"Makaveli" begins with "Bomb First" a song which displays the one major fault of this CD: anger. By the time "Makaveli" was made, of course, Tupac was deeply embroiled in the East-West feud which some say took his life; the feud is clearly present on this CD. One wonders what tracks might have been produced had Tupac put his considerable talent toward writing interesting conceptional songs instead of expressing blind rage at Bad Boy and other East Coast MCs.

"Bomb First" also reveals the minor flaw of "Makaveli": Tupac's posse, known as the Outlawz. Although I must admit that they were less annoying than on other Tupac CDs, Pac is clearly better off without them. For example, on "Bomb First" E.D.I. Amin raps:

Got a little question for that [...] that made "Paparazzi" / If you ain't in this rap game, for the [...] cash mayne / then what is your [...] purpose? None can serve us /

First, there's the absurdity of calling out a West Coast MC on an East Coast dis song. Then there is the fact that Xzibit is far more resepcted than E.D.I. Amin will ever be precisely because he is not in the rap game for the money. Unfortunately the Outlawz contribution to "Makaveli" does not improve from here on.

Tupac's lyrics (which apparently took time off when he wrote most of "All Eyes on Me") are back strong. The man who delivered such lyrical gems as "Me Against the World" and "If I Die Tonight" brings verses like this (From "Hail Mary"):

I'm a ghost in these killin fields / Hail Mary catch me if I go, let's go deep inside / the solitary mind of a madman who screams in the dark / Evil lurks, enemies, see me flee / Activate my hate, let it break, to the flame / Set trip, empty out my clip, never stop to aim

On more heartfelt songs such as "Krazy" Tupac shows a maturity not seen in his previous CDs:

Hopin God hear me, I entered the game; look how much I changed / I'm no longer innocent - casualties of fame / Made a lot of money, seen a lot of places / And I swear I seen a peaceful smile on my mama's face / when I gave her the keys to her own house, this your land / Your only son done became a man

In addition to Pac's lyrics, another excellent part of this CD are the beats. These 12 tracks are quite simply some of the best beats that Tupac ever worked with.

Overall, there is not a single bad song on "Makaveli." The negatives from this CD, Tupac's rage and the Outlawz, should not prevent any lover of rap from experiencing one of Tupac's best CDs. For any serious fan of Tupac this is a must have; along with "Me Against the World" and "All Eyez on Me" it completes the trilogy of Pac's best work and leaves us wondering what the next CD from Pac would have been like.


Great Album.   May 26, 2002
 23 out of 31 found this review helpful

2pac is the realest rapper. His talent just shows that. The Notorious B.I.G. can't compare to Pac's rap skills. He was the General in rap. If he was alive, rappers like Ja Rule, Jay Z and such rappers would not succeed. Many people say the original Makaveli cd was greatly produced, but the digitally remastered is even produced better. just look at the title,"The 7 Day Theory", that tells you that this is tight. Bomb First is the intro to this. This is the best intro ever. In this track you can understand that Pac was not trying to murder his enemies, but rather murder them lyrically. Hail Mary is one of favorite Pac songs. A tight beat, but odd and crazy lyrics, Pac raps with one of his sader voices. The next track is like a sequel to How Do You Want It. Toss it up features K Ci and Jo Jo. To Live & Die in L.A. could also be a sequel to California Love, without Dr.Dre though. Blashphemy is a tight song, but it is very mysterious, it is related to biblical things. Life of an Outlaw features the great Outlawz. They consist of Makaveli(R.I.P), Edi Amin, Young Noble, Kastro, Napoleon, Hussein Fatal, Kadafi(R.I.P), Storm, Mussolini, Khomeni. A love song filled with thug passion, Just Like Daddy is a Pac Tradition. Krazy is a deep song, showing his talent as a lyric writer. White Man'z World is a very deep song, talking about many political and struggling issues. This next song is amazing, one of his best tracks. Me and my Girlfriend, Pac raps about his girlfriend, but not in human form, just listen to it. Another on of those deep tracks, Hold Ya Head, Pac raps it ot the fullest, but sad though. A great diss songs, Against All Odds, a tight song, it has some weird meanings. The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is the tight rap album. It has tight beats, lyrically amazing. All twelve tracks are classics. A true rap masterpiece. Rest in piece to the realest that ever breathed. Check out the Outlawz too. Buy 2pac albums. Eternally Pac will always breath in his heaven.


Trapped In This World Of Sin...   March 27, 2002
 16 out of 16 found this review helpful

Makaveli is arguably Tupac Shakur's greatest record. Released just a few months after his untimely death, and featuring some of the most disturbing lyrics from this man who supposedly went mad after he was shot 5 times the first time. But to me, that shooting just opened his eyes. Extremely prophetic and poetic with so many references to death and him calling out the fake busters which really made no sense back then but makes perfect sense today. (Jay-Z fell off the worst and Mobb Deep went straight soft, Dr. Dre is really showing signs of his other side with his appearance although he still makes tight beats, Nas is the only one that has maintained his illness.) The production if I must say is excellent. Tupac's flow is sick the whole way through, opting for his slow flow a little more on this album. Me & My Girlfriend; one of Pac's greatest songs, is a chilling metaphor about his gun. I didn't catch on to the metaphor until someone actually pointed it out to me, but that makes that song so much more special. He disses and dismisses Jay- Z, Nas and Mobb Deep on Against All Odds-another chilling battle track packed with anger and lyrical adeptness, and Bomb First. These three artists are now all mysteriously beefing... Tupac takes stabs at Dr. Dre as well on Toss It Up and To Live & Die In LA.

On this album you could tell that his patience was wearing thin and his trust for others except his real friends had already faded. This is one of the most open portraits of this misunderstood troubled man. Krazy, White Man'z World, Hold Ya Head are all classics and drop knowledge. Tupac really was a special person and it is a shame he had to take the thug way to his demise. He was one of the few that could drop thug lyrics about killing and mean it, and then on the next song drop knowledge about the school systems, education, and enlightenment, politics, treating of females and other positive things and mean it. The guy was believeable and behaved just like a real person; not just a straight thug unloving women hater but not no biatch softie crybaby either. He was extremely introspective and observant and for that alone Makaveli is a classic. But add in all the elements of a classic such as tight beats, potent lyrics, flawless flows, nice melodies and good choruses and you have yourself a masterpiece.


In 7 Days   April 9, 2002
 12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Exit 2Pac, Enter Makaveli....Subtle notes in the inside cover of the album that many consider to be Tupac Shakur's most controversial record. Pac had originally planned this record to be his rebirth. The rebirth of a general out to expose the fakers in the hip-hop game. Fate changed his plans, however, instead the 7 Day Theory became the first posthumous album released from Shakur only a month after his death. An eerie album at that. A shocking cover of a crucified Shakur alone added fuel to rumors of him faking his own death. Double-meanings in verses also had many fans shaking their heads. The album itself included vicious disses to some of the East Coast's finest (Nas, Mobb Deep, Puffy, Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls) on "Bomb First" and "Against All Odds." East Coast heads, however, weren't the only recipients of the Death Row assault. Suge Knight's influence was apparent on the track "Toss It Up" where Makaveli tore apart Dr. Dre on an extremely personal level going as far as to question his manhood. Disses aside, some of Pac's greatest moments can be found on this record. Take the virtually flawless "Hail Mary" or the Left Coast anthem "To Live and Die in LA". Pac doesn't falter on the introspective side either with heart-felt moments including "White Manz World" and "Hold Ya Head". And to those back-packing naysayers who complained about the minimal use of methaphors in Pac's verses, please skip to "Me and My Girlfriend" and witness a song-long metaphor about the passion between a man and his 9mm. Truth is that Makaveli was about emotions and not similes. Take the soul-wrenching "Krazy" where Makaveli declares "Blame me for the outcome, playing my records. Check this. Don't have to bump this but please respect this." That's his stance on this record, love him or hate him. You have to respect Makaveli's place in rap history whether "breathin' or dead."


The Greatest Rap Album Ever   January 6, 2003
 12 out of 14 found this review helpful

The man we know as Tupac Shakur (aka Makavelli) is a genius he created an album so deep, dark, and eerie it makes us Chill every time we listen. Many people belive because of this album Tupac is alive and I belive that as well. Because If you listen closely he gives clues to his downfall. The clues were in such songs as "Bombs First", "Hail Mary", and "Blasphemy". Here is an in depth description of the so called "clues" on the album...

"Bombs First": In the first few seconds of the song a voice quietlty whispers "Suge Shot Me"

"Hail Mary": In the video there is gravestone that says Makaveli cracked with a hole in front of it which means he will be ressurected like Jesus. Also if you Listen you will notice he is speaking in the past tense.

"Blasphemy": If you listen to the biblical quote in the intro you will hear if It doesnt happen in the next seven days it will happen in 7 years, and then you hear Tupac whisper YES.

Other Misc Clues:

In the 1998 Video for the song "Changes" you see Tupac wearing the 98 Air Jordans which obviously if he were dead he wouldnt be wearing.

On the inside cover It says Exit: 2pac Enter" Makavellu

Makavelli who is 2pacs alter ego is acuatlly a 16th century War stragesist named Nicholas Maciovelli who faked his death for seven years to avoid his enemies.

On September 7, 1996 when 2pac was supposdely killed he supposdely died 7 days later.

On September 8th Las Vegas Police received 700 calls that people had seen Tupac in Haiti.

2pac said they he wanted to be buried at a large funeral but all memorial and funeral services were canceled.

2pac was allegeidaly cremated the day after his death but cremation is illegal without an autopsy when a homicide is involved.

YOU WILL SEE 2PAC RETURN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2003