I know Pac's pre-passing albums incredibly well, but not so much his posthumous ones (except for 'The Don Killuminati'), so I've decided to revisit them starting here with 'R U Still Down? (Remember Me)'.
Disc 1: The introduction and interlude aside, you can't fault anything much on this disc. Pac knew how to write songs with replay value thanks to catchy hooks and rhymes, and while not Daz and Johnny J, the producers do their thing to a high enough standard. Early standouts include 'Open Fire', 'Hellrazor', that never let's up, and 'Nothing to Lose' with its contagious hook. There is an engaging mix of styles as well with some sample heavy, more feel good production, and others like 'Lie to Kick It', that sound a bit more ol' school hip hop influenced. The only song that hasn't hit much at all is 'Let Them Thangs Go'. 4/5 for this disc.
Best Tracks: Open Fire, Hellrazor, I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto, Nothing to Lose, I'm Gettin Money
Disc 2: The second disc starts off slower, with the second song, 'When I Get Free', featuring Pac with an altered voice, and being an extension of 'Soulja's Story' from '2Pacalypse Now'. 'Hold on Be Strong' is the first song to impress with 'Do for Love' being another pick from disc two and would be many people's favourite. '16 on Death Row' features a likeable contrast between the verses and hook and then the album finishes strongly with 'Only Fear of Death'. However, after having heard it so much as a remix (see the 'Lil Prophet Remix') the production could be better to match the vivid verses. I find the title of the remix to 'I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto' odd. I now what they're saying, but what, the version on the first disc isn't 'hip hop'? :/ As a whole, the disc is more up and down than the first and suggests that the label could've used some more quality control, but in saying that, the quality never falls too low. 3.5/5
Best Tracks: Hold on Be Strong, Do for Love, 16 on Death Row, When I Get Free II, Only Fear of Death
For 23ish songs, there is enough here to enjoy for any Pac fan. There isn't anything really touching his amazing best, but that isn't unexpected on a posthumous release full of songs recorded between '92-'94 that didn't make his albums. I've increased the rating after revisiting it. The 'critics' ratings of this suggest to me that they just didn't want to been seen as being positive about a Pac album that some would see as exploiting him after his death because it's not bad at all.
Beats: ★★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★★☆
Hooks: ★★★★
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