Thug Life 'Volume 1' | Album Reviews by Dead End Hip Hop | All Def Music

[@Ice_spicey]

You guys should do an underappreciated albums segment. Review albums from the past that flew under most people's radar. This album would fit that description.

[@dmoneylulz]

Or underrated

[@GrinchyGreen334]

This was very popular down south,we bumped every song on it...str8 ballin is a CLASSIC 2pac song!! If you're a Real 2pac fan then you definitely love this album.Its a little more rough around the edges,but this album was classic thug pac,because to me all his albums gave u a different side of him. 2pacalypse now(young black panther revolutionary pac)... Strictly 4 my niggaz(Grown panther pac) Thug life(Thuggin gutter pac) Me against the world(introspective sensitive pac) All eyes on me(Rich rap star pac) and Makaveli(Angry revenge driven pac)

[@KCFlightClub10]

greatest comment ive seen

[@GrinchyGreen334]

MAKAVELI 24 Im a die hard Pac fan lol

[@ChameleonHulk]

Respect! Never thought of it like that but totally agree!

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

tywarren123 Facts

[@Dw-rb5yl]

I couldn't imagine back when this shit came out to have access to the full thug life album with 20 plus tracks! Wore this cassette out when I was 12! 😄

[@clhound]

Here's a little back story on this album because it's actually one of my favorites of Pac's work. This was originally going to be a Pac solo album called Thug Life with Out On Bail as the first single. It had major label backing through Interscope/Time Warner under his own label Out Da Gutta. But it got swallowed up in all the legal shit he kept getting into that caused Interscope to start pulling support and promotion of it and then he got hit with the rape charge while he was working on it. They starting rejecting almost every song he submitted due to content and he finally said fuck it and put these 10 songs out that were considered the least offensive as to meet the album contract obligation. They probably called the album Thug Life so Pac's name wouldn't be prominent on the cover in stores because his rape trial started in November 94 and the album dropped in September 94, retailers might have refuse to carry it otherwise. He was even in jail when they made the Shit Don't Stop video so they took his verse off the song. But, that's major labels for you.

[@NiqZStr8Kinging]

Thank you bro for the knowledge

[@AlCapoJr203]

clhound e

[@TheKingdavis09]

clhound it was gonna be called Thug Style

[@db3413]

i was wondering why he wasnt on shit dont stop, he wouldve killed that beat

[@JuanTaughtMe]

@@TheKingdavis09 That Was The Album Before Thug Life That Got Scrapped (Long Story) Was Supposed To Come Out Originally In 93.

[@adamphillip5305]

Under Pressure was always my favourite joint on here, many great songs on here.

[@blissz4]

Adam Phillip Under Pressure is one of my favorites too, but Bury me a G is the real Highlight to me...

[@coolnesss16]

This isn't a classic or iconic album but it is a very important album in Pac's discography. It denotes a change in Pac's delivery(slower a little more passionate) and production( more laid back west coast/g-funk ) that would be prevelant on subsequent classic albums.

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

Patrick Griffin No lie

[@thekiddy4263]

Couldn’t of said it better myself👍🏽

[@poeticmindshifttv7568]

Thug Life is a Classic iconic UNDERGROUND STREET ALBUM! I don't think Tupac did not have a song for females on that album. And the album still sold over 500,000 copies it's First week sales. We can't forget Tupac was a movie Star at the time so he was getting movie money. Tupac dropped that album for the streets not mainstream.. thats Why some of these guys didnt hear the album to later cause everybody in the streets was listening lol I think 6 months later he dropped me against the world

[@hpk008]

Wait a minute, Pour Out A Little Liquor was on this album!? That's the song that put me on 2Pac

[@SolidSnake240]

Expurr yup. One of his best tracks yet somehow still underrated, check out the album bro there's some gems on it

[@bmore24t56]

yes this album is dope asf

[@MonkeyMagicMonk]

it was on the 'Above The Rim' OST as well.

[@beno1219]

Str8 ballin is a classic song!

[@kennyg.6608]

And cradle to the grave, and bury me a g, and how long will they mourn me

[@Rapper1046]

You should've done Me Against The World instead.

