Complexion
ʇdᴉɹɔsǝɥʇdᴉlɟ
Everything about it just keeps on getting better and better whilst still remaining relevant as time goes by and that elevates it beyond a mere classic into something else:
Immortal.
The way Pac was pushing the pen on this project and how his flow elevated the most basic, B room barely mastered beats into certified cuts is testament to his skills as it was all virtually off the dome, one take, onto the next back to back sessions handled in a few days. Add to that the hype around his death because back in 96 everyone thought he was still alive, especially after the I Ain't Mad At Cha video and his "I've been shot and murdered" verse on Double Rs album not long after.
The album is nearly a quarter of a century old, let that sink in because in hip hop terms that means its from the Jurassic era and yet no one has came anywhere near the candor and naturalness of the songs even though many have tried with their corny forced tracks and manufactured "classics" which try and replicate the unduplicatable.
Pacs albums always linked up with his life perfectly and if AEOM was the homecoming party surrounded by friends, women, drinks, drugs and the best of everything Makaveli was waking up the next day alone, in the dark, surrounded by the mess with a crazy hangover and lots of self reflection on what the price of yesterdays excess will be and what the true cost of living like this is...
Its like Quik said "Cause everybody wanna be Pac, But dont nobody wanna fill them shoes before they feel them shots" as the realness is just overflowing on this album, almost like Pac knew it was all about to end as he rushed to capture his essence in a message for the generations to come with a spiritual urgency and created something that is totally unique in sound, execution, topics, everything.
I wonder how many peoples lives this album has saved as it helped them keep their head above water during hard times in the past couple of decades and change? Those who know, know and thats why I say its immortal because every time it spins you breathe new life into it...
Immortal.
The way Pac was pushing the pen on this project and how his flow elevated the most basic, B room barely mastered beats into certified cuts is testament to his skills as it was all virtually off the dome, one take, onto the next back to back sessions handled in a few days. Add to that the hype around his death because back in 96 everyone thought he was still alive, especially after the I Ain't Mad At Cha video and his "I've been shot and murdered" verse on Double Rs album not long after.
The album is nearly a quarter of a century old, let that sink in because in hip hop terms that means its from the Jurassic era and yet no one has came anywhere near the candor and naturalness of the songs even though many have tried with their corny forced tracks and manufactured "classics" which try and replicate the unduplicatable.
Pacs albums always linked up with his life perfectly and if AEOM was the homecoming party surrounded by friends, women, drinks, drugs and the best of everything Makaveli was waking up the next day alone, in the dark, surrounded by the mess with a crazy hangover and lots of self reflection on what the price of yesterdays excess will be and what the true cost of living like this is...
Its like Quik said "Cause everybody wanna be Pac, But dont nobody wanna fill them shoes before they feel them shots" as the realness is just overflowing on this album, almost like Pac knew it was all about to end as he rushed to capture his essence in a message for the generations to come with a spiritual urgency and created something that is totally unique in sound, execution, topics, everything.
I wonder how many peoples lives this album has saved as it helped them keep their head above water during hard times in the past couple of decades and change? Those who know, know and thats why I say its immortal because every time it spins you breathe new life into it...
