Outlawz 'Outlaw 4 Life 2005 A.P.' album

The Outlawz announce the release of their new album ‘Outlawz 4 Life 2005 A.P.’ due in stores April 19, 2005 on 33rd Street Records. This explosive new album features production by Focus, The Legendary Traxster, Dani Kartel, and A.D. Future.

Originally assembled by Tupac in the mid-1990s by pulling members from a number of his affiliate groups, the Outlawz were set to be the biggest supergroup in rap history. But that dream suffered a number of setbacks, as Tupac and Kadafi were killed and Fatal and Napoleon left the group. By 2003, the group had released a string of hit independent projects and had appeared on albums that had collectively sold more than 40 million copies. Nonetheless, the group The Outlawz had become just Kastro, Young Noble and E.D.I..

One thing you won’t hear on the new Outlawz album is Tupac. Plenty of other material with Tupac and the Outlawz, including the platinum plus ‘Still I Rise’ album, exists. Therefore, the group wanted ‘Outlaw 4 Life’ to be their moment in the spotlight. “It’s time for us to stand up on our own,” Noble says. “Pac did enough for us. He gave us the blueprint. We’re talented and we don’t need to have Pac on the album. People want to hear some new Outlawz stuff and they want to hear us on their own.”

The Outlawz show throughout ‘Outlaw 4 Life’ that they are also the total package. They get gangster on the searing “Let It Burn,” team with Bun B (UGK) on the pounding “Big Ballin’” and kick street lessons on “Ghetto Gospel Pt 2.” The latter includes pointed, insightful lyrical food for thought about the risks that come from life in the streets.

It is that type of insight that makes ‘Outlaw 4 Life’ such a significant album, as the group explores life’s highs and lows throughout each of the album’s 17 songs. Cuts such as “Celebration” and “These Are The Times” best illustrate the Outlawz’s brand of music with meaning. “We’re not concentrating on rapping for other rappers or rapping for the girls,” Noble says. “We’re trying to make real substance with everything we do. We were taught by the best and we can’t have it any other way.”

Indeed, the Outlawz are already gearing up for the release of its next album, ‘Chapter 2 The Rebirth’,, later this year and are setting up their new artist Stormey. With each step, the Outlawz work on healing the pain they have endured throughout their remarkable career. It is one reason why ‘Outlaw 4 Life’ sounds so therapeutic.

“Everything we do is therapy,” Noble says. “Everything we go through, we put it into our music. We learned that from Pac. That’s what music is about, experience. That’s why some people will rather listen to oldies that what’s out now. It’s timeless when it comes from the heart. We’re trying to make music like that.” ‘Outlaw 4 Life’ does just that.

Biography

The Outlawz’s resolve is remarkable. Mentor Tupac Shakur was killed in September 1996 and less than three months later, group member Kadafi was killed. Fatal and Napoleon would later leave the group. What was once a supergroup of seven of rap’s most promising artists had quickly been whittled down to just three: Kastro, Young Noble and E.D.I.

But, as the Outlawz proclaim throughout its explosive new Outlaw 4 Life album, the group has to continue on its musical mission. “We are Outlawz for life,” Kastro says. “This is really deeper than music. We made a bond with one another and we solemnly swore on the pact. We’re sticking to the script. Nothing or nobody’s going to change that.”

One thing you won’t hear on the new Outlawz album is Tupac. Plenty of other material with Tupac and the Outlawz, including the platinum plus Still I Rise album, exists. Therefore, the group wanted Outlaw 4 Life to be their moment in the spotlight. “It’s time for us to stand up on our own,” Noble says. “Pac did enough for us. He gave us the blueprint. We’re talented and we don’t need to have Pac on the album. People want to hear some new Outlawz stuff and they want to hear us on their own.”

That being said, the Outlawz know that their relationship to Tupac will forever impact the way the group is perceived. So, on the on hard-hitting “Can’t Turn Back,” the group lets everyone from fans to fellow rappers know that they don’t mind people embracing and borrowing from their late mentor. “He was the greatest rapper and people really studied Pac,” Noble explains. “It’s only right the people borrow from him. Everybody borrows from everybody and Pac borrowed from people. Pac had the stuff for the streets, the real stuff you feel in your heart and the ladies loved him. He was the total package.”

The Outlawz show throughout Outlaw 4 Life that they are also the total package. They get gangster on the searing “Let It Burn,” team with Bun B on the pounding “Big Ballin’” and kick street lessons on “Ghetto Gospel Pt 2.” The latter includes pointed, insightful lyrical food for thought about the risks that come from life in the streets.

“Selling dope, rappers give a distorted picture of that lifestyle,” E.D.I. says. “It’s almost like it’s a beautiful, like it’s a glorious thing. I’m not knocking nobody, being that I know that part of the game, I’m not going to get on there and paint a picture like that. I’m going to tell them that if they’re going to do that, stack your money. Be able to get out of the game with something. If not, you’re a fool.”

It is that type of insight that makes Outlaw 4 Life such a significant album, as the group explores life’s highs and lows throughout each of the album’s 17 songs. Cuts such as “Celebration” and “These Are The Times” best illustrate the Outlawz’s brand of music with meaning. “We’re not concentrating on rapping for other rappers or rapping for the girls,” Noble says. “We’re trying to make real substance with everything we do. We were taught by the best and we can’t have it any other way.”

Originally assembled by Tupac in the mid-1990s by pulling members from a number of his affiliate groups, the Outlawz were set to be the biggest supergroup in rap history. But that dream suffered a number of setbacks, as Tupac and Kadafi were killed and Fatal and Napoleon left the group. By 2003, the group had released a string of hit independent projects and had appeared on albums that had collectively sold more than 40 million copies. Nonetheless, the group had become just Kastro, Young Noble and E.D.I. and was without a record deal.

The three decided to make Atlanta home base and ventured off into different businesses, including a record store and real estate. The move to Atlanta was a positive one, as it had a relaxing effect on the group, which had at this time been through tremendous personal loss.

“Atlanta helped us get a better perspective on life,” Kastro says. “If we were living in the big city where everything is speeding, we probably would have gotten caught up in that whirlwind. Atlanta’s more mellow and it helped us calm down and appreciate life for what it is instead of going headfirst into everything.”

After easing back on recording for more than a year, the group reunited in 2004 to work on Outlaw 4 Life. They just couldn’t just leave rap alone. “Pac really instilled something in us that we can let go,” Noble says. “I’ve got so many platinum plaques in my house so it’s like Pac is looking at me every day. I still hear his voice. He and Kadafi died for this. That’s what Pac stood for: Never give up. The harder stuff gets for us, the more serious we become.”

Indeed, the Outlawz are already gearing up for the release of its next album, Chapter 2 The Rebirth, later this year and are setting up their new artist Stormey. With each step, the Outlawz work on healing the pain they have endured throughout their remarkable career. It is one reason why Outlaw 4 Life sounds so therapeutic.

“Everything we do is therapy,” Noble says. “Everything we go through, we put it into our music. We learned that from Pac. That’s what music is about, experience. That’s why some people will rather listen to oldies that what’s out now. It’s timeless when it comes from the heart. We’re trying to make music like that.”

And Outlaw 4 Life does just that.

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Tags

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Tracklisting

Outlawz - Outlaw 4 Life 2005 A.P.