Background · Juice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
As Bishop, Tupac stepped into the moviegoing public's focus in January 1992: in Ernest Dickerson's drama (German title: Juice, City War), he portrayed a Harlem teenager who loses control after a robbery. The role in his first major feature film made him instantly famous as an actor. On the film's soundtrack, however, Tupac is nowhere to be heard-a point that often gets lost in fan discographies.
In Front of the Camera, but Not in the Studio
Tupac contributed nothing to the film's music. His debut album 2Pacalypse Now had been released only a few weeks earlier and was not yet a success at that time. More about the film can be found on the Juice page.
A Snapshot of Hip-Hop Around 1991
The soundtrack is a snapshot of hip-hop around 1991. Naughty by Nature open the record with Uptown Anthem, while Eric B. & Rakim contribute the title track with Juice (Know the Ledge). Joining them are Cypress Hill with Shoot 'Em Up, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, Too Short, and Salt-N-Pepa, along with Teddy Riley and Aaron Hall, two representatives of New Jack Swing. Notable is the contribution by Juvenile Committee: their producer Demetrius Shipp worked on Tupac's Toss It Up five years later.
Four songs made the charts: Uptown Anthem, Juice (Know the Ledge), Don't Be Afraid by Aaron Hall, and Is It Good to You by Teddy Riley with Tammy Lucas. The album reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in March 1992. The reviews were also favorable: The Source awarded four out of five points.
Date, Label and Artist Names
The soundtrack is dated December 31, 1991, and the US CD names SOUL/MCA as the label. Some artist names appear shortened elsewhere, such as “MC Pooh (Pooh-Man)” and “Teddy Riley feat Tammy Lucas B”. The list below follows the details of the US CD-a document of an era when Tupac experienced his breakthrough in front of the camera, while the music of the film still belonged to others.