"Ghetto Gospel" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by 2Pac featuring Elton John | ||||
from the album Loyal to the Game | ||||
B-side | "Thugs Get Lonely Too" | |||
Released | April 25, 2005 [1] | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:58 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Eminem | |||
2Pac singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Elton John singles chronology | ||||
|
"Ghetto Gospel" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur, which was released as the lead single from his 2004 posthumous album Loyal to the Game . The song was produced by American rapper Eminem and features a sample from Elton John's 1971 song "Indian Sunset".
The single topped the charts in the UK (for 3 weeks), [2] Australia, Czech Republic, and Ireland. In New Zealand it peaked at number 3. The song was written by Tupac as an outcry to "end the war on the streets", addressing the futility of racial difference and dissidence, particularly under the unifying banner of poverty. He also pays tribute to murdered black activists Malcolm X and Bobby Hutton in the song.
In response to Eminem's remix, Elton John said: "how he's managed to meld [Indian Sunset] with Tupac, I'll never know. It's just genius." [3]
Tupac recorded the song for inclusion on the 1992 Christmas-themed compilation album A Very Special Christmas 2 , but due to his legal issues, the song was dropped from the compilation and was never released.[ citation needed ] This version has a much faster tempo and has a third and fourth verse which didn't feature in the 2004 remix. [4] This version was produced by Big D The Impossible, a regular producer on Tupac's first two albums; 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. and does not contain the "Indian Sunset" sample, but builds on a sample of Tracy Chapman's song "Crossroads" instead. [5]
Recounting the experience in 2015, Eminem said: "You wouldn't be able to tell the 18/19-year-old Marshall that he would ever be able to get his hands on some Tupac vocals and have that opportunity. It was such a significant piece of history for me and so much fun. I'm like a kid in a candy store; going nuts with the fact that I'm putting beats under his rhymes." [6]
"Ghetto Gospel" was the only song on Loyal to the Game with an accompanying YouTube music video. [7] The music video showcases the last day of a man's life before he is fatally shot in the evening. Neither 2Pac nor Elton John physically appeared in the video - though clips of 2Pac are shown on a television. Towards the end of the music video, the actor (J. D. Williams) is shot but then appears at his own funeral, fueling rumors that the rapper's death was faked. At the end of the video, there is a message from 2Pac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, saying "Remember to keep yourself alive, there is nothing more important than that".
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Sample(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ghetto Gospel" | *Contains elements from "Indian Sunset" by Elton John | 3:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ghetto Gospel" | Eminem | 3:58 | |
2. | "Thugs Get Lonely Too" (feat. Nate Dogg) |
| Eminem | 4:48 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [31] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [32] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [33] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [34] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI) [35] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | November 22, 2004 | Urban contemporary radio | Amaru, Interscope | [36] |
Tupac: Resurrection is a soundtrack album for the Academy Award-nominated documentary of the same name. It was released on November 14, 2003, by Amaru Entertainment and Interscope Records.
Loyal to the Game is the ninth studio album and fifth posthumous studio album by American rapper Tupac Shakur. The album was produced by Eminem and consists of remixes of previously unreleased music recorded by Tupac before his death in 1996. Released in the United States on December 14, 2004, Loyal to the Game debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper and producer Dr. Dre. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first single as the newest artist of Death Row Records. The original version is featured on the UK version of his fourth album, All Eyez on Me (1996), and is one of 2Pac's most widely known and most successful singles. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and also topped the charts of Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden. The song was posthumously nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.
"Like Toy Soldiers" is a song by American rapper Eminem, from his fifth album Encore (2004). The song received positive reviews from music critics, and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Like Toy Soldiers" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in 12 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, and New Zealand. The song samples the 1989 song "Toy Soldiers" by Martika. It is the fourth single from the album. The single would appear on the Curtain Call: The Hits compilation released in 2005.
"Sing for the Moment" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth album The Eminem Show (2002). It was released on February 25, 2003, as the fourth single from The Eminem Show and the final single in the United States. The song samples "Dream On" by American rock band Aerosmith.
