The 100 Best 2Pac Songs
By Rob Marriott | Nov 3, 2011 | 12:54 pm | Permalink
37. 2Pac "Toss It Up" (1996)
Producer: Dr. Dre, Demetrius Shipp
Album: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Label: Death Row/Interscope
Pac embraces his dark side on verses that swing between sex and violence. The tensions within the Death Row Camp had reached epic proportions. Dr. Dre, founder of the Death Row sound, was unhappy with CEO Suge Knight and his violent new capo, Tupac, who seemed intent on igniting a coastal war. By the time Tupac recorded this, Dre had left Death Row and Pac replaced the dap he'd once given him with pure vitriol: “You as fruity as this Alize."
This beat was originally produced by Dre, but would later be sold to Blackstreet for their monster hit “No Diggity.” The video shows Pac seducing Lisa Raye(!), setting fires, and smashing a mirror (Freud would have a field day), as K-Ci, Jojo and what looks to be a fake Aaron Hall sing into flame throwers. Pac was awash in blood and champagne; the Black Panther spirit of Pac's earlier work nowhere to be seen.
Though it was a step down from "Skandalouz," the production was funky enough to shoot up the charts despite the vicious attacks on Dre's manhood. Somehow K-Ci and JoJo were the perfect voices to capture the out-of-controlness of the entire venture.
Brian Kidd November 3rd, 2011 at 02:03 PM
So where is "If My Homies Call"????????? Def. should be in the top 25!!!
P-Body November 3rd, 2011 at 02:51 PM
Runnin been out for years just mainstream didn't know about it, the original version had Stretch (RIP), Dramacydal (RIP Kadafi) & Bujo Baton on the song also which sounded better than the remix stuff.
king November 3rd, 2011 at 03:33 PM
Good list my only problem is so many tears should be top ten
crackaveli November 3rd, 2011 at 04:26 PM
thought provoking, just a few minor issues... Staring Through My Rearview first appeared on the Gang Related SDTK The text below "Ghost" seems to refer to Hail Mary no mention of Stanley Burrell on your "unconditional love" riff? this obviously took time and attention...much appreciated diversion from day to day stuff...thx...
crackaveli November 3rd, 2011 at 04:28 PM
thought provoking, just a few minor issues... Staring Through My Rearview first appeared on the Gang Related SDTK...The text below "Ghost" seems to refer to Hail Mar...no mention of Stanley Burrell on your "unconditional love" riff? this obviously took time and attention...much appreciated diversion from day to day stuff...thx...
KUNGFoo November 3rd, 2011 at 04:34 PM
No "Pain" feat Stretch off Above The Rim ost ?? that's definately one of Pac's BEST song
johnbox November 3rd, 2011 at 10:14 PM
po nigga blues should b on the list somewhere.not one of his most famous.i think it has two of the best verses he ever wrote.good list though
Shanti November 3rd, 2011 at 11:16 PM
dopeness.
Hannibal November 4th, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Complex is sure pushing that terrible Loyal to the Game Eminem produced trash. Lots of posthumous overproduced stuff like the patch up job that is realist killas.. 2pac and Elton John?no thanks...Glaring omissions: Pain, Life's So Hard, High Til I Die, R U Still Down, Life is A Traffic Jam, Lost Souls, Made Niggaz, High Til I Die, The Original My Block from The Show soundtrack, Definition of a Thug Nigga from Poetic Justice, Lie to Kick It, Mamas Just A Little Girl, Im Gettin Money, Only Fear Of Death, From The Cradle To the Grave, Last Wordz with Cube and Ice T,Baby Dont Cry, Toss it Up.. 2pac had a huge catalogue of songs he actually worked on, not any studio trickery with big names, its like going out of your way to push the Loyal to the game produced stuff to the front ....pS: 83 Nothing To Lose, you guys have Nuttin But Love playing instead.
P4L November 10th, 2011 at 03:28 AM
Oh, you aint know, Complex is on Eminem's dick hard, which makes me think that they're mostly a bunch of wiggers.
dopewill November 4th, 2011 at 09:09 AM
dope list but i strongly disagree with #1