2Pac's 'All Eyez on Me' or The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Life After Death'?

Two prolific rappers, 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G., left us way too soon. However, it is my pleasure to say that their releases, All Eyez On Me and Life After Death, respectively, set the standard in terms of double-albums. From 1997 to the point when we stopped paying $15 or more for a CD, I used those two albums as a scale. And honestly, it was unfair for the new release. But on the same token, if a rapper chose to go down that double album rabbit hole, my opinion, they should’ve used those two albums as a guideline themselves. But enough of that, let’s get into the conversation…

In 1995, Suge Knight, then CEO of Death Row records, posted 1.5 million dollars to bail 2Pac out of Clinton Correction Facility. Shortly after, Pac began working on his fourth album, All Eyez on Me, in what would be one of the first and most timeless double-albums in Hip Hop.

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Although the album’s singles were “California Love,” “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,” “How Do U Want It,” and “I Ain’t Mad at Cha,” that doesn’t necessarily mean those were your favorites. No one would look at you wide-eyed if you’d said “Skandalouz,” “Only God Can Judge Me,” or “Check Out Time,” among others, were your go to joints.

Reportedly, it took Pac only two weeks to create the masterpiece. Though it’s the norm now, at the time, putting together an album in such a short timeframe was unheard of. Since it was rushed, many thought it would suffer in quality. Admittedly, I was a part of that crowd. Surprisingly, it did not disappoint.

All Eyez on Me debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. He went Diamond (over 10 million copies sold).

In 1997, East Coast rivalry, Notorious B.I.G. came with a double-album of his own. His sophomore release, Life After Death, was released two weeks after his untimely death.

The creative time frame was different from Pac’s. Big took his time. However, the results were the same in terms of quality.

Life After Death was promoted by “Hypnotize,” “Mo Money Mo Problems,” and “Sky’s the Limit,” with the latter two being promoted posthumously.

Like All Eyez on Me, you still had your favorites. “I Love The Dough,” “The World Is Filled,” and “Notorious Thugs,” among others, were the tracks found itself on repeat in my Panasonic CD player.

Life After Death didn’t debut at number one, but it eventually atop both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It would go Diamond (over 10 million copies sold) as well.

In “Going Back To Cali,” Biggie spits “If I got to choose a coast, I got to choose the East.” Well, in this case, you have to choose an album.