2Pac пен Thug Life: Көше рэпінің тарихы

West Coast hip hop
gangsta rap
g funk Speaking more about their debut project, Syke revealed that Thug Life was never supposed to be a group, it was supposed to be a movement, a compilation album represented by more rappers than what appeared on the album, one rapper being The Notorious B. I. G. He added that the idea of making Thug Life a group was thought up by Interscope Records during their rearranging of the album's tracks. With many songs deemed by Interscope Records too controversial to release, the album only features ten songs, with two being solo songs by 2Pac and two not featuring the rapper. Since 2Pac died in 1996, many songs removed from the album have been released on the rapper's posthumous releases. One song recorded during the album's creation and scrapped due to its theme is Runnin', which features The Notorious B. I. G., Dramacydal, and Buju Banton alongside 2Pac and Stretch of Thug Life. The song was officially released in November of the following year as a single from the compilation album One Million Strong. In 2003, a remix of the song, with an alternate verse from 2Pac and featuring only The Notorious B. I. G., was released as a single from the soundtrack to the Academy Award nominated documentary film Tupac: Resurrection.

The first single, "Pour Out a Little Liquor" was released on August 23, 1994. It was first released on the soundtrack for the film Above the Rim earlier the same year. The second single, "Cradle to the Grave", was released on November 4, 1994. An earlier version of which had been released that same year on 2Pac's "Papa'z Song" single. A clean version of "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" was released as a promo single and music video in 1995, and in 1998, the album version appeared on 2Pac's Greatest Hits album. As the original version of the album never came to fruition, the planned first single from the album, "Out on Bail," was never released, although 2Pac did perform it at the 1994 Source Awards, and it has since been remixed by Eminem and included on 2Pac's posthumous album Loyal to the Game.

The album has been met with critical acclaim retrospectively as a classic underground rap album. "Full of machismo and do or die stances," wrote Jake Barnes in Q, "the lyrics' hardcore posturing is perversely undercut by sweet and delicate backings from artists like Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton and The Isley Brothers." "A shockingly considered, thoughtful rap record," opined Selects Matt Hall. "And a very chilling one."

The album was certified gold on January 24, 1996, selling over 500,000 copies.