Customer Reviews

Loyal to the Game

5 star:		(115)
4 star:		(76)
3 star:		(57)
2 star:		(44)
1 star:		(87)

 

 

Don't waste your time arguing weather or not Eminem, 50, G-Unit or anybody else on here deserves to be on a track with Pac. Fact is that that for the past couple of years, the integrity of 2Pac's music has been thrown out the window. So, the listener pretty much just has to accept this the way it is if they want to have any chance of enjoying 2Pac's new music at all. "Loyal to The Game" is already released so just take it for what it is.

Eminem's work on Resurrection was really good and he normally does a decent effort at worst with his production. So, when it was announced that he was handling most of the production on here, this album defiantly had a lot of potential. Starting off "Soldier Like Me" has nothing really wrong with the track that I can think of though. Although, it is painfully obvious that there's something wrong with the recording of Tupac's voice. It is slightly distorted and sounds slowed down to fit the beat. Eminem here only offers what is now becoming a typical Em chorus with the singing and all. None the less a decent song with solid production.

"The Uppercut" sounds more pure than most of the other tracks, the production here is really solid. Both Tupac's verses are clear and sound as if he could have actually recorded over the beat. The chorus sounds a bit distorted though, and is almost too obviously pieced from a different song. The second verse is all to short as well. It's refreshing to here The Outlawz on here, even if it's not EDI or Noble's best effort. Again it ends up being a decent track.

"Out on Bail" has another great beat, here it's more fast-paced. Tupac flows on here nicely. The chorus even sounds like something that you would have herd on Me Against the World, so it fits quite well. The content of the track is almost exactly like "When I Get Free" from R U Still Down, so it's not something mind-blowin' or new. Still it's great track complete with Tupac ad-libs toward the end of the track.

"Ghetto Gospel" Ok, so I really do like the production on this song. But, it's just not 2Pac at all, it just doesn't work all that well. But I could still get over that if it wasn't for his voice sounding painfully sped up or something to fit the beat, he sounds like he's 15. It sounds really weird I don't know what exactly they were thinking. It just doesn't work very well at all.

"Black Cotton" once again has some sick production, but 2Pac sounds great over it with his fast paced flow. Pac's opening verse here is the first time on the album that it made me close my and really miss him. Everything works great and he drops another reminder of why he's revered as the best. Unfortunately it's the only verse on the song. Eminem's chorus is typical but works well, and the Tupac samples work well. Although Kastro sounds like he's lost a couple of steps, Noble delivers a nice complementary verse. Although the track's lack of actual Pac are painfully filled it, it's a pretty good track.

"Loyal To The Game" is a major problem for me. Em's production here is really nice, yet we have another example of Pac's vocals being distorted (here it just sounds like bad masters or something). I even know for a fact that this time it's sped up to fit the production (the original "Loyal To the Game" featured Treach & Riddler on the Above the Rim Soundtrack and is much slower). It sounds like a G-Unit song with a random Pac verse thrown on obviously out of place. It just sounds like two different songs.

"Thugs Get Lonely" once again brings two things that I'm seeing throughout the album: great production and distorted vocals. The Nate Dogg chorus is pretty nice, Pac's verses is defiantly slowed down. The content isn't particularly captivating either, so while many of the elements of this song are great it ends up sounding merely ok.
"Who Do You Love?" is another great beat but another example of slightly distorted vocals. This does sound like a complete song and flows really well with the production despite the distorted vocals. Only two verses, but still one of the album highlights.
"Crooked N**" also has sped up 2Pac vocals over the track, the third verse it becomes even more obvious just how sped up it is (Don't believe me just listen to the Bonus track of the same title and compare). It's almost too much alteration for me to get into. Same old story again from "Don't You Trust Me" and again on "Thug 4 Life" and earlier on "N.I.G.G.A."

The production for "Hennessey" sounds great but it sounds really akward as it's so far removed from the style that Pac normally flows over. Nevertheless it ends up working out well (excluding the silly unnecessary pasting of Pac throughout Trice's verse).

The "Bonus" tracks are the first time we get a break from Em's production. These producers do something that Em should have done waaay back at the beginning of the album. They take the speed of Pac's original vocals and create a new beat around those. The results are overwhelmingly refreshing: Pac's vocals are crystal clear, the pacing is perfect and they all sound like complete tracks! Sure I like the original unreleased "Cause I Had To" over the remake "Po Nigga Blue" and the Original "Loyal to The Game" with Treach over the Bonus Remix... but both still are really great tracks on here and work really well. "Hennessey" & "Crooked" remixes sound light years better that the previous encounters on the album simply because Pac's verse are left ALONE! What a crazy concept. The last part of the album actually becomes the highlight of it as you are left to just enjoy Pac's flow.

