Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... was released on 16 February 1993 by TNT Recordings, Interscope and EastWest Records America, and recorded at Starlight Sound Studio in Richmond, Echo Sound Studio in Los Angeles and Unique Recording Studios in New York. Shakur began a follow-up to 2Pacalypse Now in early 1992 under the title Black Starry Night, then Troublesome 21. Time Warner rejected it after media outcry over the lyrics, and songs from it, including Keep Ya Head Up and I Get Around, were reused here. The abbreviation in the title is said to stand for Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished, a backronym credited to 2Pac.

It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200 and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with 38,000 copies in its first week. It was certified gold on 24 September 1993 and platinum on 19 April 1995. The singles were Holler If Ya Hear Me, I Get Around with Shock G and Money-B (number 11 on the Hot 100), Keep Ya Head Up with Dave Hollister (number 12) and Papa'z Song (number 87). Greg Tate called it Shakur's best constructed and most coherent album.