Until the End of Time

29 songs across two CDs, recorded in 1995 and 1996 during the same nights as All Eyez on Me and The Don Killuminati: Four and a half years after Tupac's death, Until the End of Time arrived as the first major album of unreleased material from his Death Row era. It debuted straight at No. 1 and raised the question of how much of the original must remain in a posthumous release.

Battle for the Tapes: Amaru and Death Row Reach an Agreement

At Death Row, Tupac had recorded far more in 1995 and 1996 than could fit on two albums. After Tupac's death, the rights remained with Death Row while his mother Afeni Shakur fought for control over the estate.

Until the End of Time came together as a joint project between Amaru and Death Row. Suge Knight was in prison himself at the time, but is nevertheless credited as an executive producer.

New Instrumentals, Duplicate Versions, and Unborn Children

Almost all the songs were reworked for the album. In some cases, Johnny "J"'s original beats were retained; in others, the instrumentals were replaced entirely. Several tracks appear in two versions on the album, such as Thug N U Thug N Me with K-Ci & JoJo or Let 'Em Have It, once with SKG and once as a remix featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC.

The title track featuring R.L. from the group Next is built on Mr. Mister's Broken Wings; a second version includes vocals from Mr. Mister singer Richard Page. The Outlawz can be heard on numerous tracks, including Breathin', All Out, and Runnin' on E. With Letter 2 My Unborn and Words 2 My First Born (with Above the Law, produced by DJ Quik), Tupac addresses children he never had.

To the Top of the Billboard 200 with 427,000 Sales

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with around 427,000 copies sold. The single Until the End of Time reached No. 52 on the Hot 100, but hit No. 4 in the UK and No. 33 in Germany. Letter 2 My Unborn followed in the summer of 2001.

In 2014, the RIAA awarded quadruple platinum, with each disc of the double album counted separately. A frequently cited figure of "over three million sold" could not be verified. A 20th-anniversary edition was released in 2021.

Slick Remixes Against the Raw Death Row Sound

Critics praised Tupac's verses, but faulted the sheer volume of material and the often slick post-production in the style of 2001. Many fans criticize the new beats for diluting the raw character of the Death Row originals; original versions have circulated as bootlegs for years.

At the same time, the double album was the first point of contact with Tupac for many younger listeners. It proved that his name could top the charts years after his death-and marked the start of a debate over remixes that would shape the handling of his musical estate.