2Pac - All Eyez On Me (#436)

Welcome back to the Backwards Beats Podcast! After a month-long Northeast hiatus filled with $43 roadside lobster rolls, Carl and Dan are back in the studio. In Episode 436, the guys tackle Tupac Shakur's monumental, diamond-selling 1996 double album, All Eyez on Me. Rather than wading track-by-track through all 2 hours and 12 minutes of this 27-track epic, Carl and Dan build their ultimate 12-song "Dream Album" (plus one mandatory "Gimme" track) out of the collection. Along the way, they explore Tupac's activist roots in the Black Panther movement, his brilliant but paranoid persona, and the tragic sequence of events leading up to his untimely death. They also break down the record's legendary sample histories, debate the highest highs and lowest lows, and close things out with some stellar music recommendations. Key Points The Dream Album Formula: Rather than reviewing all 27 tracks, the hosts filter the double disc down to a tight, 12-song tracklist, revealing a surprising amount of consensus with eight matching songs between them. The "California Love" Remix Tragedy: A passionate breakdown of why the original radio cut of California Love (built on Joe Cocker's "Woman to Woman" riff) is an S-tier masterpiece, while the album's sluggish remix feels like an absolute disaster. Poetry vs. Paranoia: An examination of Tupac's complex dual nature—his brilliant storytelling and clever internal rhyming structure contrasted against the paranoia and aggressive posturing that defined his final months. What's in Your Ears: The guys share what they've been listening to lately, featuring Vulfpeck's incredible live Montreal performance (with Lewis Cato stepping in), The Bird and the Bee's Hall & Oates cover project, the Chick Corea Trio, and the Chemical Brothers' ultimate coding EP, Loops of Fury. This episode also features a contribution from Christine Kahn with Skin Vehicles (Dex Hannon) and their song "I Know Your Scars". You can learn more about them on Christian's Website or buy their song on Band Camp. Music References Sinéad O'Connor Howlin' Wolf Muddy Waters Phil Spector Miranda Lambert The White Album by The Beatles The Beatles The Wall by Pink Floyd Pink Floyd Digital Underground Jada Pinkett Woman to Woman by Joe Cocker Joe Cocker Snoop Dogg Nate Dogg Mos Def Talib Kweli Black Star Big Boi André 3000 Outkast Katy Perry Regulate by Warren G Warren G Yaki Kadafi Outlawz Tha Dogg Pound Dr. Dre Ice Cube The Roots Eminem Natasha Walker CPO Boss Hogg KC & JoJo Drake DMX Let's Get Together by Al Green Al Green Rhythm of the Night by DeBarge A Dream by DeBarge DeBarge No Diggity by Blackstreet Don't Leave Me by Blackstreet Blackstreet Danny Boy Kanye West Richie Rich Usher Gorillaz SZA Kendrick Lamar Daughter by Pearl Jam Pearl Jam 777-9311 by The Time The Time Morris Day Darling Nikki by Prince Prince Parliament Average White Band Johnny J Big Syke Chali 2na Jurassic 5 Michael McCary Boyz II Men Maceo Parker Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns James Brown Richard Pryor Vitamin C Brandy by The O'Jays The O'Jays Frankie Teardrop by Suicide Suicide Good Mood by Adam Levine Adam Levine Sugar by Maroon 5 Maroon 5 Sherry by Frankie Valli Frankie Valli I Ain't Worried by OneRepublic OneRepublic Back Pocket by Vulfpeck Dean Town by Vulfpeck Animal Spirits by Vulfpeck Vulfpeck Charles Jones Louis Cato Jacob Collier Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates by The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee Nataly Dawn I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) by Hall & Oates Maneater by Hall & Oates Rich Girl by Hall & Oates Sara Smile by Hall & Oates Hall & Oates Trilogy 2 by Chick Corea Trio Chick Corea Trio Brian Blade Christian McBride Return to Forever John McLaughlin Loops of Fury by The Chemical Brothers Hey Boy Hey Girl by The Chemical Brothers The Chemical Brothers West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys Join us next week when we discuss, Actually by Pet Shop Boys.