2Pacalypse Now is the debut album of Tupac Shakur, released in November 1991. Though less polished and lacking the hard-hitting produced beats of his later albums, it was his most overtly political work. He addresses social problems such as police brutality, poverty, teenage pregnancy, and drug use, some issues giving a lyrical glimpse into the world of a young black person on the urban streets of the United States. It is hailed by many critics and fans for its underground feel, with many rappers such as Nas and Talib Kweli having pointed to it as a source for inspiration from the album. . Although the album was originally released on Interscope, Amaru Entertainment, the label owned by the mother of Tupac Shakur, has since gained the rights to it. The album's name is a played-on title of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, which is about the Vietnam War.
The album generated significant controversy stemming from Dan Quayle's public criticism after a youth in Texas shot a state trooper and his defense attorney claimed he was influenced by 2Pacalypse Now and its strong theme of police brutality. Quayle made the statement, "There's no reason for a record like this to be released. It has no place in our society."
The record never achieved the same success as many of Shakur's later albums owing in part to rough construction and sometimes repetitive beats, but it was important in showcasing Shakur's political conviction and lyrical talent. It featured three singles, "Brenda's Got a Baby", "Trapped", and "If My Homie Calls".
2Pacalypse Now can be found in the Vinyl Countdown ad in the instruction manual for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas along with the track "I Don't Give a Fuck" which appeared on the in-game radio station, Radio Los Santos.
