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45-449: Preceded by the singles " Disco Inferno " and " Candy Shop ", the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 , selling 1.15 million copies in its first four days; it remained atop the chart for six weeks after its release. The Massacre received generally positive reviews from music critics, and was 50 Cent's second consecutive number one album on the chart. Following its release, the album spawned

90-458: A promotional single . It featured four singles in all, the most of any of Shakur's albums. Moreover, All Eyez on Me made history as the first ever double-full-length hip-hop solo studio album released for mass consumption globally. All Eyez on Me was the second album by 2Pac to chart at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&;B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 566,000 copies in

135-417: A fuck what I made … look, I made my whole second album as a 10-record. I knew they wasn’t my best verses but my choruses were right so I focused on my song structure." Credits for The Massacre adapted from Allmusic . Sales figures based on certification alone. Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. The album

180-615: A mixed review, Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said that, although its strengths lie in 50 Cent's "dark charisma" and "fluid delivery", the album is marred by flaws typical of "big rap releases: At nearly 78 minutes, it's far too long, wildly uneven, and not particularly cohesive sonically or thematically." Uncut magazine wrote that, despite 50 Cent's "cool menace", "not even tight productions from Eminem and Dre can stop things from flagging midway." Lynne D. Johnson of Spin felt that it lacks "originality" and makes artistic concessions: "He's tryin' too hard to be everything to everybody." In

225-412: A negative review for The Guardian , Alexis Petridis panned him as a lyricist and felt that the album lacks "any of the factors that make the best gangsta rap disturbingly compelling ... There's nothing except a string of cliches so limited that repetition is unavoidable". The Massacre was nominated at the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album , but lost to Kanye West 's Late Registration . It

270-401: A portion of Richard Pryor's comedy album That Nigger's Crazy . Most of the album was produced by Johnny "J" and Daz Dillinger , with help from Dr. Dre on the songs " California Love ", which he himself appeared in also as an album guest spot, and "Can't C Me", which was Clinton's appearance. DJ Quik also produced, mixed and made an appearance on the album, but had to use his real name on

315-561: A taut, albeit less explosive, album aimed at both silencing his detractors and keeping the ladies satisfied". NME observed "a new depth to the murderous lyricism" from 50 Cent on the album. Greg Tate , writing in The Village Voice , said that, like Tupac , 50 Cent is "a ruffian who knows the value of a good pop hook ", and called The Massacre "the most diabolically sensous collection of baby-making gangsta music since Pac's All Eyez ." Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times found

360-501: A variety of producers including DJ Quik , Johnny "J" , Dr. Dre , DJ Bobcat , Dat Nigga Daz , Mr. Dalvin , DJ Pooh , DeVante Swing , among others. The album was mixed by DJ Quik. It was the only Death Row/Interscope release that was distributed through PolyGram in the United States. A gangsta rap album, 2Pac raps about his experiences of living in poverty and in luxury; critics particularly note that 2Pac widely diverges from

405-461: Is certified adult material). The video portrays a wild sex party with Jacuzzi, mechanical bull riding, cage dancing and pole stripping. All actors and actresses are dressed in Renaissance -era costumes, though all clothes are removed for the nude clip. The adult-material video also features numerous porn stars, including Nina Hartley , Heather Hunter , and Angel Kelly . The limousine segment seen in

450-471: Is the fourth and final studio album by American rapper 2Pac to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records , the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre , Snoop Doggy Dogg , Redman , Method Man , Nate Dogg , Kurupt , Daz Dillinger , E-40 , K-Ci & JoJo , and the Outlawz , among others. The album features productions by Shakur alongside

495-545: The Billboard Hot 100-top ten singles " Just A Lil Bit " and " Outta Control ." The original title for the album was revealed as The St. Valentine's Day Massacre , named after the 1929 Chicago gang murder spree known as Saint Valentine's Day Massacre . 50 Cent intended the album to be released on February 15, 2005, but Interscope was not interested. He leaked " Disco Inferno " in order to force their hand, and Interscope released it on March 7. Originally, songs intended for

