Customer Reviews

Nu Mixx Klazzics Vol.2 (Evolution: Duets & Remixes)

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Four years after the original "Nu-Mixx Klazzics" Koch Records provides a followup in "Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2: Evolution: Duets & Remixes" (2007). Being a dedicated fan of 2Pac's music I have to say it was a nice surprise to come across this release. I am not a fan of the original Nu-Mixx Klazzics a project which faltered badly. The production is on point throughout this release, as are the guest appearances which come from: Kurupt, Butch Kassiy, Fatal Hussein, Candy Hill, Dwele, The Outlawz, Styles P, Snoop Dogg, Boot Camp Clik, M-1 & Daz Dillinger. "Picture Me Rollin" is a timeless Pac track from the All Eyez On Me Album, and a good starting point for this release, the production remains the same, with the difference being a smooth hook from Butch Cassidy and some additional lyrics from Pac's former Death Row label mate Kurupt. "Keep Goin" is a rare 2pac track which originally appeared on the Tha Dogg Pounds "2002" titled as "Don't Stop" this version includes an appearance from Pac's homeboy and original Outlawz member Fatal Hussein. The Illmind produced "Whatz Ya Phone #" follows, this version features some new production and an appearance from Los Angeles R&B/Hip Hop trio Candy Hill. "Staring Through My Rear View" is a classic Pac track which originally appeared on the Gang Related Soundtrack. This is a great track to include on this release as many of the newer generation may not have heard it. While the original featured an appearance from Phil Collins this one features vocals from Dwele. I like both versions. Next up is "Hail Mary (Rock Remix)" feat. The Outlawz, the change of themes to Rock production works. Kurupt and the Outlawz return for the laid back "Got My Mind Made Up". Another highlight of this album is the Remix of Pac's Above The Rim soundtrack cut "Pain", this version features another solid chorus from Butch Cassidy, and lyrics from Lox member Styles P who holds his own. I was happy to hear "Lost Souls" feat. Outlawz, a track I have not heard in a long time, originally made for the Gang Related Sountrack this is memorable track. Pac and Snoop's classic collabo is remixed with some harder production on "Wanted Dead Or Alive (Gangsta Party)", then veteran Rap group Boot Camp Clik- MC's who worked with Pac back in the day appear on "Initiated". I agree with the other reviewer who would of liked to see KC & Jojo appear on "How Do U Want It" as they did on the original - instead there is some mediocre production and a forgettable background chorus. The later version of "Picture Me Rollin" features some new rhymes from Pac's brethren the Outlawz. Overall "Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2: Evolution: Duets & Remixes" is a quality release which can be enjoyed by new and old fans alike.

If you look at my previous reviews, you know that I don't write reviews for music CD's but I'm going to make an exception here because I am a rap/hip hop fan since the late 80's & I think this CD, not including his Greatest Hits & Resurrection [which is basically another Greatest Hits album], is the best overall Pac album to drop since Makaveli. Usually Pac's albums these days are nothing more than his vocals thrown into beats by "flavor of the month" producers mixed with whoever is on the popular artist on the charts are at the time & it just doesn't come off well most of the time...like B.I.G.'s albums since he died. And despite Death Row's reputation these days regarding the material they've been releasing (another topic for another time), they released a quality project here that shouldn't go unseen.

This album for the most part either had the beat slighty adjusted from the original (My Rear View, Lost Souls) & had new vocals added that fit right in to make the quality rank right up there with the original (both versions of Picture Me Rollin', Got My Mind Made Up) or in some cases, better than the original (Keep Goin' which used Pac's vocals from the DPG 2002 album & What'z Ya Phone Number...sorry Pac loyalist but I never liked the original). Two noteworthy tracks for me were the Keep Goin' track where that was the best I've heard of Fatal in a long time & the Gangsta Party Remix which definately gave the song a more rough & hard feeling than the smooth version the original had (don't get me wrong, I love the original too). The only thing wrong with this project I would say is the Hail Mary rock remix which I'll admit makes the song seem more hardcore than the original but it just seems so out of place like how the "Snoop Bounce" rock remix was on Snoop's Greatest Hits compared to the other tracks on here. There are some average tracks (Initiated) & not every single one is a blowaway song but I don't there there is honestly a horrible track or a boring filler on here.

