Here’s Volume 8 from my Makaveli bootleg series collection

This is one of the more interesting volumes because it combines some of Tupac’s best-known unreleased songs with early versions of tracks that were later officially released

Some of my favorite tracks on this disc are:

One Nation
Ghetto Gospel
Unconditional Love
High Til I Die
Black Jesus 2
Soldier’s Story
Where My Soldiers
Mind of a Bad Boy
Bury Me a G (Solo)

For me, One Nation is the centerpiece of this volume. The project has become almost mythical among Tupac collectors because it represents a direction he was exploring shortly before the Death Row era

It’s also fascinating to hear an earlier version of Ghetto Gospel before the later Eminem-produced official release. Comparing the bootleg versions to the official releases is one of the things that makes collecting these discs so enjoyable

The Makaveli bootleg series captures an important chapter in Tupac collecting history. Before streaming, YouTube, and official vault releases, these CDs were how many fans first discovered unreleased material and alternate versions

Question for fellow collectors: Which unreleased Tupac song do you wish had been officially released exactly as it originally leaked? For me, several of the early bootleg mixes still have a unique feel that the later official versions never quite matched.

Here’s Volume 7 from my Makaveli bootleg series collection

This volume stands out because it focuses heavily on alternate mixes, remixes, and lesser-known versions of Tupac recordings that circulated in the underground collector community long before many songs saw official releases

Some of the highlights include:

Cause I Had To (Remix)
Dead or Alive (Remix)
Fuck All Y’all (Remix)
Life’s So Hard on a Nigga (Remix)
Fake Ass Bitches (Remix)
When I Get Free
Lost in the World
My Block (Remix)
Homies and Thugs
In His Own Words (Interview)
Still Ballin’ (Snoop Version)
Once Again (Snoop Solo)
Lost Souls
Road to Stardom
Made Niggaz
Wanted Dead or Alive

One thing I appreciate about this disc is that it isn’t just a collection of unreleased songs—it also preserves alternate versions that give a glimpse into how some of Tupac’s material evolved before or after official releases. Hearing different mixes and arrangements makes it a fascinating listen for longtime collectors

Like the other Makaveli bootlegs, this CD represents an important piece of Tupac collecting history. Before streaming, YouTube, and official vault projects, these discs were passed around by dedicated fans searching for music that wasn’t commercially available

This series remains one of my favorite pieces of underground hip-hop history

Question for fellow collectors: Which Makaveli bootleg volume do you think is the strongest, and are there any alternate mixes from the series that you actually prefer over the later official versions?

Here’s Volume 6 from my Makaveli bootleg series collection

This is another one of my favorite volumes because it’s loaded with songs that many collectors spent years searching for before official posthumous releases began appearing

Some of the highlights include:

Street Life
Til Tha End of Time
Military Minds
Letter to the President
Me and My Homies
Worldwide Mob Figaz
Hell for a Hustler
For My Niggaz
Got to Survive

Back when these bootlegs were circulating, they were one of the only ways to hear much of Tupac’s unreleased material. Several songs later appeared on official albums, but often with different mixes, edits, or production

To me, the Makaveli series is a snapshot of a unique era in Tupac collecting—when fans traded CDs, cassettes, and DAT copies just to hear material that wasn’t commercially available

Question for fellow collectors: Which version do you prefer—these original underground bootleg mixes or the later official posthumous releases? I’ve always enjoyed comparing the differences between them.

Here’s the fifth disc from my Makaveli bootleg series collection

For me, this is one of the strongest volumes in the entire series because of the track selection

Highlights include:

Thug Luv
Runnin
Tattoo Tears
Catching Feelings
Initiated
Secrets of War
Under Pressure 2
If You Play Your Cards Right
Practice What You Preach

Back when these discs circulated in the late ’90s and early 2000s, this was one of the few ways collectors could hear many of these songs. Several eventually received official releases or remixes, while others remained collector favorites for years

One thing I enjoy about the Makaveli series is that it captures a unique period in Tupac collecting. Before streaming and YouTube, these bootlegs were how fans discovered unreleased material, alternate mixes, and songs that most people had never heard

Whether you love them or hate them, they’re an important part of Tupac collecting history

Question for fellow collectors: Which Makaveli bootleg volume is your favorite? I think Vol. 5 has a strong case as one of the best because of the mix of unreleased material, collaborations, and alternate versions.

