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

Hip-hop fans can scream hallelujah; there's finally a decent rap record to cap the summer off with the release of Tupac's Nu Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 (Evolution: Duets And Remixes). Tupac was more than an MC, he was an icon, and it's unfortunate that many of us didn't even know that another Tupac CD was dropping because of the poor promotion by Death Row. This is actually an unofficial release from Death Row. The matter at hand is in litigation as you read this. The first Nu Mixx Klazzics was putrid. They desperately tried to make a quick buck by butchering all the Tupac classics. This time around, it is surprisingly a great mixture of top-notch production and Pac's passionate poems.

Kicking off the album is "Picture Me Rollin' (Remix)" with Kurupt and Butch Cassidy. Kurupt spits a vintage verse that makes it seem like he is still stranded on Death Row, which makes this song a great addition to Pac's catalog. There's also an alternative version of "Picture Me Rollin'," which is also worth mentioning. It's basically the same production (except with a few new instruments) and real thug talk provided by The Outlaws. "Keep Goin'," featuring Fatal, showcases a poignant verse from Pac that will send chills up your spine as he spits, "let's go for dolo bitch, and I will float yo ship / Mr. Makaveli moving pieces like telekinesis / this is a chess game let's play with real pieces." Pac's vocals mesh so perfectly with this contemporary beat, that it makes you feed into conspiracy theories about Pac being alive and hiding in Cuba. It's literally a hood classic a decade later; Fatal's flow has matured and he sounds like he has found his niche.

The lead single off Vol. 2 is "What'z Ya Phone Number," once again a great production is selected to mesh with Pac's rhymes as he demonstrates a fast flow. People have always admired Pac's depth and his passion, and almost every song on here makes you miss what we lost over a decade ago. After you've heard the introspective "Staring Through My Rearview," featuring Dwele, you will, without a doubt, kick back and analyze your life as well as the world we live in. The "Pain" remix with Styles P is also another standout track on the album. Some things should have been left as is, however. "Got My Mind Made Up," "Initiated," and "How Do You Want It" sound better in their original state.

The overall album is something to remember and a way for the new generation of hip-hopers to appreciate some vintage Tupac. There's a lot more depth here than "shaking your laffy taffy" and doing the "soulja boy." It's so refreshing to hear Pac revamped with present day production, but it hurts to know the album is unauthorized and a bad move from Death Row to generate dollars for their new debts. Regardless of the industry politics behind the album, revisiting Pac's greatness is a welcomed trip down memory lane.

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