This is the pac that many people initially fell in love with. All political and less of the gangsta stuff that he never did. Pac spoke out against many things on this album and made a dope solo debut into the hip hop world. This album gives a message, dope lyrics and some decent beats. I love the later releases that pac had, but this one is a little more real due to the subject matter.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best side of 2Pac: young, aggressive and political. 2Pacalypse Now isn't as finely trimmed as it's follow-up, 'Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.', but it's violent, intensive and, um, West Coast. Songs like 'Soulja's Story', 'Brenda's Got A Baby' and 'Violent' all take stand on meaningful things like ghetto violence, young mothers and the corruption of the police department in general. 'If My Homie Calls' is so West Coast it puts Cali Love and To Live And Die In L.A. to shame. The production, on the other hand, is very old school. Lots of live instruments and tempo varieties, heavy piano and bass lines. At this time 2Pac's raw lyrics were at their best. All in all, if you're planning on buying a 2Pac album, I sure would recommend either this, 'Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.' or 'Me Against The World'. Get ready to be shook, though.

Now this is hardly 2Pac's most celebrated album. That distinction goes to some of his later work (Me Against the World, All Eyez on Me, Makaveli) and deservedly so. But make no mistake, there isn't a more important 2Pac album. Here we truly see into his Black Panther roots in the social consciousness he displays throughout his life. He speaks of the plights of poor blacks in the classic "Brenda's Got a Baby", "Trapped" and "Part Time Mutha". In the brilliant "Words of Wisdom", 2Pac masterfully criticizes our society while simultaneously instilling strength into black youth.

2Pac in his brief lifetime became the voice of a generation. While he may never have been the most talented of MC's, he was by far the most beloved. His impact was simply bigger than rap music. He symbolized hope and strength for a young generation. He fearlessly attacked the status quo on behalf of those who were unable to themselves. He didn't just stand for poor black youth, he stood for anyone that has ever felt disenfranchised by society. 2Pac's message to America was clear: "this is what you made me, NOW DEAL WITH IT!!!" And never has that message been so clear than in this, his stunning debut album. For those who wish to better understand the life and legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur, please purchase this album.

This is the first album from the late, great 2Pac Shakur. Recorded in 91', it was released when Pac was only 20. Though not his best album, its very underrated, and Pac had already shown on this album he was a gonna be a major force in the hip hop world, before he became the greatest rapper ever. This album sounds like a mixture of Public Enemy and NWA. The songs are very political, and almost all them contain some message or another. On "Brendas Got A Baby", Pac demonstrates his story-telling skills to perfection and makes Slick Rick look like an beginner. Its one of his most deep songs today even, about teenage pregnancy. "Souljaz Story" is another great story telling track. However, songs like "Words Of Wisdom", "Trapped", and one of the best Pac songs ever, "Part Time Mutha", showcase Pac's social conscience at its best. This is a very underrated album. Definatly a must have for all Pac fans. RIP Pac

When Tupac Shakur dropped his solo debut, "2Pacalypse Now" in 1991, he was far from the controversial media target that he would become during his final years. His biggest claim to fame at this point was his show-stealing verse on Digital Underground's "Same Song". Aiming to establish himself as his own identity outside of the group while still staying true to those who opened the door for his career, Pac teamed with Shock G to give people a taste of what he had to offer as a solo star.

"2Pacalypse Now" isn't quite on the level of such classic debuts as Nas' "Illmatic" and Biggie's "Ready To Die" or even Pac's later work on "Me Against The World" but it is still a very overlooked album in its own right. Sure, Pac doesn't have the lyrical ability of someone like Nas or the tremendous flow of a Notorious B.I.G. but his gift for painting powerfully poetic pictures with his words is unmatched by even the most elite of his rapping peers. While "2Pacalypse" put Pac on the hit list of many angry politicians for his angry "f--k the system" approach, the same critics never bothered to look deeper at the social commentary he was providing. While tracks like "Souljah's Story" and "Trapped" are rooted in the rage of hungry ghetto youth, "If My Homie Calls" showcases Pac's undying loyalty for his comrades. Pac also dedicates a great deal of this album to talking about the problems facing black females with cuts like "Part Time Mutha" and "Brenda's Got A Baby". The latter of which could be considered his most female-friendly song next to "Keep Ya Head Up".

"2Pacalypse Now" did cause an outrage amongst white America. It may have scared politicans far worse than albums like Ice Cube's "Amerikka's Most Wanted" and N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton" for the simple fact that it wasn't just screaming anti-authority anthems, it was detailing the problems in many poor urban communities and forcing people to deal with them. It challenged all of the hypocritical world leaders to look at what they created and account for it. While it might not go down as Pac's most beloved work, "2Pacalypse" is certainly groundbreaking in its own right.