2Pac
Me Against the World

THE REVIEW

June 9, 2011, 11:30 PM; I just finished what has been one of the most beautiful and toughest school years ever for me: I relive all possible memories in my room, from the joy of making friendships to the frustration of getting a bad grade, then moving on to the sadness of love disappointments, reflecting a bit on human transience and how insignificant we are.

Memories upon memories, but here a suitable background is needed, one that frames my melancholy, and I put on 2Pac, or rather, what I consider his greatest masterpiece, "Me Against The World".

15 tracks, each more beautiful than the last, without any lows (or perhaps slightly better in the first part), where the artist talks about himself, his doubts and fears, with a depth never seen before. Yes, 2Pac has grown (thanks to the continuous struggles with the law) and he shows us this in these 15 tracks.

After a peculiar but very interesting intro (journalists recounting the main events involving the artist), we are presented with the first great masterpiece, "If I Die 2nite": a simple but ingenious beat because whether you like it or not, it will stick in your head after just one listen. The doubt that concerns everyone, that of death, which comes suddenly, unannounced, whether you want it or not.

Then follows the title track, a masterpiece of all rap music; ingenious rhymes, an absolutely magnificent beat (very catchy) sampled from a magnificent chorus sung by Dramacydal. Even the Crew, the Outlawz, have a part in the piece (as in many others), though they don't do a great job (exception made for E.D.I.). Well, after all, everyone feels a bit alone against the world, because they are misunderstood and judged.

Then there's "So Many Tears", whose accordion was sampled from a famous piece by that genius Steve Wonder, "That Girl". Deep rhymes that evoke great nostalgia (perfect for reminding us of all our wrongdoings, it gives us a push to ask for forgiveness). 

The following tracks are a wonder: "Temptations" (I want you now, tomorrow I will have forgotten you), "Heavy in the Game" (what doesn't kill you, can only make you stronger) and "Lord Knows" (why do bad things happen to good people?). Let's focus then on "Dear Mama", one of the sweetest songs created by the artist, where with his heart on his sleeve he sings all the love he feels for his mother (when sweetness is never too much).

Then we move on with "It Ain't Easy" and "Can U Get Away", where the lesson is "you can't always get the love of another, even if you believe in it fully" (ouch, my heart hurts). "Old School" is, if you will, the most beautiful anthem dedicated to those who created rap (Bambataa, Krs One, etc.); then there's anger, yes, it's there and we find it in "Fuck the World" (or rather at all the critics). The premonition of death is still present in "Death Around the Corner" and then it concludes with "Outlawz", an anthem to freedom and "I don't care about the consequences".

Aah, it's wonderful to relive all the memories, both good and bad, especially if accompanied by the right musical background.

Dedicated to all the nostalgic souls and those who know how to savor the true taste of life.