LISTEN: Skyzoo - Necessary Evils (Prod. by Needlz)

DOWNLOAD Skyzoo - Necessary Evils (MP3)

Skyzoo delivers a dope introspective track over a Needlz beat. Not in any particular way I can put my finger on, but this has the early pre-Bishop 2Pac feel.

LISTEN: Kidz in the Hall - The Blackout

DOWNLOAD Kidz in the Hall - The Blackout (MP3)

Kidz In The Hall flip the same sample used in Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg's 'Deep Cover' and remix Tupac's Juice film poster for this glimpse of what to expect from their sophomore LP The In Crowd. Great track, but get these kids a bigger photoshop budget asap.

LISTEN: Uncle Murda - Hard to Kill

DOWNLOAD Uncle Murda - Hard to Kill (MP3)

This is some excellent Uncle Murda brand management. Check out the 2Pac interview section to set it off at the start. Great street track.

VIDEO: Naughty By Nature - Uptown Anthem [Classic]

For SDSU's first ever featured classic video of the week is Naughty By Nature's 'Uptown Anthem'. It first appeared on the Juice soundtrack and was later added to their debut album as a bonus cut. Naughty, we salute you. Watch out for that 2Pac cameo. The sidebar will display the classic video until next Monday when it will be replaced. Suggestions are welcome!

VIDEO: Pusha T Responds To Lil' Wayne

I found the new Clipse/Re-Up Gang blog through this XXL story and have to admit to being really f*cking psyched and surprised to see their profile picture is a mini slide shot of the photos I took of them performing at Columbia University a few months back. Below is a video of Pusha T responding to recent comments Lil' Wayne made in the 2Pac rip-off covered Complex Magazine. I say, be the bigger man and ignore people with less skils talking out of the side of their mouth.

LISTEN: 2Pac - Resist The Temptation ft. Amel Larrieux

DOWNLOAD 2Pac - Resist The Temptation ft. Amel Larrieux(MP3)


This is a lot better than other 'new' track off of 2Pac's upcoming The Best of 2Pac two part set of albums. This one is off of Part 1: Thug and is likely a verse recorded early in his career, I'm going to say around the 'Brenda's Got A Baby' days with it's Digital Underground shout outs, 'conscious' lyrics and simple rhyme patterns.

LISTEN: 2Pac - Dopefiend’s Diner

DOWNLOAD 2Pac - Dopefiend’s Diner (MP3)

This 'new' Tupac track is sad and awful and one of the two previously unreleased track off of The Best of 2Pac – Part 2: Life. It interpolates Suzanne Vega’s song 'Tom’s Diner'. Completely 'sung', no rhyming. Just let the man rest.

NEWS: More 2Pac Best Of Albums

Um, wait a minute, wasn't there already a double-disc 2Pac Greatest Hits album released in 1998? Well, Interscope and Pac's mother have decided it was time for a repackaged version that will cost more money. Two new, separate 2Pac compilations, The Best of 2Pac Part 1: Thug and The Best of 2Pac Part 2: Life will be released December 4th. Cover below, track list for Part 1 here and for Part 2 here. Compare it to the previously released double-disc 'Greatest Hits' and consequently roll your eyes.

NEWS: Noose Found On Tupac Statue

A noose was found tied around the neck of the Tupac statue at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Georgia.

The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation said Wednesday the De Kalb County, Ga., Sheriff's Office is investigating last weekend's vandalism at the Stone Mountain center as a hate crime. Early Saturday morning, vandals defaced the building and left a noose around the neck of the bronze statue of Shakur located in the center's peace garden. Later in the weekend, the statue was plastered with handbills covered in rants including references to Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina, as well as vague threats against various record companies and rappers, the foundation said. A male suspect has been arrested in connection with the incidents. More here.

Not to make light, but a few observations. 1. The Tupac statue looks more like some sort of Mario Van Peebles cowboy than like Pac. 2. I love the fact that this suspect has issues with an act of terrorism, a natural disaster and.....various record companies. Nicely lumped in together.

LISTEN: 2Pac - I'm Getting Money

DOWNLOAD 2Pac - I'm Getting Money (MP3)


In case the kids forgot where 50 got it from. R.I.P. Pac (09/13/1996).

LISTEN: Median - Brenda's Baby (Prod. by Nicolay)

DOWNLOAD Median - Brenda's Baby (Prod. by Nicolay) (MP3)


Justus League alumni Median is releasing Median's Relief which includes this 2Pac interpolation produced by Nicolay. 'Brenda's Got A Baby' was the first song that really turned me onto Pac back in the day, and Median does a surprisingly great job on this gem. I said it. Soulful production from Dutchie Nicolay.

LISTEN: Biggie, Wu Tang & 2Pac Demo Tapes

DOWNLOAD 2Pac - Thug Life Demo (1994) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Wu Tang Clan - Demo Tape (1992) (MP3) via TSS
DOWNLOAD The Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls Demo '92/'93 (MP3)

The Notorious B.I.G., Wu Tang Clan and 2Pac. Whose demo bumps the hardest? (*Including Pac's Thug Life demo is technically unfair since it was a demo for an album, not to get a deal. But it's all we've got!)

"No Problemo, Just Play The Demo..."