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Best of 2Pac
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| Best of 2Pac | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | December 3, 2007 | |||
| Genre | Hip-hop | |||
| Labels | ||||
| 2Pac chronology | ||||
| ||||
Best of 2Pac is a posthumous greatest hits compilation series from rapper Tupac Shakur released in two parts – Thug and Life. Both albums were released on December 4, 2007 in the United States and December 3, 2007 in the United Kingdom,[1] having had been leaked on November 30. As of September 2011, more than 212,399 copies of Thug have been sold in the United States, while Life has sold more than 135,249.[2]
Best of 2Pac, Part 1: Thug
[edit]| Best of 2Pac, Part 1: Thug | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Greatest hits album by | |
| Recorded | 1991–1996 |
| Length | 51:54 |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    link |
| Mobster Music | |
Best of 2Pac, Part 1: Thug is a posthumously released compilation album which is the first part of Best of 2Pac. It is sold separately from part 2 and was released on December 4, 2007. It consists mostly of songs released before his death.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg, from All Eyez On Me, 1996) | Dat Nigga Daz | 4:06 |
| 2. | "California Love (Original Mix)" (feat. Dr. Dre, Roger Troutman) | Dr. Dre | 4:44 |
| 3. | "So Many Tears" (from Me Against The World, 1995) | Shock G | 3:58 |
| 4. | "I Ain't Mad at Cha" (feat. Danny Boy, from All Eyez On Me, 1996) | Dat Nigga Daz | 4:54 |
| 5. | "How Do U Want It" (feat. K-Ci & JoJo, from All Eyez On Me, 1996) | Johnny "J" | 4:47 |
| 6. | "Trapped" (from 2Pacalypse Now, 1991) | Ramon Pee Wee Godson | 4:45 |
| 7. | "Changes" (feat. Talent, from Greatest Hits, 1998) | Deon Big D The Impossible Evans | 4:29 |
| 8. | "Hail Mary" (feat. Outlawz, from The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, 1996) | Hurt-M-Badd | 5:12 |
| 9. | "Unconditional Love" (from Greatest Hits, 1998) | Johnny "J" | 3:58 |
| 10. | "Dear Mama (Remix)" (feat. Anthony Hamilton, from Pac's Life, 2006) | Frank Nitty | 5:29 |
| 11. | "Resist the Temptation" (feat. Amel Larrieux, previously unreleased) | Jake One (Originally produced by Big D The Impossible) | 5:44 |
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[9] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Best of 2Pac, Part 2: Life
[edit]| Best of 2Pac, Part 2: Life | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Greatest hits album by | |
| Recorded | 1993–2005 |
| Length | 46:50 |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | link |
| Mobster Music | |
Best of 2Pac, Part 2: Life is a posthumously released compilation album which is the second part of Best of 2Pac. It is sold separately from part 1 and was released on December 4, 2007. It consists mostly of songs released after his death.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Definition of a Thug Nigga" (from R U Still Down? (Remember Me), 1997) | Warren G | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Still Ballin' (Nitty Remix)" (feat. Trick Daddy, from Better Dayz, 2002) | Frank Nitty (Original by Johnny "J") | 2:50 |
| 3. | "Until the End of Time (RP Remix)" (feat. Richard Page, from Until the End of Time, 2001) | Johnny "J" & Frank Nitty | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Never Call U Bitch Again" (feat. Tyrese, from Better Dayz, 2002) | Johnny "J" | 4:38 |
| 5. | "They Don't Give a Fuck About Us" (feat. The Outlawz, from Better Dayz) | Johnny "J" | 5:06 |
| 6. | "Keep Ya Head Up" (feat. Dave Hollister, from Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., 1993) | DJ Daryl | 4:24 |
| 7. | "Ghetto Gospel" (feat. Elton John, from Loyal to the Game, 2004) | Eminem (Originally produced by Big D The Impossible) | 3:58 |
| 8. | "Brenda's Got a Baby" (from 2Pacalypse Now, 1991) | Deon Big D The Impossible Evans | 3:53 |
| 9. | "Thugz Mansion" (feat. J. Phoenix, from Better Dayz, 2002) | A. "Pitboss" Johnson, Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton, and Claudio Cueni (Original by Johnny "J") | 4:12 |
| 10. | "When I Get Free III" (from Until the End of Time, 2001) | Cold 187um | 4:30 |
