Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes; 2Pac, Mya, Jazze Pha, Nas, Outlawz, T.I., Trick Daddy, Tyrese, Anthony Hamilton, Ron Isley. | | Producers include: 7 Aurelius, Jazze Pha, KP, Darryl Harper, Briss. | | Contains an untitled hidden track following "They Don't Give A **** About Us". | | Personnel: 2Pac, Trick Daddy, Jazze Pha, T.I., The Outlawz, Nutso, Nas, J. Phoenix, Coco Brothers, Buckshot, Kadafi, Kastro, Napoleon, Young Noble (rap vocals); Johnta Austin, Anthony Hamilton, Tyrese, Ron Isley, Mya (vocals); 7 Special, BRISS (various instruments); Alex Siff, Shorty B (guitar, bass); Michael Herring, Tim Stewart, Ryan Stuber (guitar); Donavan Henry (organ); Frank Nitty Pimentel, Luis Pimentel (keyboards, programming); Ronnie King (keyboards); Courtney Copeland, Henry Fayson (background vocals). | | Producers include: 7 Aurelius, Frank Nitty Pimentel, BRISS, Jazze Pha, Go Twice. | | Personnel: R.J., Rob "Fonksta" Bacon, Alex Stiff, G Mack, Shorty B. (guitar); Frank Nitty Pimentel (keyboards, drum programming); Ronnie King (keyboards); Courtney Copeland, Jasmine Wilson, Ellis Taylor (background vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Ian Boxill; Claudio Cueni; Dexter Simmons; E.D.I.; Johnny J; Leslie Brathwaite. | | Audio Remixer: E.D.I. | | Recording information: Beats By KP Studios, Pasadena; Can Am, Tarzana, CA; Circle Sound International, Miami, FL; Experimental Studios; Marvin's Room, Hollywood, CA; Patch Werk Recording Studios, Atlanta, GA; QD3 Soundlab, Los Angeles, CA; Skip Saylor, Los Angeles, CA; Stankonia, Atlanta, GA; Studio Center, Miami, FL; Teal's Spot, Modesto; The Enterprise II, Burbank, CA; Unique Recording Studios, New York, NY. | | Photographers: A. Gobi; Chicu Modu. | | Arranger: Johnny J. | | Though it was released on the eve of the busiest year in 2Pac's posthumous career, Better Dayz shouldn't be overlooked -- and with the schedule including a feature documentary (with soundtrack), plus two books and another double album, it might be easy for this one to slip from the radar. A lengthy two-disc set, it benefits from a raft of still-compelling material by one of the two or three best rappers in history, as well as excellent compiling by executive producers Suge Knight and Afeni Shakur, 2Pac's mother. Organizing the set roughly into one disc of hardcore rap and one of R&B jams makes for an easier listen, and the R&B disc especially has some strong tracks, opening with a remix of 1995's "My Block" and including quintessentially 2Pac material -- reflective, conflicted, occasionally anguished -- like "Never Call U B**** Again," "Better Dayz," "Fame," and "This Life I Lead." Most of the tracks are previously unreleased, the rest coming from scattered compilations like Knight's Chronic 2000: Still Smokin' or 1995's The Show soundtrack. It's 2Pac's best album since his death, and bodes well for future material by, and concerning, rap's most legendary figure. ~ John Bush | | This exercise in rap-from-the-dead is brought to you courtesy of 2Pac's Mom Afeni and label boss and material witness Suge Knight. Hewing to the laws of fame intensified by early death, the pair have ensured that the late and legendary rapper's martyrdom in the East-West Coast rap wars doesn't cramp his style. The resurrected raps on the double CD BETTER DAYZ, just one in a plethora of posthumous 2Pac releases, come rattling out of the speakers in the form of remixes by such rising lights as Jazze Pha and lesser-known talents like 7 Aurelius. All participants make passable efforts at injecting some posthumous pizazz into the proceedings, notably the coruscating "Never a Peace" and the sweet-and sour Spanish guitar-accompanied "Mama's Just a Little Girl." So just sit back and enjoy the artistry, and most of all the essential humanity of 2Pac's particular flavor--and the artful smoke and mirrors of the remixers as they reassemble these fragments and sketches into listenable tracks. |
Engineer: Ian Boxill; Claudio Cueni; DJ Quik; Asif Ali; Keston Wright; Kevin Crouse; Leslie Brathwaite; Ian Blanch |
Musical Guests | | Mya | | Jazze Pha | | Nas | | The Outlawz | | Ronald Isley | | T.I. | | Trick Daddy | | Tyrese | | Johnta Austin | | E.D.I. | | Kasbro | | Kimmy Hill | | Young Noble | | Nutso | | J Phoenix | | Anthony Hamilton | | Mr. Biggs | | Coco Brothers | | Buckshot | | Kadafi | | Napoleon | | Mussamill | | Big Syke |
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