Spice 1 Recalls Discussing Heaven’s Ghettos With Tupac (Video)

Less than a week ago, Spice 1 released his latest album, Platinum O.G. For this collection of songs, the East Bay lyricist works with Kurupt, MC Eiht, Devin The Dude, and his mentor, Too Short. Notably, the Elder Entertainment release also features some fallen comrades, including UGK’s Pimp C, Outlawz co-founder Hussein Fatal, and Thug Life member Big Syke.

Both Fatal and Syke were close affiliates of Tupac Shakur, who was a friend and collaborator of Spice 1. Speaking with AFH TV one week ago (currently available for all to watch), Spice discussed one of his most beloved songs, 1992’s “Welcome To The Ghetto” (embedded below). One of Spice’s earliest solo singles from his gold-certified eponymous album meant a lot to Pac. Thug Life sampled some of its lyrics (“My cousin died last year, and I still can’t let it go“) two years later for single “Pour Out A Little Liquor.” Tupac also took another line, “I wonder if heaven got a ghetto,” and titled a song after it.

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At the 34:30 mark in the one-hour video interview, Spice describes his conversation with Shakur in the early 1990s. “We had a lot of conversations about it, man. Because [in the song] there’s ghettos down here on earth [where we are segregated]. So when we get to heaven, are they gonna have any type of separation up there? Or [are] we all gonna be together? That was my question as a youngster,” Spice recalls with a chuckle. “So I was wondering if heaven got a ghetto. When I go up there, am I gonna go up to the ‘hood in heaven? [Laughs] Or is everything gonna be the same? And it’s crazy, ’cause Pac answered the question: ‘Tell the homies I’m in heaven and they ain’t got hoods.’ I remember him saying that on one of his songs.”

Posthumously, “Thugz Mansion” contained those lyrics. The video single with several official versions appeared on Better Dayz as well as Nas’ God’s Son, album, featuring the two foes on the same track. Spice continues, “By the time I heard it, he was deceased. I was trippin’. I was like, ‘Okay, well that’s my answer right there.’ I guess when we get to heaven, it ain’t gon’ matter. There won’t be no ghetto over here, no projects over here. We all just gonna be in one place. That was my whole inspiration for writing it.”

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Pac’s “I Wonda If Heaven’s Got A Ghetto” began as a Laylaw-produced B-side to “Keep Ya Head Up” in 1993. A remixed version would become a video single after Shakur’s death, on 1997’s R U Still Down? (Remember Me).

Elsewhere in the AFH TV conversation, Spice (who pays homage to Eazy-E’s “Real Muthaph*ckkin’ G’s’ on the album) recalls remaining neutral during the Rap beef. He also reveals that he and Scarface are blood relatives, and explains why Platinum O.G. shows growth, maturity, and a rich Soul/Funk backbone.

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The AFH TV interview with Spice 1 is currently available for all to watch. We are offering free 7-day subscriptions.

Press photograph provided by Elder Entertainment.

#BonusBeat: Spice 1’s “Welcome To The Ghetto” music video: