All Eyez on Me (Tupac Shakur song)
1996 song by 2Pac featuring Big Syke
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"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 | |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Johnny "J" |
Background
In 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
In 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
Charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[8] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI)[9] | Gold | 300,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[10] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[11] | 3× Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[12] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[13] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||