2PacMe Against the World (25th Anniversary)

Tupac's most introspective album. Lush, cinematic production with live instrumentation, soulful piano, and string arrangements. 'Dear Mama' is a tear-jerking, sometimes harsh dedication of love, later added to the Library of Congress. 'So Many Tears' may be the best 2Pac song ever recorded. An almost vulnerable Pac dealing with internal demons alongside senseless violence. Smooth instrumentals paired with anxious, confessional lyrics create an 'opposites attract' tension. He was shot five times, checked out of the hospital against doctor's orders, appeared in court the next day, and went to prison. The album debuted at No. 1. The first artist in history to top the chart while serving a sentence. 25th Anniversary reissue.