Deathrow (label)
20 November 2006 (released)
05 December 2006
It’s ten years since Tupac’s death and that’s enough of a reason for his mother to release another album in his memory ' called Pac’s Life. This is the tenth album to be released since his death in 1996 ' double the number he produced whilst alive. Exploitation? Surely not,
Pac’s Life is formed of a collection of previously unreleased raps, which have been handed to the nu-breed of urban music to give their own slant. The likes of Snoop Dogg, Chamillionaire and Ludacris step up, as a celebration of the rapper’s 25 years. Unfortunately, the outcome is lacklustre and uninspired with flat tracks such as Untouchable - inappropriately featuring gunshot samples. The finished product is essentially devoid of the real Tupac touch ' which produced the anthemic Changes. As the years and releases role on, those behind the legacy must now be scraping the bottom of Tupac’s rap barrel.
His mother Afeni Shakur writes in the credits, 'I believe, whole-heartedly, that Tupac sends us the people he wants to help us with each project.' Well what was he thinking sending Ashanti then, who does little but whimper over the otherwise OK title track? But bonus track Dear Mama, is the stand out song, leaving a bitter sweet taste with emotion-filled lyrics.
It’s certainly commendable that Afeni Shakur has been instrumental in publishing Tupac’s work posthumously and in setting up the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, but Pac’s Life is simply disappointing. Those wanting to hear the real Tupac should look towards earlier releases.
