Me Against the World was really to show people that this is an art to me. That's a shame-if they were more in-your-face, the lackluster beats might be less noticeable." Themes Yet James Bernard of Entertainment Weekly, dissenting, complained that Shakur's "vocals are buried deep in the mix. Jon Pareles of the New York Times called the production a "fatalistic calm, in a commercial mold", and added that "while 2Pac doesn't sing, other voices do, providing smooth melody". Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews, scoring the production a perfect 10 of 10, particularly praised " So Many Tears" and " Temptations". Several critics found the album's musical production the best on any of Shakur's albums to date. The album was recorded at ten different studios, and it was mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering by Brian Gardner. This was widely attributed to Shakur's growing maturity and perhaps an effort to reconcile with his troubled past.Īlthough originally released by Interscope, the album was later released twice by Amaru Entertainment, the label owned by Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur. Shakur purposefully made Me Against the World's lyrics more personal and reflective than previously. In rapid succession, however, he had become embroiled in one criminal allegation after another.Īll for incidents in 1993, Shakur was sentenced to 15 days of jail for assaulting director Allen Hughes while filming Menace II Society, had seen the charges dropped after he shot two off-duty police officers, and was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in prison for, with two other men, sexually assaulting a woman.Īccording to Shakur, Me Against the World aimed to show the hip-hop audience his respect for the art form. His second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., going Platinum, had entered the top 25 on the Billboard 200, and offered two Gold singles, " I Get Around" and " Keep Ya Head Up", both entering the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100. In 2008, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), in conjunction with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, included Me Against the World in its list of the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time.īy 1994, Tupac Shakur, age 23, was already a prominent and controversial rapper. It has been ranked by many critics as one of the greatest hip hop albums, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. The album received acclaimed reviews by critics, being ranked among the best albums of the 1990s. At the 38th Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for Best Rap Album and "Dear Mama" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance. Me Against the World was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While 2Pac was in prison, the album over-took Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits as the current best-selling album of the year in the United States. " Dear Mama" was released as the album's first single in February 1995 and would be the album's most successful single, topping the Hot Rap Singles chart, and peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Released while 2Pac was imprisoned, Me Against the World made an immediate impact on the charts, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, holding the top spot for four consecutive weeks, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Me Against the World features guest appearances from rap group Dramacydal and rapper Richie Rich. The musical production on the album was considered by several music critics to be the best of any of his albums up to that point in his career. Lyrically, he intentionally tried to make the album more personal and reflective than his previous efforts. According to 2Pac, Me Against the World was made to show the hip hop audience his respect for the art form. Drawing lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and poverty, the album is described as being 2Pac's most introspective album. Me Against the World is the third studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released on March 14, 1995, by Interscope Records and Jive Records.
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