hollywood billionaire

Chapter 413: Hip-Hop Spectacular (Part )

Like most gang singers, 2Pac's life is always wandering inside and outside the high walls, walking on the edge of crime.

从1991年10月17日横穿马路被奥克兰警方按在地上摩擦，到1993年4月5日在密歇根州被控以袭击重罪，再到1993年10月31日枪击两名正在休班的警察而被逮捕……成名之后的2Pac，一半时间在舞台上叱咤风云，另外一半时间在法庭上跟人斗智斗勇。

In addition to the accompaniment of hip-hop music, the sound of gunfire whizzing past his ears is the most important and lingering theme in Tupac Shakur's life.

Among all kinds of violent cases, this sexual assault case in New York in November 1993 is so different. 11Pac was accused by a black woman named Anyana Jackson, saying that he and two other men sexually assaulted her in his hotel room. On December 2, 1994, the court made a final judgment-although the judge did not think that 12Pac had sexually assaulted Anyana, and dismissed the prosecution's charges of three counts of sodomy and possession of firearms, he still convicted two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. 1Pac needs to stay in prison for 2 months to four and a half years unless he can pay the full bail of up to 2 million US dollars.

Even though he had become a household name in hip-hop, 2Pac couldn't afford to pay so much money all at once. He had no choice but to be sent to Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, to start serving his sentence.

2Pac was undoubtedly desperate at that time. He was a traitor who grew up on the streets of Manhattan, but moved to California with his family at the age of 1994, and since then, he has been branded with the West Coast hip-hop culture in his soul. For East Coast gangs, such a Judas-like figure would never have even an inch of space in Dannemora's maximum security prison. In addition, after the studio shooting in 2, Pac's relationship with Notorious BIG took a sharp turn for the worse, and his conflict with P. Diddy was also exposed. The situation he faced when he was alone in Clinton Correctional Institution could only be described as being surrounded by enemies.

Just when 2Pac was in despair, his big brother Sugar Knight reached out to him.

After some operations, Sugar paid $2 million in bail for 140Pac and took him away from Dannemora. Sugar's motivation is not important, whether he simply wants his brother to stop suffering, or hopes that 2Pac will be released from prison as soon as possible and speed up the completion of his next studio album "All Eyez on Me" to gain more profits for him, Sugar's little brother has truly regained his freedom, which is the most critical and most worthy victory for 2Pac who has survived from a desperate situation.

Just like his life, he started from humble beginnings and fell into the quagmire, but he always had the courage to fight and always rose again. Tupac Shakur, who returned to Los Angeles after being released from prison, held this kind of rebirth and complacent mentality, and wrote this classic song "California Love" with his production partner Dr. Dre.

这首单曲的录制于1995年11月2日，2Pac出狱后的半个月，而发行时间则是1995年12月3日，距离图派克重获自由仅仅刚好过去了45天，一个半月的时间。

At that time, 2Pac was at the peak of his artistic creation cycle, and his mind and soul had not yet been taken away by those four bullets. Suge Knight was still the famous West Coast behind-the-scenes boss of the rap music scene, and the blood of crime on his hands had not yet made him fall into the quagmire of justice. Dr. Dre was still working hard in the recording studio of Death Row Records. He was completely disappointed with Suge Knight's gangster behavior, turned around and left to build Aftermath Entertainment, and was officially taken under the wing of Jimmy Iovine. It was still three months.

Like the gang members who roamed the streets of Compton, Death Row Records' most glorious period was just before its complete demise.

"California Love" is the brightest afterglow of the scorching sun before it sets over the west coast.

“Californians, they know how to party.

California is the place for carnival.

In the City of Angels,
In the old town of Watts,

On the streets of Compton,

We never stopped dancing,

We never stop moving.”

Standing in the center of the stage, 2Pac swayed his body left and right to the rhythm of the chorus, and he seemed to have really come back from the long river of time. He wore his signature white vest and the familiar black jeans. The gold chain around his neck shone brightly under the stage lights, and the red patterned silk headscarf on his head showed his identity as an outside member of Mob Piru, the Compton branch of the Bloods.

His eyes were full of uninhibited arrogance and cynical laziness, as if nothing had happened and he was still the king of West Coast rap. 2Pac's arms powerfully drew the beat in the air, forming a perfect echo with the audience's shouts.