[@SolidSnake240]

TheMC1046 nah this album is important. It was kind of his transition from Strictly 4 to Me Against The World

[@geronimoskywolf]

They release them on the anniversary of the release, so you have to wait til March.

[@bmore24t56]

yea I hope they do it

[@tupacshakur5308]

Afro Shinobi that's a better album but I feel Makaveli is better for a review

[@chibsagu]

They finally did it

[@joeseafer1978]

THIS ALBUM IS THE REASON THE TERM THUG IS SAID IN EVERY RAPPERS MOUTH.

[@DWYCK]

Thanks a lot for this review. Underrated album from the 90s. How long will they mourn me, pour out a little liquor, Cradle 2 the Grave... so many great songs. I hope the next one will be Me against the world

[@deucesdad11]

Organized Konnection very underrated album

[@loveNsuccessfollowsme]

+deucesdad11 I liked Organized Konfusion album better

[@christopherporterfield8816]

Thug Life Vol.1 is a Cult Classic is just not a Iconic album.

[@GrinchyGreen334]

Thats the perfect way to describe it

[@christopherporterfield8816]

If that album would have been Iconic it would have set the bar for Gangsta Rap of the early to mid 90's, Keep in mind there are so many unreleased songs that didn't make album all because Interscope was afraid of Gangsta Rap controversy, even 2pac, Stretch and his crew had to redo everything from scratch. Although I understood the concept of Thug Life, I think it had potential at that time. Other then that Thug Life Vol. 1 is pretty damn good album.

[@larelprice696]

My top 5 favorite tracks off this Thug Life album are: 1. Under Pressure 2. Cradle To The Grave 3. How Long Will They Mourn Me? 4. Bury Me A G 5. Str8 Ballin

[@thexiafury3104]

LaRel Damai Price pour our a little liquor??

[@jaguarslm9091]

Stay true honorable mention!

[@kennyg.6608]

I would turn that list upside down fr but I feel u

[@djtimspaceking8306]

Thank you for putting me under pressure number one because that's my favorite song I can play that song on repeat go to war

[@theeab1993]

Yo, I found this album a couple years ago and was blown away by it. Production was amazing and all the Pac songs were so dope. Even the ones without him we're pretty good. I still put this on rotation, I don't really get tired of it. Str8 Ballin is one of my all-time favorite Pac songs

[@mikaelbeytm9095]

Wow. This is my fav album of all time. So many memories. If in a room with my peeps the perception and remarks about the album would be equally reversed. My neighborhood loved this album.

[@edwardsimlin7485]

St8 Ballin is in my top 10 2pac songs. When this came out my whole hood was playing this album.

[@Kaviman503]

This just made me think. They should make an unsung albums series.

[@loveNsuccessfollowsme]

Runnin wild, I never smiled as a juvenile. Even now I keep a frown when I come around. Don't ask me about the past, it was all bad.

[@ItzWickedness]

Wish the original “Runnin” was on this. The only song Biggie and Tupac OFFICIALLY collaborated on.

[@KTKZon58]

Bury Me, Pour Out, Str8 Ballin, and How Long are DEFINITELY in the Top 25 Pac jams. I remember being in the 3rd grade i think, and my older brother picking me up from school bumpin this shit. Definitely underrated, just short of classic

[@TheGiftof7PRESENTS]

If you were a 2Pac fan/supporter you knew about it. It’s part of his discography because it came off his label, he’s on it. THUG LIFE was promoted as a group album and PAC didn’t want to take away from the aspect of the group. I’m from Milwaukee, WI and we were rocking this when it 1st came out. If you were conscious and in the streets you knew about the album and movement. I get were you guys are coming from on a commercial platform... but this was a underground album and movement. It’s iconic based on that merit. No, once again from a commercial record sales album.... no. From a movement standpoint it is. This is coming from a guy that once again from the mid-west that was onto 2Pac from his digital underground & naughty by nature days. I’m two years older than 2Pac to give you perspective.

[@AJ22840]

They should have had the solo bury me a g version. Pac went off on that album. Also, biggie, stretch, pac and outlawz had the original running from the police song on this but it wasn't added because it was too hard. Pac had a lot of gems on this album. to me like Ken said this was pac's transition period from strictly for my niggas to me against the world. His sound changed for the better starting with this album.

