balogun's Full Review: R U Still Down? (Remember Me) [PA] by 2Pac
INTRODUCTION:
This guy just…refuses…to…die.
Trust ‘Pac to show up every now and then with yet another record and practically outsell every other rapper in the market. You can attribute that to his prolificacy – in fact, he is known as the most prolific rapper in history. It’s beyond astounding how he recorded so many songs in such a short amount of time, about half a decade. Then again, he must have always thought that he was working with a shortened time frame…
…even before his stint with Death Row. R U Still Down? (Remember Me) is a collection of 26 tracks culled from 2Pac’s pre-Death Row years, 1991-1995 (although most people say "1991 to 1994" or "1992 to 1994," I contend otherwise, as I will point out later in the review). It was the first posthumous 2Pac album, a 103-minute double CD; the ‘Pac fans must have been profoundly thankful for his prolificacy (I actually, *ahem*, did so – in my head, though). The title of this double album functions as a sort of metaphor – even though 2Pac is dead in the physical sense, that does not mean that he is dead musically. In fact, he has a lot more to offer, to build upon his musical legacy, and for people to remember him. To a certain extent, this album succeeds, for R U Still Down? (Remember Me) is one of the better posthumous ‘Pac records out there. But the million-dollar question is – is it an essential addition to your 2Pac collection?
Read on…
DISC 1:
The very first track symbolizes the theme of the album. With a couple of acoustic guitars playing in the background, “Redemption” features a couple of ‘Pac voice clips distorted and sewn together to convey this haunting message: he cannot be killed. Well, in the musical sense, at least.
Two songs symbolize the co-existence of his two personalities, if you will. An initial listen to “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto” might have one rightfully guessing that this was made in the 2Pacalypse era. In fact, it is so good it is a wonder why it was never released. It is more of ‘Pac’s socio-political views, expressed over a sunny piano-heavy beat (the “Hip-Hop” version in Disc 2 has a nice stuttering beat reminiscent of Timbaland’s work). His life mired in neglect (“Was it my fault Papa didn't plan it out/Broke out, left me to be the man of the house?”), violence (e.g. “If you're not from the town then don't pass through/’Cause some O.G. fools might blast you”), poverty and racism (“I'm tired of being poor and even worse I'm black"), he wonders if the afterlife comprises the same place he is trying to escape from – it seems he hopes not. Until he finds out for sure, he is battling against his temptations (“My stomach hurts so I'm looking for a purse to snatch”), and advocating change here on earth, especially amongst his people. In fact, he suggests that until change is made, there are some things America will not be ready for:
I see no changes - all I see is racist faces
Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under, I wonder what it take to make this
One better place - let's erase the wait state
[…]
And only time we deal is when we kill each other
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And though it seems heaven-sent
We ain't ready to have a black President
This moment of brilliance is countered by the aptly-titled “Definition of a Thug N***a”, which was originally released in the soundtrack for the 1993 John Singleton film Poetic Justice (in which he had a leading role). Coincidentally 1993 was when he released Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., where his “thug” image was born. So it is understandable he made a song to describe this image he had invented, and it is not pretty. In place of a budding black revolutionary struggling against his temptations is a gun-toting, brew-drinking, weed-smoking, hypersexual, materialistic and nihilistic menace to society who has obviously given in to them. That’s the definition of a thug n***a. “Before I go broke, I'll be a drug dealer!” is one of the few startling declarations he makes in the song. How exhilarating.
Well, with little respect due to this “thug n***a” fellow, perhaps if he came up with new dimensions to his lyrics, maybe he could be cut some slack. But he hardly does. And the fact that the thug image dominates Disc 1 makes it worse. Sure, “Lie to Kick It”, which features Richie Rich, is quite a unique blend of posers and gold diggers who are similar in their opportunistic attitudes, and it helps that it has a blazing funk track reminiscent of Snoop Doggy Dogg’s “G’z and Hustlas.” And “Hellrazor” finds the self-designated thug, in mid-song, reaching for the heavens for change – and redemption:
God, come save the youth
Ain't nothing else to do but have faith in you
Dear Lord I live the life of a thug, hope you understand
Forgive me for my mistakes, I got to play my hand
And my hand's on the sixteen-shot, semi-automatic!
Crooked cop-killing Glock, tell me Lord
Can you feel me? Show a way!
I'm praying but my enemies won't go away!
But “Open Fire” is yet another song on, well, “open[ing] fire on [his] adversaries.” “I’m Getting Money” is more or less a reworked version of “Str8 Ballin’” from the 1994 album from his now-defunct group Thug Life. “Thug Style” and “F**k All Y’all” contain just more rambling about his myriad problems. And “Hellrazor”, even with those passionate appeals to God, is just more of what can be found in Me Against the World. There is hardly anything here that you haven’t heard before from ‘Pac in his other records.
Thank God for some of the producers and ‘Pac’s passion and charisma; they make the songs that suffer from insubstantial lyrics otherwise worthwhile to listen to. Chris and Conrad Rosser provide a slice of smooth club-style funk in “Thug Style”. Randy “Stretch” Walker of Live Squad subdues the Strictly-style clamor to produce a beautiful confluence of lively pianos, bass and percussion in “Nothing to Lose”. The fast and acoustic guitar-helmed beat of “Let Them Thangs Go” is simply a beauty. Of course, there’s also the aforementioned “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto” and “Lie to Kick It”. And as for ‘Pac, “Hellrazor” is the best example of his unbridled emotion, his voice building up with the distinctive flow until finally exploding in the third verse like a volcano:
Dear Lord, can you hear me, it's just me -
A young n***a trying to make it on these rough streets!
