The worst aspect of Tupac Shakur's death was the uncontrollable inevitability of it all. Even if he hadn't been cruelly gunned down, anyone who was paying attention knew his story wouldn't have a happy ending. His public persona was so confused: a tempestuous mix of poet, thug, sensitive soul, and woman-chasing playa. The same elements that made his downfall so unavoidable are the ones that make it a no-brainer that he would continue to fascinate and sell records years after he took his residence in heaven's ghetto. STILL I RISE is 2Pac's fifth posthumous release.

For all his posing and posturing, 2Pac did possess a lifetime worth of talent, talent that was crammed into his brief time in the spotlight. Even what's left over at this late date has significant artistic merit. From "Letter to the President," an earnest, simple, and direct admonition to Bill Clinton to the simple, perfectly old-school "Homeboyz" (which harkens back to his DU days), the tracks on STILL I RISE showcase what 2Pac was--an intelligent, complex talent.

Really, Tupac scares me. Not because he's become the black Elvis-with Tupac sitings as common as those of the famed entertainer-but because he continues to be so good, even in his death. One of the phenomenal talents of the late 20th century, Tupac Shakur didn't know how to write a bad song. Drawing from a life filled with pain and more pain, Tupac laid down his rhymes with an honest heart, never fearing consequences. He wrote about his Mama when it wasn't cool to be soft, forever etching him in the hearts of women everywhere. The rap-ballad "Still I Rise" could be a sequel to "Dear Mama," as it reaches for clarity in a world gone mad. "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" offers hope to youths who can't see their way out of the crime-prison-death cycle. "Even when the road is hard / Never give up," he preaches. The long-anticipated album unites him with his beloved Outlawz, what's left of them anyway. When Pac was alive, his Outlawz were his family-five teens he rolled with, boys he took care of when no one else cared. Shortly after Pac's death, the Outlaw-Yafeu Fula-was also murdered and the death goes on and on. Much of this record speaks to death, and it's not surprising. From the Golden Gate to the Apple State, the streets are filled with kids like Tupac, and even in his death, he's still giving them hope.

THIS CD IS PROBALLY ONE OF THE BEST SO-CALLED POSTHUMUS RELEASES THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD. IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER I WOULD SAY THAT PAC PUT THIS CD TOGETHER IN THE STUDIO A FEW MONTHS AGO. UNLIKE ANOTHER RECENT POSTHUMUS RELEASE EARLIER THIS MONTH, PAC'S SOUNDS NEW AND FRESH, NOT LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS RECORDED IN '93 AND PASSED OFF AS CURRENT. CHECK OUT THE TITLE TRACK...IT IS EASILY NOT ONLY THE BEST ON THE CD BUT ONE OF THE BEST HIP-HOP TRACKS OF THE YEAR. TRUE HIP-HOP HEAD WILL WANT TO HAVE THIS NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S GOOD BUT IT WILL BE A CLASSIC....AN ODE TO A LEGEND.

The worst aspect of Tupac Shakur's death was the uncontrollable inevitability of it all. Even if he hadn't been cruelly gunned down, anyone who was paying attention knew his story wouldn't have a happy ending. His public persona was so confused: a tempestuous mix of poet, thug, sensitive soul, and woman-chasing playa. The same elements that made his downfall so unavoidable are the ones that make it a no-brainer that he would continue to fascinate and sell records years after he took his residence in heaven's ghetto. STILL I RISE is 2Pac's fifth posthumous release. For all his posing and posturing, 2Pac did possess a lifetime worth of talent, talent that was crammed into his brief time in the spotlight. Even what's left over at this late date has significant artistic merit. From "Letter to the President," an earnest, simple, and direct admonition to Bill Clinton to the simple, perfectly old-school "Homeboyz" (which harkens back to his DU days), the tracks on STILL I RISE showcase what 2Pac was--an intelligent, complex talent.

Really, Tupac scares me. Not because he's become the black Elvis-with Tupac sitings as common as those of the famed entertainer-but because he continues to be so good, even in his death. One of the phenomenal talents of the late 20th century, Tupac Shakur didn't know how to write a bad song. Drawing from a life filled with pain and more pain, Tupac laid down his rhymes with an honest heart, never fearing consequences. He wrote about his Mama when it wasn't cool to be soft, forever etching him in the hearts of women everywhere. The rap-ballad "Still I Rise" could be a sequel to "Dear Mama," as it reaches for clarity in a world gone mad. "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" offers hope to youths who can't see their way out of the crime-prison-death cycle. "Even when the road is hard / Never give up," he preaches. The long-anticipated album unites him with his beloved Outlawz, what's left of them anyway. When Pac was alive, his Outlawz were his family-five teens he rolled with, boys he took care of when no one else cared. Shortly after Pac's death, the Outlaw-Yafeu Fula-was also murdered and the death goes on and on. Much of this record speaks to death, and it's not surprising. From the Golden Gate to the Apple State, the streets are filled with kids like Tupac, and even in his death, he's still giving them hope.

In his 3rd posthumous release, 2pac returns with his meaningful album since Me Against the World. Where All Eyez on Me, Makaveli + 7 Day Theory, and R U Still Down lacked dimension, Still I Rise is a complete album. "Baby Don't Cry" and "Good Die Young" show yet again 2pac's softer side: "Baby please don't cry/ya got to keep ya head up/even when the road is hard/never give up... baby please don't cry/cause they win when your soul dies" "Letter to The President" and "Tear Drops and Closed Caskets" are social commentaries, showing 2pac's political side. And, of course, the thug shows through with a vengeance in Hell 4 a Hustler and Homeboyz. Although some of the songs have been bootlegged the beats on the album are redone and vocals have been added. The CD is the best since All Eyez On Me, and much better than R U Still Down. Still I Rise adds back in the missing element from All Eyez on Me, etc, by including the positive songs once again. 2pac before Death Row was a much better artist than afterward, and most of these songs were recorded on 2pac's last album with interscope, Me Against the World. If you buy one rap album this Christmas, make it this one. Forget Born Again, X, Life and Times of Shawn Carter Vol 3, this is the CD all your friends are going to bumping!

This is the best 2PAc cd to come out yet. He shows so much emotion and heart and the lyrics are deep and yet typical of 2pac. I wouldn't expect anything less from him. You can tell some of the Outlawz don't share pac's emotion but on songs when they come to gether like "Teardrops and Closed Caskets" the outcome is unbelievable. I have heard most of the rest of his unreleased tunes, and I can honestly say the best is yet to come.