| 11. | "Dopefiend’s Diner" (previously unreleased) | Ivan "Orthodox" Barias & Carvin "Ransum" Haggins Vocals by Jessica "Betty Jo" Santos/Salinaz (Originally produced by Big D The Impossible) | 4:53 |
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[4] | 77 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] | 15 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[6] | 8 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Cooper, Lana (January 20, 2008). "2Pac: The Best of 2Pac - Part 1: Thug / The Best of 2Pac - Part 2: Life". PopMatters. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ "Tupac Month: 2Pac's Discography". Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 9/12/2007 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "2Pac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "2Pac Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "2Pac Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 2. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – 2Pac – The Best Of Pt 1 - Thug". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 26, 2020. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Best Of Pt 1 - Thug 2Pac in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "British album certifications – 2Pac – The Best Of Pt 2 - Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 18, 2023. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Best Of Pt 2 - Life 2Pac in the "Search:" field.
External links
[edit]- 2Pac.com – the official website, operated by Tupac Shakur's estate
- Deprecated link at archive.today (archived July 18, 2007)
 | This 2007 hip-hop album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
Best of 2Pac
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Part 1 emphasizes Shakur's pre-1996 gangsta rap tracks embodying his "thug life" philosophy, including collaborations like "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" with Snoop Dogg, while Part 2 focuses on later reflective and posthumous material, such as remixes and an unreleased song "Dope Fiend's Diner."[1] The albums, curated from Shakur's extensive catalog amid ongoing estate-managed releases, peaked modestly on charts—Part 2 reaching number 77 on the Billboard 200—and represent efforts to consolidate his enduring influence in hip-hop despite criticisms of redundancy in posthumous compilations.[3][4]
Overview
Concept and Background
The Best of 2Pac is a posthumous compilation series by rapper Tupac Shakur, comprising two volumes: Part 1: Thug and Part 2: Life. Both volumes were released on December 4, 2007, by Interscope Records in collaboration with Amaru Entertainment, Death Row Records, and Universal Music Group.[2][1] The series features selections from Shakur's extensive catalog, including hit singles, album tracks, one previously unreleased song on Part 1 titled "Resist the Temptation," and a remix of "Dear Mama" on the same volume.[5] The concept organizes Shakur's material thematically, with Part 1: Thug emphasizing tracks embodying his "thug life" ethos—aggressive gangsta rap narratives on street survival, violence, and West Coast bravado, such as "California Love" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted."[6] In contrast, Part 2: Life spotlights more reflective and uplifting songs addressing personal growth, social issues, and resilience, aligning with the duality in Shakur's persona that blended militancy with vulnerability.[4] This division serves the standard purpose of greatest hits compilations: curating accessible entry points to an artist's oeuvre while highlighting stylistic breadth, rather than chronological or album-specific groupings.[4] Following Shakur's death on September 13, 1996, Amaru Entertainment—established by his mother Afeni Shakur—oversaw multiple posthumous projects, releasing albums like R U Still Down? (Remember Me) in 1997 and Until the End of Time in 2001 from unreleased recordings.[7] The Best of 2Pac series, issued over a decade later, extended this effort by repackaging proven successes for renewed commercial appeal, building on the template of the 1998 Greatest Hits collection amid ongoing demand for Shakur's music.[8]Production and Selection Process
