1994–95: Acting and rise to prominence Thug Life redirects here. For the film, see Thug Life (film). For the album, see Thug Life: Volume 1. In late 1993, Shakur formed the group Thug Life with a number of his friends, including Big Syke, Macadoshis, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, and Rated R. The group released their only album Thug Life: Volume 1 on September 26, 1994, which went gold. The album featured the single Pour Out a Little Liquor, produced by Johnny J Jackson, who went on to produce a large part of Shakurs album All Eyez on Me. The group usually performed their concerts without Shakur. The album was originally released by Shakurs label Out Da Gutta Records. Due to criticism about gangsta rap at the time, the original version of the album was scrapped and re-recorded with many of the original songs being cut. Among the notable tracks on the album are Bury Me a G, Cradle to the Grave, Pour Out a Little Liquor (which also appears in the soundtrack to the 1994 film Above the Rim), How Long Will They Mourn Me? and Str8 Ballin. The album contains ten tracks because Interscope Records felt many of the other recorded songs were too controversial to release. Although the original version of the album was not completed, Tupac performed the planned first single from the album, Out on Bail at the 1994 Source Awards. Although the album was originally released on Shakurs label Out Da Gutta, Amaru Entertainment, the label owned by the mother of Tupac Shakur, has since gained the rights to it. Thug Life: Volume 1 was certified Gold. The track How Long Will They Mourn Me? appeared later in 1998 from 2Pacs Greatest Hits album. The album was very well received, with many calling it the magnum opus of his career. It is considered one of the greatest and most influential hip hop albums of all-time. It is his fourth biggest selling album with 2,439,000 units moved to date. Me Against the World won best rap album at the 1996 Soul Train Music Awards.[unreliable source?] Dear Mama was released as the albums first single in February 1995, along with the track Old School as the B-side. Dear Mama would be the albums most successful single, topping the Hot Rap Singles chart, and peaking at the ninth spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified platinum in July 1995, and later placed at #51 on the year-end charts. The second single, So Many Tears, was released in June, four months after the first single. The single would reach the number six spot on the Hot Rap Singles chart, and the 44th on the Billboard Hot 100. Temptations, released in August, was the third and final single from the album. The single would be the least successful of the three released, but still did fairly well on the charts, reaching number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and 13 on the Hot Rap Singles charts.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 16:20:23 +0000
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