Loyal to the Game

by 2Pac

Overview

Loyal to the Game, the ninth 2Pac album released by his enterprising mother-turned-executive producer, Afeni Shakur, is one of the more unique entries in the martyred rap legend's extensive catalog. Produced entirely by Eminem, it carries on with the approach the man otherwise known as Marshall Mathers took with his production contributions to the preceding year's Tupac: Resurrection. Eminem had produced a few songs on that soundtrack, most notably the landmark 2Pac-Biggie duet "Runnin' (Dying to Live)," and his work here on Loyal to the Game isn't too much of a departure from the style of that song. In the wake of that song's popularity, Afeni gave Eminem some old tapes, and he went to work, stripping them of their productions, giving them his own trademark backing (characterized by his style of punchy, syncopated, unfunky beatmaking), incorporating some guest raps for secondary verses, and polishing them off with various sorts of hooks. Eminem's efforts here work, even if they aren't ideal. On the one hand, there's no questioning Em's integrity. He pens some reverent liner notes, explaining his position (or justifying it, depending on your viewpoint), and Afeni also pens some touching liners, likewise explaining why Eminem of all people gets the green light to produce this album in its entirety. And Em doesn't take his job here lightly. His beats hit hard and are well crafted, most similar to his more hardcore self-productions like "Mosh" or "Lose Yourself." His hooks are also well crafted: he takes the hook himself on "Soldier Like Me"; brings in 50 Cent and Nate Dogg for "Loyal to the Game" and "Thugs Get Lonely Too," respectively; samples Elton John ("Indian Sunset"), Curtis Mayfield ("If There's a Hell Below"), and Dido ("Do You Have a Little Time") for other songs; and lets 2Pac handle his own hooks elsewhere. On the other, more cynical hand, Eminem simply isn't a good fit, and the four bonus tracks here testify to what could have been. Produced by Scott Storch, Red Spyda, Raphael Saadiq, and DJ Quik, these bonus track "remixes" are clearly the highlights of the album (and quite fantastic highlights at that, perhaps alone reason enough to pick up this album). These guys produce beats much more fitting to 2Pac's rhyme style. Sure, Eminem is a great producer, but he produces these 2Pac tracks as if he were producing himself, and 2Pac is a much different breed of rapper than Slim Shady, especially in terms of cadence and delivery. This is all the more evident because the source tapes of these tracks date back to the early '90s, when 2Pac was at his funkiest and least hardcore. (While the dates aren't provided in the credits, the original producers are credited: Randy "Stretch" Walker, DJ Daryl, Live Squad, and Deon Evans, all of whom worked with Pac during his early years, namely the early '90s, just as he was leaving Digital Underground and getting his career off the ground. Various time-specific references within Pac's lyrics are further evidence of this, such as passing references to the L.A. riots.) How much Loyal to the Game ultimately appeals to you will likely depend on how much you like Eminem. After all, this is as much his album as 2Pac's -- a labor of love, no doubt. If you're fond of his lock-step beatmaking and big hooks, you'll find much to like here, for Pac's rhymes are undoubtedly fascinating in any context, even at this early stage of his career. ~ Jason Birchmeier

Product Details

Release Date:	12/14/2004
Label:	Interscope
UPC:	0075021032910

Tracks

1. Soldier Like Me (A.K.A. Return of the Soulja)
2. The Uppercut
3. Out on Bail
4. Ghetto Gospel
5. Black Cotton
6. Loyal to the Game
7. Thugs Get Lonely Too
8. N.I.G.G.A.
9. Who Do You Love?
10. Crooked Nigga Too
11. Don't You Trust Me
12. Hennessey
13. Thug 4 Life
14. Po Nigga Blues
15. Hennessey
16. Crooked Nigga Too
17. Loyal to the Game

Album Credits

Performance Credits

2Pac   Primary Artist
Noble   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Kastro   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Sleepy Brown   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Ronald Isley   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Eminem   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Jadakiss   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Big Syke   Primary Artist
Obie Trice   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
G-Unit   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Edi   Primary Artist
Nate Dogg   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Young Buck   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Kastrom   Primary Artist
50 Cent   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Big Skye   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
E.D.I.   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Lloyd Banks   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Kastro Music   Primary Artist
Luis Resto   Keyboards
Steve King   Bass,Guitar

Technical Credits

Elton John   Composer
Dido Armstrong   Composer
Mark Bates   Composer
2Pac   Producer
Tony Campana   Engineer
Nicole Johnson   Personal Assistant
Dana Smith   Composer,Composer
Darren Strand   Composer
Afeni Shakur   Executive Producer
Gretchen Anderson   Producer
Nathaniel Hale   Composer
Curtis Jackson   Composer
Sarah Catlett   Project Coordinator
TreMayne Maxie   Personal Assistant
Deon Evans   Composer,Producer
The Riddler   Composer,Producer
Kimberly Holt   Package Design
Randy Walker   Composer,Producer
Johnny Jackson   Composer
Ronald Isley   Composer
Kastro   Performer
Luis Resto   Composer,Producer
Bernie Taupin   Composer
Chuck Reed   Digital Engineer
E.D.I.   Music Supervisor
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Eminem   Mixing,Producer,Executive Producer
Red Spyda   Producer
Tupac Shakur   Composer
Riddler   Composer
Lloyd Banks   Composer
Alex Ortiz   Digital Engineer
Obie Trice   Composer
Christopher Walker   Composer
Anthony Criss   Composer
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner   Mastering
DJ Daryl   Producer
DJ Quik   Producer
Reisig   Photography
Marshall Mathers   Composer
Tyruss Himes   Composer
Jason Phillips   Composer
Patrick Harvey   Composer
David Brown   Composer
Steve King   Mixing,Composer,Engineer
Maurice Harding   Composer
Rufus Cooper   Composer
Kevin Rhames   Composer
David Blake   Composer
Malcolm Greenidge   Composer
Katari Cox   Composer
Daryl Anderson   Composer
Tracy McNew   Project Coordinator
Nicole Frantz   Creative Assistance
Scott Storch   Composer,Producer
Anthony Mosley   Composer
Raphael Saadiq   Composer,Producer