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540-595: The Grammy Awards of 2006 , but lost to Kanye West 's " Gold Digger ". This song is featured in DJ Hero . Julianne Escobedo Shepherd of Pitchfork negatively compared "Disco Inferno" to 50 Cent's previous work, describing it and follow-up single " Candy Shop " as "flaccid reprises of other tracks both in beats and in timbre". Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. All Eyez on Me All Eyez on Me

585-704: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of September 2011, All Eyez on Me has sold 5,887,630 in the United States, making it 2Pac's highest-selling album. It has charted on the Billboard 200 for 105 weeks in total. In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry certified the album silver on January 1, 1997, followed by gold on July 22, 2013, and platinum on November 14, 2014, for sales of over 300,000 copies in

630-532: The social and political consciousness of 2Pacalypse Now (1991) and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993). The album includes the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles " How Do U Want It " (featuring K-Ci and JoJo) and " California Love " (with Dr. Dre, featuring Roger Troutman) and the hip-hop ballad " I Ain't Mad at Cha ", along with the Snoop Doggy Dogg collaboration " 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted " as

675-421: The $ 1.4 million bail necessary to get Shakur released from jail on charges of sexual abuse. At the time, Shakur was broke and thus unable to make bail himself. All Eyez on Me was released following an agreement between Knight and Shakur which stated Shakur would make three albums under Death Row Records in return for them paying his bail. Fulfilling part of Shakur's brand new contract, this double-album served as

720-464: The United Kingdom. It was re-released in 2001 as enhanced CDs containing the "California Love" music video. Both discs contained the same data track. It was also re-released as a Dual-Disc in 2005. Civil rights activist and fierce rap critic C. Delores Tucker sued 2Pac's estate in federal court, claiming that lyrics in "How Do U Want It" and "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" inflicted emotional distress, were slanderous, and invaded her privacy. The case

765-462: The album along with the name of the album itself, allude to the feeling of being watched. With songs like "Can't C Me" and " All Eyez on Me ", 2Pac makes it known that he feels the presence of surveillance, most notably by the police and those wishing to do him harm. The album also references the fact that 2Pac is under the attention of many fans, being his fourth studio album. The first single, " California Love " featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman

810-478: The album included " Hate It or Love It ", " How We Do ", " Higher ", "Church for Thugs" and "Special" but the songs were eventually given to the Game 's The Documentary , causing a majority of The Massacre to be reworked. After 50 Cent released the Game from his G-Unit Records imprint on live radio February 21, 2005, a shootout occurred. Paul Rosenberg of Shady Records and Jimmy Iovine of Interscope worried that

855-402: The album to be "nearly as addictive as its predecessor" and called 50 Cent "a crafty songwriter, specializing in obvious but nearly irresistible tracks that sound better the more you hear them." In his review for The Village Voice , Robert Christgau said that 50 Cent's "ugly gangsta lies" are "incidental to the mood of the piece, which is friendly, relaxed, good-humored, and in the groove." In

900-523: The album two stars out of five, declaring it "one of these angry recriminatory discs would have been more than enough, thanks." finding that "too much of the two hours is consumed by self-justifying rants like Only God Can Judge Me and Skandalouz." The review concluded that "There is some delicious g-funk here [...] but 2Pac's attitude sours the whole thing." "It's like a Cali thug-life version of Pink Floyd 's The Wall – pure gangsta ego run amok over two CDs," complained Rolling Stone . "At that length,

945-517: The album would underperform due to the negativity of the Hot 97 shooting . 50 and the Game later entered into a truce six days after The Massacre was released, but their animosity rose up again after Game made fun of G-Unit at Hot 97's annual Summer Jam, where he first used the "G-Unot" insult, later turning to a boycott. The censored version of the album censors out most profanity, violence, and all drug content. The track "Gunz Come Out" has inconsistency in

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990-531: The album's all-hard-all-the-time tone approaches caricature." Nonetheless, the album was included in the magazine's essential recordings of the 1990s. All Eyez on Me debuted at number-one on both the US Billboard 200 and the US Top R&;B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 566,000 copies in its first week, becoming 2Pac's second number one album on the chart. The album was eventually certified diamond by

1035-453: The album. The song has since been certified 2× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America . " 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted " featuring rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg , was released as a promotional single on, May 7, 1996. The video was directed by one of 2Pac's production partners, Gobi M. Rahimi and was filmed four months prior to the September 1996 shooting of 2Pac . The prelude for

