Me Against the World

Me Against the World came out on 14 March 1995 on Interscope and Out da Gutta Records, distributed by Atlantic. By then Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... had gone platinum and Shakur had been shot at Quad Studios on 30 November 1994. He said the album was meant to show the hip-hop audience his respect for the art form, and he wrote it as more personal and reflective than his earlier work. Of the finished record he said it explained his lifestyle, who he was and his upbringing, and that it talked about the streets in a different light.

It was recorded at ten studios and mastered by Brian Gardner. The producers included Shock G, Easy Mo Bee, Tony Pizarro, Johnny J and the Danish hip-hop duo Soulshock and Karlin. Dramacydal appear on the title track and Outlaw, and Richie Rich on Heavy in the Game. The album blends East Coast boom bap drums with the melodic elements of West Coast G-funk, with slow basslines and synthesizer hooks.

Songs

The darker songs are If I Die 2Nite, Lord Knows, Outlaw and Fuck The World. Old School is a roll call of his favorite rap songs, It Ain't Easy has a bittersweet optimism, and Can U Get Away urges a romantic interest to leave an abusive relationship. Dear Mama is a tribute to his mother. Samples include Isaac Hayes on the title track, Stevie Wonder on So Many Tears and Zapp on Temptations. Natasha Walker sings additional vocals on Lord Knows, Shock G and Puff Johnson sing background vocals on two tracks, and Thug Life, Digital Underground and Stretch join in on So Many Tears.

Charts and reception

It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 240,000 copies in its first week and held the top spot for four consecutive weeks. It also went to number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It overtook Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits as the best-selling album in the United States while Shakur was in prison. It was certified gold and platinum on 26 April 1995 and double platinum on 6 December 1995, and had sold 3,524,567 copies in the United States by September 2011. The singles were Dear Mama (number nine on the Hot 100), So Many Tears (number 44) and Temptations (number 68). The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 38th Grammy Awards, with Dear Mama nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, and it won Best Rap Album at the 1996 Soul Train Music Awards.

Cheo H. Coker of Rolling Stone called it Shakur's best and wrote that it was by and large a work of pain, anger and burning desperation. Jon Pareles of the New York Times called Shakur the St. Augustine of gangster rap. Allen Gordon of The Source called it his best work by far. Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian found a surprisingly optimistic 2Pac but criticized the anodyne beats. Robert Christgau of the Village Voice objected to what he heard as self-pity. In retrospect, AllMusic's Steve Huey wrote that it may not be his definitive album, but it just might be his best. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.