Many top music artists align themselves with top well-known producers to create hits. For Tupac, that wasn’t so much the case. In fact on his classic album ‘The Don Killuminati: 7 Day Theory’, Shakur selected producers from the “wack room”.
According to Outlawz member, E.D.I. Mean, Tupac wasn’t waiting for top producers such as Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger, or Johnny J, to create new music. If they weren’t around, well that wasn’t an issue. Shakur gave anyone a shot who was able to work the “machines”, giving them an opportunity of a lifetime.
“He’s attitude was, ‘What I do. I can make this s–t happen with just about anybody’. As long as you know how to work them machines,” E.D.I. explained. “We had a guitar player by the name of Ricky Ross, that played bass and guitar. Pac liked to work with him. And, he was like, ‘Look as long as you know how to cut that machine on and I got Ricky Ross, we gon make some f–king music’.”
One of those producers who was giving a chance, was Demetrius Shipp. Ironically Demetrius is the father of Demetrius Shipp Jr., the actor who portrayed Tupac in the ‘All Eyez On Me’ biopic. Demetrius went on to co-producing the hit single ‘Toss It Up’ along with producer Reggie Moore.
“They use to call it the “wack room”. Honestly. I’ma keep a buck. But, these were all talented musicians,” E.D.I. recalled via VLAD TV. “They use to call it the “wack room” and that’s f–ked up. What we brought out of there wasn’t wack. What Pac brought out of there is five times platinum.”
Tupac’s ‘The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory’ peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 during its first-week debut. many hit singles enabled the album to become one of the greatest albums in Hip Hop history.
