Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Studio album by 2Pac
Released	February 16, 1993
Recorded	June 1992 - January 1993 Starlight Sound Studio (Richmond, California) Echo Sound Studio (Los Angeles, California) Unique Recording Studio (New York City, New York)
Genre	West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, political hip hop
Length	63:55
Label	Amaru, TNT, Interscope, Priority
Producer	Atron Gregory (exec.), Akshun, D'Flow Production Squad, DJ Daryl, Bobby Ervin, Laylaw, Special K, 2Pac, Underground Railroad
2Pac chronology
2Pacalypse Now (1991) Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993) Thug Life: Volume 1 (1994)
Singles from {{{Name}}}
"Holler If Ya Hear Me" Released: February 4, 1993 "I Get Around" Released: June 10, 1993 "Keep Ya Head Up" Released: October 28, 1993 "Papa'z Song" Released: March 17, 1994

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	link
Los Angeles Times	link
Rolling Stone	2004

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. is the second studio album by West Coast rapper 2Pac, released by Interscope Records on February 16, 1993. The rights now belong to Amaru Entertainment.

Similar to his debut, 2Pacalypse Now, the album contains many tracks emphasizing 2Pac's political and social views. The album was going to be named "Troublesome 21", the 21 referring to Shakur's age at the time. Debuting at number twenty-four on the Billboard 200, this album saw more commercial success than its predecessor, and there are many noticeable differences in production. While Tupac's first effort included a more underground or indie-rap oriented sound, this album was considered his "breakout" album. It spawned the hits "Keep Ya Head Up" and "I Get Around" and reached platinum status.

On vinyl, Side A (tracks 1-8) was labeled the "Black Side" and Side B (tracks 9-16) the "Dark Side."

It's also known as his tenth biggest selling album with 1,366,000 units moved as of 2004.

Reception

• The Source (2/93, pp. 69–70) - 2.5 Stars - Good Plus - "...a combination of '60s black political thought and '90s urban reality, 2Pac is not afraid to speak his mind.... Balances the gangsta tendencies of street life with insightful revelations...."

• Melody Maker (5/1/93, p. 34) - "...[on Strictly] 2Pac drops rhymes that drip with the sweat of hardcore funk.... This is an adventure into life on the streets of America...."

Track listing

All lyrics by 2Pac, music compositions listed

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Holler If Ya Hear Me"	Stretch	4:38
2.	"Pac's Theme" (Interlude)	The Underground Railroad	1:56
3.	"Point the Finga"	Big D The Impossible	4:25
4.	"Something 2 Die 4" (Interlude)	2Pac & Big D The Impossible	2:43
5.	"Last Wordz" (featuring Ice Cube & Ice-T)	Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin	3:36
6.	"Souljah's Revenge"	Bobcat	3:16
7.	"Peep Game" (featuring Deadly Threat)	Bobcat	4:28
8.	"Strugglin'" (featuring Live Squad)	Live Squad (Stretch, Majesty & K-Lowe)	3:33
9.	"Guess Who's Back"	Edward "Special Ed" Archer	3:06
10.	"Representin' 93"	Truman Jefferson	3:34
11.	"Keep Ya Head Up"	Daryl "DJ Daryl" Anderson	4:22
12.	"Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z."	Larry "Lay Law" Goodman	5:55
13.	"The Streetz R Deathrow"	Stretch	3:26
14.	"I Get Around" (featuring Shock G & Money-B)	The D-Flow Production Squad	4:19
15.	"Papa'z Song" (featuring Wycked & Poppi)	Big D The Impossible	5:25
16.	"5 Deadly Venomz" (featuring Treach, Apache & Live Squad)	Stretch	5:13

Unused Tracks

• 16 on Death Row (Tweaked Original Version On R U Still Down? (Remember Me))
• When I Get Free (Altered on R U Still Down? (Remember Me))
• Sucka 4 Love (Remixed on R U Still Down? (Remember Me) as "Do For Love")
• Nothin But Love (Released on I Get Around single, Tweaked Original Version On R U Still Down? (Remember Me))
• I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto (Released on Keep Ya Head Up single 1993, Remixed On R U Still Down? (Remember Me))
• Changes '92 (Remixed On Greatest Hits)
• Revenge Of A Soulja (Soldier Like Me Original Version) (Remixed On Loyal To The Game)
• Black Cotton (Remixed On Loyal To The Game)
• Flex (Released on Single)
• Don't Call Me, Bitch (Unreleased)
• Troublesome 21 (Original title track, Released On Def Jam's How to Be a Player Soundtrack)
• Cuz I Had 2 (Po Nigga Blues Original Version) (Remixed on Loyal To The Game)
• Let Them Thangs Go (Tweaked On R U Still Down? (Remember Me))
• Still Don't Give A Fuck (Unreleased)
• Holler If Ya' Hear Me (Original 1992 Version) (featuring Live Squad) (Unreleased)
• Open Fire (Original) (Tweaked Original Version On R U Still Down? (Remember Me))
• Thugz Get Lonely Too (Demo) (Remixed on Loyal To The Game)
• The Hell Raiser (Unreleased)
• It Hurts the Most (ft. Mopreme & Stretch)
• Hellrazor (Different Version with Different Lyrics)

Singles

Single information
"Holler If Ya Hear Me" Released: February 4, 1993
"I Get Around" Released: June 10, 1993 A-side: "Nothing But Love"
"Keep Ya Head Up" Released: October 28, 1993 B-side: "Rebel of the Underground", "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto"
"Papa'z Song" Released: March 17, 1994 B-side: "Peep Game", "Cradle to the Grave"

Album chart positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1993	Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.	#24	#4

Singles chart positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		The Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles	Rhythmic Top 40	Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1993	"I Get Around"	#11	#5	#8	#7	#2
1993	"Keep Ya Head Up"	#12	#7	#2	#3	#2
1994	"Papa'z Song"	#87	#82	#24	-	-

See also

• 1993 in music
• List of albums