Runnin' (From tha Police)
Encyclopedia
Runnin' From tha Police is a 1995 song by rapper Tupac Shakur
, featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
, Stretch
and Dramacydal. The song is significant, being one of very few compositions 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. created together, as later hostility arose between the two rappers, ending all possible collaborations and inciting the East-West Coast Rivalry.
The first verse is performed by three of the four members of the rap group Dramacydal who would go on to join 2Pac's Outlawz
group (Yaki Kadafi, Kastro, and E.D.I. Amin, in that order), the second by Stretch and the Notorious B.I.G., and the third and last by 2Pac.
Four of the artists on the song have since been murdered, 2Pac, Biggie, Yaki Kadafi
and Stretch
.
, with a different 2Pac verse, in 1995, but was cut due to the shooting in '94 that would lead to his bitter rivalry with Biggie.
Instead, it was released a year later, as a part of compilation album
of original hip-hop
entitled One Million Strong
, which also featured songs by Mobb Deep
, Dr. Dre
, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
, Sunz of Man
, among others.
, a remix of this song produced by Eminem
, was made a single from the Tupac Resurrection
soundtrack. This version vastly differs from the original, using the 2Pac verse from the Me Against The World
version, different melody, and not including the performances by Dramacydal or Stretch at all, instead having a sample of Edgar Winter
's Dying to Live as the chorus. The remix charted at #19 on The Billboard Hot 100, and arguably is now more known than the original.
In 2006, Ludacris
used a sample of Notorious' first words in his verse (I grew up a fucking screw up / Got introduced to the game / Got an ounce and fucking blew up) as a hook on his single Grew Up a Screw Up
.
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
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...
, Stretch
Stretch (rapper)
Randy Walker , better known by his stage name Stretch, was an American rapper.-Life and career:...
and Dramacydal. The song is significant, being one of very few compositions 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. created together, as later hostility arose between the two rappers, ending all possible collaborations and inciting the East-West Coast Rivalry.
The first verse is performed by three of the four members of the rap group Dramacydal who would go on to join 2Pac's Outlawz
Outlawz
Outlawz, formally known as Outlaw Immortalz, is an American hip hop group founded by Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they are probably best known for appearing in the video "Hit 'Em Up", in a diss track aimed at Biggie Smalls and other New York...
group (Yaki Kadafi, Kastro, and E.D.I. Amin, in that order), the second by Stretch and the Notorious B.I.G., and the third and last by 2Pac.
Four of the artists on the song have since been murdered, 2Pac, Biggie, Yaki Kadafi
Kadafi (Outlawz)
Yafeu Akiyele Fula , better known by his stage name, Yaki Kadafi, was an American rapper, one of the founding members of Tha Outlawz, and godbrother of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.- Early life :...
and Stretch
Stretch (rapper)
Randy Walker , better known by his stage name Stretch, was an American rapper.-Life and career:...
.
Song meaning
Runnin' From tha Police deals with the authors' troubles with the police. The lyrics contain verbal abuse toward police officers, and even allusion the possibility of killing them (two cops is on the milk box, missing, or let's serve these motherfuckers slugs [bullets] as a fuckin' meal) , albeit in possible self-defense.Releases
Runnin' From tha Police was supposed to be featured on Shakur's album Thug Life, but it was cut due to heavy criticism of gangsta rap at the time. Subsequently it was intended to be featured on Shakur's album Me Against The WorldMe Against the World
Me Against the World is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Tupac Shakur. It was released March 14, 1995 on the Interscope Records label. The album was composed of un-used tracks from the Thug Life era, and from other studio sessions from 1993 to 1994...
, with a different 2Pac verse, in 1995, but was cut due to the shooting in '94 that would lead to his bitter rivalry with Biggie.
Instead, it was released a year later, as a part of compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of original hip-hop
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...
entitled One Million Strong
One Million Strong
One Million Strong is a 1995 compilation of hip hop music released by SOLAR Records. The compilation was released on November 7, 1995 and featured some of hip hop's biggest names, including the song "Runnin' ", which was one of the few collaboration's between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G...
, which also featured songs by Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
, Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
, Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, Shabazz the Disciple and Killah Priest. The group's first incarnation also included 7th Ambassador and Supreme...
, among others.
Remixes and legacy
In 2003, Runnin' (Dying to Live)Runnin' (Dying to Live)
"Runnin' ", by 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. was the first released single from the posthumous soundtrack album Tupac: Resurrection. The video contains interviews of both Tupac and Biggie. It is the only song from the album to feature a music video...
, a remix of this song produced by Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, was made a single from the Tupac Resurrection
Tupac: Resurrection (Original Soundtrack)
-Album Chart Positions:-Album singles:...
soundtrack. This version vastly differs from the original, using the 2Pac verse from the Me Against The World
Me Against the World
Me Against the World is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Tupac Shakur. It was released March 14, 1995 on the Interscope Records label. The album was composed of un-used tracks from the Thug Life era, and from other studio sessions from 1993 to 1994...
version, different melody, and not including the performances by Dramacydal or Stretch at all, instead having a sample of Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
's Dying to Live as the chorus. The remix charted at #19 on The Billboard Hot 100, and arguably is now more known than the original.
In 2006, Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
used a sample of Notorious' first words in his verse (I grew up a fucking screw up / Got introduced to the game / Got an ounce and fucking blew up) as a hook on his single Grew Up a Screw Up
Grew Up a Screw Up
"Grew Up a Screw Up" is the second single from Ludacris' Release Therapy. The song features Young Jeezy, who Ludacris was previously thought to have beef with and a sample of the late The Notorious B.I.G. who sings the hook "I grew up a fucking screw up."...
.
Track listing
- "Runnin' From tha Police" (Stone's Radio RMX)
- "Runnin' From tha Police" (Stone's RMX Full Length)
- "Runnin' From tha Police" (Stone's Original Vibe Mix)
- "Runnin' From tha Police" (RMX Full TV Track)
- "Runnin' From tha Police" (RMX Full Instrumental)
Peak positions
| Charts (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Charts | 12 |
| Dutch Charts | 47 |
| New Zealand Charts | 8 |
| Swedish Charts | 37 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
81 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 57 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 13 |