There are fever dreams of the golden age in New York City he mulls suicide and perches by windows with AKs. It’s a remarkable record, at turns tender and fatalistic. In March of ’95, Interscope released Pac’s third album, Me Against the World. Erratic though it may be, All Eyez on Me is nonetheless carried off with the assurance of a legend in his own time, and it stands as 2Pac's magnum opus.But outside of prison, he was becoming a superstar.

Despite some good moments, the second disc is slowed by filler and countless guest appearances, plus a few too many thug-lovin' divas crooning their loyalty. Both hits are on the front-loaded first disc, which would be a gangsta classic in itself other highlights include the anthemic Snoop Dogg duet '2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,' 'All About U' (with the required Nate Dogg-sung hook), and 'I Ain't Mad at Cha,' a tribute to old friends who've gotten off the streets. Dre also contributes another surefire single in 'California Love' (which, unfortunately, is present only as a remix, not the original hit version). On the plus side, this is easily the best production he's ever had on record, handled mostly by Johnny J (notably on the smash 'How Do U Want It') and Dat Nigga Daz Dr. In that sense, it's an accurate depiction of what made him such a volatile and compelling personality, despite some undeniable filler. All Eyez on Me is 2Pac the thug icon in all his brazen excess, throwing off all self-control and letting it all hang out even if some of it would have been better kept to himself. Sure, there are a few reflective numbers and dead-homiez tributes, but they're much more romanticized this time around. But more than that, it's also an unabashed embrace of the gangsta lifestyle, backing off the sober self-recognition of Me Against the World. With all the controversy surrounding him, 2Pac seemingly wanted to throw down a monumental epic whose sheer scope would make it an achievement of itself. Whatever the case, 2Pac re-emerged hardened and hungry with All Eyez on Me, the first double-disc album of original material in hip-hop history. Maybe it was his time in prison, or maybe it was simply his signing with Suge Knight's Death Row label. Dre track “California Love” became a huge house-party hit, but what unifies the album, through an array of different producers and guest stars, is Pac’s charisma and his struggles with morality: “It’s similar to Rhythm Nation, but thugged out - forgive me, Janet.” In the course of 27 songs and two discs, Pac empties his brain of the contradictory impulses. On his fourth (and final) album, he briefly gets it.

2Pac wanted it all: credibility and success, “murderous lyrics” and voice-of-a-generation gravitas.

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