2Pac Friday
4 August 2023
As it feels like thunderstorms are on their way where I live, Phil Collins’ words “I feel it coming in the air tonight” seem very appropriate. But I do not have a Phil Collins album. And while I do like some of his music to some degree, I really do not want to listen to just a Phil Collins song right now.
But I do want to listen to a 2Pac song.
I always want to listen to a 2Pac song.
We could listen to “Starin’ Through My Rearview” originally from the Gang Related soundtrack and later appearing on the 2Pac Resurrection soundtrack. This song heavily samples Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” but does not feature his vocals.
There is a remix–and I’m not sure if it appeared on any actual official 2Pac album or release—where E.D.I. Mean’s verse is replaced by Phil Collins’ vocals, the chorus from “In the Air Tonight,” which also resurfaces as a second chorus during what is simply the outro in the original version. This is a popular version of the song.
Now, I am often accused (in the rare contexts when people are willing sit down and have long discussions about 2Pac’s music, so these are normally accusations that come from voices in my head when contemplated 2Pac music in a little self-contained discourse) of being a 2Pac purist or heavily favoring official or original releases over remixes, especially those of the wobbly Other Internet variety. So, perhaps the choice for this 2Pac Friday is to help dispel such notions.
Or possibly the choice for this 2Pac Friday is to include the actual words of Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” to match the local weather.
Whatever the reasoning may be (or may not be, for choices in 2Pac Friday selection need no justification; one never need rationalize listening to 2Pac), we are going to select the remix featuring Phil Collins’ vocals as the official SLP 2Pac Friday selection for 4 August 2023. In that way, the unofficial (this remix) becomes official today (under the auspices of SLP 2Pac Friday official status).
But we should note this is no disrespect to E.D.I. Mean of the Outlawz. He will certainly get his share of due in SLP 2Pac Fridays, as he should.
It also should be emphasized that 2Pac Fridays are never to be limited by the official SLP 2Pac Friday selections, for those are made simply to keep us properly disciplined and helping to ensure that we listen to some 2Pac on a 2Pac Friday, not completely unlike you may hire a personal trainer to make sure you do some exercise, but then also exercise outside of those official sessions. The main difference is that we offer this 2Pac Friday service pro bono, while your physical trainer might charge you 50 dollars per session (or more).
It also should be noted (since we are currently noting and emphasizing things here in effort of full transparency) that we will eventually listen to both versions tonight.
Multiple times.
And as long as there are Fridays in this world, there will also be 2Pac Fridays and thus official SLP 2Pac Fridays. And so, I can say with full confidence of everything good and decent in this world, the original version will also get its do.
Mark my words.
Preferably on SLP Calendar, if possible.