I Ain't Mad at Cha

On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur succumbed to his gunshot wounds in Las Vegas. Just two days later, on September 15, I Ain't Mad at Cha was sent to radio stations and music channels in the US. The accompanying video had been shot months before his death and showed Tupac being shot and going to heaven.

Written on the Day of His Release: Understanding Instead of Reproach

The song is a conversation with people whose lives have changed: a friend who turns his back on the streets and finds Islam, a mother, a girlfriend. Instead of reproach, Tupac expresses understanding-hence the title.

According to Wikipedia, he recorded the track on the day of his release from prison: when he heard Daz's beat, he was thrilled and wrote the lyrics down within a few hours.

Shot in May 1996: A Video Like a Premonition

The video was shot on May 15, 1996. For the recording, a live band re-recorded the track. In the clip, Tupac leaves a party with a friend (played by Bokeem Woodbine), is shot, and dies in the ambulance.

In heaven, he encounters look-alikes of deceased musicians such as Redd Foxx and watches over his friend from there. After the shooting in Las Vegas, the video seemed like a premonition. It ends with a dedication to Tupac's stepfather and godfather.

The European CD Single of November 18, 1996

This edition is the European CD single (DRWCD5) from November 18, 1996.