BY JAKE PAINE • DECEMBER 3, 2018

When Tupac Shakur got out of prison in late 1995, he boarded a private jet and went straight to Death Row Records’ Can-Am Studios in Tarzana, California. After pausing for dinner at Monty’s Steakhouse with his new label-mates, Pac wasted no time beginning the recording of his double-album All Eyez On Me. Now a diamond-certified release, the 2LP was a blockbuster for Valentine’s Day 1996 and Rap music.

A lot was going on at Death Row upon Tupac’s arrival. Tha Dogg Pound had just released their successful Dogg Food album. Snoop Dogg was in trial facing a murder charge. Acts including The Lady Of Rage, Nate Dogg, Danny Boy, and Sam Sneed were suddenly back-burnered to accommodate the new project from Pac, whose early ’95 Me Against The World had reached #1. Daz Dillinger had been working on beats to supply for the new release. Pac would bring longtime musical counterpart Johnny J to the fold. DJ Quik, DJ Pooh, and QDIII would also join the party, as well as the Bay’s Mike Mosley and Rick Rock.

Death Row’s co-founder was also working. The thing many fans were excited about was Dr. Dre handling Tupac’s music. Previously, Pac’s biggest moments had come from works with Digital Underground’s Shock G, 415’s DJ Daryl, Tony Pizarro, and Easy Mo Bee. While Pac had worked with Death Row, it had been limited to a cameo in Dr. Dre & Ice Cube’s “Natural Born Killaz” video, and work on the Dre-overseen Above The Rim soundtrack. It would seem natural that Death Row’s co-founder would be getting work in with its high-profile acquisition.

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