Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Contents
Length
59:24
Label
2.1 Title
Knight
Darryl "Big D" Harper, Hurt-MBadd, Reggie Moore, Dametrius
Ship, Kevin Lewis* Additional
production by Tommy D.
Daugherty, Lance Pierre, and
Justin Isham*
Makaveli chronology
1 Concept
1.1 Lyrical themes
2 Production and recording
3 Reception
3.1 Accolades
4 Commercial performance
5 Track listing
6 Personnel
7 Unused tracks
8 Recorded during Makaveli sessions
9 Certifications
All Eyez on
Me
(1996)
The Don
Killuminati:
The 7 Day
Theory
(1996)
R U Still
Down?
(Remember
Me)
(1997)
9 Certifications
10 Charts
11 See also
12 References
1. "Toss It Up"
Released: September 26, 1996
2. "To Live & Die in L.A."
Released: September 26, 1996
3. "Hail Mary"
Released: February 11, 1997
Concept
Though Shakur had been using the new name
Makaveli or Makaveli Da Don as far back as
All Eyez On Me, the Makaveli album was
conceived as a sort of introduction for
Shakur's alternate stage name. Thus, the
albums sleeve contains the text, "Exit 2Pac,
Enter Makaveli". The Don Killuminati: The 7
Day Theory was recorded and mixed in a
mere 7 days in August 1996.
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source
Rating
Allmusic
[2]
Entertainment Weekly
D[3]
MVRemixReview
9/10[4]
RapReviews
7.5/10[5]
Rolling Stone
[6]
Lyrical themes
While All Eyez on Me was considered by Shakur "a celebration of life", The Don
Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is a much darker album. Shakur's style of rapping is still
emotional, but is intensified throughout this album. Some songs on the album contain
both subtle and direct insults to Shakur's rivals at the height of the East CoastWest
Coast feud. Rappers insulted on the album include The Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, JayZ, Mobb Deep, Q-Tip, Dr. Dre & Nas.
Although Shakur insulted rapper Nas on "Intro/Bomb First (My Second Reply)" and
"Against All Odds", rapper Young Noble, who appeared on several songs on The 7 Day
Theory, stated in an interview that the Nas song "I Gave You Power" served as a main
inspiration for Shakur's "Me and My Girlfriend".[12]
girlfriend Kidada Jones. Shakur also co-produces three tracks on the album. The other
two producers were Hurt-M-Badd and Darryl Big D Harper. E.D.I. Mean of the Outlawz
recalls:
At the time Hurt-M-Badd, who was just an up-and-coming producer at Death
Row, and Darryl Harper, who was an R&B producer - Suge had him working
on all the R&B projects - they had a green room up in Can-Am [Studios] which
everybody around Death Row called the "wack room" because they said
"Ain't nothing but wack shit come out of there." But we was up in the studio
one day and we trying to get music done - ain't none of us producers - we see
them two niggas in the "Wack room" and 'Pac like, "Go get them niggas." So
niggas go bring them, 'Pac just putting niggas to work like, "I need a beat
here, I need y'all to do this, do that." And these are niggas that nobody at
Death Row was fucking with. They'll tell you themselves.[13]
The album was recorded at Can-Am Studios in Tarzana, Los Angeles, California over 7
days in the month of August 1996. During those seven days 21 songs were completed, 12
of which made the final product. The album did not feature the star-studded guest list
that All Eyez on Me did. Most of the guest verses are supplied by Shakur's group The
Outlawz. The only verse that was not from one of the Outlawz was from Bad Azz. Young
Noble of the Outlawz recalled:
We had started writing the shit and we was taking long. 'Pac was like, "Who
got something? Bad Azz you got something?" and it fit perfect, so it was
meant for Bad Azz to be on that song. We had already been on a million 'Pac
songs. That was his way of motivating us like, "If y'all ain't ready, then you
don't make the song."[14]
Prince Ital Joe also made a appearances on two tracks - the single "Hail Mary" and
"Blasphemy". Death Row artist Danny Boy was featured on the single "Toss It Up" along
with K-ci & Jojo and Aaron Hall. Originally the song was produced by Dr. Dre, but when
he left Death Row Records he gave the beat to Blackstreet for the song No Diggity. In a
result 2Pac wrote second verse for the song and dissed Dre.
