Me Against the World

Me Against the World
Studio album by 2Pac
Released	March 14, 1995
Recorded	September 1993 - November 1994
Studio	Enterprise Studios (Burbank, CA) Unique Studios (New York City) Soundcastle (Los Angeles) Pure Studios (San Diego, CA) Mobboss Studios (Richmond, CA) Echo Sound (Los Angeles) 12 Trak Studios (Los Angeles) Westlake Audio (Los Angeles) Quad Recording Studios (Manhattan, New York)
Genre(s)	West Coast hip hop, G-Funk, Conscious hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap
Length	66:07
Label	Out da Gutta / Interscope Records / Atlantic Records
Producer	Sam Bostic, Brian G, D-Flizno Production Squad, Easy Mo Bee, Johnny "J", Mike Mosley, Moe Z.M.D., Tony Pizarro, Jill Rose (co.), Shock G, Soulshock & Karlin, Le-morrious "Funky Drummer" Tyler, DF Master Tee & Moses (co.), Jay-B (co.), Ezi Cut (co.)

2Pac chronology
Previous	Thug Life: Volume 1 (1994)
Next	All Eyez on Me (1996)

Me Against the World is the third studio album by American rapper Tupac Shakur. It was released in March 14, 1995 under Interscope Records, Out da Gutta and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place at Quad Recording Studios and Unique Records in New York City and at Enterprise Studios, Soundcastle, Pure Studios, Mobboss Studios, Echo Sound, 12 Trak Studios and Westlake Studios in Los Angeles from September 1993 to November 1994. Production was handled by Easy Mo Bee, D-Flizno Production Squad, Sam Bostic, Brian G., Johnny "J", Mike Mosley, Moe Z.M.D., Soulshock & Karlin, Tony Pizarro, Le-morrious "Funky Drummer" Tyler and Shock G, with co-production from Jill Rose, Jay-B, DF Master Tee, Moses and Ezi Cut. It includes guest appearances from Dramacydal and Richie Rich.

Me Against the World, released while Shakur was serving a jail sentence for sexual assault, made an immediate impact on the charts, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. This made Shakur the first artist to have an album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 while serving time in prison. The album served as one of Shakur's most positively reviewed albums, with many calling it the magnum opus of his career, and is considered one of the greatest and most influential hip hop albums of all time. It achieved double platinum status, and has sold 3,800,000 copies worldwide as of 2019.

Background

In 1993, Tupac Shakur was a success in the hip hop scene, with two gold-certified singles that reached the Top Twenty on the pop charts ("I Get Around", "Keep Ya Head Up"), and a platinum-selling sophomore album that would just peak inside the top twenty-five of the Billboard 200 (Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...). However, the 22-year-old artist had a series of incidents and charges of breaking the law following his breakthrough. In the summer of 1993, Shakur was charged for assaulting director Allen Hughes of the Hughes Brothers while filming Menace II Society and was later sentenced to fifteen days in jail. Later, in October 1993, Shakur was charged with shooting two off-duty police officers in Atlanta, though the charges would eventually be dismissed. In November, Shakur and two members of his entourage were charged with sexually assaulting a female fan, for which they were found guilty and sentenced to 4.5 years in jail.

Recording and production

The musical production on the album was considered by several music critics to be the best on any of Shakur's albums up to that point in his career. While entrusting production with previous collaborators Shock G and Stretch, Shakur also collaborated with a number of new producers, including Johnny "J", Mike Mosley, Moe Z.M.D., and East Coast producers Easy Mo Bee and Tony Pizarro. The album's production features a G-funk sound that is more prevalent than in his previous albums.

Me Against the World features the debut appearances of Yaki Kadafi, Kastro and E.D.I. Mean, who appear as members of Dramacydal (a group that would later be merged into Outlawz). Richie Rich is the only other rapper featured on the album, although a number of singers were enlisted to perform the hooks of some songs. The album's recording sessions took place at ten different studios, while it was mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering.

Lyrical themes

According to Shakur, the album was made to show the hip hop audience his respect for the art form. Lyrically, Shakur intentionally attempted to make the album more personal and reflective than his previous efforts. Some of the album's main themes involve paranoia, the loss of innocence, and occasional self-loathing. Much attention is paid to subjects such as the pain of urban survival.

