End of Discussion: Why 2Pac’s “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” Is Better Than “All Eyez On Me”
By Rob Marriott | Nov 6, 2011 | 11:57 am | Permalink
Fifteen years ago yesterday, Makaveli’s debut album hit stores. Released just two months after Tupac Shakur’s murder, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory sold over 600,000 copies in its first week, knocking The Beatles out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard albums chart. But as popular as Shakur’s fifth studio album may be, it remains one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood records in the history of hip-hop.
In those strange and confusing days after 2Pac’s death, rumors spread like a virus. Overwhelmed by grief and denial, fans scrutinized the album for hidden messages. The sleeve copy contained the words “Exit 2Pac, Enter Makaveli,” prompting theories that Pac might have faked his own death.
Many speculated that the 7 days in the album title stood for the time between his September 7 shooting and his subsequent death in a Vegas hospital. But during one of his last interviews, Pac explained that The 7 Day Theory referred to how long it took to record the album—he laid down his vocals in just three days, and the mixing took another four days.
TDK followed close behind Pac’s Death Row debut, All Eyez On Me, released exactly seven months before his death. With A-list producers and a galaxy of guest stars, the 27-track double album was over-the-top in every way.
Fresh from the drama of his time in prison, Pac enacted a Hennessy-fueled fantasy of sex, murder, and thug passion—and his fans loved it. The second 2Pac album to top the Billboard chart, All Eyez On Me ratcheted the East/West tensions within hip-hop to the breaking point.
None of the innumerable posthumous 2Pac releases has come close to the impact of AEOM or TDK. For the past 15 years the debate has raged on: which of these two is Pac’s greatest album?
Choosing between these two masterpieces is like a rap Rohrschach test. The one you prefer says as much about the you as it does about the artist or his work. But there are some undeniable facts to help in our quest to settle the matter once and for all. We already picked Pac's 100 Best Songs, now click through while we break both albums down point by point.
By Rob Marriott (@Tafari)
Premonition November 6th, 2011 at 12:36 PM
You've got a point. 7DT is definitely more towards his warring image against his enemies and the tracks are a lot deeper, rather than the usual party theme on AEoM.
JZA November 6th, 2011 at 02:14 PM
This is ridiculous. Me Against The World is pacs greatest album. It should at least be in this discussion.
westwest November 7th, 2011 at 09:12 PM
Me Against The World was definitely Pac's best work. Its hard to believe that a hip hop journalist could possibly ignore that album.
RKM November 8th, 2011 at 06:56 PM
Whether MATW is his best album is another discussion, no?
jaymul November 8th, 2011 at 12:09 AM
U COULDN'T BE MORE RIGHT. ME AGAINST THE WORLD IS CLASSIC AND PAC'S GREATEST ALBUM HANDS DOWN
dockevoc November 8th, 2011 at 01:33 AM
No question about it. I've always wondered how MATW is never considered the classic that it truly is.
Mike G. November 6th, 2011 at 03:08 PM
You are a horrible journalist. Biggie was never a horrorcore rapper. And Tupac did not have the first double album. He wasn't even the first rapper to have a rap double album that goes out to Esham - Judgement Day which came out in 1992. Many years before Pac. God you people at complex need better staff writers and fact checkers.
RKM November 6th, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Listen to "Dead Wrong" and tell me again Biggie wasn't a shock rapper.
LMan November 7th, 2011 at 01:23 AM
Okay, now I've given you guys a lot of benefit of the doubt and have been always defending you guys. EVEN when you guys baited readers, I mean I understand it's a tough economy and for the most part I love what you guys do. But, come one, please stop doing these. This is merely just pissing people off, I have friends who have stopped coming here because of "let's compare two classic albums that have very decisive and usually intelligent fans" for the sake of a few more clicks on your website. At the very least can you get rid of the point system? I don't know, I'll probably still come here cuz I love what you guys do, but idk this is just kind of annoying
Rafael November 7th, 2011 at 09:35 PM
I believe that All Eyez On Me was a great album, Makaveli was his best work and his deepest Pac said it best all eyez on me was a party album,that album was for Suge Knight......Makaveli 7 Day Theory Greatest Pac Album and it will destroy any biggie album
Tired Of Rihanna November 8th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Sorry but as JZA said; Me Against The World is easily his best work so this whole discussion has a serious lack of credibility.
Big c November 8th, 2011 at 11:49 AM
It was only briefly hinted at here but the beautiful thing about the 2 albums is they cater to both ends of the spectrum... That just shows the depth of character 2pac had, with a cross over commercial album such as AEOM that appealed to 'pop' market without ever selling for mass appeal. TDK7DT - this review is technically flawed. The commercial release is different from how 2pac intended it to be, toss it up, to live and die in LA were not meant for this release, suge added them.... Search for the original on the net and you will REALLY understand and appreciate this album. Personally TDK7DT is my choice- raw and uncut, from the heart. 2pac has his critics as a rapper but I think people don't understand that he was more than that, it's bigger than hip hop, bigger than music! Good MC's and lyricists is one thing, charisma and inspiration is another. Best get of 'pacs dick' before I offend someone born after 1990!
B-Roc November 8th, 2011 at 03:03 PM
Yes, TDK is better than AEOM. AEOM is more grandiose. But without a doubt, MATW is his best album. All three are some of the best rap albums ever. MATW is top 15 in my opinion.
D.RuFF November 8th, 2011 at 09:28 PM
Good Read, Great Argument! I love both albums, but TDK has always been in heavy rotation for me. AEOM is definitely the official "party/shake your a$$" album. Although Rather Be, Check Out Time, Run Tha Streets were a few of my favorites off that album and often overlooked.
Gabriel November 10th, 2011 at 11:29 PM
"Musically, TDK is comparable to one of Lil Wayne’s early mixtapes" Seriously??? Unbe-fookin-lievable. I just can't believe you compared a certified classic to lil wayne's mixtapes. At the very least it should be the other way around. kidding me.