[@adamphillip5305]

Fantastic album, highly slept on but to me just falls short of classic album status.

[@kennyg.6608]

@Daniel Hill huh?!....on the strength of bury me a g, how long will they mourn me, from the cradle to the grave, and Str8 ballin this is a classic, not iconic though.

[@douglasjones4824]

The fall of 94: Big Mike, Scarface and Thug Life; all amazing albums to me as a teenager.

[@silasreed1513]

This album is a Oakland classic

[@Hammerschool]

I'm a mix raced lad from UK and was born in 1994 so I missed all of the whole 2Pac thing but in 2012 I listened to Hit Em Up for the first time and ever since then I've been hooked. Most of my friends don't really get it but it's not just music it's a way of life that is so respectable. Thug Life isn't the most iconic albums but is definitely one of his best behind Me Against The World and 7 Day Theory. Under Pressure is my favourite song off the album and is one of them songs you can close your eyes and see him on stage spittin. Powerful, powerful song.

[@ReyHugoTelevision614]

This album introduced the Thuglife Mantra with this album. This is a hood classic.

[@dessert4thought675]

Been listening to this album, Westside for life

[@brandonmurray7378]

I loved the dirty unrefined beats especially on songs like Street Fame and Pour out a little Liquor

[@FacelessProjects]

Didn't know about this until I saw you had reviewed it. I found it, listened to it, loved it, and then watched this and want you guys to know I'm really grateful because I wouldn't have known about it if not for you.

[@jasonjackson4796]

Heard it in high school. I like Pac before this but this solidified him for me

[@bryancastro2469]

THUG LIFE makes me feel like goin down the shadiest neighborhood with no fear

[@Mr.Getdoughh]

Maaaan Real Pac Fans hear this shit just like all his iconic projects out!

[@DMAN4922]

Most underrated rap album of all time.

[@DreDaDon16]

This is the album where 2Pac came into his own and got away from that early 90s sound

[@crackblue]

DreDaDon__ yeah ur right, this was pretty much a stepping stone for me against the world

[@AbdulmailkSheikh]

Johnny J

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

Facts

[@lukejamesbgn]

"Pour Out A Little Liquor" is still one of my favorite 2Pac tracks of all-time!

[@slikron8536]

This was one of 2pac's toughest releases on some underground shit . He out shined the other guys on this . In my hood back in the day we considered this a classic Pac album . Facts !!

[@RALF0691]

The Outlawz were called the Young Thugs and Dramacydal before finally becoming The Outlawz when 2Pac joined Death Row.

[@GeorgetheGreat]

Idk if the whole alum is iconic or classic but it def has some iconic/classic Pac songs

[@NickScott86]

I never heard of this album until y'all brought it up. When I think of the iconic 2Pac album, it's All Eyez On Me. I remember people had posters of that album in their rooms when I was in 4th - 6th grade. That album made a HUGE impact on culture. Thanks for turning me onto this though! How Long Will They Mourn Me? is the only song I'd heard before because it was on 2Pac's Greatest Hits.

[@2psah2]

I wish i was there with you guy to counter some of the issues mentioned.. This album is dope as fuck. I'm from the Netherlands, and when this album came out, we went crazy over it..

[@poeticmindshifttv7568]

Thug Life debuted at 42 on Billboard 200 album chart in 1994. The album went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Certifed gold Jan,24,1996

[@latesha2008tyrese200]

You just know feefo had never heard of this album until they asked for it to be reviewed 😂😂😂😂😂

[@jonathancardona6193]

Bury me a G, Str8 Ballin, How long will they Mourn Me, Pour Out A little Liquor, Cradle 2 The Grave... Classics this album is a gem

[@douglasjones4824]

I remember this album from the fall of 94; certainly was not promoted in the manner that we know modern albums to be, but the streets knew about this. I was a 14 year old paperboy at the time, rocking with this during afternoon deliveries. I still have the cassette tape....memories.

[@ReyHugoTelevision614]

This was a hood classic. This album connected heavy with the Midwest.

