News of May 31, 2000
"The Lost Tapes": Early Cassette Recordings Hit the Market
In late May 2000, "The Lost Tapes" was released in Germany with cassette recordings from around 1989, without the consent of Tupac's estate.
On May 31, 2000, the label ZYX released The Lost Tapes in Germany, a CD featuring ten tracks from Tupac’s beginnings, including two remixes. According to the review by laut.de, the recordings come from cassettes that Tupac had recorded with his group Strictly Dope, allegedly in the home studio of Digital Underground. Chopmaster J, co-founder of Digital Underground, is named as producer.
Miami Bass Instead of Death Row
The year of creation is considered to be 1989. The reviewer regarded this as an estimate because a sample from 100 Miles And Runnin, released in late 1989, can be heard. Sonically, the beats were reminiscent of early Miami bass. He called the sound quality “pretty lousy”, noting that only Static I and Static II hinted at the later style. For collectors, the record was nevertheless a must.
Without the Estate’s Consent
Tupac’s heirs had not authorized the release. In the US, the estate asked retailers in writing not to sell the CD, as AllHipHop later reported. It was not until May 2001 that both sides reached an agreement.