You'd think that 2Pac's estate would have exhausted all of his good recordings by now. But the release of his latest posthumous disc proves that such is not the case. Not one of the album's 15 songs disappoints. Even new records from hip-hop leaders Jay-Z, DMX, and Juvenile each have more than a handful of tracks worth fast forwarding, but Still I Rise is a consistent listen. It's primarily composed of introspective laid-back R&B-sampled music beds that incorporate the sensibilities of his previous hits "Dear Mama," "I Ain't Mad At Ya," and "Keep Ya Head Up." 'Pac's proteges the Outlaws, with whom he rhymes on 99 percent of the album, follow his lead. While the smooth grooves perfectly accentuate the record's many social themes ("Letter To The President," "Still I Rise," "Black Jesus," "The Good Die Young,") they don't forget the grit. "Streetz Of War," "Homeboyz," and "U Can't Be Touched" bring a harder edged balance to the album. The Outlaws take advantage of their spotlight with one of hip-hop's most influential artists of the '90s, proving that they can stand on their own. "Ya'll Don't Know Us," the last song on the album, doesn't feature their big homie, and it's one of the album's best moments.
2Pac + Outlawz: All recordings courtesy of Interscope Records. ΓÇ£Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II),ΓÇ¥ written by T. Shakur, M. Greenidge, R. Cooper, C. Schack and K. Karlin, courtesy of Songs Of Universal/Joshua's Dream/EMI Blackwood Music, Inc./Jungle Fever Music/Soulvang Music (BMI)/Thug Nation Music & Foxbeat Music Publishing, administered by Universal Music Corp./WB Music Corp./Suge Publishing (ASCAP). ΓÇ£Hell 4 A Hustler,ΓÇ¥ written by T. Shakur, Y. Fula, Napoleon, Noble, Kastro, E.D.I. and D. Thomas, courtesy of Songs Of Universal/Joshua's Dream (BMI)/Universal Music Corp./Yaki Kadafi Music/Thug Nation Music & Foxbeat Publishing, administered by Universal Music Corp./WB Music Corp./Suge Publishing/Rhythm Works Music (ASCAP). ΓÇ£The Good Die Young,ΓÇ¥ written by T. Shakur, K. Cox, R. Cooper, M. W. Beale, M. Greenidge, D. Harper and V. Young, courtesy of Songs Of Universal/Joshua's Dream (BMI)/Thug Nation Music & Foxbeat Publishing, administered by Universal Music Corp./WB Music Corp./Suge Publishing/His Will Music (ASCAP).
