2Pacalypse Now

2Pacalypse Now
Studio album by 2Pac
Released November 12, 1991 (1991-11-12)
Recorded June – September 1991
Starlight Sound Studios
(Richmond, California)
Genre Alternative hip hop, political hip hop, hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap
Length 55:07
Label T.N.T. Recordings,Jive Records, Interscope Records
Producer Atron Gregory (exec.), Big D the Impossible, Jeremy, Live Squad, Raw Fusion, Shock G, Underground Railroad
2Pac chronology
2Pacalypse Now
(1991)		 Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
(1993)
Singles from 2Pacalypse Now
  1. "Trapped"
    Released: September 25, 1991
  2. "Brenda's Got a Baby"
    Released: December 20, 1991
  3. "If My Homie Calls"
    Released: February 25, 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Q[2]
RapReviews8/10[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

2Pacalypse Now is the debut studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on November 12, 1991, by Jive Records and Interscope Records. Less polished than it later proceed with his studio album, 2Pacalypse Now, which is 2Pac's commentary on contemporary social issues facing American society such as racism, police brutality, poverty, black on black crime, and teenage pregnancy, some issues giving a lyrical glimpse into the world of a young black man on the urban streets of the United States. It featured three singles; "Brenda's Got a Baby", "Trapped", and "If My Homie Calls".

Background

The album was initially to be released on Jive Records, with distribution of T.N.T. Recordings, under the rights of the record label are now owned by Interscope Records and Amaru Entertainment, which was founded by Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur. The album's name is a reference to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.

2Pacalypse Now could be found in the vinyl countdown and the instruction manual for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, along with the track, titled "I Don't Give a Fuck", which the song appeared on the in-game radio station, Radio Los Santos.

Prominent faces wearing hoods on cover photo : Kendrick Wells (front left) Al Jones III (right rear) Photo by Victor Hall Oakland CA

Controversy

The album generated significant controversy stemming from then-U.S. Vice President 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."

Commercial success

2Pacalypse Now was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2011, the album has sold 1.000,000 copies in the United States.[5]

The record performed poorly compared to 2Pac's later albums, but it was important, when it comes to showcasing 2Pac's political conviction and his focus on lyrical prowess.

Accolades

"Full of Promise" wrote Ian McCann from the Q, said that "The uncompromising 'I Don't Give a Fuck' could almost be Ice Cube; 'Brenda's Got a Baby' was the breakthrough hit with surprising sensitivity."[2] On MTV's Greatest Rappers of All Time list, 2Pacalypse Now was listed as one of 2Pac's "certified classic" albums, along with Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., Me Against the World, All Eyez On Me, and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. [6]

Track listing

All lyrics by 2Pac, music compositions listed below.

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "Young Black Male"  Big D the Impossible (D Evans) 2:35
2. "Trapped" (featuring Shock G)The Underground Railroad 4:44
3. "Soulja's Story"  Big D the Impossible 5:05
4. "I Don't Give a Fuck" (featuring Pogo)Pee-Wee (R Gooden) 4:20
5. "Violent" (featuring DJ Fuze, Money B and Mac Mone)Raw Fusion (R Brooks & D Elliot) 6:25
6. "Words of Wisdom"  Shock G (G Jacobs) 4:54
7. "Something Wicked" (featuring Pee-Wee)Jeremy 2:28
8. "Crooked Ass Nigga" (featuring Stretch)Stretch (R Walker) 4:17
9. "If My Homie Calls"  Big D the Impossible 4:18
10. "Brenda's Got a Baby" (featuring Dave Hollister)The Underground Railroad 3:55
11. "Tha' Lunatic" (featuring Stretch)Shock G 3:29
12. "Rebel of the Underground" (featuring Ray Luv and Shock G)Shock G 3:17
13. "Part Time Mutha" (featuring Angelique and Poppi)Big D the Impossible 5:13

Samples

Crooked Ass Nigga

If My Homie Calls

The Lunatic

Part Time Mutha

Rebel of the Underground

Soulja's Story

Violent

Words of Wisdom

Young Black Male

Trapped

Something Wicked

Unused tracks

Singles

Single information
"Brenda's Got a Baby" (feat. Dave Hollister)
"Trapped" (feat. Shock G)
  • Released: September 25, 1992
  • B-side: Tha' Lunatic (feat. Stretch)
"If My Homie Calls"

Charts and certifications

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[7] Platinum 1.000,000[5]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Album

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1992 2Pacalypse Now 64 13

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1992 "Brenda's Got a Baby"/ "If My Homie Calls" 11 23

References

  1. ↑ Marisa Brown. "2Pacalypse Now - 2Pac". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 McCann, Ian: reissue reviews, Q, April 1997
  3. ↑ Emilee Woods. "2Pac :: 2Pacalypse Now :: Interscope Records". rapreviews.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  4. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 April 2011. Portions posted at "Tupac Shakur: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  5. 1 2 "Tupac Month: 2Pac’s Discography". Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ "American certifications – 2 Pac – 2Pacalypse Now". Recording Industry Association of America. June 23, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
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