7. ^ "Maxwell, Tupac Top Soul Train Awards". E! Online. March 7, 1997. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. November 11, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  9. ^ "American Music Awards of 1997 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. January 27, 1997. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  10. ^ "RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for All Eyez On Me". Riaa.com. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  11. ^ All Eyes On Me CD booklet.
  12. ^ All Eyez On Me track list adapted from AllMusic.
  13. ^ "allmusic ((( All Eyez On Me > Credits )))". Allmusic. Retrieved May 22, 2009. 
  14. ^ "Tupac All Eyez On Me CD". CD Universe. 1996–2006. Retrieved November 7, 2012. 
  15. ^ "australian-charts.com - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  16. ^ "www.ultratop.be - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  17. ^ "www.ultratop.be - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  18. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  19. ^ "lescharts.com - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". LesCharts.com. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  20. ^ "musicline.de - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". musicline.de. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  21. ^ "www.chart-track.co.uk - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". www.chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  22. ^ "charts.org.nz - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". charts.org.nz. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  23. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  24. ^ "swedishcharts.com - 2 Pac - All Eyez On Me". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  25. ^ "2 Pac - All Eyez On Me - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved May 30, 2009. 
  26. ^ "Search Results -- Albums". chartstats.com. Retrieved May 24, 2009. 
  27. ^ "2PAC | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  28. ^ a b "allmusic ((( All Eyez On Me > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. Retrieved May 24, 2009. 
  29. ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010. 
  30. ^ "All Eyez on Me". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved December 10, 2011. 
  31. ^ Adaso, Henry. [1]. about.com. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  32. ^ Adaso, Henry. [2]. about.com. Retrieved September 6, 2010.

External links [edit]

All Eyez On Me at Allmusic

Tupac Shakur
Studio albums
Posthumous albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
Related albums
Extended plays
Singles
Posthumous singles
Other songs
Featured singles
Books
Filmography
Documentaries
Related articles
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=All_Eyez_on_Me&oldid=556667240"