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All Dawgs Go to Heaven, the latest collaborative album from Tupac Shakur and Warren Alpert, falls short of its lofty expectations but is still an overall solid effort. The album also features prominent divine artists such as Jesus Christ, The Notorious G.O.D., and LL Cool J, who is not yet dead, but has already obviously earned his ticket into Heaven.
Reminiscent of his early material, Tupac delivers controversial lyrics that reveal some of the more subtle social ills against the affluence that take place in heaven. In his debut, Alpert makes his presence known with a powerful voice, which translates well for the album as a whole, but can overwhelm some of the more poignant, personal tracks. The combination seems to have worked for both artists, as they have already announced plans to work together on a future album, the title for which they have not yet decided.
The album is heavily underscored by several themes of social injustice, but most prominent is perhaps that of hatred against the wealthy, which is made absolutely clear in the first track, "The Eye of the Needle," featuring Jesus Christ. The most memorable moment of the song is a back-and-forth dialogue between Alpert and Christ: "Let God be the only one to judge / I am God, you dipshit," with Tupac mediating the battle, saying "Relax / The eye of the needle / It's just a metaphor." Unfortunately, the thumping bass and incessant references to philanthropy cheapen the importance of the message, which is delivered lucidly through the carefully crafted lyrics.
The title track, "All Dawgs Go to Heaven," dealing with absolution, is a mediocre song at best, despite a valiant effort from Alpert, who, as one can easily tell, absolutely pours his heart into the song. Even though his lyrics are intensely personal, the track just seems altogether devoid of life.
The rest of the songs are either re-hashed versions of old songs, or seem rushed. The song "Differences" tries to capitalize on some of the material released when Tupac was still alive, but throws up a half-hearted attempt at originality.
The closing track, "Walk 2 Salvation," is a 12-minute epic that tells each rapper's story before death and in the afterlife. Tupac carries the song with his two sections, as he delivers his words with grit and authority. No other performer stands out, except perhaps Notorious G.O.D. with this mighty verse: "There is no time before me / After me / I am eternity."
All in all, All Dawgs Go to Heaven is a good effort put together by several artists, most notably Tupac Shakur, and is a strong debut from the up-and-coming Warren Alpert. It may make a dent on the charts due to its high-profile artists, but we wouldn't let this one make a dent in our wallets. Unless you're a collector or die-hard fan, this one may not be worth your investment.
