How a posthumous release became a multi-platinum hip hop phenomenon

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 2001, Until the End of Time transformed unreleased recordings into a chart-topping success. This third posthumous album from 2Pac combined material from his Death Row Records era with new collaborations, ultimately securing a spot among the greatest posthumous albums ever released.

Produced through a partnership of Suge Knight's Death Row Records and Afeni Shakur's Amaru Records, the project mostly contains unheard tracks. While some instrumental elements and main vocal takes were captured during or after the sessions for The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory and All Eyez On Me, a large portion of the sound was remixed. The project features previously unreleased works by Shakur. Most of the musical compositions underwent remixing from their original state.

The album's commercial impact was immediate and significant. The record hit number one on the US Billboard 200, with 426,870 units sold during its opening week. This achievement marked the final number one album released by Death Row Records. The RIAA granted the album quadruple platinum status on June 10, 2014, denoting sales exceeding four million copies within the US. The album was one of the highest-selling hip hop releases of 2001. Interestingly, references to Death Row Records remained uncensored in three specific tracks.

The album's lasting impact is evident in its critical reception; BET named it the third best posthumous album ever on their top 25 list. Its international reach was also notable, achieving Gold certification in the United Kingdom for over 100,000 copies sold and double platinum in Canada for over 200,000 copies sold. The British Phonographic Industry certified the record Gold in June 2001. Meanwhile, Canadian sales earned the album double platinum status in May 2001.

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