Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991 is acompilation album featuring previously unreleased recordings by American rapper2Pac. It was originally released on April 18, 2000, by the independent label Herb 'N Soul Records under the titleThe Lost Tapes: Circa 1989. However, the release was quickly recalled due to the label lacking authorization fromAfeni Shakur, the head of 2Pac’s estate. The track "Panther Power" was later included on theTupac: Resurrection soundtrack, and the album was officially reissued in 2007 throughKoch andAmaru Entertainment, with Afeni Shakur's approval, under an altered title and with new artwork.
Beginnings is a compilation of 2Pac’s earliest recordings, created prior to his work on his debut studio album,2Pacalypse Now, in collaboration with his original group, Strictly Dope. The tracks were produced byDigital Underground and Strictly Dope memberChopmaster J, who, in early 2000, rediscovered the recordings in his mother’s basement—believing them to have been lost in 1991. He subsequently compiled the material into an album release.[4]
CD Universe noted that Shakur's "flow and lyrical content are more reminiscent of late-1980s/early-1990s icons likeBig Daddy Kane andRakim" than of the later songs of 2Pac himself.[2] Jason Birchmeier ofAllmusic agreed that the rapper sounds "inspired here, no doubt, but nonetheless a bit clumsy and imitative". Birchmeier also commented that "there's little more here than skeletal drum machine beats for production".[4] It also seems much of the political content of the songs has been overlooked.[citation needed]
