Me Against the World

Especially after the mainstream success of Eminem, Shakur's work in general, and this album in particular, has been scrutinized by onlookers. Shakur's hard-hitting blend of violent and intensely emotional rhymes (such as on the tribute "Dear Mama") made him an oddity in 1990s mainstream hip hop. Many critics have pointed to the glaring race issue, of Shakur's virtual uniqueness in his mainstream success with emotional lyrics and Eminem's instant acclaim for the same from a white perspective. Others find Shakur's occasional denouncement of violence and introspective lyrics shallow and superficial, and argue that hip hop has since evolved a greater sense of social and personal responsibility.

Me Against the World topped the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts. Shakur thus became the first artist to have an album debut at #1 while incarcerated.

Comments on Some Tracks

Intro is a somewhat long introduction, though it has a smooth beat. It mostly deals with the robbery and shooting of Shakur a few months before the album's release, and sheds some light on what Tupac thought of all the events.

If I Die 2 Nite is one of 2Pac's many musings about his own death, probably inspired by his near-brush with death. He seems bold, "with no remorse".

Me Against the World is one of the best tracks on this album, with 2Pac musing about his sudden dearth of friends. Very nice female singer in the background strengthens a good beat, and Dramacydal has some good lines as well.

So Many Tears is incredible. It features a powerful, hard-hitting beat that is rarely seen outside of 2Pac's final work. 2Pac is reminiscing about all of the trials he's had to go through to become a star, envisioning himself becoming a faceless body in the not-too distant future. The lyrics in here are downright eery considering Shakur's untimely death, "My every move is a calculated step/ To bring me closer, to embrace an early death/...Please Lord, forgive me for my sins/ Cause here I come"

Temptations also has a very nice beat. 2Pac's theme here seems to be of his life as a player, having fun, although he says "Even though I'm known for my one night stands/ I wanna be an honest man". Pac talks about women, and his relationsips with and respect for them.

Young Niggaz is a decent track, mostly consisting of Pac reminiscing about being young. Old School falls along the same lines. Lord Knows is mediocre, though it is a good example of religious themes often showing up in Shakur's work.

Heavy in the Game is perhaps the most underrated track on the album. It features a spectacular beat, the enchanting (though largely incomprehensible) Jamaican-accented Lady Levi doing a lot of lyrics, and Richie Rich with some strong lyrics. 2Pac's lyrics are quite powerful in this track, and they are mostly about street life.

Dear Mama is a gut-wrenchingly emotional track. Though the lyrics and beat are clean and simplistic, it is definitely the most moving piece in the album. It is all about Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, who raised him and his half-brother and half-sister mostly singlehandedly. The track is in stark contrast to some of Shakur's more thug-oriented work.

It Ain't Easy is a solid, yet often overlooked track. Pac's words are depressingly truthful on the hardships of life. He delves into the political and social foundations of his struggle, mentioning Bill Clinton in a negative light. He drops some autobiographical hints of note, including his earlier fall into drug dealing and life on the streets and his fear of going on a "long vacation" to jail.

Can U Get Away is an oddity for the album. In the dialogue of the track, a boyish sounding Tupac coaxes "Abby", who is caught in an abusive relationship. Even when Tupac starts laying down the rap slow and smooth, he has lost his traditionally deep, sometimes angry, voice of a thug who has been through too much. Can U is a soothing, romantic track.

In Fuck the World, the violent side of 2Pac once again emerges. He is presumably expressing his anger at being indicted for numerous offenses and let down by his friends.

Track listing

Length: 66 minutes

Personnel