No matter from which angle you look at the main stage, the holographic projection of Tupac Shakur's personal image is so realistic that it is almost indistinguishable from the real world.

"It's like ... 2012 all over again."

On the dance floor, there were fans who attended the Coachella Music Festival four years ago, sighing loudly. That year, the most anticipated headliners in Indio, California, were not The Black Keys or Radiohead, but the joint performance of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. In their set, 2Pac, restored by holographic projection, appeared in front of the world for the first time, becoming one of the most unforgettable classic live moments in 2012 and even the entire 2010s.

This time, the headliners were upgraded from the twin stars of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to the East Coast Big Four of Dr. Dre + Snoop Dogg + Eminem + 50 Cent. Such a rare superstar scene must be accompanied by the most classic original scene. For this scene, Han spent $75 on the scene. AV Concepts, the production company that polished the holographic projection for 2012Pac in 2, was in charge. It took nearly four months to finally complete this fully upgraded version of the 2Pac holographic projection.

In 2012, Coachella spent $2 on the 40Pac resurrection scene. The extra $35 that Han Yi paid was not just due to inflation over the past four years. The reason why Han Yi's team spent nearly double the price was because they not only brought 2Pac to 2016, but also moved the entire Compton neighborhood to 2016.

The entire Compton neighborhood in the 1990s was perfectly restored by holographic technology. The old brick buildings, graffiti-covered walls, flashing neon lights at the alley entrances, and even the antique cars driving slowly on the street - all of this makes the audience feel as if they are in that era full of hope and despair.

On one side of the street, there is a familiar scene from the "California Love" music video: the asphalt road is scorched by the sun, black youths in loose clothes gather at the street corner, chatting and laughing, and the air is filled with a breath of freedom and rebellion. On the other side, there is a slightly desolate neighborhood, street children chase and play after school, and an elderly woman sits in a rocking chair on the porch, her eyes revealing a trace of worry, but full of love.

2Pac stood in the center of the stage, looking so alienated, yet so integrated. He is the proudest child of Compton and the most revered idol of Compton. He is the spiritual embodiment of the entire community and has brought one well-known classic after another to this wild little town in southern Los Angeles.

"Mad City! What's up!"

At the end of a chorus, the accompaniment came to an abrupt end, the holographic projection of Compton was paused, the smiles of the black youths froze, the feet of the children chasing and playing stopped in mid-air, the woman's hands on her chest did not fall, leaving only 2Pac standing on the stage with his arms open like a god descending from the sky, accepting the worship of people in the audience.

"Yo, yo, yo! Y'all know what I'm talking about! We're in California, where the sun shines and the love never stops. But this isn't just my story - this is the story we write together, for the streets, for the people, and for the man who brought the West Coast sound to the world!"

"Let me hear you cheer for the doctor of the rap game, the genius of the beat, the legend..."

"Doctor—DRE!"

As 2Pac read out the stage name of his creative partner, the holographic projection of Compton began to move again, and Dr. Dre, dressed in a black leather jacket, also walked through the 2s street and stood next to Pac.

"Now let me welcome you all to the Wild, Wild West.

Like Elliot Ness, no one can challenge the pinnacle state of authority.

The music hit the eardrums, as shocking as a bullet piercing the chest.

Prepare a vest for your little brother so that he can gallop in this city of love..."

In stark contrast to his later music capitalist persona, when California Love was being created, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's gangster rap music was playing everywhere, and the radio market share once surpassed the popular Nirvana band. What people liked to hear most was Snoop Dogg's lazy and uninhibited tone to tease his attitude towards life, and of course Dr. Dre's big brother attitude to tell the audience about this gang paradise.

“Only in this sun-soaked promised land can you find the darkest roasted hemp.

Only in this utopia without day or night will you see every dance floor crowded with people.

Pimps roam the streets, serving those greenbacks.

Lean money-making machine, only started for the devil on earth."

Dr. Dre's voice is calm, deep and authoritative. It is not the most special one in hip-hop music, nor is it the one with the most commercial value. But no one can deny that his singing is always more convincing than those pretentious so-called gang leaders, and can bring people into the underworld of gunfire and rain of bullets.

Although not extremely aggressive, his voice is still controlled and smooth, which complements his signature relaxed production style that incorporates funk rhythms. Dr. Dre's voice often becomes the most stable tone in the tracks he performs, forming a sharp contrast with the more flamboyant and energetic styles of other performers.

“I have been making rap melodies in this industry for nearly ten years.

Even before girls started wearing sassen jeans, I was a minor celebrity in the game.

In 95, they were still paying attention to me and silently envious of my success.

All covered in diamonds, like I had just robbed Liberace."

Dr. Dre's rap style is more inclined to precise and clear expression rather than fast or overly complicated rhymes. As a producer, he stands in front of the microphone with a simple and clear rhythm, making it very easy for the audience to follow the lyrics.

In the early days, especially during the NWA period, Dr. Dre's style was more raw and aggressive, reflecting the rebellious and confrontational nature of the group's musical philosophy. At that time, his lyrics always revolved around the harsh realities of life on the streets of Compton. No matter how the themes changed, they were inseparable from drug abuse, gang crime, police brutality, and the philosophy of survival in downtown Los Angeles.

As time went on, when he got together with Snoop Dogg and began to grow stronger and prepare to start his own studio, Dr. Dre's performance became more refined and restrained, emphasizing a kind of control over himself and the outside world, and of course, his expression of self-confidence. The G-Funk aesthetic he pioneered and led combined the bits and pieces of street life with a more relaxed, almost celebratory atmosphere, making his songs begin to tell more details about power and enjoying the fruits of success.

“From San Diego to the Bay Area, life is so good.

If your city can bring you endless wealth, then it is your utopia. If you think so, please raise your middle finger with me.

Dre gave everything for California.”

The praise for California, the praise for Los Angeles, and most importantly, the praise for the West Coast lifestyle. The various things mentioned in Dr. Dre's lyrics, such as California's sunshine, parties, and car modification culture, are all elements that global audiences have heard and seen from Hollywood movies and TV shows, and can instantly resonate and respond to.

This is the main reason why "California Love" is regarded as a classic. It is an important symbol of hip-hop music entering the mainstream. Rappers are no longer cynical and confined to the slums. They are entering the mainstream and singing the ode to the good life with the money they have earned from capital.

Dr. Dre, whose edges were smoothed out, began to create art that did not attempt to offend anyone. This change in mentality and path is also the reason why he can stand on the finale stage of Mad City Saturday Night today, allowing 75,000 fans of different races, skin colors, and cultural backgrounds to worship him.

“Californians, they know how to party.

California is the place for carnival.

In the City of Angels,
In the old town of Watts,

On the streets of Compton,

We never stopped dancing,

We never stop moving.”

The popularity of "California Love" is best demonstrated in the chorus, which is sung by Roger Troutman, the soul of the Zapp band and the leader of the funk movement. Using DX100 and Talk Box, Roger added a strong electronic music element to the whole song, which is also one of the important characteristics of Dr. Dre and even the entire Aftermath Entertainment work.

Make hip-hop music that can be played at parties, make hip-hop music that people can dance to.

From the Hollywood Hills on the left side of the main stage to the Manhattan skyscrapers on the far right, the actual set also flashed neon lights. They did not weaken the effect of the holographic projection, but added a more realistic background to it.

“As soon as I was released from prison on bail, California Dreams began to shine.

I could hear the girls screaming as they welcomed me.

Longing for money and wine,
That’s West Coast life, folks.”

More than two decades after his death, the trials and tribulations of Tupac Shakur’s life, as well as his absurdity and outrage, remain culturally significant. 2Pac is considered a fearless spokesperson for African Americans, fighting for social justice and racial equality, and believing in the concepts of resistance and change. He used poetry as his most powerful weapon, transforming the pain he experienced into art, making his legacy the greatest and most far-reaching force in hip-hop history.

"So we are like wild animals in a cage, waiting for the day when our wrath will be unleashed. I am quietly waiting for them to kill me."

"Since we all come from women, our names also come from women, and the most important game in the world also comes from women, I want to know why we always take from women, why we rape women, and do we hate women?"

"How sad, because I bet Brenda has no idea that just because you're in the ghetto doesn't mean you can't break free."

