Today, I heard the version of International that has Zola on it. I've been in France this weekend doing a gig, and on the Eurostar train back to London today, our manager (he also manages Zola, as well as Pras and a number of other artists), played it to me.
The beat and hook were the same, so it's not like it was a completely different version of the track. Interestingly, the hook wasn't over-autotuned to shit like it is on the album version and sounded much better.
Zola had an intro on the track where he said something to the effect of "Zola up on this, with my brothers Snoop Dogg and Tupac, this is the repatriation right here" - my manager confirmed to me that Snoop was originally going to be on the track, hence the shoutout by Zola.
Where the 'Pac verse is, was instrumental on this version - this is obviously because Amaru didn't want anything getting leaked when they were sending tracks out for the guest appearances. Then Zola did the second verse, and ripped it, in a mix of English and his native language (Swahili?) - i remember a good lyric that went something like "i'm the guy your ma warned you about, tall black and dreadlocked...." i forget what the end of that line was.
Then the third verse was blank, for where Snoop was originally supposed to be. It was cool to listen to the raw instrumental for the verses - I also heard a high pitched synthy-whistly sorta sound at various points that isnt on the released version - although it possibly might have been Zola doing some weird African adlib, lol.
Anyway, the point is - Zola ripped it, and that's the truth. The guy has skills. I'd much rather be listening to this version than Nipsey Hussle and Young Dre, who both sounded generic to me, and I forward the track after 'Pacs verse and the hook on the album version.
Just like the un-used Johnny J mixes I heard (Play Ya Cardz Right particularly) , Amaru really dropped the ball by not using this version of International.
Any questions?
The beat and hook were the same, so it's not like it was a completely different version of the track. Interestingly, the hook wasn't over-autotuned to shit like it is on the album version and sounded much better.
Zola had an intro on the track where he said something to the effect of "Zola up on this, with my brothers Snoop Dogg and Tupac, this is the repatriation right here" - my manager confirmed to me that Snoop was originally going to be on the track, hence the shoutout by Zola.
Where the 'Pac verse is, was instrumental on this version - this is obviously because Amaru didn't want anything getting leaked when they were sending tracks out for the guest appearances. Then Zola did the second verse, and ripped it, in a mix of English and his native language (Swahili?) - i remember a good lyric that went something like "i'm the guy your ma warned you about, tall black and dreadlocked...." i forget what the end of that line was.
Then the third verse was blank, for where Snoop was originally supposed to be. It was cool to listen to the raw instrumental for the verses - I also heard a high pitched synthy-whistly sorta sound at various points that isnt on the released version - although it possibly might have been Zola doing some weird African adlib, lol.
Anyway, the point is - Zola ripped it, and that's the truth. The guy has skills. I'd much rather be listening to this version than Nipsey Hussle and Young Dre, who both sounded generic to me, and I forward the track after 'Pacs verse and the hook on the album version.
Just like the un-used Johnny J mixes I heard (Play Ya Cardz Right particularly) , Amaru really dropped the ball by not using this version of International.
Any questions?
.
