Against All Odds

## Song by Makaveli

"**Against All Odds**" is a song by 2Pac (under the name Makaveli), released as the 12th and final track from his album, *The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory* (1996). It samples Cameo's "Skin I'm In". A prominent track that revealed the West-East coast rivalry at the time, 2Pac takes shots at several people, including Dre, Mobb Deep, Puff Daddy, Jimmy Henchman, Stretch, and Nas.

## Background

Producer Hurt-M-Badd recalled that 2Pac asked for "a war song," and an hour later upon hearing the beat, requested the bassline from Cameo's "Skin I'm In". 2Pac brought the Outlawz in to the studio and created the hook. Hurt-M-Badd added, "While 'Pac was doing his vocals he wasn't just recording his vocals, he was also kicking over the music stand, hitting the microphone. There was a vibe in the room. We all knew what was goin' on."

Nas told *XXL*, "2Pac just came at me only one time, on a song called 'Against All Odds.' I cried when I heard it. Look, most n\*\*\*as started listening to 'Pac after he became controversial. I was listening to him since "Trapped," since he rhyme with [Digital] Underground. I identified with him as an artist. Fuck the hype. I love his music. There's n\*\*\*as today that didn't really listen to 'Pac, but they love the sensationalism he brought. But his shit gets in my heart. So I don't give a fuck what we went through, he's the most incredible muthafucka I ever heard." In 2021, Nas' "Death Row East" explained their history. 2Pac believed Nas dissed him in the track "The Message", which led to shots towards fellow rapper in "Bomb First (My Second Reply)" and "Against All Odds". They eventually ended their feud and 2Pac promised to remove any disses of Nas from his album, though died before edits could be made.

## Credits and personnel

* Lance Pierre – engineer
* Tommy D Daugherty – engineer
* Tupac "Makaveli" Shakur – vocals, writer, producer
* Tyrone "Hurt-M-Badd" Wrice – writer, producer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

To my n\*\*\*as that went out in line on duty

21-gun salute! One love, one thug, one nation

(Let's get down, let's do this!)

21-gun salute! (Come on, yeah, let's do this!)

21-gun salute! (Come on, come on, let's do this!)

All the time I be…

[Hook]

Hopin' my true motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote

Against all odds, up in the studio gettin' blowed

To the truest shit I ever spoke

[Verse 1]

21-gun salute, dressed in fatigues, black jeans and boots

I just appeared in the crowd, all you seen was troops

This little n\*\*\*a named Nas think he live like me

Talking 'bout he left the hospital, took five like me

You live in fantasies, n\*\*\*a, I reject your deposit

We shook Dre punk ass, now he out of the closet

Mobb Deep wonder why a n\*\*\*a blowed 'em out

Next time grown folks talking, n\*\*\*a close your mouth!

Peep me, I take this war shit deeply

Done seen too many real players fall

To let these bitch n\*\*\*as beat me

Puffy, let's be honest: you a punk or you will see me with gloves?

Remember that shit you said to Vibe about me bein' a thug?

And you can tell the people you roll with whatever you want

But you and I know what's goin' on

Payback, I knew you bitch n\*\*\*as from way back

Witness me strapped with MAC's, knew I wouldn't play that

All you old rappers tryin' to advance

It's all over now, take it like a man

N\*\*\*as lookin' like Larry Holmes (look at De La Soul!)

Flabby and sick

Tryin' to player hate on my shit, you eat a fat dick

Let it be known, this is how you made me

Lovin' how I got you n\*\*\*as crazy

[Hook]

Against all odds, hopin' my thug motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote

Against all odds, up in the studio, gettin' blowed

To the truest shit I ever spoke

Against all odds, hopin' my true motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote

[Verse 2]

I heard he was light-skinned, stocky, with a Haitian accent

Jewelry, fast cars and he's known for flashin'

Listen while I take you back and lace this rap

A real live tale about a snitch named Haitian Jack

Knew he was workin' for the feds

Same crime, different trials, n\*\*\*a, picture what he said

And did I mention?

Promised to payback, Jimmy Henchman, in due time

I know you bitch n\*\*\*as is listenin', the world is mine

Set me up, wet me up, n\*\*\*as stuck me up

Heard the guns bust, but you tricks never shut me up

Touch one of mine, on everything I love

I'll destroy everything you touch

Play the game, n\*\*\*a; all out warfare, eye for eye

Last words to a bitch n\*\*\*a: "Why you lie?"

Now you gotta watch your back, now watch your front

Here we come, gunshots to Tut, now you stuck

Fuck the rap game, n\*\*\*a, this M.O.B

So believe me, we enemies, I go against all odds

[Hook]

I'm hopin' my true motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote

Against all odds, up in the studio, gettin' blowed

To the truest shit I ever spoke

I'm hopin' my true motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote; against all odds

[Verse 3]

Puffy gettin' bribed like a bitch, to hide that fact

He did some shit he shouldn't have did, so we ridin' for that

And that n\*\*\*a that was down for me, restin' dead

Switched sides, guess his new friends wanted him dead

Probably be murdered for the shit that I said

I bring the real, be a legend, breathin' or dead

Lord, listen to me, God don't like ugly, it was written

Ayo, Nas, your whole damn style is bitten

You heard my melody (This n\*\*\*a sounds like Rakim!)

Read about my life in the papers

All my run-ins with authorities, felonious capers

Now you wanna live my life

So what's a "chazzer," Nas? N\*\*\*as that don't rhyme right

You've seen too many movies

Load 'em up against the wall, close his eyes

Since you lie you die — goodbye!

Let the real live n\*\*\*as hear the truth from me

What would you do if you was me? N\*\*\*a

[Hook]

Hopin' my true motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote

Against all odds, up in the studio gettin' blowed

To the truest shit I ever spoke

Against all odds, hopin' my true motherfuckers know

This be the realest shit I ever wrote

Against all odds, up in the studio gettin' blowed

To the truest shit I ever spoke; against all odds

[Outro]

21-gun salute, one love to my true thug n\*\*\*as

(Outlaw! Outlaw! Outlaw!)

21-gun salute to my n\*\*\*as that die in the line of duty

Representin' to the fullest, bein' soldiers with military minds

That play the rules of the game, 21-gun salute

I salute you, my n\*\*\*as, stay strong

I ride for you, I rhyme for you, I roll for you, it's all for you

To all you bitch-made n\*\*\*as, I'm comin' for you

Against all odds, I don't care who the fuck you is

You touch me, I'm at you

I know you motherfuckers didn't think I forgot

Hell nah, I ain't forgot, n\*\*\*a

I just remember what you told me

You said don't go to war unless I got my money right

I got my money right now, now I want war

## References

1. ↑ "Hurt M Badd - FULL INTERVIEW - The Making Of Makaveli By An Original Producer". *YouTube*. November 5, 2017.