"All Eyez on Me" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album of the same name (1996). It features American rapper Big Syke. Produced by Johnny "J", the song contains a sample of "Never Gonna Stop" by Linda Clifford.
| "All Eyez on Me" | |
|---|---|
| Song by 2Pac featuring Big Syke | |
| from the album All Eyez on Me | |
| Released | February 13, 1996 |
| Recorded | October 30, 1995[1] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 5:07 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Johnny "J" |
Background
editIn a sample of an earlier interview, later published after his death by XXL in 2015, Johnny "J" talked about connecting with 2Pac on the track:
That was the very first track I laid when we got together at Death Row. When he just got out of jail, just got released, two days later he's like, "'J', get to the studio, I'm with Death Row now." I assumed it was a joke, somebody perpetrating Tupac. I'm like "Hell no – 'Pac is locked up!" He's like "J, I'm out" I walk in, 15 minutes into the session, the first beat I put in the drum machine is "All Eyez On Me." I wasn't going to show him the track, honestly. I was like, "This track? Nah, it's not finished. It's incomplete." My wife says, "Hey, it's a dope beat!" So I just pop it in, titles just come right off his fuckin' head.[2]
Content
editIn the song, 2Pac raps about his paranoia and feeling he is under surveillance by the police and rival gangsters,[3] as well as being willing to live the life as a "thug nigga" and "boss player".[4] The song contains a sample of Linda Clifford's "Never Gonna Stop", originally recorded by Exile.[5]
Critical reception
editRoger Morton of NME cited "All Eyez on Me" as one of the songs from All Eyez on Me which he described as "superbly unsettling, unprecedented renderings of the fear-soaked, hardcore-G mentality."[6]
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Russia Airplay (TopHit)[7] | 22 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[8] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI)[9] | Gold | 300,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[10] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[11] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "RECORDING DATE OF TUPAC'S SONGS [LIST]". 2PacLegacy. April 26, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "The Making of 2Pac's 'All Eyez on Me' (XXL)". 2PacLegacy. December 15, 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Nielson, Erik. ""Can't C Me": Surveillance and Rap Music." Journal of Black Studies 40.6 (2010): 1254-274. Web.
- ^ Brown, Preezy (February 13, 2021). "11 classic lyrics from Tupac's 'All Eyez On Me' album decoded". Revolt. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Westbrook, Randy (2013). 50 Years of Exile: The Story of a Band in Transition. Acclaim Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-938905-22-3.
- ^ Morton, Roger (March 2, 1996). "2Pac – All Eyez On Me". NME. London. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2023-11-17." TopHit. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – 2Pac – All Eyez on Me". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (2Pac; 'All Eyez on Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – 2Pac – All Eyez on Me" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – 2Pac – All Eyez on Me". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – 2Pac & Syke – All Eyez on Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 4, 2024.