1998Released
4:45

Did You Know?

Interesting facts and trivia about California Love - Original Version. By Songfacts®.

Produced by Dr. Dre, this track is built on a sample from Joe Cocker's 1972 song "Woman To Woman." It wasn't the first time Cocker's piano-driven song was sampled: The Ultramagnetic MCs used it on their 1988 track "Funky."

The song is a celebration of the California hip-hop lifestyle. Tupac and Dre rap about the vibrant activity and creativity they constantly encounter, but also warn about the gang violence, crime and social ills, which they mention with pride. The two rappers were a big part of the West Coast rap scene, with Dre creating innovative beats and setting the scene for gangsta rap, while Tupac led the way as an MC. Tupac was raised in New York, but moved to California with his family. The lifestyle he raps about in this song caught up with him, as he was gunned down the following year.

The effected chorus ("California... knows how to party") was performed by Roger Troutman, who was known for creating synthesized vocals using a vocoder. Many West Coast rappers sampled Troutman and emulated his work, and Tupac used Troutman's "Be Alright" as the basis for his 1993 song "Keep Ya Head Up." Troutman died in 1999 when he was shot by his brother after a dispute.

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Song Analysis

Key, BPM (tempo) and time signature of California Love - Original Version.
GKey
MajorMode
4/4Time Signature
92BPM

Album

The album California Love - Original Version is released on.
Greatest Hits2Pac
1998Compilation

Released By

The record label that has released California Love - Original Version.
2Pac Greatest Hits
© 1998 Death Row Records/Interscope Records
This Compilation ℗ 1998 Death Row Records/Interscope Records

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