| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Me Against the World | ||
|---|---|---|
| LP by 2Pac | ||
| Released | March 14, 1995 | |
| Genre | Rap | |
| Length | 65 min 57 s | |
| Record label | Interscope | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| Allmusic.com | 5 stars out of 5 | link |
| 2Pac Chronology | ||
| 2Pacalypse Now ( 1991) | Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z ( 1993) | ( 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an) |
Me Against the World is a rap album by Tupac ShakurFor other people named Tupac, see Tupac (disambiguation). Tupac Amaru Shakur ( June 16, 1971 September 13, 1996) was an influential, best-selling rap artist. Some of his aliases include 2Pac Pac and Makaveli . The names 'Tupac Amaru' and 'Shakur' mean Shi, released on March 14, 1995 (see 1995 in musicSee also 1994 in music, other events of 1995, 1996 in music, 1990s in music and the list of 'years in music' Events January 18 Jerry Garcia wrecks his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California. Garcia is not injured in the accident. Februa). The album was recorded while Shakur was recovering from a gunshot wound, and released while imprisoned for sexual assault. Perhaps as a result of these circumstances, Me Against the World has become known as the most incendiary of Shakur's releases, expressing an intensely personal mix of emotions and reactions to the events of his life. The album has been labelled both optimistic and pessimistic in its outlook. While some observers were disgusted with the apparent nihilisticNihilism as a philosophical position is the view that the world, and especially human existence, is without meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. It was also a historically significant political movement in 19th-century Russia. Etymo apathy, others found the frequent digressions into the dangers of paranoia, organized crime and the moral repercussions of violence extremely refreshing in the mid- 1990s world of hard-edged, nearly cartoonish thug rap albums.
Especially after the mainstream success of Eminem, Shakur's work in general, and this album in particular, has been scrutinized by onlookers. Shakur's hard-hitting blend of violent and intensely emotional rhymes (such as on the tribute "Dear Mama") made him an oddity in 1990s mainstream hip hop. Many critics have pointed to the glaring race issue, of Shakur's virtual uniqueness in his mainstream success with emotional lyrics and Eminem's instant acclaim for the same from a white perspective. Others find Shakur's occasional denouncement of violence and introspective lyrics shallow and superficial, and argue that hip hop has since evolved a greater sense of social and personal responsibility.
Me Against the World topped the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts. Shakur thusly became the first artist to have an album debut at #1 while incarcerated.