To Live & Die in L.A.

Infobox Single
Name = To Live & Die in L.A.


Artist = Makaveli featuring Val Young
from Album =
B-side =
Released = November 5, 1996
Format = 12-inch single
Recorded = August 1996
Genre = Hip hop
Length =
Label = Makaveli/Death Row
Writer = Makaveli
Producer = QD3
Chart = #10 (Rap US)
Certification =
Type = singles
Last single = Toss It Up
This single = To Live & Die in LA
Next single = "Hail Mary""To Live & Die in L.A." is a single by rapper 2Pac (who at the time went by the name Makaveli) from his album "". It is considered by many to be one of the most memorable songs from the album.weasel word The song samples "Do Me, Baby", a song by Prince from the early '80s. It starts with an interview originally performed on KKBT's Street Science program; The host asks a man what he thinks of 2Pac's new album and he responds by saying he loves it. He then expresses that his music heightens the East/West Coast Feud, most likely referring to 2Pac's personal attack song toward The Notorious B.I.G., Hit 'Em Up. The song then starts as 2Pac reflects on his life, with Val Young singing the chorus. The song peaked at #10 on the UK Singles chart. It is unknown, however, if the song did peak at #10 on the U.S. Rap chart. It was later included on "2Pac's Greatest Hits" album in 1998.

This video was filmed a month before Tupac's death and is one of the last videos the rapper filmed. The video for this song features Tupac at various locales around the Los Angeles area, mostly in South Central. Most notable is the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza which was used as a major film location. Tupac can be seen rolling up to the mall in his Jaguar convertible, and walking inside. He is also seen singing with a group of teenagers dancing around him.

Trivia

*In the outro, Shakur refers to the song as "LA, California Love part 2, without gay-ass Dre" [cite web | url=http://www.rapcentral.co.uk/drdreBeefs.html | title=RapCentral.co.uk - DR DRE BEEFS INFO | accessdate=2008-02-26] , referring to their duet "California Love" on his previous album "All Eyez on Me".
*The song was produced by QD3 (Quincy Jones III) who was a good friend to Pac. QD3 Entertainment later made a documentary called about the rappers life.
*"To Live & Die in L.A.X." is a variation of the song used as a motto for the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling stable the Latin American Exchange.

References