Better Dayz
Better Dayz | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 26, 2002 | |||
Recorded |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 1:52:38 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
2Pac chronology | ||||
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Singles from Better Dayz | ||||
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Better Dayz is the eighth
It was released on November 26, 2002, debuting at number five on the US
The album features appearances by
Recording
It features unreleased recordings from the 1994–1996 period, the majority of which are remixed mainly between
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | C[2] |
RapReviews | 7.5/10[3] |
Rolling Stone | [4] |
HipHopDX | [5] |
John Bush from AllMusic wrote: "Better Dayz shouldn't be overlooked [...] A lengthy two-disc set, it benefits from a raft of still-compelling material by one of the two or three best rappers in history, as well as excellent compiling by executive producers Suge Knight and Afeni Shakur, 2Pac's mother. Organizing the set roughly into one disc of hardcore rap and one of R&B jams makes for an easier listen, and the R&B disc especially has some strong tracks, opening with a remix of 1995's 'My Block' and including quintessentially 2Pac material—reflective, conflicted, occasionally anguished—like 'Never Call U Bitch Again,' 'Better Dayz,' 'Fame,' and 'This Life I Lead.' [...] It's 2Pac's best album since his death."[1] Kludge magazine included it on their list of best albums of 2002.[6] The track "Ghetto Star" has appeared on the soundtrack to the video game 25 to Life.
Commercial performance
Better Dayz debuted at number five on the US
In May 2003, the album was also certified triple platinum in Canada for sales of over 300,000 copies in Canada.[11]
Track listing
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length | |
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1. | "Intro" | Kastro of the Outlawz) | Original by Johnny "J", Remix by Nitty | 4:59 |
7. | "Mama's Just a Little Girl" (featuring Kimmy Hill) | Original by Johnny "J", Remix by Kip "KP" Wilson | 4:58 | |
8. | "Street Fame" | Original by Daz Dillinger, Remix by BRISS | 4:30 | |
9. | "Whatcha Gonna Do" (featuring Kastro & Young Noble of the Outlawz) | Original by Johnny "J", Remix by E.D.I. | 3:39 | |
10. | "Fair Xchange" (featuring Jazze Pha) | Original by Johnny "J", Remix by Jazze Pha | 3:52 | |
11. | "Late Night" (from Chronic 2000 Still Smokin, featuring DJ Quik & Outlawz) | DJ Quik | 4:18 | |
12. | "Ghetto Star" (featuring Nutt-So) | Go-Twice | 4:15 | |
13. | "Thugz Mansion (Acoustic Version)" (featuring Nas & J. Phoenix) | Original by Johnny "J", Remix by A. "Pitboss" Johnson, Aulsondro "Emcee N.I.C.E." Hamilton, and Claudio Cueni | 4:13 |
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "My Block (Remix)" | Original by Johnny J | 5:08 |
14. | "Outro" | 0:13 |
Samples
- "Better Dayz"
- "Let's Fall in Love (Parts 1 & 2)" by The Isley Brothers
- "Catchin' Feelins"
- "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC
- "Late Night"
- "Have Your Ass Home by 11:00" by Richard Pryor
- "Wind Parade" by Donald Byrd
- "Last Night Changed It All (I Really Had a Ball)" by Esther Williams
- "This Life I Lead"
- "Naturally Mine" by Al B. Sure!
- "Who Do U Believe In"
- "Manifest Destiny" by Jamiroquai
Personnel
- 2Pac – vocals
- Johnta Austin – featured artist
- Rob "Fonksta" Bacon – guest artist, guitar
- Bill Bennett – assistant engineer
- Big Syke – featured artist
- Ian Blanch – assistant engineer, engineer
- Warren Bletcher – assistant engineer
- Ian Boxill – engineer, mixing
- Leslie Brathwaite – engineer, mixing
- Briss – instrumentation, producer
- Buckshot – featured artist
- Coco Brothers – featured artist
- Courtney Copeland – background vocals
- Kevin Crouse – engineer
- Claudio Cueni – digital editing, engineer, mixing, producer
- Chris DeLaPena – assistant engineer
- DJ Quik – engineer, producer
- E.D.I. – featured artist, mixing, Music Supervisor, remixing
- Steve Fisher – assistant engineer
- Nanci Fletcher - featured artist
- G Mack – guitar
- Brian "Big bass" Gardner – mastering
- A. Gobi – photography
- Anthony Hamilton – featured artist
- Darryl Harper – producer
- Kimmy Hill – featured artist
- Ronald Isley – guest artist
- Jazze Pha – featured artist, producer
- Johnny J – arranger, mixing, producer
- Troy Johnson – instrumentation, producer
- Kadafi – featured artist
- Kastro – performer
- Ronnie King – keyboards
- Suge Knight – executive producer
- Mr. Biggs – featured artist
- Chicu Modu – photography
- Molly Monjauze – project director
- Mussamill – featured artist
- James Musshorn – assistant engineer
- Mya – featured artist
- Napoleon – featured artist
- Nas – featured artist
- Duane Nettlesbey –
- Nutso – featured artist
- Outlawz – featured artist
- J. Phoenix – featured artist,
- Frank Nitty Pimentel – drum programming, Keyboards, producer
- Will Pyon – digital editing
- Chuck Reed – digital editing
- R.J. – bass, guitar
- 7 Aurelius – instrumentation, producer
- Afeni Shakur – executive producer
- Shorty B. – bass, guitar
- Dexter Simmons – mixing
- Alex Stiff – bass, guitar
- T.I. – featured artist
- Ellis Taylor – background vocals
- Trick Daddy – featured artist
- Tyrese – featured artist
- Mark Vinten – assistant engineer
- Corey Williams – assistant engineer
- Dwight DeLemond Williams - featured artist
- Jasmine Wilson – background vocals
- Keston Wright – engineer
- Young Noble – featured artist
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[31] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[33] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- List of number-one R&B albums of 2002 (U.S.)
References
- ^ a b c d Bush, John. "2Pac - Better Dayz". AllMusic. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ Ford, Robert (2003-01-03). "Better Dayz Review". Entertainment Weekly. p. 64. Archived from the original on 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
- ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash'. "2Pac :: Better Dayz". RapReviews. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ "Tupac ShakurAlbum Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Tindal, K.B. (16 December 2002). "2Pac - Better Dayz (2 CD)". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ "The Best of 2002". Kludge. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ a b David Jenison (Dec 4, 2002). ""Up" over McGraw, 2Pac, J.Lo". E!.
- ^ Martens, Todd (December 11, 2002). "Mariah's Charms Unable to Send Shania's 'Up' Down". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ "Tupac Month: 2Pac's Discography". Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ "RIAA Certifications - 2Pac". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the originalon 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 287.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. December 19, 2002. Archived from the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – 2Pac – Better Dayz" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – 2Pac – Better Dayz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography 2Pac". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Charts.nz – 2Pac – Better Dayz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – 2Pac – Better Dayz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "2Pac | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- ^ "YEAR-END CHARTS RAP ALBUMS 2003". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – 2Pac – Better Dayz". Music Canada.
- ^ "British album certifications – 2Pac – Better Dayz". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
- ^ "American album certifications – 2 Pac – Better Dayz". Recording Industry Association of America.