2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
Encyclopedia
2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted (sometimes confused with Gangsta Party) is a hip hop
song written by 2Pac, Snoop Dogg
and Daz Dillinger
for 2Pac's 1996 double album
All Eyez on Me
. The song is a duet performed by 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" was released as promotional recording
and was the album's second single, after "California Love
". The song peaked at number 46 on the Billboard
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
.
"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" was later included on 2Pac's Greatest Hits in 1998. A remix of the song was also featured on the album Nu-Mixx Klazzics
in 2003.
director dropped out of the project because he didn't want to share directing credit with Tupac (since Tupac had written the concept) . It was up to Gobi M. Rahimi to step in as a director and his production company to deliver a hit video for Tupac.
The video was filmed four months prior to Tupac's September 1996 shooting. The prelude for the song shows a parody of Biggie Smalls
("Piggie") and Puff Daddy
("Buff Daddy") in discussion with Shakur while abasing themselves of the November 1994 shooting. Many rap fans consider this an outrageous moment that had been followed by the "Hit 'em up
" video and may have led to the fatal shooting incident in September, 1996. Although Pac says "I ain't gonna kill you, Pig" and "Once we're homeboys, we're always homeboys", because of the ironic manner in which he says this, came through as an offense, and remained one of his diss songs. However an uncut (probably uncensored) version of the video shows 2Pac and his guards pulling out pistols from their jackets ready to shoot, while the intro suddenly ends, reminiscent of a scene from the movie Scarface
. Apart from that, the song is about Snoop and 2Pac's arraignment
, while 2Pac was just released from jail, Snoop's trial was about to come to a head. There is also a guest appearance by Tha Dogg Pound
and Nate Dogg
.
.
This song was played as tribute to 2Pac on the Up In Smoke Tour, in 2000, by Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg. They played this, along with 2 other songs, as tribute to 2Pac. The sample of 2Pac verse, is played with the crowd waving their hands, with their twos' in the air. On Snoop Dogg's verse, he raps it. On the chrous, Snoop Dogg has the crowd sing, "Say, 2Pac. Say we love you. We miss you."
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
song written by 2Pac, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
and Daz Dillinger
Daz Dillinger
Delmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records.-The Chronic, Tha Dogg Pound and Dogg Food:Daz began his career on Death Row...
for 2Pac's 1996 double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
. The song is a duet performed by 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" was released as promotional recording
Promotional recording
A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available...
and was the album's second single, after "California Love
California Love
"California Love" is a hip hop song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single upon his release from prison in 1995. A popular remix version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me...
". The song peaked at number 46 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart is the airplay component chart of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. It is not the R&B subset of The Hot 100 Airplay, but rather a separate panel of R&B stations in urban markets used for the R&B/Hip-Hop chart...
.
"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" was later included on 2Pac's Greatest Hits in 1998. A remix of the song was also featured on the album Nu-Mixx Klazzics
Nu-Mixx Klazzics
Nu-Mixx Klazzics is a remix album by 2Pac, released in 2003 by Death Row Records. The album includes several songs from All Eyez on Me, with new backing tracks and new guest vocals from artists such as Aaron Hall, K-Ci and JoJo, and Tha Outlawz. Nu Mixx Klazzics was generally panned by critics...
in 2003.
Music video
The original music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
director dropped out of the project because he didn't want to share directing credit with Tupac (since Tupac had written the concept) . It was up to Gobi M. Rahimi to step in as a director and his production company to deliver a hit video for Tupac.
The video was filmed four months prior to Tupac's September 1996 shooting. The prelude for the song shows a parody of Biggie Smalls
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
("Piggie") and Puff Daddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
("Buff Daddy") in discussion with Shakur while abasing themselves of the November 1994 shooting. Many rap fans consider this an outrageous moment that had been followed by the "Hit 'em up
Hit 'Em Up
"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss song by rap artist 2Pac , featuring his group the Outlawz. It is the B-side to the single "How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996, from the album All Eyez on Me. The song’s lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chiefly among them, Shakur's former...
" video and may have led to the fatal shooting incident in September, 1996. Although Pac says "I ain't gonna kill you, Pig" and "Once we're homeboys, we're always homeboys", because of the ironic manner in which he says this, came through as an offense, and remained one of his diss songs. However an uncut (probably uncensored) version of the video shows 2Pac and his guards pulling out pistols from their jackets ready to shoot, while the intro suddenly ends, reminiscent of a scene from the movie Scarface
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
. Apart from that, the song is about Snoop and 2Pac's arraignment
Arraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
, while 2Pac was just released from jail, Snoop's trial was about to come to a head. There is also a guest appearance by Tha Dogg Pound
Tha Dogg Pound
Tha Dogg Pound is a rap group made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs. They also appeared on Snoop Dogg's debut album...
and Nate Dogg
Nate Dogg
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale , better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, was an American musician. He is noted for his membership of rap trio 213 and his solo career in which he collaborated with Dr. Dre, Warren G, Tupac and Snoop Dogg on many hit releases. Nate Dogg released three solo albums, G-Funk...
.
Facts
Snoop's first line in the song, "I keep my hand on my gun, 'cos they got me on the run" is a reference to "The Message" by Grandmaster FlashGrandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
.
This song was played as tribute to 2Pac on the Up In Smoke Tour, in 2000, by Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg. They played this, along with 2 other songs, as tribute to 2Pac. The sample of 2Pac verse, is played with the crowd waving their hands, with their twos' in the air. On Snoop Dogg's verse, he raps it. On the chrous, Snoop Dogg has the crowd sing, "Say, 2Pac. Say we love you. We miss you."
Personnel
- Engineer: Dave Aron
- Assistant engineer: Alvin McGill
- Mixing: David Blake
- Featuring (Rap): Snoop Dogg