Wikipedia

Ghetto Gospel

For the Rod Wave album, see Ghetto Gospel (album).

"Ghetto Gospel" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur, which was released as the lead single from his 2004 posthumous album Loyal to the Game. The song was produced by American rapper Eminem and features a sample from Elton John's 1971 song "Indian Sunset".

"Ghetto Gospel"
Single by 2Pac featuring Elton John
from the album Loyal to the Game
B-side"Thugs Get Lonely Too"
ReleasedApril 25, 2005[1]
Recorded1992
Genre
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Eminem
2Pac singles chronology
"Thugs Get Lonely Too"
(2004) 		"Ghetto Gospel"
(2005) 		"Untouchable"
(2006)
Elton John singles chronology
"Are You Ready for Love"
(2003) 		"Ghetto Gospel"
(2005) 		"Electricity"
(2005)

The single topped the charts in the UK (for 3 weeks),[2] Australia, Czech Republic, and Ireland. In New Zealand it peaked at number 3. The song was written by Tupac as an outcry to "end the war on the streets", addressing the futility of racial difference and dissidence, particularly under the unifying banner of poverty. He also pays tribute to murdered black activists Malcolm X and Bobby Hutton in the song.

In response to Eminem's remix, Elton John said: "how he's managed to meld [Indian Sunset] with Tupac, I'll never know. It's just genius."[3]

Background and recording

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Tupac recorded the song for inclusion on the 1992 Christmas-themed compilation album A Very Special Christmas 2, but due to his legal issues, the song was dropped from the compilation and was never released.[citation needed] This version has a much faster tempo and has a third and fourth verse which didn't feature in the 2004 remix.[4] This version was produced by Big D The Impossible, a regular producer on Tupac's first two albums; 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. and does not contain the "Indian Sunset" sample, but builds on a sample of Tracy Chapman's song "Crossroads" instead.[5]

Recounting the experience in 2015, Eminem said: "You wouldn't be able to tell the 18/19-year-old Marshall that he would ever be able to get his hands on some Tupac vocals and have that opportunity. It was such a significant piece of history for me and so much fun. I'm like a kid in a candy store; going nuts with the fact that I'm putting beats under his rhymes."[6]

Music video

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"Ghetto Gospel" was the only song on Loyal to the Game with an accompanying YouTube music video.[7] The music video showcases the last day of a man's life before he is fatally shot in the evening. Neither 2Pac nor Elton John physically appeared in the video - though clips of 2Pac are shown on a television. Towards the end of the music video, the actor (J. D. Williams) is shot but then appears at his own funeral, fueling rumors that the rapper's death was faked. At the end of the video, there is a message from 2Pac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, saying "Remember to keep yourself alive, there is nothing more important than that".

Track listing

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CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Sample(s)Length
1."Ghetto Gospel"
*Contains elements from "Indian Sunset" by Elton John3:58
UK CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ghetto Gospel"
Eminem3:58
2."Thugs Get Lonely Too" (feat. Nate Dogg)
Eminem4:48

Official versions

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  • Ghetto Gospel (Album Version Explicit)

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[33] Gold 150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 22, 2004 (2004-11-22) Urban contemporary radio Amaru, Interscope [36]

References

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  1. ^ "Ghetto Gospel - 2Pac | Release Credits". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London. pp. 713–4. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Petridis, Alexis (February 4, 2005). "Mylo: Would you ever play Glastonbury? Elton: Oh no - I'm too like the Queen Mother". The Guardian. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Video on YouTube
  5. ^ "2Pac's 'Ghetto Gospel (Original Version)' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
  6. ^ Murphy, Sam (October 9, 2015). "Eminem Calls Tupac A "True Genius" In Heartfelt Tribute Letter".
  7. ^ "2Pac - Ghetto Gospel". YouTube. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  8. ^ "2 Pac – Ghetto Gospel". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "Issue 832" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "2Pac – Ghetto Gospel" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "2Pac – Ghetto Gospel" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  12. ^ "2Pac – Ghetto Gospel" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2006 in the date selector. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  14. ^ "2Pac – Ghetto Gospel". Tracklisten. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "European Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "2Pac – Ghetto Gospel" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ghetto Gospel". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  18. ^ "2 Pac – Ghetto Gospel". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  20. ^ "2 Pac – Ghetto Gospel". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  23. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2005". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  24. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005". austriancharts.at. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  25. ^ "Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52" (PDF). Billboard. VNU Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  27. ^ "2005 Irish Singles Chart". IRMA. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  28. ^ "End of Year Charts 2005". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  29. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  30. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Danish single certifications – 2Pac feat. Elton John – Ghetto Gospel". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  33. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (2 Pac; 'Ghetto Gospel')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  34. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-31. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  35. ^ "British single certifications – 2Pac – Ghetto Gospel". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  36. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1582. November 19, 2004. p. 21. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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