Twenty-seven songs. That’s what Tupac Shakur handed over to the world in February 1996. Honestly, looking back, it was a move that shouldn't have worked. Most artists struggle to put together ten decent tracks for a standard LP, but Pac had just walked out of Clinton Correctional Facility with a chip on his shoulder the size of California. He went straight to Can-Am Studios and basically didn't leave for weeks.
The result was All Eyez on Me, hip-hop’s first-ever double solo album. It wasn't just a collection of music; it was a 132-minute statement of intent. If you grew up with this record, you remember the dual-disc jewel case—the "Book 1" and "Book 2" vibe that felt more like an epic novel than a CD. Even now, the all eyez on me album song list remains a fascinating map of a man who knew his time was running out.
Breaking Down Book 1: The Anthem Phase
The first disc of this album is probably the most cohesive run of hits in West Coast history. You’ve got "Ambitionz Az A Ridah" leading the charge. It’s arguably the greatest album opener ever. That piano riff? Iconic. It set the tone for a Pac who was no longer the pensive, poetic soul we saw in Me Against the World. He was a "Ridah" now.
- Ambitionz Az A Ridah - Produced by Daz Dillinger. It’s pure adrenaline.
- All About U - Featuring Nate Dogg and Snoop. This is peak G-Funk.
- Skandalouz - Nate Dogg again. The man never missed on a hook.
- Got My Mind Made Up - A rare East-meets-West moment with Method Man and Redman.
- How Do U Want It - The K-Ci & JoJo collaboration that dominated the radio.
- 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted - The ultimate buddy-cop rap song with Snoop Dogg.
- No More Pain - A dark, creeping beat by DeVante Swing.
- Heartz Of Men - DJ Quik’s production masterpiece. He actually had to use his real name, David Blake, in some credits because of contract issues.
- Life Goes On - The emotional core of Disc 1.
- Only God Can Judge Me - A paranoid, defiant anthem featuring Rappin' 4-Tay.
- Tradin War Stories - Deep-cut street lore.
- California Love (Remix) - Technically the remix, but it’s the version that defined an era.
- I Ain’t Mad At Cha - A soulful goodbye that feels haunting in retrospect.
- What’z Ya Phone # - A weird, Prince-inspired Prince-style funk track to close the first half.
It’s worth noting how fast this happened. Pac was released on bail—paid for by Suge Knight—and he was in the booth within hours. Most of these tracks were finished in one or two takes. He was a machine.
📖 Related: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
Book 2: The Deep Cuts and The Defiance
By the time you get to Disc 2, the mood shifts. It’s a bit more experimental, a bit more aggressive, and definitely more focused on the "Death Row" lifestyle. You’ve got George Clinton showing up on "Can't C Me," which brings that P-Funk lineage directly into the 90s.
- Can’t C Me - Dr. Dre on the beat. It’s loud, funky, and impossible to ignore.
- Shorty Wanna Be A Thug - A rare moment of social commentary amidst the bravado.
- Holla At Me - A scathing message to former friends turned enemies.
- Wonda Why They Call U Bytch - Controversial then, controversial now.
- When We Ride - The formal introduction of the Outlaw Immortalz.
- Thug Passion - A G-funk party track through and through.
- Picture Me Rollin’ - One of the smoothest songs ever recorded. That Danny Boy hook is timeless.
- Check Out Time - A narrative track about leaving a hotel after a wild night.
- Ratha Be Ya Nigga - Featuring Richie Rich. Pure 70s soul vibes.
- All Eyez On Me - The title track. Big Syke and Pac trading verses over a Johnny "J" beat.
- Run Tha Streetz - A smoother, R&B-leaning track.
- Ain’t Hard 2 Find - A posse cut featuring E-40 and the B-Legit.
- Heaven Ain’t Hard 2 Find - The final track. It’s surprisingly upbeat for a man obsessed with his own mortality.
The Production Magic Behind the List
You can't talk about the all eyez on me album song list without mentioning Johnny "J". While Dr. Dre gets a lot of the glory for the "California Love" era, Johnny "J" was the engine room. He produced eleven of the tracks on this album. His chemistry with Pac was almost telepathic. They could finish three songs in a single night.
Daz Dillinger also deserves his flowers here. He handled "Ambitionz Az A Ridah" and "2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted." He brought that heavy, distorted bass that made the album sound so different from the polished G-Funk of The Doggfather.
👉 See also: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
Then there’s the guest list. It was a who’s who of 1996. You had the Dogg Pound, Snoop, and Nate Dogg representing the West. You had Method Man and Redman representing the East. You even had Roger Troutman bringing the talk box back into the mainstream. It was a sprawling, expensive, and chaotic piece of art.
Why the Tracklist Matters Today
People often say this album is "bloated." They’re not entirely wrong. If you cut five or six songs, you’d have a perfect album. But that wasn't the point. Pac wanted to flood the market. He wanted everyone to hear his voice after eleven months of silence.
The all eyez on me album song list reflects a man who was living at 100 miles per hour. One minute he’s mourning friends on "Life Goes On," and the next he’s laughing about hotel bills on "Check Out Time." It’s the full spectrum of a human being who was clearly under a lot of pressure.
✨ Don't miss: Why This Is How We Roll FGL Is Still The Song That Defines Modern Country
If you’re looking to revisit this classic, don’t just stick to the singles. The real gold is often in the sequencing. The way "I Ain't Mad At Cha" leads into the aggression of Disc 2 tells a story of a guy trying to reconcile his past with a very violent present.
Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you want to experience the album as intended, try listening to the original 4-LP vinyl sequence. The way the sides are split—Side A through Side H—gives the songs a different breathing room than the digital "Book 1 and 2" layout. It forces you to sit with the transition from the radio-ready hits to the grimey street tracks. Also, pay attention to the mixing by DJ Quik; he secretly polished much of the album’s sound, giving it that "Diamond" certified shimmer that still holds up on modern speakers.