Tupac Shakur did something no rapper had done before when he dropped his fourth studio album All Eyez On Me. The then-24-year-old MC—fresh out from an eight-month prison sentence at New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility—released hip-hop’s first-ever double LP. Over 25 tracks, ’Pac sounds angrier and more intense than his previous Me Against The World, confronting enemies and seeking vengeance on songs like “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” and “Holla at Me.”
While the album is most remembered for its venom, Tupac has fun, too. He laughs at social-climbing video vixens on “All About U,” and actually sounds tipsy during the pour-up theme song “Thug Passion.”
The result of that Pac puree: The newly inked Death Row rebel scored a diamond RIAA certification, making it one of hip-hop’s all-time best selling projects. Twenty years later, All Eyez on Me remains a pillar in the classic rap canon. Genius digs up five bits of #rare knowledge about the final album Tupac released while he was alive.
1. ’Pac recorded the album’s first song the day he left prison
When Tupac was released from prison, he flew back to Los Angeles and got right to work. He arrived at Can-Am Studios at midnight and recorded both “Ambitionz Az A Ridah”—the album’s opening track—and “I Ain’t Mad At Cha” by sunrise.
2. Faith Evans originally made a cameo
Biggie’s wife Faith Evans sang the hook on the original, unreleased version of “Wonda Why They Call U Bitch.” She wrote the hook and constructed the harmony and background parts. Due to politics—Faith was signed to Death Row’s rival record label, Bad Boy—her contributions were removed and mimicked by singer Michel’le.
3. “California Love” was Dr. Dre’s exit plan
Dr. Dre wanted “California Love” to be his solo single after leaving Death Row. He recorded three verses—written by his labelmate J-Flexx—before Suge Knight “convinced” him to give it to Tupac for the All Eyez On Me lead-off record.
4. Tupac recruited a studio staffer for vocals
Several songs feature uncredited vocals by Stacey Smallie, the receptionist at the studio where ’Pac recorded All Eyez On Me. She recorded raunchy conversation on “What’z Ya Phone #” with Tupac via a miked telephone.
5. The entire album was recorded in two weeks
According to Nate Dogg, ’Pac was in a hurry because he wanted to leave Death Row. So he was a speedster in the studio—album mixer Dave Aron told XXL that ’Pac would run engineers out of the studio if they didn’t work quickly enough. Tupac recorded every verse on the album in one take, and insisted guests do the same—Snoop was the only featured artist who was allowed to go home and write.