I'm on my knees, begging - please come and SAAAAAAVE ME!
The WHOLE WORLD done made a n***a CRAAAAAAZY!
I got my 3-5-7 - can't control it!
Such is the tale of Disc 1 – a seesaw of 2Pac’s strengths and weaknesses as a rapper. And Disc 2 contains more of the same.
DISC 2:
What a horrible way to start this off. The second disc’s first song, “Ready 4 Whatever” is, to put it nicely, a mess. As a trustworthy G-Funk disciple, Johnny “J” should be ashamed of himself for contributing a dull and tuneless beat. I’m not even going to bother myself with Big Syke, who just does some weird twin-voiced verse that does nothing to camouflage his generic lyrics and off-beat flow. As for ‘Pac, he merely kicks simplistic and disjointed couplets like these:
I live the thug life and can't nobody change me
Not to the brain, going insane, just a part of the game
So much ‘caine in the fast lane, finally a dry eye
When I die, bury me with my fo'-five
That’s not the only bad song in Disc 2; there are a couple of them. There’s the generic tough talk of “I’m Losin’ It” with guests Big Syke (again?!?) and Spice 1. Tony Pizarro must have been unimpressed with the amount of lyrical wackness because he decides to complement the rappers with a cacophony of clashing music sounds and an annoying voice-box. The pseudo-reggae of “When I Get Free” bores with distorted vocals, uninteresting subject matter and some acoustic guitar playing that just goes on for far too long after the rapping ends. And even with his heightened emotions and the minimalist funk beat, “Enemies With Me” drowns due to the clichéd material – yes, once again, ‘Pac is taking shots at his enemies, with awful lines like these: “I ain't going down, f**k the world - I'm a thug/Tell 'em can't nothing stop me but a slug.” You go, ‘Pac.
With that being said, there are also a couple of good songs in Disc 2 as well. There is, of course, the “Hip-Hop” – and superior - version of “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto”. “Hold On Be Strong” wins because of its gritty drumbeat and horn loop and ‘Pac’s encouraging words to those struggling in the ghetto. Ditto to “Nothin’ but Love”, which just sounds musically and lyrically like it was done in '91 (e.g. his voice is noticeably a lot higher) – it is a very refreshing song about his childhood years in California. Other songs work because their success is attributed less to lyrical content than other factors. Johnny “J” rebounds with the intoxicating funk of “Fake A*s B*****s”, which rivals “Hellrazor” in the emotional delivery department, and slaughters it with the addictive hook: “I can't stand fake a*s b*****s/Lying a*s n****s/And you punk aaaaaass snitches!” “When I Get Free II” is pure adrenaline, the Rossers crafting a spooky beat with drums sounding like a sped-up version of that of “O.P.P.” And ‘Pac, apparently out from jail, is looking to wreak some havoc, with an invigorating flow and a killer hook:
When I get free, m***********s better watch they a*s
Soon as I get released, I'ma clock some cash
Did some time locked down, but I'm back on the street
There'll be trouble when they see me
But the best song by far might have to be “Do For Love”. The song sounds like a long-lost brother of “Temptations” from Me Against the World – from the soulful beat to the lyrical delivery – suggesting that he did this around '95. It really is a beautiful song; actually I think it is better than “Temptations.” It is a beautiful and touching tale of ‘Pac’s rocky relationship with a lady. It ends on less-than-amicable terms, but after her next relationship turns abusive and ends as well, here comes Tupac to give everything a second chance:
Remember when I treated you good
I moved you up to hills, out the ills of the ghetto’ hood
[…]
Make a decision ‘cause I'm waiting, when I'm alone
I'm on the phone having secret conversations (huh)
I wanna take your misery
Replace it with happiness, but I need your faith in me
I'm a sucker for love
This is the ideal ‘Pac, the one the world would see more of in Me Against the World – compassionate, articulate, disciplined and intelligent. If only this ‘Pac had been more dominant in this album…
CONCLUSION:
It’s no small wonder that R U Still Down? was a success, selling two million copies of the double disc set (translated to four million copies per disc). Tupac had been dead for little over a year. So thankfully it was released to feed a public starving for more of his music, with the knowledge that he would no longer be around to put out more tracks of his trademark passion and charisma. Sure, a double-disc set is a little excessive. In fact, it can potentially serve as proof for his detractors who contend that 2Pac could be awfully repetitive and redundant. However, there are enough strong points to recommend this to the regular ‘Pac fan who simply craves for more of his music (I won’t recommend this to those without a ‘Pac record, though – for a proper introduction, get his Greatest Hits instead). This is still one of the better posthumous ‘Pac records out there - possibly the best one - even with its shortcomings. Besides, I cannot say the same for the atrocities that followed afterward.
TRACK LISTING:
Disc 1:
1. Redemption
2. Open Fire
3. R U Still Down? (Remember Me)
4. Hellrazor
5. Thug Style
6. Where Do We Go From Here? (Interlude)
7. I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto
8. Nothing to Lose
9. I’m Getting Money
10. Lie to Kick It
11. F**k All Y’all
12. Let Them Thangs Go
13. Definition of a Thug N***a
Disc 2:
1. Ready 4 Whatever
2. When I Get Free
3. Hold On Be Strong
4. I’m Losin' It
5. Fake A*s B*****s
6. Do For Love
7. Enemies With Me
8. Nothin’ But Love
9. 16 On Death Row
10. I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto
11. When I Get Free II
12. Black Starry Night (Interlude)
13. Only Fear Of Death
Music. Shortly after {$2Pac} died, there were rumors that hundreds of unreleased songs remained in the vaults; a mere two months after his death, the ...More at DeepDiscount.com
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