Me Against The World

ヒップホップ界のカリスマであり、伝説の世界で今も生き続けるトゥパック・アマル・シャクール。西海岸のギャングスタ代表なイメージが後のDeath Row移籍からスタートしていくが、実はNY育ちの演劇を愛する青年であった。しかし彼の母はブラック・パンサー党員で父はNYのギャングスタであり、しっかりその遺伝子は持っていた。家庭の事情でオークランドに引っ越してから、デジタル・アンダーグラウンドのメンバーとして活動をスタートさせることに。（90年にはツアーでこの日本にも彼らのダンサーとして来日している事実あり）92年には念願のソロ・デビューと映画界への進出を見事成功させた。G-Funkブームの波にのり、メロウ路線で次々とヒットを飛ばしたこの95年の3rdアルバムでは、ビルボード初登場1位を獲得。“Dear Mama”など泣かせるラップを聞かせてくれる半面、94年に『Thug Life』でスパークした彼の眠れるギャングスタ魂からのトラブルで獄中行きへ。

Forget everything you've heard and assumed about rapper/actor 2Pac and think only of his music, which has always stood in the shadow of his lifestyle. ME AGAINST THE WORLD tries to make sense of all the stormy events that have surrounded the gifted vocalist--transforming 2Pac into the "rap star" he's always yearned to be--and turns out to be his best work yet.
ME AGAINST THE WORLD seriously connects the rapper with his audience by remaining "real". Although much of the public is already familiar with the all-too politicised/publicised life of Tupac Shakur, the album disputes their perception and serves as his halo. "If I Die 2Nite" couples 2Pac's intense thoughts with the flava-in-ya-ear sound provided by hip-hop super producer Easy Mo Bee. 2Pac softens his tone on "Dear Mama", celebrating the one woman who has stuck by him through it all. The album also focuses on issues known and experienced not only by this "hip-hop outlaw", but by those who share his lifestyle. Many "thugs" have lost their homies and struggled to keep themselves alive in the hood, and so has 2Pac; and his mourning is manifested on "So Many Tears", which is enhanced by a sample of Stevie Wonder's harmonica. "Can U Get Away" carefully alerts women involved in abusive relationships, and labels 2Pac as their saviour. Giving props to the New York rap scene, "Old School" is a tribute to the founders of hip-hop and reminisces about "how it was". Musically, the comfortable tracks help convey positive messages ("Young Niggaz"), and lyrically, 2Pac is, as always, on point.|