Title
The album's original title was "The 3 Day Theory", (originally consisted of around 14
tracks). E.D.I. Mean of The Outlawz & Ronald "Riskie" Brent revealed in an August 2014
interview that the official name of the album was mixed up upon release. Tupac wanted
the album to be called; "Don Makaveli - Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory". Don
Makaveli referenced as the artist name and Killuminati as the main title. [15]
Album artwork
Ronald "Riskie" Brent is the creator of The 7 Day Theory cover painting.[16] The album
cover, which features Shakur on the cross in an attempt to convey his crucifixion by the
media, is intended to imply an artistic resurrection. Within the next year in 1997, a
music video entitled Smile by Scarface of the Geto Boys on his album The Untouchable
featured Shakur as a performer, some showing his name listed as Makaveli. The video
showed him depicted in a very similar type of crucifixion resembling the cover of this
album.
Reception
Not every song on "Don Killuminati" is a hit, but on such a shortened and intensified
dose of Shakur's work the results are much more even than the overly long All Eyez On
Me. As a result songs like the dark and moody "Hail Mary" or the bouncy "Just Like
Daddy," both featuring the Outlawz, are duets at least equal to any 2Pac/Outlawz duets
released on posthumous albums since. None of the songs on "Don" sound rushed,
despite the irony of its quick release after his death. This album's success and the
further releases that it spawned solidified Tupac's reputation as one of the all-time
greats, but what this CD illustrates best and most sadly is what kind of work Shakur
could have continued to do were it not for his untimely death. 1996 robbed us of his
physical presence, but his spirit lived on through the music and still haunts us to this
very day.[17] Beyond conspiracy theory and 2Pac's vengeful wrath, The Don Killuminati:
The 7 Day Theory is simply good music. As the first in a long-line of Tupac's posthumous
material, The 7 Day Theory is a focused piece of work that highlights 2Pac's prodigious
talents. 17 years later, it is widely considered a hip-hop classic and one of Tupac
Shakurs crowning achievements.[18] AllMusic reviewer Thomas Erlewine noted that
everything about The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory smacks of exploitation. [19]
In 2006, MTV recognized it as a classic.[20] The emotion and anger showcased on the
album has been admired by a large part of the hip-hop community, including other
rappers.[21]
Accolades
(*) signifies unordered lists
Publication
Country
MTV.com
Accolade
Year Rank
rap.about.com
Vibe
Vibe (magazine)
Complex
(magazine)
USA
BET
WatchMojo.com
2007
2008
29
2004
2012
17
2014
2
4
Vibe (magazine)
2013
30
Complex
(magazine)
2012
Commercial performance
The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 knocking The Beatles out of the
No. 1 spot, also making Shakur the second artist to have a number-one album while
deceased ever since 1995 when Latin-pop singer, Selena posthumously released
Dreaming of You, which also peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 as well.[25][26]
The album generated the second-highest debut-week sales total of any album that
year,[27] selling 664,000 within its first week in stores. The second week it dropped to
second stop selling a strong 250,000 units. The album was certified 3x platinum in April
1997 and then 4x Platinum on June 15, 1999.[28] As of 2013, the album has sold 5 million
copies in the United States which makes it one of the highest selling hip-hop albums of
all time.[29]
The album was also certified Gold Canada for 50,000 units sold by December 3, 1996.[30]
On 22 July 2013 the album was also certified Sliver (60,000 units) by BPI.[1]
Track listing
Credits adapted by album booklet.[31]
No. Title
1. "Bomb First (My Second
Reply)" (featuring E.D.I. and
Young Noble)
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Makaveli E.D.I.
Makaveli[32] Darryl
Young Noble
Length
4:57
Makaveli Kastro
Hurt-M-Badd
5:09
Dametrius Ship
5:06
Noble Kadafi
Tyrone Wrice
Prince Ital Joe Fatal
Moore
5. "Blasphemy"
QDIII
4:33
Hurt-M-Badd
4:38
Makaveli Big D
4:54
Hurt-M-Badd
5:08
Big D
5:15
Makaveli Big D
Big D
5:38
Makaveli Ricky
Makaveli Big D
5:08
Makaveli Young
QDIII
Makaveli Wrice
Ital Joe
Kastro Noble
Napoleon Big D
Makaveli Wrice
Hurt-M-Badd
3:58
Makaveli Wrice
Hurt-M-Badd
4:38
Tyrone Wrice)
Makaveli[a]
Total length:
Notes
^a
signifies a co-producer
59:07
"Bomb First (My Second Reply)" contains a sample of "Da Funk" by Daft Punk and
"Uptown Anthem" by Naughty by Nature and an interpolation of "More Peas" by
Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s and "Ambitionz Az a Ridah" by 2Pac.
"Toss It Up" contains a sample of "No Diggity" as performed by Blackstreet.
"To Live & Die In L.A" contains a sample of "Do Me Baby" as performed by Prince.
"Just Like Daddy" contains a sample of "Impeach the President" as performed by
The Honey Drippers.
"White Man'z World" contains an interpolation of "Up Where We Belong" by Joe
Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.
