Those years were two of the most turbulent in a tragically brief life that was already scarred by poverty, drug abuse, police harassment, imprisonment, and death. It truly felt like it was Tupac against the world when he cut this record in various California and New York recording studios in 19. So that is my truth,” he stated in a rare 1995 prison interview. Two decades on, this album remains one of the most beloved, important, and appropriately titled in Hip Hop’s catalogue of great works. Me Against the World is where Tupac became more than a rap star, taking his place alongside Kurt Cobain as their generation’s greatest spokesmen. Tupac’s passionate delivery has lost none of its immediacy, his rhymes none of their relevancy. Listening to Me Against the World two decades after its release, it is hard to believe that rap music’s greatest icon has been gone for so long. Many new pages in Hip Hop’s history have been written as well: The collapse of Death Row Records, the rise of the “ Shiny Suit Era,” Jay Z versus Nas, Eminem, Kanye West, and, most pertinent to this reminiscence, the murder of Tupac himself. Over 7,000 suns have set since that winter day and much has happened in the interim: Y2K, 9/11 and the “War on Terror” that followed, Hurricane Katrina, and the election of Barack Obama, the United States’ first black President. Tupac would go on to sell over 75 million records worldwide which made him one of the highest-selling artists of all time and many would say most influential.Twenty years ago today, Tupac Shakur’s third solo album, Me Against the World, hit stores in a time before streaming services, during an era when compact discs were still the music delivery medium of choice. jA1LFjLzNoĪlthough his content might’ve changed, the results didn’t. Everybody thought that I was living so well and doing so good that I wanted to explain it." It was all my fears, all the things I just couldn’t sleep about.
"Me Against the World was deep, reflective. ‘Me Against The World’ is considered the last album 2Pac released that was “conscious rap” before abandoning the style for more “volatile gangsta rap.” Album standouts “Dear Mama,” “So Many Tears,” and “Temptations” all exemplified his growth in music and ability to mix toughness and tenderness into one. This thought process was attributed to his growing maturity and perhaps an effort to reconcile with his troubled past. Shakur made it his mission to make sure the lyrics on ‘Me Against The World’ were more personal and reflective the any of his previous work. With this album, he aimed to show the hip-hop audience his respect for the art form. He gained motivation from all the things that were transpiring in his life at the time. In addition to the sexual assault case, Tupac had other court run-ins for various incidents and was also shot leading up to the release of the album. On Decemthe album was certified double platinum. Bail was posted by Suge Knight, who signed Shakur to a contract while he was behind bars. Tupac was eventually released on bail on Octofor $1.4 million. While incarcerated, ‘Me Against The World’ overtook Bruce Springsteen‘s Greatest Hits as the current best-selling album of the year in the United States.
The album was released just a month later and with its success, Tupac became the first artist ever to have a Billboard number one album while serving a prison sentence. On February 8, 1995, Shakur began serving a jail sentence that would end up being around eight months for sexual assault. #GOAT #MEAGAINSTTHEWORLD #MATW #Tupac #Makaveli /x0y1dmpqi9 215k first week eventually Selling over 4 million copies in the US. These accomplishments were huge but they were even bigger due to the circumstances under which Pac achieved them.Ģ7 years ago today the masterpiece (NO SKIPS) the Greatest Rap Album Of All Time, The Magnum Opus, ‘Me Against The World’ by #2Pac was released. “Me Against The World” marked 2Pac’s first number one album.
The album held the top spot for four consecutive weeks. The rapper’s third album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts selling 215,100 copies in its first week (the first number one album on both R&B and Pop charts). After the successes of his first two albums ‘2Pacalypse Now’ (1991) and ‘Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…’ (1993), Tupac Shakur dropped ‘Me Against The World’ in 1995.