"Changes" is a song by American rapper 2Pac. It was recorded in 1992 before being remixed and released as a single from Shakur's Greatest Hits compilation on October 13, 1998. The song features Talent, an R&B trio from Kansas City consisting of Marlon “Castor Troy” Hatcher, Keith “Casino” Murrell and Ernest “Bishop” Dixon that was active from 1998 to 2005. The song makes references to the many wars in the Middle East, the war on drugs, the treatment of black people by the police, racism, the reconciliation between the black and white people in America, the perpetuation of poverty and its accompanying vicious-cycle value system in urban African American culture, and the difficulties of life in the ghetto.
"I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" is a song by American rapper 2Pac. It was released as the first single from the posthumous album R U Still Down? . The original version, titled "I Wonda if Heaven's Got a Ghetto", was released as a B-side on the 1993 single, "Keep Ya Head Up".
"Keep Ya Head Up" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur from his second studio album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993). It was released on October 28, 1993 by Interscope Records as the album's third single, peaking at numbers 12 and 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.
"Dear Mama" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released on February 21, 1995, as the lead single from the album. The song is a tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur. In the song, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song became his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks. As of March 2021, the song is certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.
"Runnin' (Dying to Live)", is a posthumous song by American rapper 2Pac, with an additional posthumous verse from The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from the soundtrack album Tupac: Resurrection on September 30, 2003.
The discography of American rapper Tupac Shakur consists of 11 studio albums. Throughout his career and posthumously, Shakur sold more than 75 million records worldwide. He has scored 5 No. 1 albums on Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 albums on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums.
"I Ain't Mad at Cha" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from Shakur's fourth studio album, All Eyez on Me (1996). It was released on September 15, 1996 two days after Shakur's death as the album's fourth and final single. The song features contemporary soul singer Danny Boy providing vocals for its hook and was written by Shakur, Danny Boy and Daz Dillinger, who produced the song using a sample from DeBarge's "A Dream". The lyrics focus on Shakur reminiscing about past friends, love interests and associates he has lost touch with. The song is widely considered one of Shakur's best with Cheo Hodari Coker calling it "possibly the best song 2Pac has ever recorded". In 1998, The Source ranked the song's three verses second in its category of "dopest verses" in the history of hip-hop.
"Letter 2 My Unborn" is a song by Tupac Shakur, released as a posthumous single from his album Until the End of Time in 2001.
"Until the End of Time" is a posthumous single from the 2001 2Pac album of the same name. The song was very successful and was a big contributor to the album going 4x Platinum. The song features R.L. Huggar from the R&B group Next. An alternate version features Mr. Mister's lead singer and bassist Richard Page on vocals and bass. The music video for the song contains a compilation of unreleased footage of Shakur. It charted at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Pac's Life" is a single written and performed by American rappers Tupac Shakur and T.I and R&B singer Ashanti, produced by L. T. Hutton for Shakur's posthumously released album of the same name. It is a hip hop and R&B song; the second Tupac verse was recycled from a song titled "This Life I Lead". T.I. said in an interview that working on the song was an honor, as he idolized him while growing up.
"Indian Sunset" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water.
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.
"Runnin'" is a 1995 song written and performed by rappers 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Stretch, Dramacydal and reggae superstar Buju Banton. Recorded in 1993, the song holds significance as the only song 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. officially recorded together prior to hostility arising between the two rappers. The song, originally slated to appear on 2Pac's 1993-1994 shelved solo album that later turned to be Me Against The World, then on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life, Volume I, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. It charted at #81, #57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks & Hot Rap Singles charts, respectively.
"Without Me" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth studio album The Eminem Show (2002). "Without Me" was released on May 14, 2002, as the lead single from the album, and re-released on his greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005). "Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles, reaching number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number one in fifteen countries.
"Killshot" is a diss track by American rapper Eminem and produced by IllaDaProducer. The beat is made with a sample of the ‘Killshot Samplepack’ by Dopeboyz. The song is Eminem's response to Machine Gun Kelly's diss track "Rap Devil" that was released in 2018. Eminem had previously dissed MGK in his song "Not Alike" from his tenth studio album Kamikaze.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)