This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Another day, another posthumous album from a slain rapper.
Two weeks ago it was Notorious B.I.G.’s Born Again; this week, it’s Tupac Shakur’s turn. Like Biggie’s release, the 72-minute Still I Rise consists mostly of leftovers and half-baked tunes — a thug-life verse from Tupac here, a chorus there — fleshed out long after Shakur went to that big afterparty in the sky. Still, it hangs together better than Born Again did for several reasons:
1) Shakur was arguably a more nuanced and articulate rapper, so you get more artistic bang for the buck;
2) He could also sing, adding another dimension to some tracks;
3) His career was longer, so producers had more good material to choose from;
4) Instead of pairing him with big-time guest stars that threaten to steal his thunder, the low-key collaborations here keep Shakur the star of the show; and, most importantly,
5) Puff Daddy was not involved whatsoever. That alone almost makes Still I Rise worth buying.
