Outlawz* – Still I Rise

Rumor has it this is getting repressed by interscope soon

Honestly, I have no clue why people often react cold and disappointed towards this album. I mean, I've read some really strange comments in my time. If you generally have a problem with posthumous outputs, that's ok and would be a reason, but at the same time celebrating others of this particular character and cherry-picking here is a bit unclear to me. The opener "Letter To The President" is a damn great thing, also musically, the Johnny J stuff also sounds very good as expected, I really liked a lot of things here, for example the smooth and deep "Teardrops And Closed Caskets", lyrically and technically Tupac outshines even as a dead his fellow band , some of whom come a bit pale. But you bought the album because of Shakur anyway, and he seems powerful and forceful, as to expect. It was probably the mass of albums that flooded the stores just a few years after his highly untimely death, who knows. With distance and a sense of proportion, I consider this record to be a worthy entry in the man's legacy.

2Pac lived a brief life but possessed a lifetime worth of talent. His presence, the way he comfortably dominated his surroundings is still unmatched. Sure there are dozens of mc’s that are technically more skilled. But when it comes to riding a beat while pouring your heart out, his gift is unparalleled and both demands and deserves your attention. And this natural cadence is why a bunch of rough demos can be transformed to very memorable posthumous albums with tremendous replay value. I’m a big fan of R U Still Down? but Still I Rise recorded together with his quartet of friends the Outlawz is also great. The highlights for me are plenty, the title track, Baby Don’t Cry and Teardrops and Closed Caskets being my top 3. But the whole album is further proof that 2Pac’s complex multi faceted larger than life persona continues to spellbind even a quarter of a century after his sad demise.

This is hands down one of the coolest bootlegs. comes in a wooden box which i will add pics of with random Still I Rise stickers.

2Pac + Outlawz* ‎– Still I Rise (Edited Version) Be aware of this version. I got this back when it was released in 99 only to find out that every curse word in it is censored and edited out. Yeah a Tupac album with no swearing LOL makes sense. I can only assume it was meant for radio broadcasts and such things. Cant see the sense in it otherwise. Thing is it should be made clearer by the record label that its a completely edited version and not representative of the artists work. Cant see Tupac having ever approved this kinda release.

For fans of 2Pac who have gone through his five albums, "Still I Rise" is a solid listen despite being more of an Outlawz album. Shakur does appears on every track — on "Tattoo Tears," he sings only the chorus — except the last one which consists only of the Outlawz. The group, found here without Hussein Fatal, delivers some of their best lines which are adequate but not memorable. 2Pac's lyrics are reminiscent of the ones found on the rushed "Don Killuminati" album. Overall, many of the tracks have high replay value save for a few duds. "Letter to the President," the title track, "Baby Don't Cry," "As The World Turns" and "The Good Die Young" feature strong deliveries by 2Pac and his ill-fated Outlawz. Certain tracks feature great bass portions and instrumentation hinting that the album spent much time in post-production. This belief is ed by many of the songs being recorded during the "Don Killuminati" sessions and not exhibiting the mishmash production work. The weaker songs leave a sour taste in the mouth; corny beats and cheesy hooks make the songs accessible only the devoted 2Pac listener. It is not be a classic hip-hop album, but, for fans of 2Pac and gansta rap, the album should satisfy somewhat.

Because it officially is a 2Pac record I really wanted to like it. ing previous posthumous releases I didn’t feel to confidend that this release would blow me away. And I have to say that it didn’t blow me away at all. I felt somewhat sad after listening to it for the first time. Later that day I played the record in my car while driving home. This time I didn’t feel sad at the end. I felt a bit angry. I felt stolen because I payed the full price for, what I thought, was a 2Pac album. Still I Rise is not a 2Pac album. Still I Rise is an Outlawz album with 2Pac credited in songs or as featuring artist.
The Gaps the rappers from Outlawz have to fill are to frequent and to long. Although marketing and artwork say this is new release from 2Pac. The content used from 2Pac is slim and inconsistent on album aswell as most individual tracks. Resulting in a big part in beats, music and lyrics had to come from the other artists. This album never feels like a 2Pac album.

So how good are bad is this release? That depends on how you see it while you judge. When you review it as an 2Pac album, then it’s bad. This time the well of unreleased material by 2Pac definitely seems to be dried up. When you few it as an Outlawz record with 2Pac as guest musician it’s a bit better. Not that the album suddenly is better, but you have different expactations and standards when you use 2Pac as frame of reverance. But even without 2Pac in the equasion this album stil has a hard time reaching above averrage. It’s predictable, standard ganggsta rap. Doesn’t feel that there was put much effort in making something really great or be original.

That gives me the feeling that 2Pac’s role is more a promotional one than an artistic one. Giving me the feeling his brand of quality is used to sell mediocre albums from average rappers.That bums me out. I think the work of artists like 2Pac should be handeld with respect and not be smugded by these kind of marketing tricks