[@blissz4]

Thanx for that one! Thug Life is one of my favorite Albums of all time, and i started listening to Rap in 2000, 6 Years after this came out... i just love that Album, the Beats, the Lyrics, Pac's flow... Everyone on this Album just sounds dope, but Pac definitly stands out. Best Pac Album in my opinion. And please Keep doin these Iconic Reviews. Would be great if yall do a Wu Tang or Mobb Deep Album next...

[@TheKingdavis09]

I love the album, it went gold that year without real promotion on the strength of Tupac while dealing with legal drama

[@3rdGenerationCancer]

Thats according to wikipedia

[@rambles1789]

Under appreciated classic that needs more love.

[@ThePursoodm]

Super under the radar album. I never knew there was an audience that deemed it iconic tho

[@3rdGenerationCancer]

It's not iconic

[@mattsak3338]

Im a huge rap fan and even though i was born in 2001, I go back to old stuff all the time. I listen to rakim nas biggie pac atcq krs etc. never heard of this. Really interested to hear what they have to say

[@mikaelbeytm9095]

Also Pac went to jail during the release. He wasnt in the how long will you mourn me and shit dont stop video. Man imcompletely shocked on the views of this album.

[@ampedmixedmartialarts7298]

7/10 good songs. It was a top album for me and my friends

[@ThePursoodm]

Underrated album. But certainly not iconic or classic. In order for it to be a classic u gotta say this is one of the best pac albums and it certainly wasn’t

[@cabal4171]

Under Pressure is my jam

[@joshuamendoza4293]

Cabal yea it goes hard

[@GuerrillaScrila777]

I always felt this album underrated, mad bangers on here.... Str8 ballin Under pressure Pour out a lil liquor Bury me a g How long will they mourn me Shit don't stop Cradle 2 Da grave.....

[@PJPayway]

This album is not iconic but it was important to 2Pac's progression as an artist. On 2pacalypse Now and most of Strictly 4 My Niggaz Pac sounded like a lot of other rappers from the late 80s- early 90s. By the time Thug Life came out he developed his own distinct style.... that emotional aggressive flow that made him stand out. This album basically set the stage for Me Against The World, which is no doubt an iconic album. What's funny is that this album still went Gold in '94 even with the lack of promotion.

[@terrencebell7699]

my song was shit don't stop. That intro. "you can dance on water and not get wet OH!" Also can yall do a classic review for Snoop Dogg's Tha Last Meal? That album was so great

[@compwexity]

Terrence Bell I think they should do Doggystyle first but that album is firee

[@KTKZon58]

Terrence Bell Definitely underrated

[@OldSchoolApprentice]

I think it's also the fact that so many dope albums dropped from 92-96 even 97 that this got overlooked and was forgotten plus when you put Pac's solo projects (and he was flooding the industry with his music,Pac was known for music output) that overshadowed this,I can understand how it flew under the radar.

[@sirdiggla]

I still listen to this album in 2018

[@fboyd109]

2pac was repping the west coast from the beginning(Oakland, Marin)...yall need to do y'all research on shit before making false statements like that

[@plaibwoy]

This dropped around the time he was in and out of court. The only people that were bumping it were the die hard pac fans. It wasn't a commercial album its definitely a classic album

[@3rdGenerationCancer]

It's NOT a classic album. It's just ok.

[@bullfrog6100]

Thug Life album is a street classic because at the time the streets embrace it it just didn't blow up mainstream wise and plus 2pac was the founder behind the group it was his whole idea he put that group together

[@LSmith2718]

Dope album, not an iconic album.... Thug Life is not on par with Me Against the World, All Eyez on Me, or Makaveli

[@myncraft1]

Leonta Smith This is a group album.

[@kennyg.6608]

It's not iconic but it is a classic based on bury me a g, how long will they mourn me and Str8 ballin . ..come on now

[@FireIceTalon]

This album is CRIMINALLY underrated! A classic. Maybe not “first tier” classic like MATW or AEOM, but there really isn’t a single bad song on here, and production wise it was a HUGE step up from his first two albums. Also it was an important transitional album in his catalog. Bury Me A G, Pour Out A Lil Liquor, How Long Will They Mourn…, Under Pressure, Cradle To the Grave, and Straight Ballin are all certified Tupac classics. Solid 4.5/5

[@3rdGenerationCancer]

Definitley not a classic. And you name as many songs as you want off the album. It's wasn't considered a classic when it came out and it's not a classic now.