Some tracks, such as the song "Old School", lean more to a nostalgic, though somewhat bittersweet side in Shakur's remembrance of his youth and the early days of hip hop music. The album is also well known for the sensitive song "Dear Mama", in which Shakur expresses his devotion and appreciation for his mother Afeni Shakur, and reminds her that although his actions may prove otherwise that "you are appreciated". Throughout the entire of the album Shakur employs various poetical deliveries, ranging from the use of alliteration on "If I Die 2Nite" to the use of paired couplets on "Lord Knows".

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"	-	-	Tony Pizarro, Jill Rose (co.)	1:40
2.	"If I Die 2Nite"	2Pac	Clarke, Durham, Harvey, Shakur, Wright	Easy Mo B.	4:02
3.	"Me Against the World"	2Pac, Dramacydal	Bacharach, David, Ripperton, Rudolph, Shakur, Ware	SoulShock & Karlin	4:41
4.	"So Many Tears"	2Pac	Baker, Jacobs, Shakur, Walker, Wonder	D-Flizno Production Squad (Shock G and Stretch)	3:59
5.	"Temptations"	2Pac	Clinton, Harvey, Murdock, Shakur, Shider, Spradley, Troutman, Troutman	Easy Mo B.	5:01
6.	"Young Zaggin"	2Pac	Blackmon, Jenkins, Leftenat, Moe Z., Shakur, Singleton, Tyler	Moe Z.M.D., Le-morrious "Funky Drummer" Tyler	4:53
7.	"Heavy in the Game"	2Pac, Richie Rich	Bostic, Mosley, Shakur	Mike Mosley, Sam Bostic	4:24
8.	"Lord Knows"	2Pac, Natasha Walker	Shakur	Brian G, Moe Z.M.D. (add.), Tony Pizarro (add.)	4:32
9.	"Dear Mama"	2Pac	Pizarro, Sample, Shakur	Tony Pizarro, DF Master Tee (co.), Moses (co.)	4:40
10.	"It Ain't Easy"	2Pac	Pizarro, Shakur	Tony Pizarro	4:54
11.	"Can U Get Away"	2Pac	Beverly, Mosley, Shakur	Mike Mosley	5:46
12.	"Old School"	2Pac	Buchanan, Shakur, Tilery	SoulShock, Jay-B (co.), Ezi Cut (co.)	4:41
13.	"Fuck the World"	2Pac	Jacobs, Shakur	Shock G	4:14
14.	"Death Around the Corner"	2Pac	Jackson, Shakur	Johnny "J"	4:07
15.	"Outlaw"	2Pac, Dramacydal	Moe Z., Shakur	Moe Z.M.D.	4:33

Notes

• Track 1 features guitar performed by Darryl Crooks, and the voices of Dan O'Leary, Debby Hambrick, Sarah Diamond, Jay Jensen and Jill Rose.
• Track 3 features background vocals performed by Puff Johnson.
• Track 4 features keyboards performed by The Piano Man, guitar performed by Eric "Kenya" Baker, and background vocals performed by Thug Life, Digital Underground and Stretch.
• Track 6 features background vocals performed by Moe Z.M.D., Killa, Milia and L. Tyler, and adlibs/hook performed by G. Money.
• Track 7 features background vocals performed by Eboni Foster, Lady Levi and Richie Rich, and guitar performed by Ronnie Vann.
• Track 8 features background vocals performed by Natasha Walker of Y.N.V., Kim Armstrong, Kenyatta Forman, Killa and G-Money.
• Track 9 features background vocals performed by Reggie Green and "Sweet Franklin".
• Track 15 features background vocals performed by Rah Rah.

Samples

Intro

• "Uphill Peace of Mind" by Kid Dynamite

If I Die 2Nite

• "If You Play Your Cards Right" by Alicia Myers
• "We're No Exception" by Johnny "Guitar" Watson
• "Tonite" by DJ Quik
• "Deep Cover" by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg

Me Against the World

• "Walk on By" by Isaac Hayes
• "Inside My Love" by Minnie Riperton

So Many Tears

• "That Girl" by Stevie Wonder
• "The Dude" by Quincy Jones

Temptations

• "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone
• "Computer Love" by Zapp
• "Watch Yo Nuggets" by Redman feat. Erick Sermon