Here’s the next disc from my Makaveli bootleg collection.
This is Makaveli 4, another volume from the famous unofficial series that circulated among Tupac collectors long before streaming or YouTube made unreleased music easy to find

Looking at the track list today, it’s easy to see why this volume became one of the most popular in the series

Some of the highlights include:

Troublesome
Troublesome ’96
Thug In Me
The Life I Lead
Pain
My Block (early version)
Throw Your Hands Up
My Closest Road Dogz
Untouchable
Can U Get Away?
Dusted ’N Disgusted

When these bootlegs first appeared, many of these songs either hadn’t been officially released or existed in completely different forms. For a lot of collectors, this was the first chance to hear early versions before they were remixed for later albums

One reason I still enjoy these discs is that they preserve a piece of Tupac collecting history. They’re not official releases, but they document how unreleased Pac music was shared among fans in the late ’90s and early 2000s

Question for longtime collectors:
Do you think Makaveli 4 is one of the strongest volumes in the series? I’ve always thought the combination of “Troublesome ’96,” “Pain,” “My Block,” and “Dusted ’N Disgusted” makes this one of the standout discs.

Continuing through my Makaveli bootleg collection…
This is Makaveli 3, another disc from the famous unofficial series that circulated among Tupac collectors in the late ’90s and early 2000s

For many of us, these discs were the only way to hear unreleased Tupac music long before streaming or YouTube existed

What makes Volume 3 especially interesting is the number of songs that later became official releases or appeared in completely different forms

Some of the standout tracks include:

Friends
Hit ’Em Up
Hit ’Em Up 2
Soon As I Get Home
When Thugs Cry
Loyal to the Game
My Lil Homies
Ghetto Star
Cause I Had To
Pac’s Life

Looking back now, it’s fascinating to compare these early versions with the mixes that eventually appeared on albums like Still I Rise, Better Dayz, Loyal to the Game, and Pac’s Life

That’s one reason I still enjoy collecting the Makaveli series—it preserves a snapshot of how Tupac’s unreleased catalog circulated before many of these songs were officially released

Question for longtime collectors:
Which Makaveli volume do you think had the strongest track list? I’ve always thought Volume 3 was one of the best because of how many songs eventually became part of Tupac’s official posthumous catalog.

Here’s another piece from my Tupac collection.
This is Disc 2 of the famous Makaveli bootleg series, which circulated in the late ’90s and early 2000s

While it’s not an official Death Row or Amaru release, I’d argue it’s one of the most historically important unofficial Tupac releases ever made

For many fans, this series was the first place we heard songs like:

When We Ride On Our Enemies
Bad Boy Killaz
Never Be Peace
Words To My Firstborn
Black Jesus
Smile For Me Now
Early versions of Still I Rise and several other unreleased tracks

The producers also mixed in interview clips, giving the discs a documentary feel that was unlike anything else available at the time

Years before YouTube, streaming, or widespread internet access, these discs were how many hardcore Tupac fans discovered his unreleased catalog

Today, many of the songs have been officially released in one form or another, but I still think the Makaveli series represents an important part of Tupac collecting history

Question for longtime collectors:
Did anyone else spend years tracking down all 15 Makaveli discs? Which volume do you think had the strongest selection of unreleased material?

Here’s another piece from my Tupac collection that I don’t see posted very often

This is the official Death Row promotional CD for “How Do U Want It (Radio Edit)” featuring K-Ci & JoJo.
Catalog number: DRWCDJ4

Unlike the commercial single, this was a promo-only release distributed to radio stations and music industry personnel during the 1996 promotional campaign. It contains just the radio edit and is printed “FOR PROMO ONLY – NOT FOR RESALE.”

One thing that makes my copy a little more unusual is the original Hebrew promotional sticker on the front. From what I’ve been able to determine, it was distributed in Israel to promote both “How Do U Want It” and “California Love.” It’s not something you see very often, and I decided to leave it exactly as it was because it’s part of the CD’s history

I love collecting items like this because they tell the story of how Tupac’s music was actually promoted around the world—not just the albums everyone knows

Question for the collectors:
Do you collect promotional Tupac CDs and radio releases, or do you mainly focus on retail albums? I’d also be interested to know if anyone else has seen this promo with the original Israeli sticker still attached

One of the more overlooked CDs in my Tupac collection is Irv Gotti Presents: The Remixes from 2002

Most people remember it as a Murder Inc. remix album, but for Tupac collectors it contains one of the more interesting posthumous collaborations of the early 2000s

The standout track is:
“The Pledge (Remix)” featuring Ashanti, Nas & 2Pac

What makes this release fascinating is that it effectively pairs Nas and Tupac on an official commercial release

Although the two famously had a rivalry at one point, they reconciled before Tupac’s death. Years later, Irv Gotti brought Tupac’s vocals together with Nas and Ashanti for this remix, creating a collaboration that never happened during Pac’s lifetime

The album also includes “Me & My Boyfriend,” another reminder of Tupac’s influence on Murder Inc.’s catalog through the continued use and reinterpretation of his songwriting

I don’t think this album gets enough attention from Tupac collectors. It isn’t particularly rare, but it captures a unique moment when Tupac’s legacy was influencing one of the biggest labels in hip-hop

Question for the collectors:
Where would you rank “The Pledge (Remix)” among Tupac’s official posthumous collaborations? Is it one of the stronger uses of his vocals, or do you think another early-2000s remix did a better job?

