Runnin' (Dying to Live)

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"Runnin' (Dying to Live)"
Runnin.jpg
Single by Tupac featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
from the album Tupac: Resurrection
ReleasedSeptember 30, 2003
Recorded1994
Genre
Length3:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Eminem
2Pac singles chronology
"Still Ballin'"
(2002)
"Runnin' (Dying to Live)"
(2003)
"One Day at a Time (Em's Version)"
(2004)
The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology
"Notorious B.I.G."
(1999)
"Runnin' (Dying to Live)"
(2003)
"Nasty Girl"
(2005)

"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.

Contents

Produced by Eminem, the song uses The Notorious B.I.G.'s vocals from a 1994 recording known as "Runnin' from tha Police", one of the few collaborations recorded by 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. during their lifetimes. 2Pac's vocals are taken from a re-recorded version intended for Thug Life's only studio album Thug Life: Vol. 1 that was later scrapped due to the feud between both artists.

The song peaked at #19 for the week of December 20, 2003 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of 2Pac's highest charting songs and his second most successful posthumous release as a lead artist. [1]

Overview

The song is a remake of an Easy Mo Bee-produced song called "Runnin' from tha Police", recorded by Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. in 1994. Easy Mo Bee subsequently received songwriting credits on "Runnin' (Dying To Live)".

The chorus is from Edgar Winter's song "Dying to Live" (from the album Edgar Winter's White Trash ), which was edited to a higher pitch for the song. The interview of Notorious B.I.G. heard at the end of the track was recorded only a few weeks before his death.

Music video

The video contains interviews of both Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. It is the only song from the album to feature a music video. The video version mutes all language, violence and drug references, even Biggie's comment about two cops being shot (the radio version only censors all profanity except the word "bitches" in 2Pac's verse). In the video, it has past images and videos of 2Pac and Biggie, and once their verses end, the song fades out. [2]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyAwardResult
2005ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music AwardsTop Soundtrack Song of the YearWon [3]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the single's liner notes.

UK CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Runnin' (Dying to Live)" (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)3:51
2."Still Ballin'" (Nitty remix) (feat. Trick Daddy)2:49
Total length:6:40

Notes

Charts

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