Unconditional Love (2Pac song)
Encyclopedia
"Unconditional Love" is a song by Tupac Shakur
, released as the second posthumous single from his Greatest Hits
album. Changes
being the first, "Changes" and "Unconditional Love" were both made into videos.
The CD single is very rare and, as many other Tupac Shakur CD
and vinyl
singles, it is known as a collector's item among fans. It was never officially released in an uncensored version
.
The song was originally written for M.C. Hammer by 2Pac (who were both friends) to revitalize his image when he signed to Death Row
. However, 2Pac recorded a demo
of it himself before giving the song to Hammer to record. Hammer's version was first released on Family Affair in 1998.http://www.amazon.com/Family-Affair-M-C-Hammer/dp/B000007T93http://music.aol.com/album/family-affair/314828 Hammer would later dance and read the lyrics to this song on the first Vh1 Hip Hop Honors
in 2004.http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/hammertimehttp://www.tv.com/vh1-hip-hop-honors/hip-hop-honors--2004/episode/979577/summary.html
According to the Family Affair album insert/bio
, "Unconditional Love" lyrics were written and arranged by Tupac Shakur (and Johnny Jackson
on M.C. Hammer's version).http://www.starpulse.com/Music/MC_Hammer/Discography/album/P46/R365840/ Hammer wrote this about the song: "This song was given to me as a gift from the late Tupac Shakur. He told me this was a song about how true love is unconditional. He wanted me to rap it because it reflected what I stand for. The secret is this is also what he stood for. More details in time. Maybe a chat about it. We know that our Bible
says that God
's love is unconditional. Thank you Tupac for this beautiful, spiritual
song." Hammer would later go on to mention his friendship with Tupac and the gift of this song to him in a TBN
interview.
There is also a video for this song featuring look- and sound-a-like Tha Realest
recording this song in the studio http://youtube.com/watch?v=EiiLrL5H2dI.
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...
, released as the second posthumous single from his Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (2Pac album)
Greatest Hits is a double disc greatest hits album for late rapper 2Pac, released by Amaru/Death Row Records in 1998. The album's non-chronological sequence highlights 2Pac's career; the 21 popular hits, some slightly re-edited for legal reasons, are accompanied by four previously unreleased songs:...
album. Changes
Changes (Tupac song)
"Changes" is a hip hop song by the late Tupac Shakur, the song was originally recorded during his tenure at Interscope records in 1992. Changes was later remixed during 1997-1998. The song re-uses lines from another 2Pac song called "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto" which was recorded during the...
being the first, "Changes" and "Unconditional Love" were both made into videos.
The CD single is very rare and, as many other Tupac Shakur CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
singles, it is known as a collector's item among fans. It was never officially released in an uncensored version
Censorship of music
Censorship of music is the practice of restricting free access to musical works. This censorship may stem from a wide variety of motivations, including moral, political, military or religious reasons. Censorship can range from the complete government-enforced legal prohibition of a musical work, to...
.
The song was originally written for M.C. Hammer by 2Pac (who were both friends) to revitalize his image when he signed to Death Row
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
. However, 2Pac recorded a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
of it himself before giving the song to Hammer to record. Hammer's version was first released on Family Affair in 1998.http://www.amazon.com/Family-Affair-M-C-Hammer/dp/B000007T93http://music.aol.com/album/family-affair/314828 Hammer would later dance and read the lyrics to this song on the first Vh1 Hip Hop Honors
Vh1 Hip Hop Honors
Vh1 Hip Hop Honors is an annual event that airs on VH1. The television special honors old school and golden age hip hop rappers and contributors. It features live performances by most of the honorees along with new school artists who have been influenced by them...
in 2004.http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/hammertimehttp://www.tv.com/vh1-hip-hop-honors/hip-hop-honors--2004/episode/979577/summary.html
According to the Family Affair album insert/bio
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
, "Unconditional Love" lyrics were written and arranged by Tupac Shakur (and Johnny Jackson
Johnny "J"
Johnny Lee Jackson , commonly known in the music industry as Johnny "J", was a Mexican multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and rapper who was perhaps best remembered for his production on Tupac Shakur's albums All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World, as well as many of Shakur's subsequent...
on M.C. Hammer's version).http://www.starpulse.com/Music/MC_Hammer/Discography/album/P46/R365840/ Hammer wrote this about the song: "This song was given to me as a gift from the late Tupac Shakur. He told me this was a song about how true love is unconditional. He wanted me to rap it because it reflected what I stand for. The secret is this is also what he stood for. More details in time. Maybe a chat about it. We know that our Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
says that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
's love is unconditional. Thank you Tupac for this beautiful, spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
song." Hammer would later go on to mention his friendship with Tupac and the gift of this song to him in a TBN
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
interview.
There is also a video for this song featuring look- and sound-a-like Tha Realest
Tha Realest
Jevon Jones is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante . His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays...
recording this song in the studio http://youtube.com/watch?v=EiiLrL5H2dI.