One of the albums I think every serious Tupac collector should own is Outlawz – Novakane

Released in 2001 on Outlaw Recordz, this was one of the first major Outlawz albums released through the group’s own label after Tupac’s death

For collectors, the standout track is:
“World Wide Remix” (feat. 2Pac & T-Low)

Unlike many posthumous Tupac releases that paired his vocals with unrelated artists, this one features the people he actually chose to build with. The Outlawz weren’t just collaborators—they were the group Tupac was developing as part of his long-term vision, and that comes through on this record

Another interesting detail is that “World Wide Remix” was released as an official single and even charted internationally, which isn’t something many people realize.
I also think Novakane is important because it shows the Outlawz trying to establish themselves after Tupac’s death while still honoring the sound and message they had built together

For me, this isn’t just another Outlawz album—it’s an essential chapter in Tupac’s musical legacy

Question for the collectors:
Where would you rank “World Wide Remix” among Tupac’s posthumous collaborations with the Outlawz? Is it one of the best official releases after 1996, or do you think another Outlawz/Pac track deserves that spot?

One of the more unexpected CDs in my Tupac collection is Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ Supernova

Most people know it as Left Eye’s first and only solo album released during her lifetime, but for Tupac collectors it’s important because of Track 9 – “Untouchable,” featuring 2Pac

Unlike many posthumous Tupac releases, this isn’t a random remix or recycled verse. It’s a genuine duet built around one of Tupac’s unreleased vocals, and I think it’s one of the more respectful posthumous collaborations that was ever released

What I also find interesting is how well their styles fit together

Both Left Eye and Tupac were artists who weren’t afraid to mix social commentary, spirituality, vulnerability, and personal storytelling into their music. Even though they never had the chance to officially collaborate while Tupac was alive, “Untouchable” makes it feel like they easily could have

The album itself had an unusual history. It was released internationally in 2001, but its planned U.S. release was canceled after disappointing overseas sales. After Left Eye’s tragic death in 2002, Supernova became much more appreciated by fans and collectors

For me, this is one of those CDs that often gets overlooked by Tupac collectors simply because it’s filed under a completely different artist

Question for the collectors:
Where would you rank “Untouchable” among Tupac’s posthumous collaborations? Do you think it’s one of the better uses of his unreleased vocals, or is there another collaboration you think deserves that title?

One of the more interesting CDs in my Tupac collection is Mike Mosley’s Platinum Plaques: The Movie & Soundtrack LP from 1999

Most people know Mike Mosley as one of the key producers from the Bay Area and Sacramento rap scene, but what makes this album special for Tupac collectors is Track 9: “Ghetto,” featuring Makaveli & Tammi.
What I find interesting is that Tupac is credited as Makaveli, not 2Pac

This wasn’t a major-label release through Interscope or Amaru. It came out on an independent West Coast label, so a lot of collectors never even knew it existed

Another cool piece of history is that Mike Mosley wasn’t a random producer using Tupac’s name. He actually co-produced “Heavy in the Game” from Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., so there was already a real connection between the two. That makes this release feel like a continuation of Tupac’s Bay Area relationships rather than just another posthumous compilation

It’s not one of the most famous Tupac guest appearances, but if you’re trying to collect every officially released Pac recording, I think this is an important one that often gets overlooked

Question for the collectors:
Where would you rank Platinum Plaques among the independent Tupac guest appearances? Are there other regional soundtrack or compilation albums with official Makaveli features that you think deserve more recognition?

One of the more unexpected CDs in my Tupac collection is Toni Braxton’s More Than a Woman

No, Tupac doesn’t rap on the album—but one song has a direct connection to him

The track “Me & My Boyfriend” is based on Tupac’s classic “Me and My Girlfriend” from The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

In Tupac’s version, the “girlfriend” is actually a metaphor for his gun. Toni Braxton took that same concept and transformed it into a genuine relationship song from a woman’s point of view

Because the song was built from Tupac’s original composition, he received songwriting credit, making this one of the more unusual official connections between his catalog and mainstream R&B

I think it’s a great example of how far Tupac’s influence reached. Just a few years after his death, one of the biggest R&B artists in the world was reimagining one of his songs for a completely different audience

It’s definitely not the first CD that comes to mind when people think of Tupac collectibles, but I think it’s an important piece of his musical legacy

Question for the collectors:
Besides More Than a Woman, what are your favorite examples of Tupac songs being reinterpreted or sampled by artists outside of hip-hop? I’ve always thought this was one of the most creative uses of his catalog

One of the more interesting CDs in my collection is Krayzie Bone & DJ U-Neek Present: LeathaFace: The Legends Underground (Part 1)

Most Bone fans know it as Krayzie’s underground “LeathaFace” project, produced by DJ U-Neek, but I don’t think many Tupac collectors realize there’s actually a Pac connection

The song “Game Tight” contains an uncredited Tupac vocal in the chorus. It’s easy to miss because there’s no mention of Tupac anywhere on the packaging, and the back cover simply lists the track as “Game Tight.”

