STILL I RISE (EX) - 2pac + Outlawz

Personnel includes: 2Pac, Big Syke, Niamyja Tyler Jackson, Ta'He, Outlawz (vocals); Soulshock, Karlin (various instruments, programming); Jay Valentine (various instruments); Darrell Crooks (acoustic & electric guitars, synthesizer, bass); Femi Ojetunde, Eric Jackson, Greg Dalton (guitar); Cassandra O'Neal (piano); Claudio Cueni (Fender Rhodes piano); Ronnie King (keyboards); Keith Rouster (bass); E. Allen Foreman, Zaram Lopez (programming); Darryl "Big D" Harper, Nate Dogg, Val Young (background vocals).
Producers include: Tony Pizzaro, Damon Thomas, Daz, Johnny J, QDIII.
Engineers include: Claudio Cueni, Ian Boxill, Brad Gilderman.
Includes liner notes by Justin Troy.
Personnel: Darrell Crooks (guitar, acoustic guitar, wah-wah guitar); Femi Ojetunde, Greg Dalton (guitar); Ronnie King (keyboards); Soulshock (drum programming); Nate Dogg, Val Young (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Ian Boxill; Claudio Cueni; Tim Nitz; Tony "D" Pizarro; Johnny J.
Liner Note Authors: 2Pac; Afeni Shakur.
Recording information: House Of Daz; Pacifique, North Hollywood, CA; QDIII Soundlab & Can Am, Tarzan; Sound castle Studios; Tracks, North Hollywood, CA.
Arranger: Johnny J.
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.

• Genre: Pop
• Released: 12/21/1999
• Released: 12/21/1999
• Format: CD
• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop