How many brothers fell victim to the street? / Rest in peace, young n***a, there's a heaven for a G / Be a lie if I told you that I never thought of death / My n***a we the last ones left – 'Life Goes On' YouTube | 2Pac - Topic He tells the hood story in the most eloquent ways, pulling three different narratives together. In "I Ain't Mad at Cha," he pulls out all kinds of tropes and poetic tools. How Tupac rapped was just as monumental as what he rapped about. Father forgive us for livin' while all my homies stuck in prison / Barely breathin' believin' that the world is a prism/ It's like a ghetto we can never leave / A broken rose givin' bloom through the cracks of the concrete – 'I Ain't Mad at Cha' Although Tupac acknowledges that he didn't have the best living environment, the way he expresses his appreciation for his mother's sacrifice makes this entire track a classic. Tupac honors his mom, activist Afeni Shakur, for raising him when she couldn't even provide for herself. When "Dear Mama" came out, it instantly became a classic Mother's Day anthem. A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it/ There's no way I can pay you back / But the plan is to show you that I understand – 'Dear Mama' YouTube | 2PacVEVO The verse speaks on how Black men are institutionalized into the prison system.
As the song progresses, he gets deeper into a topic that was close to his heart - Black incarceration. Tupac opens up "Hail Mary" with one of his hardest lines, warning anyone wanting to mess with him that he simply isn't one to be attacked. Penitentiaries is packed with promise makers / Never realize the precious time that b***h n****s is wastin' – 'Hail Mary' YouTube | DaMVKing86 Tupac suggested that men within the community perceive each other as brothers, while he reminisced on the playful times of Black youth. He informs listeners that these violent behaviors are a product of white supremacy, and spells out how the police disproportionately target Black men. In this verse, Tupac challenges the violence that takes place between Black men. Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers/ And that's how it's supposed to be / How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me? – 'Changes' YouTube | 2PacVEVO After this verse, Tupac urged others to protect and heal "our women." The verse is just as relevant in 2019 as it was in 1993. Women have historically been demeaned in rap music, but on "Keep Ya Head Up," Tupac became an advocate for Black women.
Though Tupac's gangster aesthetic was a large part of his public image, he also wasn't ashamed to support women, sympathizing with the abuse they've experienced from men.
I wonder why we take from our women / Why we rape our women, do we hate our women? – 'Keep Ya Head Up' YouTube | 2whitethugz To commemorate the anniversary of Tupac's unfortunate demise, here's a list of timeless verses that bring his monumental impact on music and Black culture to memory. Known for highlighting racial injustice in his music the prolific artist was only 25 when he passed away.Īlthough the popular West Coast rapper's passing abruptly ended his legendary career, his legacy is still felt in his lyrics. On September 13, 1996, iconic rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur died of injuries resulting from a Las Vegas drive-by shooting.
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