The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

by 2pac

Released November 5, 1996 via Death Row Records / Interscope Records

Reviewed November 11, 2021

Top tracks (based on community voting)

To Live And Die in L.A. (51%), Hail Mary (43%), Me And My Girlfriend (32%)

Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory chronicles some aspects of Tupac Shakur’s final chapter in life, performing under the moniker of Makaveli. This album, recorded in the months prior to Shakur’s death, sees his illusions of grandeur reaching a fever pitch. The result is a “guns blazin’,” “terminate all opposition” agenda. By this time, the man had been politicized, jailed, and nearly assassinated––his illusions of grandeur couldn’t have been any larger. Shakur’s “Makaveli” persona sees himself in the eyes of God, depicting himself as a martyr and messenger. Regardless of what anyone may think of Tupac as a man, the distillation of his own mindframe into Killuminati has made it an incredible landmark for his lifetime, and for hip-hop history. Despite breakaway tracks that feature more spiritually uplifting, or fun-loving messages, Makaveli The Don spews nothing but venom in every direction. By name, some of hip-hop’s greatest emcees are the direct subjects of 2Pac’s wrath. In such a criminally brief life, Tupac Shakur showed a number of layers to his personality; many of them lay in harmony in the lasting statement of his life and career. – DeVán (9/10)

After going #1 with All Eyez On Me, The 7 Day Theory shows Tupac Shakur at the top; angry, paranoid, and taking aim at everyone he saw beneath him. If there’s anything he excelled at, it was his ability to express pure emotions through his writing. The album itself is entirely Pac, rapping with a venom, with only one non-Outlawz feature. The same can be said for the production cast––Daz, DJ Quik, and Dr. Dre are nowhere to be found, instead opting for a couple of producers to help create a more concise, almost sinister sound. To add on to that, The 7 Day Theory is a lot shorter than his previous Death Row effort, a fraction of All Eyez On Me, which means the overreliance on Outlawz features is the album’s biggest flaw. While the features can complement Shakur when limited, they often drag down the song because they’re just not up to par with his own performances. Even then, The 7 Day Theory manages to be Tupac Shakur’s best work and undoubtedly his most unique. – Alan (8.5/10)