Thug Life made some great songs like How Long Will They Mourn Me, Cradle To The Grave, Bury Me A G and Is It Cool 2 F**k. When Tupac went to prison he renounced Thug Life saying it was ingnorance, but still represented it because lots of people, even Puffy, were telling him that once you are in this Thug Life shit you gotta do it forever.
When he was released from prison he didn't get back with Thug Life, he formed another group which was called The Outlawz. All of Thug Life were supposed to join The Outlawz but Rated R and Macadoshis objected to the Suge Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records and Tupac's new "friend." So they didn't join but Big Syke and Mopreme did join (but later left because of an alleged beef with Suge).
Thug Life wasn't just a group; it was also a way of life for Tupac. The individual letters of Thug Life stand for, "The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fuck Everybody." Tupac made this acronym with the help of Mutulu Shakur. As far as I know Thug Life was set up as a project to fight against child abuse and cruelty to children etc. Tupac was planning to start it with Mike Tyson when he was released from prison but he joined Death Row Records instead.
Tupac had the word Thug Life tattooed on his stomach which he got in L.A. in 1992 and was accompanied by MC Breed (who he collaborted with on Comin' Real Again and Gotta Get Mine). The phrase Thug Life was very important to Tupac, he often said it in songs.
"Even in my darkest nights, I'm a Thug For Life!"
Lots of talk of Big Syke, Mopreme, Macadoshis and Rated R getting back togther to do a Thug Life Volume 2 has circulated. Many Thug Life fans are still hopeful that it will happen but none of the former members have stated that there will be.
Member Profiles
Name: 2Pac
Info: Thug Life was the first rap group that 2Pac had created. He had this project planned since 1991. 2Pac felt very strongly about Thug Life as you can read above. I think that 2Pac was at his craziest during his time with Thug Life. He would always dress in Thug Life clothing, showing his Thug Life tattoo. He would really rip at concerts and at one time he went crazy and pulled out a gun challenging the crowd to try and kick his ass. This would all stop at the end of 1994 when Tupac was sent to prison. When he came out 8 months later he was calmer.
Name: Big Syke
Info: Big Syke and Tupac were tight friends since 1992. He comes from Inglewood in L.A. Syke taught Tupac a thing or two about the streets and Tupac taught Syke things about the rap game. Big Syke quoted that when he met Tupac he thought "This lil' nigga is crazy." When Tupac came out of jail, Big Syke joined Tupac's next group, The Outlawz but later left because he wanted to go his own way to an extent but he was still cool with Pac and The Lawz. Syke released his own album entitled Be Yo' Self. He was going to release his 2nd album in September 2001 entitled Big Syke Daddy but i have'nt heard anything about it.
Name: Macadoshis
Info: Macadoshis was completely unknown until he joined Thug Life. He was friends with Tupac's step brother Maurice Harding (Mopreme). There was not really any poor rappers in Thug Life, but Macadoshis probably had the most unoriginal style, although he had his assets. Macadoshis steped down when Thug Life did and I think he quit rapping. He may start rapping again though because Amaru Entertainment are looking to reunite all of the members of Thug Life to make a Thug Life Volume 2.
Name: Mopreme
Info: Mopreme is Tupac's step brother. He had quite a few names during his career like Mocedes, Wycked, Mopreme, Komeni and perhaps more. He first started rapping with Tony, Toni Tone. He also appeared on Tupac's second LP, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. He showed good rapping skills while with Thug Life. He also joined The Outlawz but he didn't appear on much tracks then. He left The Outlawz very soon after he joined them for unknown reasons, but still stayed tight with them. He is curently signed to Status Records.
Name: The Rated R
Info: Rated R has a very noticable rapping voice. He fitted in with Thug Life very well in my view. He had very good lyrical talent too. Tupac asked him to join The Outlawz along with the rest of Thug Life members, but he didn't want to be working in the presence of Suge Knight so he didn't join. Right now Rated R is either in jail or still rapping. I have heard that he is in jail and others have said that he is still making music.