2Pac – Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…
Tracklist and Producers :
Click for Lyrics & Samples
1. “Holler If Ya Hear Me” – Stretch- 4:38
2. “Pac’s Theme” (Interlude) – The Underground Railroad – 1:56
3. “Point the Finga” – Big D The Impossible – 4:25
4. “Something 2 Die 4” (Interlude) – 2Pac & Big D The Impossible – 2:43
5. “Last Wordz” (featuring Ice Cube & Ice-T) – Bobby “Bobcat” Ervin – 3:36
6. “Souljah’s Revenge” – Bobcat – 3:16
7. “Peep Game” (featuring Deadly Threat) – Bobcat – 4:28
8. “Strugglin‘” (featuring Live Squad) – Live Squad (Stretch, Majesty & K-Lowe) – 3:33
9. “Guess Who’s Back” – Edward “Special Ed” Archer – 3:06
10. “Representin’ 93” – Truman Jefferson – 3:34
11. “Keep Ya Head Up” – Daryl “DJ Daryl” Anderson – 4:22
12. “Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.” – Larry “Lay Law” Goodman – 5:55
13. “The Streetz R Deathrow” – Stretch – 3:26
14. “I Get Around” (featuring Shock G & Money-B) – The D-Flow Production Squad – 4:19
15. “Papa’z Song” (featuring Wycked & Poppi) Big D The Impossible 5:25
16. “5 Deadly Venomz” (featuring Treach, Apache & Live Squad) – Stretch – 5:13
Released : February 16, 1993 on Interscope Records; 1998 on Amaru/Jive
Certified : Gold September 24, 1993; Platinum Aplril 19, 1995
Recorded : June 1992 – January 1993: Starlight Sound Studio (California); Echo Sound Studio (Los Angeles, California); Unique Recording Studios (New York)
Formats : CD, Cassette, Vinyl
Length : 64:25
Producer : Live Squad (Stretch), 2Pac, Underground Railroad, Atron Gregory, Akshun, D’Flow Production Squad, Big D The Impossible, DJ Daryl, Bobby Ervin, Laylaw, Special K, Bobcat
Singles : “Holler If Ya Hear Me” – Released: January 29, 1993
“I Get Around” – Released: June 10, 1993
“Keep Ya Head Up” – Released: October 28, 1993
“Papa’z Song” – Released: January 17, 1994
Review :
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z, was a continuation of raw messages from a young black male. Although this album still emphasized 2Pac’s political and social thoughts, the style and production was a lot more hardcore than the debut album. This album was full of sadness, compassion and rage and also carried many disses to then Vice President Dan Quayle in retaliation for his criticism of 2Pacalypse Now.
See also : 2Pac – Troublesome 21 [Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z. Era B-Sides & Unreleased Outtakes]
This album also had a lot more commercial success than 2Pacalypse Now. ‘Keep Ya Head Up‘ got acclaim for it’s social pertinence and its supportive message to single mothers. ‘I Get Around’ was the ultimate party jam of its time. ‘Holler If You Hear Me‘ and ‘Last Wordz‘ continued Tupac’s political attitude in his lyrics. Unfortunately, the raw political messages faded after this album as 2Pac got deeper and deeper into the Thug Life, his marijuana addictions, fame, legal problems, and skepticism from being backstabbed from ‘friends’. They only began to return near and during his recording of Makaveli, shortly before his untimely death.
The production on this album was better than the first.
The original vinyl names:
Side A (tracks 1-8) the “Black Side” and Side B (tracks 9-16) the “Dark Side”.
