Audio Samples Ahead of Previews: How the Tupac Musical Sounds

On May 30, 2014, shortly before the start of previews, the first audio from the musical “Holler If Ya Hear Me” surfaced. Rolling Stone pointed to BuzzFeed, which had released three tracks: the title song, “California Love,” and “Unconditional Love.” Billboard and the Guardian reported the same in the days that followed.

Choir and Slam Poetry Instead of Sirens and Grit

The tracks were reworked for the stage. On the title track, according to Rolling Stone, the grit and police sirens of the original are gone. “California Love” begins with a slam poetry intro by lead actor Saul Williams and turns into a call-and-response between “Tupac” and a choir, watering down the G-funk. The Guardian likewise describes the versions as smoothed out, augmented by choir and slam poetry.

According to Billboard, previews began on June 2 at the Palace Theatre. How the tracks sounded before being smoothed out is demonstrated by the originals: Holler If Ya Hear Me and California Love.