Tupac's "Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z..." Expanded Edition Arrives

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The expanded edition of Tupac's second studio album includes "Flex" and Heavy D's "Let's Get It On" ft. Biggie, Grand Puba, and Spunk Bigga.

During a matter of years, Tupac left behind a catalog that’s cherished and celebrated to this day. The late rapper delivered his final album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, after he died in Las Vegas. However, throughout the years, fans received an abundance of posthumous releases, from Until The Death Of Time to Better Days. Though some of the latter releases in his career weren’t met with praise as his earlier output, there’s no doubt that everything he’s released, during his lifetime and after, had an incredible impact on hip-hop to this day.

Though we haven’t received much new music from ‘Pac’s estate in recent times, they haven’t shorted fans on celebrating massive milestones in his career. This week marked the 30th anniversary of his second studio album, Strictly For My N.*.*.*.A.Z. The follow-up to 2Pacalypse Now further carved out his voice in rap, politically, socially, and musically. The project boasts 16 songs in total with appearances from Ice-T, Ice Cube, Treach, Digital Underground. It remains one of the most celebrated album in ‘Pac’s catalog, especially since it produced singles like “I Get Around” and “Keep Ya Head Up.”

What Was Added To The Expanded Edition Of Tupac’s Second Studio Album?

As the 30th anniversary arrived on Feb. 16th, his estate unloaded the official expanded version of the project. The album contains the original sixteen songs, along with six additional records, including four remixes. Madukey shares his remix of “Keep Ya Head Up” while a “New York Stretch” remix of “Holler If You Hear Me” shows up on the tracklist, as well. Additionally, you’ll find a remix of “I Get Around” and Vibe Tribe’s flip of “Papa’z Song.” 

The project also contains the underrated single, “Flex” alongside the Outlawz, which dropped in 1993. Then, there’s the inclusion of Heavy D’s “Let’s Get it On,” which is among the rare times that Tupac and Biggie both appeared on the same song together. The re-release of Strictly For My N.*.*.*.A.Z is a firm remind of why ‘Pac stood as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Press play on the project above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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