1996 - All eyez on me

All Eyez on Me is the Grammy-nominated fourth studio album by rapper 2Pac. It was released on February 13, 1996. It was the last album released during 2Pac's lifetime, before he died 7 months later on September 13, 1996.

The album is frequently recognized as one of the crowning achievements of 1990s rap music.[2] It has been said that "despite some undeniable filler, it is easily the best production 2Pac's ever had on record"[3]. It was certified 5x platinum after just 2 months in April 1996, and 9x platinum in June 1998 by the RIAA.[4] The album had two Billboard Hot 100 Number One singles: "How Do U Want It" and "California Love". It featured 6 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 original hip-hop studio album released for mass consumption -- in this case, it was issued on two compact discs and a record four vinyl discs.

Background

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. He arrived in the studios just hours after being released from prison to begin work on this 27 track hip-hop "tour de force".[citation needed] The prolific rapper finished this album in only two weeks.

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. 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 Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, 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.

Along with his Greatest Hits album, All Eyez On Me is 2Pac's best selling album, reaching a 9x platinum status.

The album was certified 5x Platinum in the United States after just 2 months and was later certified 9x platinum.[4]

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

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p. 74) - Included in Rolling Stone's Essential Recordings of the 90's.

Spin (5/96, p. 106) - 7 (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) - 7 (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."