The Best of 2Pac compilations, released on December 4, 2007, by Amaru Entertainment and Interscope Records, were curated as a posthumous greatest hits series divided thematically into Part 1: Thug—emphasizing Shakur's aggressive, street-oriented gangsta rap persona—and Part 2: Life—highlighting his introspective and socially conscious material.[1][9] Executive production was overseen by Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, through Amaru Entertainment, with track selection drawing primarily from his first four major studio albums to represent dual facets of his artistry while omitting some signature hits like "I Get Around" and "Hail Mary" in favor of a focused thematic curation.[4] Selection prioritized established singles and album cuts aligned with each part's concept, such as "California Love" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" for the thug-themed volume, alongside more reflective tracks like "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Ghetto Gospel" for the life-oriented counterpart.[4] To augment the collections, producers incorporated previously unreleased material, including "Resist the Temptation" (produced by Jake One with additional production by G Koop) for Part 1 and "Dopefiend's Diner" (an adaptation of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner") for Part 2, both sourced from Shakur's earlier recording sessions around the Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... era.[4][1] Production retained original track engineering where possible, crediting producers like Daz Dillinger, Dr. Dre, and Johnny "J" for core selections, but involved new remixing efforts, such as Trackmasters' work on one Thug track, Claudio Cueni's mixing on select cuts, and a revised "Dear Mama" featuring additional vocals for Part 1.[1] An acoustic remix of "Thugz Mansion" was added to Part 2, with further mixing by engineers including Ethan Mates and Eminem on posthumous elements.[10][4] This assembly process aimed to provide a dual-lens retrospective but drew critique for incomplete representation of Shakur's full catalog diversity.[4]Album Contents
Part 1: Thug
"The Best of 2Pac, Part 1: Thug" is a posthumous compilation album by Tupac Shakur, released on December 4, 2007, by Interscope Records as the first volume in a two-part greatest hits series.[11] The album spans 11 tracks totaling approximately 52 minutes, drawing primarily from Shakur's Death Row Records era to highlight his "thug" persona, characterized by themes of street violence, gang affiliation, materialism, and West Coast gangsta rap bravado.[12] Unlike broader retrospectives, this installment prioritizes high-energy anthems over introspective or socially conscious material, reflecting Shakur's embrace of the outlaw image amid his legal troubles and feuds in the mid-1990s.[4] Key tracks include "California Love" (featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman), a 1995 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single celebrating Los Angeles street culture and excess, and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (featuring Snoop Dogg), a 1996 collaboration boasting about criminal exploits and loyalty in the face of incarceration.[11] Other selections like "How Do U Want It" (featuring K-Ci & JoJo), which reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1996, blend explicit sexuality with boasts of pimping and hustling, while "So Many Tears" addresses the emotional toll of thug life, including prison stints and lost comrades, based on Shakur's own 1995 imprisonment.[12] The compilation incorporates a new remix of "Dear Mama" and an unreleased track, "Resist the Temptation," adding slight novelty to familiar hits.[5]| Track | Title | Featured Artists | Original Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted | Snoop Dogg | All Eyez on Me (1996)[11] |
| 2 | California Love (Original Mix) | Dr. Dre, Roger Troutman | All Eyez on Me (1996)[11] |
| 3 | So Many Tears | - | Me Against the World (1995)[12] |
| 4 | I Ain't Mad at Cha | Danny Boy | All Eyez on Me (1996)[11] |
| 5 | How Do U Want It | K-Ci & JoJo | All Eyez on Me (1996)[12] |
| 6 | Trapped | - | Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993)[6] |
| 7 | Changes | - | Greatest Hits (1998)[6] |
| 8 | Picture Me Rollin' | - | All Eyez on Me (1996)[13] |
| 9 | To Live & Die in L.A. | - | R U Still Down? (1997)[11] |
| 10 | Dear Mama (Remix) | Anthony Hamilton | Previously unreleased remix[5] |
| 11 | Resist the Temptation | - | Unreleased[5] |