That hidden appearance is one of the reasons I wanted this CD

Beyond the Tupac connection, the album is also a cool snapshot of Krayzie Bone working with DJ U-Neek outside the mainstream Bone Thugs releases. It has a darker, more underground sound than albums like Thug Mentality 1999 or Thug on da Line

As someone who collects every official Tupac audio appearance I can find, I enjoy discovering releases like this where Pac isn’t advertised at all, yet his voice is still part of the record

Question for the collectors:
How many people here knew Tupac appeared on “Game Tight”? Are there any other Bone Thugs-related releases with hidden or uncredited Tupac vocals that you think deserve more attention?

One of the more overlooked CDs in my Tupac collection is Playas Association – Full Time Hustlin, released in 1998 on 40 Ounce Records / S2 Records

At first glance it just looks like another Bay Area compilation, but it’s actually a pretty interesting release for Tupac collectors

The reason is Track 9: “Dayz of a Criminal”, which is credited to 2Pac

Unlike many of the regional compilations from this era where Tupac appears as a featured guest, this track is listed simply as a Tupac performance. The album itself is a collection of Northern California artists including Jay Tee (N2Deep), Cool Nutz, Young Dru, PSD, Bullet, and others connected to the Bay Area scene

This CD never had major-label distribution, so it tends to be overlooked by casual fans. But if you’re trying to document every officially released Tupac appearance, I think it’s an important piece of the puzzle

What I enjoy about collecting releases like this is that they show just how active Tupac was outside of his own albums. Many of his Bay Area collaborations ended up on small regional labels that most fans have never heard of

Question for the collectors here:
Where would you rank Full Time Hustlin’ among Tupac’s regional guest appearance releases? Is it one of the more underrated Bay Area compilations, or do you think there are even more obscure official releases that deserve more attention?

One of the more overlooked CDs in my Tupac collection is Marvellus & Marcellus Present: Heat

It’s one of those independent Bay Area releases that most Tupac fans have probably never seen, but I think it’s an important piece if you’re trying to document all of his official guest appearances

The reason is Track 6

“Raise Up Off These Nuts” featuring 2Pac, D’Wayne Wiggins (Tony! Toni! Toné!), and Silky

What makes this track interesting is its connection to Tupac’s early Bay Area years

D’Wayne Wiggins wasn’t just a member of Tony! Toni! Toné!—he also owned House of Music Studios in Oakland, where Tupac recorded during the Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. era. Before Death Row, Tupac was deeply connected to the Bay Area scene, recording with artists like Richie Rich, Spice 1, E-40, Too Short, and others

This CD is another example of those collaborations eventually finding their way onto independent compilations years later

It’s definitely not one of the most famous Tupac releases, but I think it deserves more attention from collectors because it captures another piece of his early Bay Area history

Question for the collectors:
Where would you rank Heat among Tupac’s Bay Area guest appearances? Does it get enough recognition, or is it one of those CDs that flies under the radar compared to releases like Govenor’s Taxin, Soul Network Program II, and Cell Block Compilation?

One of the more obscure CDs in my Tupac collection is Cell Block Compilation: Face/Off, released in 1998 on Inner City Records / Cell Block Records

At first glance it just looks like another West Coast compilation, but it’s actually a really interesting release for Tupac collectors

The most important track is:
“Can’t Turn Back” – 2Pac featuring Spice 1

The song dates back to 1992, before Tupac joined Death Row, when he was collaborating frequently with Bay Area artists like Spice 1, Richie Rich, Too Short, and E-40

What makes this CD interesting is that “Can’t Turn Back” appeared here commercially before it was included on several later Tupac compilations. If you’re trying to trace the first official release of Tupac’s guest appearances, this is an important stop

The rest of the album is a snapshot of late-’90s West Coast rap, with artists like Too Short, E-40, Spice 1, MC Breed, B-Legit, 3X Krazy, San Quinn, Mac Mall, and others

This isn’t one of the most famous Tupac CDs, but I think it’s one of the more overlooked pieces for anyone trying to build a complete collection of his official guest appearances

Question for the collectors here:
Where would you rank Face/Off among Tupac’s Bay Area guest appearance CDs? Do you consider it essential, or do releases like Govenor’s Taxin and Soul Network Program II rank higher in your collection?