I haven't minded on previous posthumous releases. Producers have added new production to a Tupac song or have even added an extra guest verse to complete a song, and it works reasonably well at times. While in some cases the original unreleased tracks are better, the songs still work and have continuity to it, because it's not too far off from Pac's original intention for a full song. What everyone should have a problem with on "Loyal to The Game" more than anything else is that now songs are being pieced together from random vocals here and there, making new choruses from his vocals, mixing verses and parts of songs around, changing the speed of the vocals to fit the production (why wouldn't Em just make his production fit Pac's vocals??), cutting up vocals to say "50", "G-Unit", or "Jada" "Trice!" (I mean really, what's the point?) .... It's all just too much. It makes you feel a little bit sick, like Pac's vocal's have just become a big cut and paste session to put out anything. Eminem just takes creative license too far here and as a result it doesn't work very well on the album, despite some great beats & rhymes.
Even off the whole nostalgic note, there are defiantly a couple of tracks that makes it worth it for the Tupac fanatic, but otherwise it's a disappointing effort.

This review is entirely in every way from us people who are p***ed off at the reviewer "jarule69". He says that Tupac is a "wannabe thug", he also obviously dosen't know that Tupac is dead and has been for the past 9 years because "jarule69" thinks that Tupac and all of his fans are "jealous" of ja rule. He also thinks that Tupac and ja rule are enemies (how could they be, ja rule and Tupac never even met(but I'm sure if they did Tupac wouldn't like ja rule)). So every1 who has read this clown named "jarule69"'s review on this album and think that this guy is full of it, vote 4 me, to show him how many people disagree with him. o

This album is a total disgrace to Mr. Shakur, and i bet he's spitting in his grave. On Loyal to the Game they use clips of his voice and re-arange it to yell, and give thanks to "g-unit." What the hell? If i'm not mistaken Tupac was West Coast - STRICTLY WEST COAST. GGGay - Unit is EAST COAST, Pac was constantly feuding with ANY M.C. that was east coast. If Tupac were still with us, he'd obviously not be giving props to the new "rappers" who completely ruined rap. To make things even worse, eminem changed the tone, and pace of Pac's vocals to match his faggot ass beats. And to top it off eminem cut out over 60% of the lyrics on Ghetto Gospel. I was shocked when i heard some of the guests - Lioyd Banks, 50, Young Buck, and Jadakiss. NONE of these "rappers" are worthy enough to appear on an album with Mr. Makaveli, the only present rapper that does is The MUTHAPHUKKIN GAME! It's been almost a decade since Pac's traggic death (may he rest in peace.) But these record company's don't give a flying f--k about him. All he is to them is another way to make money, and stupid people who buy album's like this make those evil bastards ritch. I seriously cannot believe how much of a disgrace this b/s is. The man is dead, the least they coulda done is left his beautiful voice HOW IT IS. I admitt tracks 14-17 are good (being that they weren't produced by eminems bitch ass.) but please refrane from purchasing this trash. Download it / burn it / do what ever. Just don't give these thoughtless, greedy F--k's your money ... DO IT FOR TUPAC

I always enjoyed all the posthumous albums Tupac's legacy has released, but this time they have gone to far! This is a total disgrace to Tupac's memory. There is no way in hell that Tupac would role with 50 Cent or Eminem, and now their doing this project. Total digrace. They've been messing with his vocals making them sound awful, putting themselves on the songs and making him say G Unit. I just don't get why they don't just release the originals, this is bulls***. Its just more easy money for greedy producers. Do not support this, if you want to support Tupac's legacy than pick up one of the classics -2pacalypse Now, Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z. Thug Life, Me Against The World, All Eyez On Me, The Don Killuminati, R U Still Down or Greatest Hits. Do not buy this crap, cop the originals and you'll see how terribly they've messed up. I pray that soon they will just let Mr Shakur rest in peace.

I for one am a huge 2Pac fan and when I heard a new CD was coming out I was excited! But after hearing this "album" I am so dissapointed. Most of the beats were by Eminem and although I dont hate Eminem I cant stand what he did with his executive producer position on this CD! He slowed down 2Pac's vocals, Sped up 2Pac's vocal, and cut-n-pasted words together to make 2Pac say things like "Obie", "Em", "G-Unit", and more. Some of the voals on this CD are sped up so much that 2Pac sounds like he is twelve years old (refer to "A Crooked N**ga Too [The Eminem Version]"! No lie! If you buy this CD all it will do is tell Amaru / Interscope that you will pay for a Tupac CD no matter what they do to it. I know we all love Tupac but take a stand for Tupac and remind the powers that be that we want 2Pac the way 2Pac wanted to present it to us! The only song worth listening to on this whole CD is "Loyal To The Game" produced by Dj Quikk. Do yourself a favor and leave this one in the store.

