“Basically what I was trying to do with it was take [people] back to ’95, that time when that beef was happening,” Em added. “Make them realize how ridiculous the beef was in the first place that it ever came to that level.”
Regardless of how the public receives the record, Slim Shady has already garnered the stamp of approval from those closest to Tupac his mother, Afeni Shakur, and his clique of protégés, the Outlawz.
“It came out incredible, it’s undeniable,” Outlawz member E.D.I. said about the new “Running.” “I think [Em’s] up and coming and well on his way to being one of the top producers in the game. I think he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with, just like on the lyric side, because he puts just as much effort into the production as he does with his lyrics.”
“I think that the music is spectacular,” Afeni Shakur, who disclosed that yet another album of unreleased music from her son will come out in 2004, said about the work Em did on the “Resurrection” soundtrack. “Every time we do a Tupac record I am amazed at the quality of the product. I think everybody will be happy with it. It’s good music and it’s a good flow. It really is. I’m excited about it.”
Although the track list for the soundtrack is still being ironed out, there’s a chance we may hear Em and Pac rap on the same record. Slim Shady recorded vocals for one song that may make the cut.
“We got a song with Eminem on the ‘Resurrection’ soundtrack called ‘One Day at a Time,’ ” E.D.I. detailed. “He did the beat. It’s us, Pac and Eminem. It’s almost like we’re sending a message to the hip-hop community. I think with all the drama [Em] has been in the last year with the Murder Inc. thing I don’t want to speak for him but I think he kind of wanted it put it out there that this is still rap and let’s not take it to the next level and always be conscious of what happened with Tupac and Biggie.
“Let’s try to connect,” he continued, “let’s try to mend old wounds and do it one day at a time. Pac is speaking from the grave, but he’s saying, ‘Let’s all get together one day at a time.’ The record is positive and something hip-hop needs right now, especially coming from Eminem.”