Young Zaggin

• "She's Strange" by Cameo

Heavy In the Game

• "Just Be Good to Me" by The S.O.S. Band

Lord Knows

• "All I Ask" by The Blackbyrds

Dear Mama

• "In All My Wildest Dreams" by Joe Sample
• "Sadie" by The Spinners

It Ain't Easy

• "Float On" by The Floaters

Can U Get Away

• "Happy Feelin's" by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

Old School

• "We Share" by The Soul Searchers
• "Dedication" by Brand Nubian

Death Around the Corner

• "I Ain't No Joke" by Eric B. & Rakim
• "Winter Sadness" by Kool & the Gang
• "When We Were Kids" from American Me

Outlaw

• "Murder Was the Case (Death After Visualizing Eternity)" by Snoop Dogg

Credits

• Engineer: Tony Pizarro (track 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14), Eric Lynch (track 2), Jay Lean (track 3, 12), Mike Schlesinger (track 4), Tim Nitz (track 4), Paul Arnold (track 6, 15), Kevin Davis (track 7, 11), Bob Morris (track 8)
• Engineer (mixing): Paul Arnold (track 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15), Jay Lean (track 3, 12), SoulShock (track 3), Tony Pizarro (track 5, 10, 13), Kevin Davis (track 11)
• Engineer (2nd): Jeff Griffin (track 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15)
• A&R Direction: Tom Whalley
• Project Coordinator: Jill Rose
• A&R Assistant: Stephen Levy
• Art Direction + Design: Eric Altenburger
• Photography: Reisig & Taylor
• Mastered by: Brian Gardner

Album liner notes

Thank you to everyone who supported me during my time of need. You know who you are! And to all who remain loyal to me. I won't let you down.

No thank you to all the bustas, cowards and fake homies who showed by the depths of jealous, envy and greed.

My apologies to all my fans and friends I turned my back on and didn't remain true to. In '95 it will be rectified.

Much love to my family and extended family. To my record company and all my lawyers-Thanks!

Tupac Shakur
Studio albums	2Pacalypse Now • Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... • Me Against the World • All Eyez on Me • The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Posthumous albums	R U Still Down? (Remember Me) • Still I Rise • Until the End of Time • Better Dayz • Loyal to the Game • Pac's Life
Collaborative albums	Thug Life: Volume 1
Live albums	2Pac Live • Live at the House of Blues
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits • The Rose That Grew from Concrete • The Prophet: The Best of the Works • Nu-Mixx Klazzics • Tupac: Resurrection • The Rose, Vol. 2 • The Prophet Returns • Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988-1991 • Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 • Best of 2Pac
Singles	"Trapped" • "Brenda's Got a Baby" • "If My Homie Calls" • "Holler If Ya Hear Me" • "I Get Around" • "Keep Ya Head Up" • "Papa'z Song" • "Dear Mama" • "So Many Tears" • "Temptations" • "California Love" • "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" • "How Do U Want It" • "All Bout U" • "I Ain't Mad at Cha" • "Life Goes On" • "Toss It Up" • "To Live & Die in L.A." • "Hail Mary" • "Wanted Dead or Alive" • "Made N*ggaz"
Posthumous singles	"I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" • "Do for Love" • "Changes" • "Unconditional Love" • "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" • "Who Do U Believe In" • "Until the End of Time" • "Letter 2 My Unborn" • "Thugz Mansion" • "Still Ballin'" • "Runnin' (Dying to Love)" • "One Day at a Time (Em's Version)" • "Thugs Get Lonely Too" • "Ghetto Gospel" • "Untouchable" • "Pac's Life" • "Playa Cardz Right"
Featured singles	"Call It What U Want" • "Gotta Get Mine" • "Slippin' Into Darkness" • "Be the Realist" • "Smile" • "World Don't Take Me Personally"
Other songs	"Same Song" • "I Don't Give a Fuck" • "Cradle to the Grave" • "Pour Out a Little Liquor" • "Runnin' (From tha Police)" • "Hit 'Em Up"
Books	The Rose That Grew from Concrete
Stage	Holler If Ya Hear Me
Documentaries	Biggie & Tupac • Tupac: Resurrection • Tupac: Assassination
Related articles	Death of Tupac Shakur • Digital Underground • Discography • East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry • Outlawz • Thug Life