Lets talk about how Tupac actually recorded...

[Rukas]

Ok, so its been eleven years and we cant exactly keep talking about the same topics, and Ive honestly never really seen this discussed in detail before so thought I would make the thread.

Tupac's recording habits; they obviously changed over the years so Im talking more about his Death Row days.

It's kind of amazing. Most people, when they talk about Pac, mention how quick he wrote and state he would just hit the booth, drop his verse and move on the the next track; somewhat explaining his huge catalog.

But thats not really the case because Pac stacked his vocals, which means he did multiple takes and layered them on top of one another to create a fatter vocal sound. The fact this is barely noticeable shows how great Pac was at timing because you have to do each verse spot on each time or else the sound comes out "muddy." He had to deliver it spot on exactly the same each time.

Add to that the adlibs and doubles on various words.

So basically, Pac recorded each of his songs multiple times; which makes the size of the catalog that much more amazing.

Does anybody else have anything to add on Tupac's recording habits? Id love to find out what compressors and EQs Death Row was using back in those days and what Pac used.

Are there any articles around the place?

 

[cross]

.......

 

[Cooper]

Ok, so its been eleven years and we cant exactly keep talking about the same topics, and Ive honestly never really seen this discussed in detail before so thought I would make the thread.

Tupac's recording habits; they obviously changed over the years so Im talking more about his Death Row days.

It's kind of amazing. Most people, when they talk about Pac, mention how quick he wrote and state he would just hit the booth, drop his verse and move on the the next track; somewhat explaining his huge catalog.

But thats not really the case because Pac stacked his vocals, which means he did multiple takes and layered them on top of one another to create a fatter vocal sound. The fact this is barely noticeable shows how great Pac was at timing because you have to do each verse spot on each time or else the sound comes out "muddy." He had to deliver it spot on exactly the same each time.

Add to that the adlibs and doubles on various words.

So basically, Pac recorded each of his songs multiple times; which makes the size of the catalog that much more amazing.

Does anybody else have anything to add on Tupac's recording habits? Id love to find out what compressors and EQs Death Row was using back in those days and what Pac used.

Are there any articles around the place?

Some of his layering is amazing....u can barely tell, but he does it in most tracks.

 

[Stred]

i never knew that, i allways thought he did what rukas said "drop his verse and move on the the next track". maybe i should do more research on Pac.

 

[liz]

Tupac work habits is the key thing here yes it is interesting on how he recorded but its his work ethic that is most credible in this situation.

Lets not forget what is also happening in his life while he doing his recordings Jail, court dates, movies, and the mass amounts of pictures (Pac got alot of Photos) which mean he gotta be doing studio time taking all those pix and videos he was doing...and he wrote his own material, left us poetry as well

A legend in my mind always.

And he had to make time to chill with his boyz....

Very nice post I liked it alot!

 

[yak pac fatal]

imagine all the unfinished songs he has..............that will be ruined by amaru

 

[Snowman]

wow never really thought of Pac's work ethic like that. i remember Suge even saying Pac living in the studio working so much he doesnt even have time for women either.

good thread btw.

 

[DarkPhantom13]

The way he layered his vocals and harmonized them is fuckin crazy! You really dont see that shit every day. And the fact that he laid down several different versions and takes plus all the adlibs im sure if one of us had access to the vaults shit....it would be a fuckin gold mine just for acapellas. I liked how in his first albums he always used the soldier voice. Up until recently i dont really remember anybody really using that style.

 

[SonOf2pac]

i think one of the most prominent songs when it comes to this is "Street Fame"... you can def. tell with all his adlibs and shit... i just wonder if this was key to his fame... what would he be without it? i always thought he was pretty bad live when it came to breath, flow, delivery, etc... hmmm... thoughts?

 

[rlhjr]

Staying on subject slightly as far as his recording goes... as said above, he had alot going on in his life. But one thing this younger
generation, who were maybe 5 or 10 when he was alive, seems to over look when comparing 2pac to present day hip-hop artists, is his youth.
2pac recorded ALL of his music at a young age, AND it sounded good! Yes he lived into his 20's, but for those of us who may be pushing 30 or past, think back to when you were 19,20, or 21.
2pac got out so much and he was STILL maturing as a human being.
Off subject here: that's what has always bothered me about debating 2pac with today's artists, and with today's new generation of hip-hop fans.
It's too easy to pick at his music and say "this contradicts this" and so on. Besides him not being perfect just like us all, he was STILL growing up even while on Death Row.
Yes he was a MAN, but he was still maturing and when you look at his whole catalog of music, going back to 2pacalypse Now up to Makaveli and beyond, you can see that growth. The change in subject matters, sometimes shifting back, sometimes forward.
Sorry to go off topic.