1080-450: The clean version is the same except no nudity. The third one is the concert version, mostly them performing on stage. There are cameo appearances by K-Ci & JoJo , and fellow group member of Digital Underground Shock G both in the concert and studio segments. " I Ain't Mad at Cha " featuring singer Danny Boy , was released in Europe and parts of Oceania shortly after Shakur's death as

1125-424: The credits because his contract with Profile Records prevented him from using his stage name. The songs on All Eyez on Me are, in general, unapologetic celebrations of living the "Thug Lifestyle". Though there is the occasional reminiscence about past and present friends, it is a definite move away from the social and political consciousness of 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... . The songs on

1170-491: The editing, and contains some profanity. The opening intro removes the shooting sequence, and is cut down to 20 seconds. The album cover also removes guns in the background behind the rapper, being replaced by motifs and a gradient background. In comparison, the album is not as heavily censored as his previous album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). With a release in the middle of the sales week, The Massacre sold 1.15 million copies in its first four days of release, becoming

1215-630: The females that like me. I got the jealous homeboys and I got the homies that roll with me. Everybody's looking to see what I'mma do now so All Eyez on Me . All Eyez on Me was originally intended for a Christmas 1995 release but was pushed back as Shakur continued to record music and shoot music videos for the album. The album features guest spots from 2Pac's regulars, such as former- Thug Life members and The Outlawz , as well as Dr. Dre , Snoop Doggy Dogg , Tha Dogg Pound , Nate Dogg , George Clinton , Rappin' 4-Tay , The Click , Method Man , and Redman among others. The song "Heartz of Men" samples

1260-557: The final single from the album, on September 15, 1996. For the video the song was re-recorded with a live band. The new track was recorded at Can-Am Studios by Conley Abrams. The video was filmed on May 15, 1996. All Eyez on Me received widespread critical acclaim. Spin magazine gave it 7 out of 10 and said: "As long as you don't expect philanthropy from Tupac, you'll find honesty and some pleasurably twisted scenarios." The record ranked No. 3 on Entertainment Weekly ' s list of Top 10 albums of 1996. AllMusic stated, "Maybe it

1305-527: The first two albums of his three-album contract. Euthanasia was the initial title of the album until it was changed to All Eyez on Me during the recording process. Shakur explained to MTV 's Bill Bellamy in December 1995 saying: It's called All Eyez on Me . That's how I feel it is. I got the police watching me, the Feds. I got the females that want to charge me with false charges and sue me and all that. I got

1350-651: The first week. Seven months later, 2Pac was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting . The album won the 1997 Soul Train Music Award for Rap Album of the Year posthumously, and was also posthumously nominated for Best Rap Album at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997. Shakur also won the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist at the American Music Awards of 1997 . Upon release, All Eyez on Me received instant critical acclaim, and it has been ranked by critics as one of

1395-549: The gangsta lifestyle, backing off the sober self-recognition of Me Against the World . Sure, there are a few reflective numbers and dead-homiez tributes, but they're much more romanticized this time around. Despite some undeniable filler, it is easily the best production 2Pac's ever had on record". In the Los Angeles Times , Cheo Hodari Coker praised the album: " All Eyez on Me , a 27-song, 133-minute gangster's paradise, finds

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1440-456: The greatest hip hop albums, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2014, with shipments of over 5 million copies (each disc in the double album counted as a separate unit for certification), and in 2020 was ranked 436th on Rolling Stone 's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . In October 1995, Suge Knight and Jimmy Iovine paid

1485-464: The ongoing feud between 50 Cent and The Game, this version omits the G-Unit remix to " Hate It or Love It " as the twenty-second track. Once the special edition was released, The Massacre re-entered the top three of the Billboard 200 at number two, being blocked from number one by Kanye West's Late Registration . The original version was also re-issued using the special edition track listing leaving out

1530-510: The parts for the DVD. Notes Sample credits Information taken from The Massacre liner notes: Disco Inferno (50 Cent song) " Disco Inferno " is a song recorded by American rapper 50 Cent for his second studio album The Massacre (2005). It was released as the lead single from the album on December 21, 2004, by Interscope Records , Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment . Although not an international commercial success, it