"Hold Ya Head" contains an interpolation of "One Love" by Whodini and "How Do
You Keep the Music Playing?" by Patti Austin and James Ingram.
Personnel
Credits for The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day of Theory adapted from Allmusic.[33]
2Pac, Makaveli composer, primary
artist, producer
producer
Napoleon composer
production
engineer
artist
artist
featured artist
Joel "JoJo" Hailey composer,
featured artist
Aaron Hall composer, featured
artist
Darryl Harper producer
Hurt-M-Badd producer
Justin Isham digital editing
Unused tracks
"Friendz" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, later
remixed and used under the title of "Fuck Friendz" on his album Until The End Of
Time
"Killuminati" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,
later remixed and used on Still I Rise)
"Lazt Praya (Last Prayer)" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7
Day Theory, Unreleased)
"Let Em Have It" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day
theory, later remixed and used on Until The End Of Time)
"Lost Souls" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,
later released and used on Gang Related Soundtrack)
"Niggaz Nature" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day theory,
later remixed and used on Until The End Of Time)
"Watch Ya Mouth" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day
Theory, Unreleased)
"When Thugz Cry" (from the unused version of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day
Theory, later remixed and used on Until The End Of Time)
"When Thugz Cry Interlude/Hidden Track 12" (from the unused version of The Don
Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Unreleased)
Certifications
Region
Certification
Sales/shipments
50,000^
Silver
60,000^
4 Platinum
4,000,000^
^shipments
xunspecified figures
Charts
Peak
positions
Charts positions
Australian Albums Chart[37]
37
61
17
28
UK Albums Chart[42]
53
US Billboard 200[43]
Precededby
Anthology 3 by The
Beatles
See also
List of number-one albums of 1996 (U.S.)
List of number-one R&B albums of 1996 (U.S.)
List of number-one R&B albums of 1997 (U.S.)
References
1. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx
Succeededby
Tha Doggfather by
Snoop Doggy Dogg
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (1996-11-05). "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory - 2Pac,
Makaveli: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards" (http://www.allmusic.com/album/r241166).
Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
3. Browne, David (1996-11-22). "Music Review: 'The Don Killuminati/The 7 Day Theory' Review"
(http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295084,00.html). Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved
2012-10-12.
4. Low Key. "MVRemix Urban Album Reviews: Makaveli - The 7 Day Theory | Online Hip Hop,
Rap and Soul Magazine | US and Canadian Mainstream and Underground - exclusive
interviews, articles" (http://www.mvremix.com/urban/reviews/2002/makaveli.shtml).
Mvremix.com. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
5. Juon, Steve "Flash" (2002-05-14). "2Pac/Makaveli:: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory::
Death Row Recordintroduction of s/Interscope"
(http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_makaveli.html). Rapreviews.com. Retrieved
2012-06-26.
6. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide - Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard - Google Books
(http://books.google.com/books?
id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA672&dq=#v=onepage&q=2pac&f=false). Google Books. Retrieved
2012-06-26. Portions posted at "Tupac Shakur: Album Guide"
(http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/tupac-shakur/albumguide). Rolling Stone. Retrieved
2012-10-12.
7. XXL (2007). "Retrospective: XXL Albums". XXL Magazine, December 2007 issue.
8. Muzik (1/97, p. 113) - 5 out of 5 - "... one of the most important [albums] of the year.... perfectly
captures the dark tensions arising from the centre of the vicious heat that is the City of
Angels...
9. [1] (http://ca.music.yahoo.com/read/news/12056616)
10. XXL Magazine, October 2003 issue
11. "Tupac The Workaholic. (MYCOMEUP.COM)" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=05imWUtMazM). YouTube. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
12. 2Pac."The Making of Makaveli, the 7 Day Theory "The Making of Makaveli, the 7 Day Theory
XXL Magazine
13. XXL Magazine, October 2003 issue, Page 111
14. XXL Magazine, October 2003 issue, Page 118
15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgkYJF6uGhI
16. "Airbrush Artists Memorialize Tupac at Amoeba Hollywood at the Amoeblog"
(http://www.amoeba.com/blog/2011/09/amoeba-music/airbrush-artists-memorialize-tupac-atamoeba-hollywood.html). Amoeba.com. 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
17. http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_makaveli.html Rapreviews.com Album Reviews
18. http://www.xxlmag.com/news/hip-hop-today/2013/11/today-hip-hop-tupac-shakur-releasesdon-killuminati-7-day-theory/ XXL Magazine Album Review
19. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-don-killuminati-the-7-day-theory-mw0000007004
Allmusic.com Album Review
20. "The Greatest MCs Of All Time"
(http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index10.jhtml). MTV.com. 2006-0309. Retrieved 2012-02-14.