Search - 2Pac :: Resurrection

PACxploitation at BEST

Decatur Redd | Decatur,GA | 09/16/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As it relates to the 2Pac:Resurrection SDTK, I'm gonna keep it short & sweet. PACxploitation at best. And I mean that in a good way. While I was LOVIN' Eminem's reworking of "Runnin"(f/t Notorious B.I.G., RIP), and the joints from 'Pac's older works, the album would've passed for a classic if there weren't such a D12 flavor about the joints featurin' Outlawz...and now that 50 is startin' to pop out...Em could've left him off of Realest Killaz, cause while he's clownin' Ja still...HE AINT PAC EITHER, only a petty thief from up north who got shot up and lived to see another day. But overall, this one's still a keeper if for nothin' other than hearin' Pac & Biggie together. Pac & Biggie, RIP."

Resurrecting some of Pac's lesser known tracks

Scott D. Gribble | Baltimore MD | 03/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a surprisingly good compilation for the Tupac "Resurrection" Soundtrack. Although it might appear to be new release from the 2Pac camp, it's not in the same sense that we've grown accustom to (love or hate) in the past 7 years or so. "Resurrection" actually balances new material quite well with old material - tracks that serve as a retrospective of his career. While Amaru Entertainment could have easily put together another "Greatest Hits" type of album to accompany the film, they instead have chosen to unearth some of Tupac's less familiar classics.



The listener gets to hear the fire from one of Pac's earliest documented recordings "Panther Power". It's astonishing to see that he would only live up to the potential created from this song, which dates to 1989! Pac's official debut can be found on here as well, "Same Song" from Digital Underground's "This is an EP".



From there we hear the less played out Pac cuts from his first three albums: "Rebel of the Underground" from "2Pacalypse Now", "Holler If Ya Hear Me" (which is highly underrated and is often accompanied by it's classic video) from "Strictly For My N****s", "Bury Me A G" & "Str8 Ballin" from "Thug Life Vol. I" and "Death Around The Corner" appears from "Me Against the World".



The Death Row era which was his most successful period (ironically most detrimental) is suspiciously absent. Despite the fact that this is probably Suge's fault, it's still a weakness for "Resurrection". The addition lesser known tracks from "All Eyez On Me" and "The 7 Day Theory" would have been clutch ("Can't C Me", "Only God Can Judge Me", "Me And My Girlfriend" or "Life As An Outlaw" would have been jaw dropping in this line-up). Omitting tracks from these two albums for whatever reason remains to be the album's only major flaw.



Two more tracks follow from early after Pac's death "Secretz of War" and "Starin Through My Rear View" (heavily used in the film).



Four "new" songs allow us to pick up were Pac's career could have been now, more than 7 years after his death. If these tracks were all you had heard from him lately, you'd think he was alive and well. Eminem provides some stunning production for the first three that appear on the album. The heavy pounding drums accompany the haunting "Ghost" quite well. This beat fits the flow like a glove and Eminem does everything he can to make this sound like an authentic 2Pac track recorded in 96. The same applies for the follow up "One Day at a Time", which hits hard. While Pac delivers a vintage verse to set it off, it's the rest of the guests that really make this a strong track. Eminem delivers a great dedication verse to the fallen legend, without merely trying to gain fan acceptance. The Outlawz finish up the track strong, with EDI in particular sounding as good as ever.



The memorable single is masterfully put together from a previously recorded track with 2Pac & Biggie. Yes, they actually recorded this one originally TOGETHER. Do your homework; this is not some disrespectful chop-up mix. Em does a truly great job of piecing in 2Pac & Biggie interviews throughout the track, which only further intensifies the chilling sped up Edgar Winter sample. If you've never heard the original "Runnin" from which the lyrics were taken, the beat here is way better (although there's more lyrics from both rappers that were questionably left out).



The Red Spyda produced "The Realist Killaz" closes out the album (he also did the beat for the 50 Cent & Biggie 'collaboration' "My N****s"). It's a hard thumping beat that Pac rolls over amazingly. The 50 Cent aspect/verse will either make you puke or love the track even more. Regardless it's a crime that he uses this track to diss Ja Rule, which just seems like a waste of Pac vocals. But, either opinion 50's role shouldn't take away too much from the overall song.



"Resurrection" is a great buy for both newer Pac fans and older ones. The newer fans might buy this for the singles and Eminem produced tracks... only find a deeper appreciation by hearing the old Pac's legacy. The Pac collector might even pick this up only to end up realizing there is still some value in the new released tracks. Bottom line is that the whole "Resurrection" package is a huge success (especially the film with the Oscar nod) for Afeni Shakur and the Pac camp, which seemed to be recently pimping out Pac's legacy more than continuing it. This soundtrack is worth owning for any rap fan that appreciates 2Pac's work, either past or `present'.

(8.5/10)"

Surprislingly Good

MakaveliThaDon38648 | Pittsburgh, PA | 12/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't too sure about buyin this album. In case u haven't noticed the new 'Pac albums aren't anything like is older classics. But I decided to give this one a shot. Boy did I make the right decision. There are unreleased songs on here and older classics. Every single song on here is good. This is a CD u can play all the way through without skippin any songs. Biggie, The Outlawz, Eminem, Digital Underground, 50 Cent, and more appear on this album.



1.) Intro - 2Pac introducin this album. Not ratin.



2.) Ghost - An unreleased song. A very good beat and lyrically awesome. 9.5/10



3.) One Day At A Time Ft. Eminem & Outlawz - Another unreleased song. This is probably one of three the best songs on here. 2Pac, Em, and The Outlawz rap good on this one. 10/10



4.) Death Around The Corner - From Me Aginst The World. A classic song. 9/10



5.) Secretz Of War Ft. The Outlawz - From Still I Rise. Two out of the Three best songs on here. Actually this song might top One Day At A Time and Realest Killas on this album. 10/10



6.) Runnin' (Dying To Live) Ft. Biggie - Another unreleased song. The hit single from this CD. Produced by Eminem. 9.5/10



7.) Holler If Ya Hear Me - From Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. A young 'Pac. It's pretty good, not the best, but pretty good. 8/10



8.) Starin' Through My Rear View Ft. The Outlawz - From The Gang Releated Soundtrack. Not in the top three songs on here, but pretty close. This is probably one of my personal favorites on here. 9.5/10



9.) Bury Me A G - From Thug Life: Vol. 1. "When they come for me let it be, and when the bury me, bury me a G." 8/10



10.) Same Song Ft. Digital Underground - This is the ultimate party song. I don't think there is any profanity in this song. I love blastin this song and maybe even dancin to it. 10/10



11.) Panther Power - A very old song, a very young 'Pac. His voice is so young. Good rhymes. 9/10



12.) Str8 Ballin - From Thug Life: Vol. 1. An old classic. 8/10



13.) Rebel Of The Underground - From 2Pacalypse Now. Another very old classic and a very young 'Pac. 9/10



14.) Tha Realest Killas Ft. 50 Cent - An unreleased song. As much as I hate 50 Cent I love this song. The other best song on here. 'Pac's verse is so awesome. 50 is just dissin Ja Rule, sayin how Ja wants to be like 'Pac. 10/10



So if ur gonna buy a new 2Pac album make it this one. But I strongly suggest u buy the old classics like All Eyez On Me. That is if ur a true 2Pac fan."