Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988-1991 is a posthumously released album from the late hip hop icon 2Pac. It was released June 12, 2007 and it contained some of 2Pac's first songs recorded in 1988. The collection of songs was originally released in bootleg form on April 18, 2000 under the title The Lost Tapes: Circa 1988, but was soon forced off record store shelves by Afeni Shakur

Afeni Shakur

Afeni Shakur Davis is an African American music businesswoman, philanthropist, former political activist and ex-Black Panther. She is the mother of the late Tupac Shakur...

 due to copyright infringement. In 2007 the same songs were re-released under a new title with Afeni Shakur's approval. The album featured 10 songs featuring 2Pac's early crew, Strictly Dope. These are the tracks that led to 2Pac joining the tour with Digital Underground

Digital Underground

Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....

 as a roadie for Chopmaster J and a dancer and crew member for Digital Underground

Digital Underground

Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....

. The album was produced by Digital Underground

Digital Underground

Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....

's co-founder Chopmaster J.

Both mixes of the song "Static" contain a sample of Shock G

Shock G

Gregory E. Jacobs , known by the stage names Shock G and Humpty Hump, is an American musician and rapper, known as the lead vocalist for the hip hop group Digital Underground...

's line in "Same Song" ("Tupac, go head and rock this") which was originally spoken immediately before Tupac's verse in that recording. "Same Song" marked the first time a verse recorded by Tupac was actually released.

Track listing

1. "Panther Power"
2. "The Case of the Misplaced Mic"
3. "Let Knowledge Drop"
4. "Never Be Beat"
5. "A Day in the Life"
6. "My Burnin' Heart"
7. "Minnie the Moocher"
8. "The Case of the Misplaced Mic II"
9. "Static Mix I"
10. "Static Mix II"

External links

• 2Pac Legacy (Official website)
• Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation for the Arts