2Pacalypse Now

Untitled

2Pacalypse Now is the debut album of Tupac Shakur, released in November 1991.

Though less polished and lacking the hard-hitting produced beats of his later albums, it was his most overtly political work. He addresses social problems such as police brutality, poverty, teenage pregnancy, and drug use, some issues giving a lyrical glimpse into the world of a young black person on the urban streets of the United States.

Album information

It is hailed by many critics and fans for its underground feel, with many rappers such as Nas and Talib Kweli having pointed to it as a source for inspiration from the album.. Although the album was originally released on Interscope, Amaru Entertainment, the label owned by the mother of Tupac Shakur, has since gained the rights to it. The album's name is a played-on title of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, which is about the Vietnam War.

The album generated significant controversy stemming from 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."

The record never achieved the same success as many of Shakur's later albums owing in part to rough construction and sometimes repetitive beats, but it was important in showcasing Shakur's political conviction and lyrical talent. 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.

Track listing

#	Title	Featured Guest(s)	Producer	Time
1	"Young Black Male"		Big D the Impossible	2:35
2	"Trapped"	Shock G	The Underground Railroad	4:44
3	"Soulja's Story"		Live Squad	5:05
4	"I Don't Give a Fuck"	Pogo	Raw Fusion	4:20
5	"Violent"		Big D the Impossible	6:25
6	"Words of Wisdom"		Shock G	4:54
7	"Something Wicked"	Pee Wee	Pee Wee	2:28
8	"Crooked Ass Nigga"	Stretch	Live Squad	4:17
9	"If My Homie Calls"		Shock G	4:18
10	"Brenda's Got a Baby"	Dave Hollister	The Underground Railroad	3:55
11	"Tha' Lunatic"	Stretch	Live Squad	3:29
12	"Rebel of the Underground"	Ray Luv and Shock G	Shock G	3:17
13	"Part Time Mutha"	Angelique & Poppi	Jeremy	5:14

Samples

Young Black Male

• "Good Ole Music" by Funkadelic
• "I Got to Have It" by Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs
• "Dead Homiez" by Ice Cube
• "The Product" by Ice Cube

Trapped

• "Holy Ghost" by Bar-Kays
• "The Spank" by James Brown

Soulja's Story

• "No Name Bar" by Isaac Hayes
• "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers
• "Sneakin' In The Back" by Tom Scott

Violent

• "Pirates Anthem" by Home T,Cocoa Tea and Shabba Ranks

Crooked Ass Nigga

• "Crab Apple" by Idris Muhammad
• "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A
• "Fuck The Police" by N.W.A
• "Gangsta Gangsta" by N.W.A

If My Homie Calls

• "Let a Woman Be a Woman, and Let a Man Be a Man" by Dyke & the Blazers
• "Fat Mama" by Herbie Hancock
• "Chameleon" by Herbie Hancock
• "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" by The Soul Children
• "Prelude" by N.W.A

Rebel of the Underground

• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers

Part Time Mutha

• "Part-Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder

Singles

Single information
"Brenda's Got a Baby" Released: B-side: "If My Homie Calls"
"Trapped" Released: September 25, 1991 B-side:
"If My Homie Calls" Released: February 13, 1992 B-side: "Brenda's Got a Baby"

Chart Positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1992	2Pacalypse Now	#34	#13

Singles Chart Positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1992	"Brenda's Got a Baby/If My Homie Calls"	#23	#3