Makaveli (2Pac): The Don Killuminati-The 7 Day Theory (1996). Rap's Revolutionary Lives On In Death

B. Cox & J. Owe look back at the late Tupac Shakur's (recording under the alias Makaveli) fifth studio album and his first posthumous album The Don Killuminati-The 7 Day Theory. Released on Death Row Records not even two months after his fatal shooting in Las Vegas which shook up the entertainment industy, the album featured little features other than the Outlawz and R&B singers Danny Boy, Aaron Hall and K-Ci and Jo-Jo of Jodeci. It also featureed a less heralded group of producers from Death Row (Hurt-M-Badd, Quincy Jones III, Big D & Reggie Moore) who were tasked to keep up with the rapper's legendary work ethic and pace. The album was reportedly finished recording in only 7 days during the first week in August of 1996. Adding to the mystique and dark clouds over his death, Tupac delivers his usual hard-cutting and, at times, thought provoking lyrics as his final message to the world before departing. The album would sell over 600K albums in its first work, debut #1 on the charts and would go on to be certified quadruple platinum.
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Show Notes:
Crack Magazine: The Untold Story Behind Tupac's Haunting The 7 Day Theory Artwork
crackmagazine....
StillCrew: Why Tupac's "Don Killuminati-The 7 Day Theory" Album Still Stands As His Most Complete Album
stillcrew.com/...
Behind The Rhyme: The Only Time 2Pac Was Back: Makaveli Drops The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
behindtherhyme...
HipHopDX: No Blasphemy: Why 2Pacs "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is Rap's Greatest Album
hiphopdx.com/e...

[@FireIceTalon]

I still remember the albums release like it was yesterday. I was just out of high school and living in Los Angeles.
I remember going to get the album on release day the night of November 5th. The Tower Records down the street from my old apartment was easily 500 deep, it was insane. Pac was our hero and we refused to believe he was gone. So when this dropped and we heard lines like “brothas gettin shot coming back resurrected” we was going crazy with a fine tooth comb looking for clues to see if he was still alive. All Eyez On Me made him an icon, but this was the album that made him MYTHICAL. The double album was much more polished and refined, this one was much grittier and darker. His finest moment lyrically and he was in his absolute prime (to date) as an artist. Simply a mind blowing album and pretty much still my favorite to this day.
Blasphemy might be his greatest track ever, and almost single handedly proves that Pac was indeed lyrical, it’s full of entendres. 3rd verse is probably one of the top 3 rap verses ever written blew my 18 year old brain to bits. Not to mention Me And My Girlfriend. Album is an absolute masterpiece.
Album was 4x platinum as of 99’, but I’ve seen some reliable sources that indicate it’s well passed 6 million now. Interscope just ain’t paid for the certification yet. Lots of PAC’s albums need to get recertification.