Essential for any rap fan.

This two disc set is probably the strongest collection of rap hits put together by any one artist that I have ever heard. Finding twenty five songs on an album that are all good is RARE! I'm not normally a big fan of Pac, but this album is really the cream of his work over the years.

I think I should start with the beats in general before specific songs. Pac uses beats you won't hear anywhere else. He is an innovator on 95% of the songs on these discs. He has many songs that give a message and are supposed to be insightful but still leaves room for the fun songs we all loved from him.

I'll start my favorites list by speaking on How Do You Want It? This is a fun song that is meant for the club. The beat is fast, and if you can't dance to this you just don't belong on a dance floor. The lyrics are a funny tale of Pac's "scoping" of and desire for a young woman. His approach is entertaining, making you want to laugh while you dance. It's not corny though, you'll be using lines from this song before you realize you have done it.

To Live and Die in LA is another great track. Being from the west coast 2Pac has always used LA in his songs. In this one he gives back by telling us everything that he loves about his city. From mentioning the hangouts like Crenshaw Blvd. to the people he hangs with (Snoop with his perm and Suge Knight in the low rider) to dropping the things he learned in California (M.O.B.) Pac really show us why he has the pride for his city he does. The slow beat is perfect for listening to what he says or just thinking about the things that make your city your home. If this song doesn't make you proud of where you live nothing could.

Going back to the roots of 2Pacs solo career are tracks like Brenda's Got a Baby. This song carries a strong message about stopping teenage pregnancy. Pac points out that most people in the neighborhood don't care and that he thinks they should. He shows that no member of the family cares about Brenda and says he thinks the community should show her that she doesn't have to be what she becomes. In the song there isn't a caring person in the life of Brenda and she does what she must to feed her baby. This leads to her leading life as a prostitute and eventually being murdered.

Dear Mama is Pacs way of telling his mother he is sorry. In the song he explains that he was not a "good boy" and that he had caused his mother more heartbreak than anyone should. He gives her respect for always taking care of him anyway and apologizes to her for the despicable things he'd done while telling us how he tried to apologize to her with lines like "Did you get the diamond necklace that I sent to you?". This is a message song to, Pac saying you should respect you family because they are your base of support.

I just can't tell you about all the great tracks on these discs. I could call all 25 "favorites" and not be lying. For space considerations I'll just list the disography and place stars beside the songs. The names are all lower case because that is how they are listed on the disc. Five is the best, one is the least, and you can email me with questions about specific songs.

CD ONE
keep ya head up ***
2 of amerikaz most wanted ***
temptations *****
god bless the dead ***
hail mary *****
me against the world *****
how do you want it *****
so many tears ***
unconditional love ****
trapped ***
life goes on ****
hit 'em up *****

CD TWO
troublesome '96 *****
brenda's got a baby ****
i aint mad at cha *****
i get around ****
changes *****
california love *****
picture me rollin' *****
how long will they mourn me? ***
toss it up *****
dear mama ****
all about u *****
to live & die in l.a. *****
heartz of men ***

You'll find guest appearances by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg among others. There are tracks from the beginnings of Pac's solo career all the way up to his last days as Makaveli. This set is to Tupac what Pulse is to Pink Floyd: the album to buy to find out about the artist for a new fan or the album for an established fan to put in the disc player to keep from switching other discs in and out.

Get this one, it's great for ANY rap fan if you just listen. Give it a chance. Be aware, Pac does use profanity, but not nearly as much as many current artists.