I tried to not rate this CD but I must give it a 1 star, but if I could have it my way the star would be the lowest negative number imaginable. Negative Octillion stars at the least. Here's my review:

This is a godawful album, it shouldn't even be called an album at all but a mixtape for the lamest producers and rappers alike to step on Tupac's legacy and use it for their own personal gain without an inkling of respect for the God of Rap. I am glad originals of some these songs leaked since I can't bear to listen to them with corny Eminem beats/raps and guest appearances from the worst rappers to ever pick up a mic. This is just pathetic, I cannot accept this. Lyrics were sped up and slowed down given non-rap guest appearances of Elton John and Dido, which are Eminem guests not Tupac guests, nothing about this album flows like Pac's originals did. All the songs are terrible, but Soulja Like Me really stands out to me as a prime example of what's wrong with this album. It's disappointing this is Part 3 of Tupac's Soulja Story song series, and Part 3 ends up like this? The beat is goofy (like all Eminem beats are) and if Pac's lyrics backed up by that beat wasn't awkward enough, Eminem comes out of nowhere with a chorus that fits as well as baby shoes on Arnold Schwarzenegger's foot. It came across like a chorus for another Eminem song, when Tupac was already doing the original Soulja chorus, Eminem's chorus should never have been added!

Loyal To The Game the song was released in 1994 with Treach and the Riddler with verses following Tupac's, and in this album we get Tupac's verse sped up, Treach and Riddler removed and G-Unit added in! NO!! This is a nightmare that unfortunately is true and can't be changed.

Black Cotton featuring Eminem? What would Eminem know about Black Cotton? Eminem proves he doesn't have a clue what Tupac's vision was with yet another awkward chorus. Nobody don't care? What does that have to do with Tupac's concept of Black Cotton? Nothing!

Hennessey with Obie Trice is another big disappointment. Finally we get to hear a Tupac song all about his favorite drink only to get a remix which sounds like a polka song gone wrong with a very low-rate rapper riding Eminem's coattails, Obie Trice, acting like he's Tupac's long time drinking partner. So fake! Stretch should be in this song getting drunk wit Tupac (he is credited in the song)! He was Tupac's best friend, Stretch actually knew Tupac! Obie DID NOT!

The Bonus remix of Hennessey isn't much better, it sounds like it's ready for a Hennessey TV ad with a melody from Sleepy Brown that sounds close to the McDonald's well-known "Ba Da Ba Ba Ba, I'm Lovin' It!" (of course, Tupac didn't know Sleepy Brown either), while he did know E.D.I., it doesn't help the fact that what was probably a perfectly great song untouched, it was remixed twice for this album in a horrific form.

A Crooked Nigga, Too (Raphael Saadiq Remix) is yet another example of how oil and water don't mix. Raphael Saadiq is an R&B artist and the rugged anti-police thuglyrics to the Crooked Ass Nigga sequal does not fit with a mellow beat and R&B hook.

Big Syke appears in the other remix of Loyal To The Game by DJ Quik, which even though it's still a remix at least it has Big Syke (someone Pac knew and worked with before) and it beats hearing G-Unit desecrate Tupac's memory. However, it's still a remix of a released song that was just fine on the Above The Rim Soundtrack cassette, so what's the use in releasing two remixes of a released song from 1994 on an album of new material? I don't get this at all.

I was hoping the non-Eminem remixes would save the album but nothing about this album is acceptable. Eminem should never be in the position to have an influence over any Tupac material, this is a great injustice in a number of ways. He ruined everything good this album could have had in original form. Many of the originals of these songs are out there and are far superior than this weak drivel Eminem assembled. If a soulless tracklisting of remixes, yes, remixes wasn't bad enough, Tupac's lyrics were edited to say things he never said. He calls out rappers he never knew by name when it should already be disrespectful enough to appear on a track with a rapper who is dead, a deadman they never met also has to be their friend? Unbelievable. I'm not a fan of remixing but since they're clearly releasing Tupac material like this for modernization and to make the most money no matter how much it disrespects the legacy of Tupac, then they should officially release the originals as well so true fans can see how he wanted it to be released, not his greedy mother. We get two remixes of songs never released and one of those remixes could have been an original! Why remixes?! I can edit this album to Acapella free of Eminem's influence, but another slain rapper, Stretch appeared on the original versions of many of these songs and he is really being disrespected by being removed from tracks no one has even heard. If you buy this album you are not Loyal to Tupac at all, those who made this album should be ashamed but I doubt they could feel it consumed by greed. Get all the unreleased originals of the songs that were leaked to the public and you will see what a lousy album this is if you can't see it already. I will conclude this review by quoting a Tupac lyric "What's Next?" and if you ask me the answer is "I can't bear to imagine".