The majority of today's hip-hop artists have borrowed(or copied) something from Pac, wether it be trying to paint themselves as a super-thug type or rebel, or their dress style and how EVERYONE jumped on the tattoo bandwagon once Pac was out of jail sporting beaters with tat's all over him.....
But staying on topic, no matter what is copied, what is portrayed, one thing nobody has yet to duplicate is the realism, the emotions, the simple YET deep lyrical depth Pac had with words, and the work ethic he put in....

Its very amazing to think that a man who overcame so much, in the short time he was alive, recorded and displayed such a passion for music.

Say what you will about who's the BEST lyricist, who's the baddest, who's the richest.......who REALLY CARES......because think about it....all the tough guys that popped up after Pac, yet years later, many years later....who's music do you still play present day....who do you give your respect to?

 

[Word Is Bond]

dear mama i wish i was born with two voices-(chino xl making fun of 2pac for doubling vocals)

 

[yak pac fatal]

dear mama i wish i was born with two voices-(chino xl making fun of 2pac for doubling vocals)

that wuz from that freestyle diss?

 

[masta247]

yeah I always loved the way he did those adlibs and I always knew that he must have been working on each track to make it how he wanted it to sound. Because he layed his vocals few times his songs are always full of 2pac.

I remember how amazed he was after recording some tracks, especially that strange story behind "Blasphemy".
To me that was one of the creepiest things about him.

Except that you can hear everything on "Sessions" disks.
Simple songs were recorded at least few times + adlibs.

 

[Word Is Bond]

that wuz from that freestyle diss?

nah i think it was in a interview about 2pac. it was chino and some other guy talking about 2pac's work and his beefs. chino said the quote and they started laughing, saying he always doubled his vocals.

 

[Kadafi Son]

The way he layered his vocals and harmonized them is fuckin crazy! You really dont see that shit every day. And the fact that he laid down several different versions and takes plus all the adlibs im sure if one of us had access to the vaults shit....it would be a fuckin gold mine just for acapellas. I liked how in his first albums he always used the soldier voice. Up until recently i dont really remember anybody really using that style.

Around those times, I only remember Eazy E doin' his voice like dat in his outros and intros, but never rapping with it.

But the only time Pac ever had a bad layer, I believe was in the OG of Nothin' But Love

 

[warriorinjewelz]

i think one of the most prominent songs when it comes to this is "Street Fame"... you can def. tell with all his adlibs and shit... i just wonder if this was key to his fame... what would he be without it? i always thought he was pretty bad live when it came to breath, flow, delivery, etc... hmmm... thoughts?

i thought 2pac was great live before his death row days but for some reason during his death row days he wasn't as good to me live. don't know why. just check his performances before death row and during. 2pac is a studio genuis though. he knew what he was doing in the studio.

 

[khamla]

Pac had great work ethic yes, but the main thing was he was FAST! No one was faster than Pac. Think about it, his musical career wasn't that long at all. 92-94 and then he was in jail 94-95, then out 95-96. So when you think about it, thats only a few years of music. But the guy was doing movies too. Look at Em or Nelly or any other rapper. They only come out with an album at best every 2 years. They got nothing on Pac. None of them!

 

[Kadafi Son]

Pac had great work ethic yes, but the main thing was he was FAST! No one was faster than Pac. Think about it, his musical career wasn't that long at all. 92-94 and then he was in jail 94-95, then out 95-96. So when you think about it, thats only a few years of music. But the guy was doing movies too. Look at Em or Nelly or any other rapper. They only come out with an album at best every 2 years. They got nothing on Pac. None of them!

Yea, I think only Bizzy Bone or Krayzie Bone could brush Pac on ethic

 

[Kobe]

If anyone has time, please explain 'layering' for me in detail?

Back to the discussion......Well, Pac's recoding style was rather interesting. I wonder why he recorded different versions of songs like:

2 of amerikaz most wanted (LP & video version)
How do you want it (LP & video version)
I aint mad atcha (LP & video version)
Staring thru my rearview (LP & movie version)
Lost souls (LP & movie version)
To live and die in LA (LP & video version or radio version)

Get my point?

Well he even went as far as using different instrumentals if not different lyrics. That has always impressed me though I wonder why he used to do it that way.

 

[Kobe]

rlhjr: great post :woah:

I agree with you 100%. 2pac did achieve a lot (really words cant describe) by the time of his death. I'm 25yrs and when I look at what he's done by the time he was my age I'm like whoa. Its not easy discussing 2pac with people who listen to today's artists as they really wont see the points that even you are putting across. Certainly his LP's show a great amount of growth but personally I love the 'Me against the world' period.

2pac does have a heavier influence in hip hop today than even his own fans will admit. He wrote his music with a lot of emotion and depth in everything so, I think thats why when I put on his LPs from more than 10yrs back, they still sound amazing. I can barely listen to any hip hop LPs from more 10 years back (not even The Chronic).

But hey, thats just me.