| Thug Life: Volume 1 | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Thug Life | |
|
Released |
September 26, 1994 |
|
Recorded |
March 1993 - May 1994 |
|
Studio |
Blue Palm Studios |
|
Genre |
West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, Hardcore hip hop, G-funk, Conscious hip hop |
|
Length |
40:52 |
|
Label |
Interscope Records / Out da Gutta / Atlantic Records |
|
Producer |
Big Syke, Easy Mo Bee, Jay, Johnny "J", Mopreme, Nate Dogg, Stretch, Thug Music, Warren G |
| 2Pac chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) |
|
Next |
Me Against the World (1995) |
Thug Life: Volume 1 is the only debut studio album by American hip hop group Thug Life. It was released on September 26, 1994 via Out da Gutta, Interscope Records and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place at Unique Recording in New York City and at Blue Palm Studios, Echo Sound and Westlake Studios in Los Angeles from March 1993 to May 1994. Production was handled by Jay, Warren G, Thug Music, Mopreme Shakur, Big Syke, Johnny "J", Nate Dogg, Easy Mo Bee and Stretch. It includes guest appearances by Y.N.V. and Stretch (of Live Squad). The original version of the album was scrapped and re-recorded with many of the original songs being cut. It has been said that 2Pac created two other versions of this album, with many of the songs still remaining unreleased.
Thug Life, Vol. 1 spawned the singles: "Pour Out a Little Liquor", "Cradle To the Grave" and "How Long Will They Mourn Me?".
The album debuted at #42 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On January 24, 1996, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 copies.
Although later removed from the album, Thug Life performed "Out on Bail" at the 1994 Source Awards. Amaru Entertainment has since gained rights to the album. The track "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" appeared on 2Pac's Greatest Hits compilation album.
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bury Me a G" | 2Pac, Mopreme, The Rated R, Big Syke, Macadoshis, Natasha Walker | Burns, Harding, Himes, Rivers, Shakur | Thug Music | 4:58 |
| 2. | "Don't Get It Twisted" | Mopreme, The Rated R, Macadoshis | Burns, Gass, Harding, Himes | Jay, Mopreme | 3:19 |
| 3. | "Shit Don't Stop" | 2Pac, Y.N.V., Macadoshis, The Rated R, Mopreme, Big Syke | Burns, Harding, Himes, Rivers, Shakur | Thug Music | 3:46 |
| 4. | "Pour Out a Little Liquor" | 2Pac | Shakur | Johnny "J" | 3:29 |
| 5. | "Stay True" | 2Pac, Stretch, Mopreme | Harding, Shakur, Walker | Thug Music | 3:09 |
| 6. | "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" | 2Pac, Nate Dogg, Big Syke, The Rated R, Macadoshis | Burns, Gass, Himes, Rivers, Shakur | Warren G, Nate Dogg | 3:52 |
| 7. | "Under Pressure" | 2Pac, Stretch | Shakur, Walker | Thug Music | 4:32 |
| 8. | "Street Fame" | Mopreme, Big Syke, The Rated R | Burns, Harding, Himes | Stretch | 4:00 |
| 9. | "Cradle to the Grave" | 2Pac, Mopreme, The Rated R, Macadoshis, Big Syke | Burns, Gass, Harding, Himes, Rivers, Shakur | Jay, Big Syke | 4:43 |
| 10. | "Str8 Ballin'" | 2Pac | Shakur | Easy Mo Bee | 5:04 |
Notes
Samples[]
Bury Me a G
- "For the Love of You (Part 1 & 2)" by The Isley Brothers
Don't Get It Twisted
- "Impeach the President" by The Honeydrippers
- "Symphonette" by David "Fathead" Newman feat. Roy Ayers
- "Dolphin Dance" by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Handclapping Song" by The Meters
- "The Back Down" by Richard Pryor
Shit Don't Stop
- "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" by Parliament
Pour Out a Little Liquor
- "Jazzie's Groove" by Soul II Soul
- "Cry Together" by The O'Jays
- "Welcome To the Ghetto" by Spice 1
Stay True
- "Just Want to Be With You" by Curtis Mayfield
How Long Will They Mourn Me?
- "Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)" by One Way
Under Pressure
- "God Make Me Funky" by The Headhunters feat. Pointer Sisters
Street Fame
- "Amen, Brother" by The Winstons
- "N Misery" by Evil Mind Gangsta's
Cradle To the Grave
- "Ironside" by Quincy Jones
Str8 Ballin'
- "What's a Telephone Bill?" by Bootsy's Rubber Band
Leftover songs[]
| Title | Performer(s) | Producer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Is It Cool 2 Fuck?" | 2Pac, Y.N.V. | Live Squad | Unreleased |
| "Lie to Kick It" | 2Pac | Warren G | Remixed for R U Still Down? (Remember Me) |
| "Losin It" | 2Pac, Big Syke, Spice 1 | Unknown | Remixed for R U Still Down? (Remember Me) |
| "Out On Bail" | 2Pac | The LG Experience | Original version performed at the 1994 Source Awards
Remixed for Loyal to the Game |
| "Runnin' (From tha Police)" | Napoleon, Kastro, E.D.I. Mean, Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Buju Banton | Easy Mo Bee | Released on promotional copies of Thug Life: Volume 1 and One Million Strong compilation
Remixed for Loyal to the Game |
| "Straight Out Da Gutta" | Big Syke, Mopreme, Macadoshis, The Rated R | Unknown | Unreleased |
| "Thug Life" | 2Pac, Prince Ital Joe | Johnny "J" | Unreleased |
| 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 |