Overall, Death Row didn't do to this project like they did with a majority of the first Nu-Mixx album where I was like "why did they ruin a classic song!?!" & instead provided a nice quality album that I recommend to any Pac fan OVER the last couple years of 2pac material that has been released like Pac's Life, Loyal To The Game, and the first Nu-Mixx album.

Side Note: The bonus tracks from Best Buy edition (always buy your Koch albums from Best Buy to get bonus tracks) is the same "Lost Souls Remix" except Daz Dillinger & M1 replace the Outlawz & another remix of "Initiated" with the vocals the same but a different beat.

allows this cd to flow smoothly and integrate a number of different guest apperances.

Suprised, because I expected this album to be terrible according to amateur critics, but i bought this cd and was actually shocked. "Picture me rollin', being presented twice is the only flaw.

Standout remix is "Got My Mind Made Up"

ignore preconceptions of Suge Knight, their is no SwizzBeatz or Kanye West production (thank god) which makes it more appealing

You know, with the exception of the Makaveli album, the R U Still Down album, and the greatest hits album, this is how an album of remixed material should sound. Like others have stated, the rock remix of Hail Mary is raw, straight raw, every song on here is raw, the one drawback is having Picture Me Rollin' twice, but other than that, the How Do U Want It remix is, I think better than the original, I just wish Kci and Jojo were still on it. But I like the new beat, and the video version of the lyrics. What'z Ya Phone # sounds better than the original, Keep Going with Fatal...Pac is so sick on that track, I've never heard him spit like that, I had to play it twice before checking out the rest of the cd.

In closing, if you're a Pac fan and dissapointed with the last couple of albums (Eminem 75 percent of your producton sucked...straight up, take a lesson here from people who know what they're doing), then you definately need to grab this.

When the first volume of the Nu Mixx series was released, I was pretty dissappointed. The beats were garbage and didn't do much to upgrade the originals. This may be part of the reason I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the 2nd volume. Although this project is no classic, it's far better than "Pac's Life". As a mastering engineer, I'm reviewing this album from a sonic quality level as well as from an overall level.

Pros:
*The beats are BANGIN on most of the tracks.

*The master quality of the remixes "How Do U Want It," "Initiated" and "Keep Goin" are actually better than the originals, due to the producer using the original vocal tracks!

*The FIRE guest appearances resemble a cast that 2Pac would collaborate with (or did collaborate with previously)



Cons:
*A few of the hooks are too complex or just not catchy.

*They didn't utilize the ORIGINAL vocal tracks on some of the mixes such as "Staring Through My Rearview" and "Got My Mind Made Up." This is probably because they didn't have access.

*They actually used a "computer generated filtered acappella" for the Hail Mary remix! They put it on some rock music to hide the fact that the vocals were not studio quality, as if we wouldn't notice! That's ABSURD for a studio release.

Overall I would recommend this to 2Pac fans for sure. Although not on the level of "Still I Rise" or "Better Days," it's one of the better of the last few posthumus releases.

Forget the ill-fated Nu-Mixx Klassix Volume 1! Volume 2: Evolution is the real deal. Several of the remixes here, particularly "Whatz Ya Phone #," are actually better than the original productions (from "All Eyez on Me," "Gang Related," "Above the Rim," and "Makaveli"). An unexpected and pleasant surprise from Koch Records.

afeni once again continuwes to remix her son's classic songs by updating previous and unreleaesed material again I will not buy this crap I refuse to buy anything released by 2pac that was remixed and corrupted after his untimely demise quit whitewashing pac's music afeni.

with each new release put out it only gets better when it comes to him