Tupac Shakur released his third studio album Me Against The World 24 years ago today. Recorded around his near fatal assassination attempt in New York City, the explosive project is often considered the late Hip Hop legend’s most personal and introspective album. Themes of poverty, struggles with police and his impending prison sentence dominate the 15-track album.
In fact, by the time it was released, 2Pac was already behind bars on sexual assault charges. Despite his incarceration, Me Against The World debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart thanks in part to singles such as “Dear Mama,” “So Many Tears” and “Temptations.”
The platinum-selling single “Dear Mama” — in particular — was a painfully honest tribute to his mother Afeni Shakur and arguably one of the best rap songs ever written about mothers. Throughout the track, he expressed endless regret about the way he treated her and vowed to right all of his wrongs, while touching on her crack-cocaine addiction at the same time.
“When things went wrong we’d blame mama/I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell/Hugging on my mama from a jail cell,” he rapped. “And who’d think in elementary?/Hey! I see the penitentiary, one day/And running from the police, that’s right/Mama catch me, put a whooping to my backside. And even as a crack fiend, mama/You always was a black queen, mama/I finally understand/For a woman it ain’t easy trying to raise a man.”
Sonically speaking, Me Against The World borrowed from the vintage sounds of musical legends such as Minnie Riperton, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Roger and Larry Troutman of Zapp & Roger, Burt Bacharach, George Clinton and Michael Jackson.
Meanwhile, beats were provided by a bevy of notable producers, including Digital Underground’s Shock G, Easy Mo Bee and Tony Pizarro.
While 2Pac was locked up, the album surpassed Bruce Springsteen’s Greatest Hits as the best-selling album in the United States. ‘Pac simultaneously became the first artist to have a No. 1 album while serving a prison sentence. It ultimately reached multiplatinum status in 2011 with over 3.5 million copies sold in the U.S.
The illustrious MC was gunned down on September 7, 1996 at a Las Vegas intersection and died six days later on September 13. His body was cremated the following day. Some of his ashes were purportedly mixed with cannabis and smoked by members of the Outlawz, including E.D.I. Mean.
‘Pac was just 25 years old at the time of his death. His murder remains unsolved.
Revisit Me Against The World below.
It was the last Pac album that you actually got to hear who the REAL Pac was. Not that MADE FOR FAME AND MONEY BULLSHIT he put out on Death Row. Look what it cost him!
“Blasphemy” was for fame and bullshit? What about “Only God Can Judge Me?” “Trading War Stories?” “Hold Your Head?” “Picture Me Rollin?” What are you ranting about, exactly?
Basically saying some arbitrary shit that he didn’t like Death Row. Pac wasn’t as sharp on All Eyez to me due to the layoff, but the shit he had in the vault and Makaveli more than made up for it from his Death Row sessions. I can still listen to that shit all day, but a lot of the stuff he threw away from his Interscope years I have to sift through for the gems.
Brenda’s got a Baby, Keep ya Head Up, Dear Mama, Violent! That’s what I’m ranting about! Before Death Row he was a true leader. When T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E had nothing to do with gang life but a positive acronym for people not to be scared of but embrace. If you weren’t feeling Tupac when he ran with Digital Underground then keep it movin pimpin. TRUE FAN! Remember his roots then you’ll understand what I’m saying. Not saying that he sucked on Death Row, he just lost focus. By the way, wasn’t he ready to leave the label but he couldn’t because his pimp wouldn’t let him go?
What they fuck are you talking about? Either you are ignorant or a mental midget.
Most overrated artist of all time
Your a clown
Truth hurts. Deal with it. Stop being so weak.
Truth hurts, but what you saying is garbage juice. Go listen to one of his albums from start to finish (ex. Makaveli) then come back and talk.
Yet you checked out this article……the hate is real. Tell me an artist who out sold pac around his time or is known worldwide as him. If you think he is overrated why comment on this article? The bitterness is toxic I swear
Yet you’re here commenting on an album that came out almost 25 years ago. Yep, definitely overrated, lol.
There are very few artist in the world who’s music touches like 2pac. Lifestyle aside(to extinguish bias opinion) very few musicians across all genres like Bob Marley have made such touching music. And you don’t have to be 42 or white, black or purple to agree. The man could have even been a legendary poet if not a rapper.
2pac definitely a legend
His music has withstood the test of time.
We are still discussing his music today nuff said.
This was his best album. Too bad he signed to a real gangster just to earn more money. As you can see from this step he was not a saint or a rebel or poet. He was a very good mainstream rapper who sold his soul.
Well that gangsta bailed him out when his label wouldn’t bail a man about to release an album and shit 5 times
Shit was that heat rock. Had “Shed So Many Tears” on repeat the day I got it.
One of the greatest hiphop albums of all time.
There was just one dud on this album and that was f*** the world.
He should have replaced that song with the original my block song that he put on the show soundtrack in 1995.
One of the greatest hiphop albums of all time.
This album had one dud and that was track 13.
He should have replaced that track with the original my block song from the show soundtrack.