[@FireIceTalon]

@@3rdGenerationCanceryou also don’t think AEOM is a classic. I think I’ll take your opinion on anything Pac related with a grain of salt 🙄

[@3rdGenerationCancer]

@@FireIceTalon Actually 2Pac fanboy I do think All Eyez On Me is a classic and Me Against The World too. So you can stop putting words in my mouth like a woman. All yall Pac stan are so sensitive and emotional

[@3rdGenerationCancer]

@@FireIceTalon You feel real stupid now 2Pac fanboy.

[@FireIceTalon]

@@3rdGenerationCancer I highly doubt you think AEOM is a classic. I’ve seen you in too many other comments sections talking shit about it how u think it’s mostly filler, weak lyrically, it’s overrated blah blah. You can’t have it both ways. Stop trying to save face.

[@MrHipHopIsLife]

This is the type of album you can just sit back and let it play, no need to skip to the next track. Just let it play.. you can only do that with classic hip hop albums so it should be a classic in my opinion.

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

Volume 1 was hard I don't care what nobody say!!!

[@kennyg.6608]

Bury me a g, how long will they mourn me,Str8 ballin . .classic. .period

[@SolidSnake240]

Allegedly this was more of a mixtape/compilation with some previously unheard Pac songs and to promote his Thug Life group. Dope project regardless tho. Some of my favorite Pac songs are on this album

[@ChameleonHulk]

Iconic no...classic YES! Iconic means widely recognized and well established. Classic means something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality!

[@camontedaniels2139]

It was apart of 2pac Albums even in every music platform apple iTunes tidal etc

[@TagoJones]

It is part of 2Pac's discography. Every album/book Afeni put out they ALWAYS include Thug Life, Vol. 1. Whether reading VIBE's book on Pac, or every Magazine giving a timeline of his career - Thug Life album is always there. It went GOLD before Pac died - so, it wasn't big. But GOLD mid-90s wasnt bad either. Thank you for doing this vid - devoted Pac fans always go back to this album (not background noise, haha)

[@gurdeeph95]

If it said 2Pac & Thug Life, then it’d have better sales (i think?) but the reason the album wasn’t so known was because It got scrapped a lot and by the time this was out, Pac was in and out of jail so the promotion and videos had no 2Pac, except for the odd song or two. Wish it got more exposure, I liked it. If whatever the original tracklist, was to come out then this album would’ve been the fucking SHIT.

[@TagoJones]

"Str8 Ballin" "Bury Me A G" til this day, SLAPS! "Stay True" "Cradle To The Grave" (another Classic). Nate's joint. It Dont Stop and Under Pressure. I think there's two joints w/o Pac (so it shouldn't be Pac, but Thug Life: like Pac said, its not a group, its an idea (see Thug Angel docu). BONUS INFO: Easy Mo Bee did "Str8 Ballin" (as well as 'If I Die 2nite', 'My Block' (from The Show SDTRACK) and 'Temptations'. He said Pac took those joints, and spread em out on several albums/soundtracks (cuz he smart, even tho they did em same period). Like U guys said, there's a whole 'nother album of songs that were deemed too controversial (hi Jimmy Iovine) to be put on the release. Pac didn't show for the intro of the vid for 'Pour Out a Little Liquor', cuz the label was changing his vision for the vid. ALSO, why in the hell 'Pain' wasn't released on the album, or the 'Above The Rim' soundtrack - FAIL! They should re-release Thug Life - digitally remastered, with Pain on it (and maybe other songs that weren't released from the project).

[@ericdxfan511]

Pain was on the cassette version of the Above The Rim soundtrack

[@JonConstruct]

This was an important album for Pac, but for rap in general, not at all.

