Tupac Interlude - Tupac Shakur: The Rose That Grew From Concrete, Vol.1
Wake Me When I'm Free - Babatunde Olatunji/Sikiru Adepoju
Can U C The Pride In The Panther (Male Version) - Mos Def
When Ure Heart Turns Cold - Sonia Sanchez
U R Ripping Us Apart!!! - Dead Prez
Tears Of A Teenage Mother - Jasmine Guy
God - Reverend Run
And Still I Love You - Red Rat
Can U C The Pride In The Panther (Female Version) - Mos Def
If There Be Pain - Providence/RasDaveed El Harar
A River That Flows Forever - Danny Glover/Afeni Shakur/The Cast Of The Lion King
The Rose That Grew From Concrete - Nikki Giovanni
In The Event Of My Demise - Outlawz/Geronimo Ji Jaga
What Of A Love Unspoken - Tre'
Sometimes I Cry - Dan Rockett
The Fear In The Heart Of A Man - Q-Tip
Starry Night - Quincy Jones/Mac Mall
What Of Fame? - Russell Simmons
Only 4 The Righteous - Rha Goddess
Why Must U Be Unfaithful - Sarah Jones
Wife 4 Life - 4th Avenue Jones'
Lady Liberty Needs Glasses - Malcolm Jamal Warner
Family Tree - Lamar Antwon Robinson/IMPACT Repertory Theatre Group
Thug Blues - Lamar Antwon Robinson/IMPACT Repertory Theatre Group
The Sun & The Moon - Chief Okena Littlehawk
Another chapter in a long series of material being churned out by the "keep Tupac alive" cottage industry, this tribute album makes his private thoughts (written during his adolescence) available for mass consumption. Wil... more »l Pac-friendly consumers get played as his estate gets paid, again? Not really, because thankfully these renditions are carried out by a multi-generational crew of pop-culture heroes. When the cast of The Lion King form a dreamy a cappella backdrop to Danny Glover and Afeni's reading of "A River that Flows Forever," it's like heavenly bliss. The same goes for the numbers interpreted by a holy trinity of spoken-word goddesses: Sarah Jones's "Why Must U Be Unfaithful", Sonia Sanchez's acoustic number, "When Ure Heart Turns Cold," and Nikki Giovanni's R&B-tinged interpretation of the title poem. But there are moments on the disc that are as dodgy as the investigation to find his killer. In light of Pac's socialist revolutionary swagger, how raving capitalist Russell Simmons ended up on this disc is anyone's guess. While some of Pac's thugged-out constituency will want to upchuck violently when they hear sentimental tunes like Tre of the Pharcyde's "What of a Love Unspoken," the material blessed by dead prez, Mos Def, and percussionist Babatunde Olatunji deserves a serious listen by music lovers across the board. --Dalton Higgins« less
Another chapter in a long series of material being churned out by the "keep Tupac alive" cottage industry, this tribute album makes his private thoughts (written during his adolescence) available for mass consumption. Will Pac-friendly consumers get played as his estate gets paid, again? Not really, because thankfully these renditions are carried out by a multi-generational crew of pop-culture heroes. When the cast of The Lion King form a dreamy a cappella backdrop to Danny Glover and Afeni's reading of "A River that Flows Forever," it's like heavenly bliss. The same goes for the numbers interpreted by a holy trinity of spoken-word goddesses: Sarah Jones's "Why Must U Be Unfaithful", Sonia Sanchez's acoustic number, "When Ure Heart Turns Cold," and Nikki Giovanni's R&B-tinged interpretation of the title poem. But there are moments on the disc that are as dodgy as the investigation to find his killer. In light of Pac's socialist revolutionary swagger, how raving capitalist Russell Simmons ended up on this disc is anyone's guess. While some of Pac's thugged-out constituency will want to upchuck violently when they hear sentimental tunes like Tre of the Pharcyde's "What of a Love Unspoken," the material blessed by dead prez, Mos Def, and percussionist Babatunde Olatunji deserves a serious listen by music lovers across the board. --Dalton Higgins
"He died when he was 25..... He wrote these words when he was 19. This album is so real and although most of the tracks do not have the feel of a 2Pac album-- the "lyrics" by Pac certainly do. Although I've enjoyed other articles by Dalton Higgins (the guy who wrote the amazon.com official review for this CD) I think he kind of missed the whole point of this album-- AND Tupac's life in general. For Dalton to say that Tupac's "thugged-out constituency" will vomit when hearing the songs about love is totally ridiculous. Dalton!!: That "other side" of Tupac is what attracts people to him over you everyday thug rapper, like DMX (who is basically a Tupac without this depth.) Fans!!: If you buy this CD, understand there will be songs you don't like. But there will be songs you love. For me the best songs are the interpretations by Dead Prez, Mos Def, Outlawz, Quincy Jones and Mac Mall, 4th Avenue Jones' and K-ci, Nikki Giovanni, Danny Glover and Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur. And all who enjoyed Tupac's words, clarity and eloquence will love this album and cherish the brilliant mind that was destroyed by this "dormant and uncaring society." Tupac would be proud of this CD and as you listen to it you remember the whole time that these are Pac's words.This is the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family who have admonished you for listening to Tupac's music because of it's vulgarity and profane lyrics. It may convince them to start listening to his wonderful music, even if they don't like rap.The media and white America were very confused when it came to Tupac------------------> to anyone that thinks "outside of the box" when it comes to life, and dreams of a better world, Tupac is nothing less than a true hero. They say a dead man tells no tales, but through this CD Tupac still talks to the masses. His memory lives on; heed his words."
