Better Dayz
Better Dayz
2Pac
Amaru / Tha Row / Interscope / Universal
Ranking 8/10

Despite having lost his life six years ago, the legacy of 2Pac continues to thrive thanks to the dedication of his mother Afeni Shakur. Afeni has once again amassed an impressive double album of vintage Tupac material.

Better Dayz is a thoroughly enjoyable album filled with Tupac's distinctive story-telling ability. However, 6 years after his death, I begin to question the validity of some of his messages. Obviously, there is no growth in his work, and several of the songs, such as 'When We Ride on Our Enemies' and 'Fuck Em All,' have Tupac making implausible thugged out gangsta claims, which are outdated and tactless.

Nonetheless, 2Pac has the lyrical skills capable of captivating any hip-hop fan. He scores big on the upbeat, thug-laced 'Still Ballin' featuring Trick Daddy. 'Fair Exchange (Mya Remix)' is a clubbish upbeat track with production complementing 2Pac's flow majestically. The laid-back Hindi-laced 'Never B Peace' tells a trademark hood tale of struggle. 'Who Do You Believe In' is a conscious spiritually minded song. Other standout tracks include 'Whatcha Gonna Do,' 'Thugz Mansion (acoustic),' 'Better Dayz,' 'Mamas Just a Little Girl,' 'My Block (remix),'

The release of Better Dayz makes me mourn 2Pac's death even more. His distinctive and captivating flow, when doubled up with timeless production always makes for a great album. Better Dayz is no exception, as the legacy of 2Pac continues to grow.

Click here to buy the album at amazon.com

Troy Neilson
This review was written January 2, 2003