1575-510: The rapper even more venomous than he was before his 11-month incarceration for sexual abuse. He displays no remorse for his tough life, and even less feeling for his enemies. The only thing jail time did for 2Pac was make his creative fires burn even hotter—he raps here with a passion and skill matched in gangsta rap only by Snoop Doggy Dogg and the Notorious B.I.G. And with such producers as DJ Pooh , DJ Quik , Dr. Dre and Johnny J laying down

1620-448: The sixth-largest opening week for an album at the time since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. This is the second largest opening week for a hip hop album, behind Eminem 's The Marshall Mathers LP (2000), which sold 1.76 million copies in its first week. Mariah Carey 's The Emancipation of Mimi replaced it as number one in late April 2005, as The Massacre reached 3 million units sold. In February 2020, The Massacre

1665-628: The song shows a parody of Biggie Smalls ("Piggie") and Puff Daddy ("Buff Daddy") in discussion with Shakur about the November 1994 shooting . The beginning of the scene where Tupac is speaking to Biggie is in reference to the scene in the film Scarface in which Tony Montana speaks to his alleged killer before shooting him. The song peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard Hot R&;B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The second single, " How Do U Want It " featuring R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo ,

1710-599: The tracks, he finally has a musical team worthy of his talent." Jon Pareles of The New York Times considered the album typical gangsta-rap fare, but with superior production. "Standard images of ghetto desperation turn up...but far more of 2Pac's rhymes are about living in luxury: driving a plush car, drinking cognac, smoking weed and having all the women he wants." Pareles notes that, "while 2Pac used to show some sympathy for women, he has returned to hard-line gangsta machismo, with women as either gold-digging 'bitches' or heavy-breathing, pliant 'hos'." The Guardian gave

1755-586: Was a success nationwide, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 . Released in November 2004, the single debuted at #54 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming 50 Cent's fourth solo top-ten song on the chart and sixth overall. "Disco Inferno" was certified Gold by the RIAA . The song was produced by C. Styles & Bang Out. The song was also nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at

1800-497: Was certified six times platinum for combined sales and album-equivalent units of at least six million copies in the United States. It has sold over eleven million copies worldwide. In 2005, The Massacre was ranked as the number one album of the year on the Billboard 200. The Massacre received generally positive reviews from music critics ; it holds a score of 66 out of 100 at Metacritic . Vibe magazine found it "full of finger-pointing panache" and wrote that "50 delivers

1845-453: Was his time in prison, or maybe it was simply his signing with Suge Knight 's Death Row label. Whatever the case, 2Pac re-emerged hardened and hungry with All Eyez on Me , the first double-disc album of original material in hip-hop history. With all the controversy surrounding him, 2Pac seemingly wanted to throw down a monumental epic whose sheer scope would make it an achievement of itself. But more than that, it's also an unabashed embrace of

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1890-400: Was ranked the twenty fifth best album of the year by Rolling Stone . According to 50 Cent, the album received more mixed reviews than its predecessor Get Rich Or Die Tryin' because he was focused more on the hooks and song structure: "People fought love for the things they see are significant. Jimmy Iovine was a producer … he loves the significance of production. He loves Dre. I don’t give

1935-504: Was re-released on September 6, 2005 as the Special edition . It included a remix of "Outta Control" featuring Mobb Deep , which replaces the original version of the song as track eight. This edition included a bonus DVD with music videos for a majority of the album's tracks (with the exclusion of "Disco Inferno", "Gunz Come Out" and the intro), and the trailer for the film Get Rich or Die Tryin' , which released two months later. Due to

1980-505: Was released, December 3, 1995. This is perhaps 2Pac 's best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks (as a double A-side single with " How Do U Want It ") and 12 weeks at number one in New Zealand . The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997. A remix version also produced by Dr. Dre appeared on

2025-563: Was released, June 4, 1996. It was paired with "California Love" as a double A-side single, with 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted and the non-album track, Hit 'Em Up serving as the B-sides. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. There were three videos filmed for the song: two in the same set for the single in April 1996. The video was directed by Ron Hightower and produced by Tracy D. Robinson. These two are distinguished by MPAA rating (one

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