About Stefan Halley
Location: Malmo, Sweden
Occupation: Editor-in-Chief
Bio: Stefan has been writing reviews for seven years and started Pop Syndicate out of need to voice his mis-guided opinion.
Posts: 719
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They say that those that burn brightest burn out quickest. Tupac Shakur burned very bright. When he was gunned down at the age of 25, he was just getting started. During his brief career he turned out an incredible amount of work. Now ten years after his death, his music seems timeless. Somehow he was able to capture the common zeitgeist and put it into song. Tupac’s view of gangs, living in the projects and thug life go beyond the cliche and give us a glimpse into a world that is far to familar for some and totally alien to others. Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, has compiled two CD’s worth of material in what she feels is the best of her son’s work. While, it’s not a complete collection, it is a fine assembly of songs.
Tupac is mostly known as a rapper but he was more than that. His talent extended into acting, poetry and social activism. After Tupac was slain, his mother took up his cause and founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation to promote the arts to children and teens. Even after his death, Tupac posthumously released several CDs and his influence is still felt today.
Each CD contains eleven tracks and ranges the length of his career. While there appears to be no rhyme or reason for the songs picked, they are definitely some of his best work. There are few released tracks but since this is a best of compilation, I wouldn’t expect much in the way of new music. The one new track that does stand out is “Ghetto Gospel”. Sampling Elton John’s “Indian Sunset” and rearranged by Eminem, “Ghetto Gospel” is classic Tupac and once again proves his relevance in today’s society.
From his powerhouse collaborations, “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” with Snoop and “California Love” with Dr. Dre to sampling of popular pop songs, “Dopefiend’s Diner” and “That’s Just the Way It Is”, the 22 songs included here offer up a primer to people discovering 2Pac for the first time, or in my case, rediscovering the top selling rapper of all time.
Tupac can sit alongside Elvis and The Beatles in longevity and relevance. In the ten years since his death, he’s inspired countless people and made his everlasting mark on the world. He’ll continue to influence generations. While Best of 2Pac – Vol. 1 and 2 aren’t the best compliation of his work, check out 1998’s Greatest Hits, it does provide excellent coverage of his career. Fans of his that are looking for a nice compiling of his work will be pleased and people newly discovering his artistry won’t be disappointed.