[@kennyg.6608]

It's a classic still. Thanks to Bury me a g, how long will they mourn me, Str8 ballin

[@csub85]

This is definitely an overlooked album. I’ve heard some of the songs from it, but never even knew this album existed. Thanks guys for letting me know about it, dope project! Too bad it got terrible promotion

[@TheReese989]

Its funny how I know at least 4 of these songs on this album but never knew this album existed until today smh you learn something new everyday

[@CheckeredFedora]

You all are right, I've not heard of this album until now. Definitely listening to it today.

[@georgekumria8652]

+Dead End Hip-Hop You guys really need to do an iconic album review on Redman's first album "What? The Album"and Big Pun's first album "Capital Punishment" as well, those are 2 albums I have been really dying to see you guys review.

[@chibsagu]

They finally did both

[@MalikEKC]

Every Pac fan should give this album a listen. It is definitely not iconic though. We gotta stop calling every hip hop album we like iconic or classic

[@Reevesbeatz1]

The songs on that album are Iconic!

[@CRedd9830]

When I think of iconic albums impact is important. But for albums I consider classic I associate that with quality. Like One Be Lo S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. which I think has classic quality as an album but it's not iconic because it didn't have much impact

[@a31cairo]

I found this album in 95 In Florida. I googled it and found that it sold 500,000 in 94. It is absolutely a iconic album! It sold by word of mouth. The one thing that would have made it mainstream hit back then is if he had a radio song on the album. This album wasn't on MTV.

[@duckbanks2195]

Randolph Budd i think poor out liquor was.. but your right not much about the album.

[@kennyg.6608]

It's classic for sure but iconic is more like matw or aeom

[@ProofThatAstrologyIsReal]

Classic album

[@kennyg.6608]

Clearly...thanks to bury me a g, how long will they mourn me,Str8 ballin

[@djtimspaceking8306]

Classes album thug life y'all know rule u got do what u gotta do stay true

[@TagoJones]

STR8 BALLIN IS ONE OF PACs GREATEST SONGS

[@kennyg.6608]

Bury me a g and how long will they mourn me too

[@TagoJones]

@@kennyg.6608 Bury Me a G I still bump like crazy. The intro alone

[@kennyg.6608]

@@TagoJones ikr bro that sound is deep. Kinna makes me sad at times ..lol...but that chic Natasha walker singing set it off...soulfull...

[@jallowgayle984]

this is a great debate i really enjoyed this

[@DMVLeGenD96]

Do Big L "Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous

[@dysonspheretxi]

DMVLeGenD96 YES!

[@jesusisgoat8656]

This joint was on the FRONT burner in my neighborhood.

[@bryanbizzerk839]

I respect all you brothas but if you wasn't hip to thug life I almost want to question y'all even doin reviews at all...real talk

[@Naalders]

Under Pressure is lowkey my favorite pac song.

[@petejones6827]

under pressure BEAT SO FUCKIN HARD TOO

[@Urbanvideoplus]

Y'all gotta keep in mind that Pac himself hadn't exactly reached iconic status at the point that Thug Life was released. He only had 2 singles that charted in the Top 40 at this point (I Get Around, Keep Your Head Up) and his album 'Strictly 4 My' only went Gold at the time, and didn't reach Platinum status til AFTER 'Me Against The World' came out.

[@djtimspaceking8306]

Under pressure is my favorite song on the album I can play that on repeat

[@ProofThatAstrologyIsReal]

It’s only ten songs and there’s not a bad song

[@ProjectMacbeth]

I have never even heard of this album or anyone mention it, so weird that it just flew under the radar

[@eddieneloson7816]

How long will they moun me

[@kennyg.6608]

Love that bass line and singing from nate

[@absterolsson]

Audio levels on this review are wild

[@willrucker6973]

This actually would be considered a part of Tupac's discography. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a collaborative album still count as being part of an individual artist's catalog?

[@Moe-qn8fg]

Will Rucker ya your correct it does count as a part of tupacs catalog

[@1stnamesirname315]

Can confirm, never heard of this before.

[@TheBlckWitch]

y’all should’ve reviewed Me Against The World instead.

[@bryanbizzerk839]

Your ear got to be close to the streets especially in the early 90's