Immaculate poetry album.
Danny | South Philly | 05/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Back in about September of 2000, when I heard a new Tupac album containing 25 tracks would be coming out, I nearly jumped for joy. However, when I found out it was a CD of celebrities reading Tupac's poetry, and ESPECIALLY after learning there was only a few rap tracks, I was very skeptical about buying it. The truth is, the only reason I bought it was just so I could have all of Pac's albums. When I got home, I put it in my CD player, skimmed the album, and just placed it back on my shelf. However, the other day, for the first time, I just decided out of the blue to sit down and listen to it. And I loved it.This isn't the type of CD you can bump in your car (with the exception of a few hip-hop tracks, but even they're not hardcore). It's the type of CD you sit down, listen to, and take in. It's certainly not for everyone, so don't be discouraged if you love Tupac and don't feel this album. It's completely different from any other Tupac CD. Gone is the hardcore beats and menacing voice of the greatest rapper ever. But that's not a bad thing at all.Each performer truly gives it their all to make this album as powerful as it's turned out to be. Whether it be poetry, singing, rapping or even chanting, it's like heaven to listen to. This album also contains some of the most beautiful instrumental music I've heard in my life.So whether you like Tupac or not, this album can appeal to everyone. You just need an open mind. Give it a shot. I can't wait to see how the other "Rose That Grew From Concrete" albums turn out. But I'm not going to get my hopes up. Amaru records would have to pull off a miracle to surpass the greatness of this wonderful album."
Good CD
jtking | vancouver | 11/26/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It seems like that anything tupac touches becomes gold...this project from amaru records on tupac poetry is another must have for pac fans everywhere....thanks to guest appearances from the outlawz, mos def, q-tip, mac mall, etc this cd is not as boring as you might think by just reading what this cd is about....the tracks from this cd is not just about poetry reading, there are also singings and rapping included and the beats are pretty good too...the best tracks in this cd are "in the event of my demise" (great performance by outlawz, nice beat), "starry night" (QD III once again produced another dope track for us), the title song(r&b singing), and "family tree"....overall a good album but if u only like rap think twice about buying it"
Love Tupac
Dillan | canada | 11/24/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This album wasn't as good as I was hoping for. Tupac was a legend and reading his poetry helps see deeper inside his soul. It is basically a cd you might listen to once or twice and thats about it. My two favourite tracks are Wife for life and In the event of my demise!! I would only recommend this to true tupac fans who just really love anything related to tupac!! Its nice to have in a collection is all!!!"
The real side of Tupac
Andrew Morse | Seattle, Wa | 11/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Most people know 2pac for his banging beats and hardcore gangsta rhymes. But there are a certaine number of us that really hear what 2pac is saying is his albums, he is talking about the struggles he has gone through in his life, and his ideas of life in prodomonently African American neighborhoods around the US. This album, "the rose that grew from concrete" shows the true side of tupac at his best. The poetry on this album is a great example of his concern about important issues that surround america. His poems, although spoken by other individuals hit hard. My favorite ones on the album are, Pride of the panther, tears of a teenage mother, the rose that grew from concrete, and if there be pain. Go pick up this new album if you really want to hear what 2pac has been trying to say in his songs, it is a great cd, and should not be avoided."