Better Dayz
| Company type | studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | November 26, 2002 |
| Founder | 2Pac |
| Products | Hip hop music |
Better Dayz represents the eighth studio album and the fourth release issued after the death of American rapper 2Pac. Launched on November 26, 2002, the album entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number five. This two-disc set is the second installment of posthumous compilations containing unreleased tracks from Tupac's "Makaveli" era under Death Row Records, with production contributions from Johnny "J", Jazze Pha, Frank Nitty, and E.D.I. Mean of the Outlawz collective.
A significant inclusion is "Military Minds," featuring members of Boot Camp Clik, Buckshot and Smif-n-Wessun (performing as Cocoa Brovaz), originally intended for a collaborative project named One Nation that was never completed due to Tupac's passing. Unlike its predecessor, Until the End of Time, this album contains no edited references to Death Row Records. The sole track predating Tupac's Death Row tenure is "My Block (Remix)," recorded during his Interscope Records period (1994–1995) and first released on the 1995 soundtrack The Show. Furthermore, "Late Night" and "Who Do You Believe In" were previously featured on Death Row's 1999 compilation Chronic 2000. It should be noted that "Late Night" has been excluded from all digital releases, streaming platforms, and recent CD versions.
Guest artists on the album include Outlawz, Ron Isley, Nas, Mýa, Jazze Pha, and Tyrese. The lead single "Thugz Mansion" is presented in two distinct versions: an acoustic rendition with Nas and J. Phoenix that served as inspiration for its music video, and a hip hop version featuring Anthony Hamilton.
Recording
This collection comprises previously unreleased recordings from 1994 to 1996, predominantly remixed versions of tracks from Thug Life Volume 1, All Eyez On Me, and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Some songs are preserved in their original state or finalized mixes, including "Fuck 'Em All," "Late Night," "Ghetto Star," "Better Dayz," "Who Do U Believe In?," and "They Don't Give a Fuck About Us."
Critical reception
John Bush of AllMusic commended Better Dayz as an engaging double-disc release, crediting executive producers Suge Knight and Afeni Shakur for assembling an outstanding compilation. He highlighted the album’s format—dividing one disc between hardcore rap and the other between R&B tracks—as enhancing its overall appeal. Noteworthy songs cited include the remix of "My Block," "Never Call U Bitch Again," and "Better Dayz." Bush regarded it as Tupac’s finest posthumous album. Additionally, Kludge recognized it among the top albums of 2002. The track "Ghetto Star" was also featured on the soundtrack for the video game 25 to Life.
Commercial performance
Upon release, Better Dayz entered the US Billboard 200 at number five, achieving first-week sales of 366,000 copies and marking Tupac’s eighth album to reach the US top ten. In its sophomore week, it slipped to number eight with an additional 163,000 units sold. By September 2011, total US sales had reached 1,765,597 copies. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded it triple platinum certification in July 2014 for exceeding three million units sold. Moreover, in May 2003, it attained triple platinum status in Canada after selling over 300,000 copies.
Samples
- "Better Dayz"
- Incorporates "Let's Fall in Love (Parts 1 & 2)" performed by The Isley Brothers
- "Catchin' Feelins"
- Contains elements from "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC
- "Late Night"
- Features excerpts from "Have Your Ass Home by 11:00" by Richard Pryor
- Includes samples from "Wind Parade" by Donald Byrd
- Uses portions of "Last Night Changed It All (I Really Had a Ball)" by Esther Williams
- "This Life I Lead"
- Samples "Naturally Mine" by Al B. Sure!
- "Who Do U Believe In"
- Draws from "Manifest Destiny" off The Return of the Space Cowboy by Jamiroquai
Personnel
- 2Pac – lead vocals
- Johnta Austin – guest vocalist
- Rob "Fonksta" Bacon – guest guitarist
- Bill Bennett – assistant engineering
- Big Syke – guest vocalist
- Ian Blanch – assistant engineer and engineer
- Warren Bletcher – assistant engineer
- Ian Boxill – engineering and mixing
- Leslie Brathwaite – engineering and mixing
- Briss – instrumentation and production
- Buckshot – guest vocalist
- Coco Brothers – guest performers
- Courtney Copeland – backing vocals
- Kevin Crouse – engineering
- Claudio Cueni – digital editing, engineering, mixing, production
- Chris DeLaPena – assistant engineering
- DJ Quik – engineering and production
- E.D.I. – featured artist, mixing, music supervision, remixing
- Steve Fisher – assistant engineer
- Nanci Fletcher – guest vocalist
- G Mack – guitar performance
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering engineer
- A. Gobi – photography
- Anthony Hamilton – featured artist
- Darryl Harper – producer
- Kimmy Hill – guest vocalist
- Ronald Isley – guest performer
- Jazze Pha – featured artist and producer
- Johnny J – arrangement, mixing, production
- Troy Johnson – instrumentation and production
- Kadafi – featured artist
- Kastro – performer
- Ronnie King – keyboards
- Suge Knight – executive producer
- Mr. Biggs – featured artist
- Chicu Modu – photography
- Molly Monjauze – project director
- Mussamill – featured artist
- James Musshorn – assistant engineer
- Mya – featured artist
- Napoleon – featured artist
- Nas – featured artist
- Duane Nettlesbey – composer
- Nutso – featured artist
- Outlawz – featured artists
- J. Phoenix – featured artist
- Frank Nitty Pimentel – drum programming, keyboards, production
- Will Pyon – digital editing
- Chuck Reed – digital editing
- R.J. – bass and guitar
- 7 Aurelius – instrumentation and production
- Afeni Shakur – executive producer
- Shorty B. – bass and guitar
- Dexter Simmons – mixing engineer
- Alex Stiff – bass and guitar
- T.I. – featured artist
- Ellis Taylor – backing vocals
- Trick Daddy – featured artist
- Tyrese – featured artist
- Mark Vinten – assistant engineer
- Corey Williams – assistant engineer
- Dwight DeLemond Williams – featured artist
- Jasmine Wilson – backing vocals
- Keston Wright – engineering
- Young Noble – featured artist
Weekly charts
| Chart (2002–2003) | Highest position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 51 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard Canada) | 7 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) | 3 |
| Netherlands Albums Chart | 36 |
| French Albums Chart | 52 |
| German Albums Chart | 45 |
| Irish Albums Chart | 40 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 20 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 60 |
| UK Albums Chart | 68 |
| UK R&B Albums Chart | 7 |
| US Billboard 200 | 5 |
| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 1 |
| US Billboard Top Rap Albums | 1 |
Year-end chart rankings
| Chart (2002) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) | 91 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) | 17 |
| Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) | 8 |
| Chart (2003) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 41 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 3 |