2Pac

Long, long ago, probably around a thousand years, I hosted a radio show dedicated to American rap. The setting was a small provincial town in the provincial part of Poland. I was a provincial boy with provincial intelligence. I can't quite recall the exact year, but placing this event in various reference points, it was likely the late '90s. As a teenager, lacking erudition and possessing only a limited grasp of the English language, I hosted a radio show about American rap.

I remember it like it was yesterday when I dedicated the song "Dear Mama" by 2Pac to my mom, and the first notes filled the airwaves. I believe it was in the year 1999. If that's the case, it was three years after 2Pac's passing in Las Vegas, and the entire hip-hop community was still mourning. The year before, the world had gone crazy when "Changes" was released. 2Pac was, for me - a young, skinny kid from the neighborhood, highly susceptible to influences - a sort of god. His charisma, his story, the rich tapestry of his life lived in just 25 years, were the essence of my adoration for him. What was, and still is, amazing is that despite the chasm filled with differences, you can somehow, even in a metaphysical or imagined way, connect with another being through music.

I've often wondered, not once or twice, which 2Pac album is the best. Is it the monumental All Eyez on Me, the dark The 7 Day Theory, or perhaps Me Against the World? I've come to a reasonably wise conclusion, at least for me, that the best one is the one I'm currently listening to. However, there's something unique about the last one. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is, how to name it, or describe it. My blood quickens when I listen to it, my heart beats slower, and almost subconsciously, I find myself leaning in a bit more, as if I want to capture every detail, every element of Pac's voice. It's an indescribable, peculiar kind of magnetism that makes this album exceptional.

2Pac. War and peace in one body. Love and hatred in one heart. Fire and water in one mind. From "Keep Ya Head Up" to "Hit 'Em Up." I agree with most that it's his most honest album in his body of work. The most honest when you consider the kind of person he was, could be, and ultimately became after his release from prison when he joined Death Row. It's hard to characterize someone who only lived for 25 years. I'm 41, and from my perspective and the perspective of personal growth, a quarter of a century is a stage where the brain has just formed. How can someone experience so much at such an age and become who 2Pac became? He had a larger-than-life presence in many dimensions.

In terms of artistic depth, I have a few favorite tracks. I won't list them all because it wouldn't make much sense. There are just too many of them. Those who appreciate this album will know that it's not an easy task. Generally, categorizing tracks probably isn't a good idea. I have this tendency to compartmentalize everything, label it with the right tag, and position it correctly. This album has the unique quality that it's best enjoyed as a whole. When I think about it, I think of the atmospheric intro, the opening moments of "So Many Tears," the chorus of the title track "Me Against the World," and "Temptations." I think about Pac's voice at the beginning of "Can U Get Away," the roots of rap in "Old School," my mom and Afeni Shakur in "Dear Mama." I have a deeper connection with most of the tracks.

One could say that I value the less popular tracks more. Perhaps that's why I've heard "So Many Tears" a million times already. I mentioned "Can U Get Away," in which Pac tries to pick up a girl who's already taken. I love his "Aww c'mon!" and "Pleeeeease." It might be strange, but I imagine that girl to be Janet Jackson, and the whole scene looks like it's from the movie "Poetic Justice." "It Ain't Easy" is great, with excellent rap and production. Or "Old School," paying homage to the legends and pioneers of the genre. I really like the chorus sung by Shock G in "Fuck the World." Another fantastic track is "Outlaw" with Dramacydal, one of the best on the album, maybe even the best. Man, I like almost everything. That's precisely why I'm writing about this album. This blog is about what I like, about the albums that have a permanent place in my heart. There's no room for anything else here.

Me Against the World is a musical portrait of 2Pac on both sides of the mirror. It presents who he was and who he could have been. It's a bit of a fork in the road. A cry of despair, a display of the fatalism that emanated from him, hanging over him like fate, and a sincere portrayal of an ordinary, lost man who loved his loved ones and music. An outlaw who foresaw his inevitable end at life's gates. From one arrest to another. From one attempt on life to another. From word to word. From breath to breath. Quad Recording Studios, Clinton Correctional Facility, Death Row Records. Thug Life in four dimensions, whether it's the hospital or the defendant's bench. The album's title is definitely fitting for Pac's life.

Me Against the World, 2Pac's third solo album, portrays him as a man aware of the micro and macro world, which is a combination of all kinds of dangers, both external in the real world and internal within his mind. It's also the album that elevated him to a higher level in the eyes of fans and critics, both in terms of literary and commercial success. 2Pac became the first inmate of a penitentiary to have an album reach the number one spot on the Billboard 200. While I'm aware that part of the legend surrounding him stems from his tragic death and fast-paced life, on this album, he revealed himself as an artist and poet (which he was) of the highest caliber. May he rest in peace.