Social consciousness, narrative, and rebellious spirit are the three elements that make up the angry 1993Pac in 2, and the 2Pac that will always be alive in people's hearts, but he is definitely not the 2Pac in "California Love". Having just experienced a complicated legal dispute and prison life, 2Pac only hopes to regain his footing through music and return to the colorful California.

Therefore, the anger, vulnerability, and defiance that are so recognizable in Tupac's voice are completely gone in the song "California Love", leaving only a penetrating voice and a more refined, cheerful, and mainstream-friendly 2Pac.

"The cowards died in the streets, and our carnival began.

Only in California do we use riots instead of rallies to explore themes of life and death.

In California, we only wear Converse, not Belle.

Wearing Locs, khakis, and driving around in a parade is our attitude.

As long as we roam the streets, we may come into conflict with other gangs at any time.

The whole world knows it because we speak the truth.

From Long Beach to Rosecrans Boulevard, we're a household name.

Like a slow-tempo jazz piece, the front of the car bounces up and down all the way.

This is the West Coast.

So you should know,

Death Row Records won’t yield to anyone.”

However, although it has become much gentler, 2Pac still maintains his proper tone in the lyrics. He still uses gang life as an anchor, and Death Row Records as his spiritual pillar, tenaciously guarding the existence of the past. This creates an extremely dramatic contrast with Dr. Dre, who is looking forward to the future, leaving the gangster spirit behind, and striding forward.

The one who sticks to his post is left at the origin forever. The one who travels far away rises and falls with the years.

Two different life forms, two trajectories that are completely different in length and amplitude, meet again on the same stage twenty-one years later.

Perhaps, this is the true meaning of 2Pac being brought back to life through holographic projection.

As 2Pac's song reached its climax, the special effects on the stage became more vivid. The static scenes of the streets in the background became fewer and fewer, and the dynamic details became more and more. The people wandering on the street began to dance in unison to the rhythm of the music. Cars slowly drove through them, and even the beams of car lights, with the help of the power of the on-site searchlights, passed in front of the audience, making it difficult to tell whether this was virtual or real.

Dr. Dre, who already has wrinkles on his face, and 2Pac, who is always full of energy, stand on both sides of Compton Avenue, interacting with virtual characters. Sometimes they reach out their hands to high-five the "residents", sometimes they look back at the street behind them with a nostalgic smile, and sometimes they make eye contact and nod to each other.

The audience was speechless with shock at the details of the interaction, which far exceeded those at Coachella. They were too realistic and too touching. Even the old fans who had experienced this era had never seen such a realistic interaction. Every interaction between Dr. Dre and 2Pac caused the crowd to cheer and scream. Some people were moved to tears, some had their eyes wide open, and some kept rubbing their cheeks with their hands, as if to confirm that they were not dreaming.

More people took out their phones to record this historic moment. No matter Taylor Swift or Turki Al Sheikh, no matter what their real identities are, at this moment, they are just loyal listeners of West Coast rap culture. Especially the director of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, his cheeks flushed, excited like a child - he spent his youth in the Arabian Peninsula with rappers such as Death Row Records.

"You can say what you want, but please play that hot Dre song.

Let me sing in the streets of Los Angeles.

From Oakland to Sacramento, to the Bay Area, and back to California...

This is where we let loose.”

“GIVE—ME—LOVE!”

At the end of 2Pac's segment, the holographic projection of the Compton neighborhood began to disintegrate in the deafening music. The walls of the low-rise buildings began to crack, and the ground seemed to be shaking violently. After a long roar, everything returned to dust, and only the image of 2Pac remained standing.

He raised his neck, his voice full of power and passion, and in his drawn-out shout, every inch of the Compton block turned into countless points of light, floating above the stage, and finally disappearing in the bright lights of Las Vegas.

"Ayo, I know you're all feeling the California love tonight, but now, I have to leave for a while. However, we will continue this West Coast party, and before I go, I have to introduce you to my homie, The DO-Motherfucking-double-G."

"The Dogfather himself, my brother, Snoop Dogg!"

"You know what time it is - it's time to sing the true West Coast anthem. Cheers to Snoop, Dre... and our 'next episode'!"

(End of this chapter)