I am a avid Tupac fan and have been one Since the release of Strictly for may N.I.G.G.A.S Tupac music captivated me from the moment I heard Holler If You here me for the first time or Keep Your Head up. I'm sure for many other people when they heard and felt the raw emotion in his music they could not help but be moved in one form or another.

Sadly since the time of his passing but mainly withtin the lasy few years the tracks being released have gotten steadly worse and worse production wise (not lyrically but instrumentally).

Though not amazing the Better Days album was still a classic album due to the lyrical level which tupac attacks many issues and the beats though not beats that Pac would have picked are still fantastic even the "My Block remic" is a must own.

But in recent there has been a serious and somewhat digression or downhill spiral in the quality of the recordings that Amaru has allowed to enter the market place and, drop of quality ahs nothing to do with Pac's lyrics it ahs to do with the complete and total bastadization of Tupacs music.

Out of the 17 tracks on this album only 6 are actually worth listening to the rest have beats that any child could have made and quite frankly lack imagination and talent.

out of the 13 tracks produced produced by Eminem only 2 should have been selected to make the album. There is nothing wrong with allowing Eminem to work on Pacs albums, if the man was greatly influenced by Pac that that is fantastic but he should not have been allowed to produce 3/4 of the album they should have had him submit is 2 or three hottest beats and then allowed some of the other many talented producers in the industry who I am sure have all been influenced by Pac to contribute.

Removing classic Mc's that Pac hand picked to be on many tracks with him such as Spice 1, Richie Rich and replacing them with Aftermath Mc's. Speeding up and slowing down pacs lyrics (causing his flow to sound plain funny in parts) to match beats that are sub-par. In my opinion if a producer is given and acapella of a mc he should make his beat to suit the Acapella not the other way around

This album could have been another classic one that could have secured Pac with a whole new genration of listeners and gained him new generation of fans.

Amaru's short sight and greed has failed them, Using Eminem as their cash cow has failed them. And whats worst is that Amaru and Eminem have both failed Pacs true fans.

This album is a 2 out of 5 and that is being generous the only thing that brings it to that level is Pacs lyrics and the few producers stuck in their on the last 4 tracks of the album who brought thier a-game and respect to the table such as Scot Storch, Raphial Sadiq, DJ Qucik nad Red Spyda.

Something for Amaru and Afeni to meditate on is the fac that Pac fans are not Idiots we know when something is right and when something is wrong. This album my friends is very wrong not worth the disc it has been recorded on. :(

First off, I have been a fan of 2pac's since I saw him in "Juice" way back in the day, in '91 or '92. I have collected his music since then and have many cds of his unreleased songs. In saying that, these "new" 2pac cds that keep coming out every year, are getting more and more un-2pac like. They are a disgrace to a man that was, and still is the best. Although his legend will probably not suffer, the integrity of these releases will. I have the original recordings of these songs, and they are ten times better than the worst song on here, which is hard to choose just one. Why are there people on this cd that 2pac never met or recorded with? Why was Treach(from Naughty By Nature, and a very close friend of 2pac's) and The Riddler, taken off "Loyal To The Game" and replaced with G-Unit? Is this for 2pacs legacy or to sell records for Eminem. Shame on Afeni Shakur for allowing this. Songs with completely different music than the originals, "Ghetto Gospel" and "Who Do You Love?", in which Stretch's verse was deleted, have been ruined, not preserved, which really sucks because they were both favorites of mine. "Hennessey" featuring Obie Trice? Another Eminem gain, as well as "Soldier Like Me" featuring Eminem himself. Eminem needs to put himself and his artists on his records, not the records of a deceased genius who did not know them, or ever record with them. They are not, and will not ever reach his level. It's disgusting and it's obviously for the sole purpose of selling records. Why else would today's "hot list" replace actual friends of 2pac's? It is cool to see The Outlawz on a few tracks, although they should've been on more. "Still I Rise" is a great cd, fininshed by 2pac's boy's after his death. They are the ones that truly represent. If you wanna hear the songs as 2pac recorded them, ignore this cd, and go find the Makaveli bootlegs. Eminem's beats do not reflect what 2pac stood for. And should therefore be only heard on Eminem's cds. I do like Eminem, but not on 2pac's cds. SKIP THIS CD!

What is he doing on this album? Very disappointing - 2Pac is turning in his grave. Buy 2Pac's classics - skip this.

I have all 2-PAC bootleg cds or songs! and they are bumpin!eminem should stop messing with the best, and, god of rap ever!music. pac wouldnt like a white guy messing with his beats. i have the real beats and, they sound way better than the ones people or eminem came out with they sound like crap. [...] if u want the real beats buy the bootleg ones that came out back then thats the best music ever!pac is the best noone will ever be him or get close to be him RIP PAC! we LOVE U! WE MISS U!wish u where here so u could put a stop to eminem messing up your music![...]