Black Cotton
2Pac Lyrics

Black cotton
This phrase is repeated throughout the song and represents the struggles that African Americans endure, symbolized by cotton as it was historically linked to slavery.

Black cotton, a symbol for unrewarded struggle
The phrase references how black cotton has always been associated with the long-standing and ongoing struggle of African Americans that has yet to receive proper recognition.

Time for a little gospel tale
This line is an introduction to the story that is about to unfold, specifically a gospel story that highlights the realities of life in the ghetto.

Ghetto gospel that is, listen
This line is a call to the listener to pay attention as the lyrics are about to dive into the harsh realities of life in the ghetto.

Rotten black cotton in God's eyes
God sees the struggles of African Americans represented by black cotton as being rotten or unjust, highlighting the need for change.

Speak
This line is a call to action for the listener to speak up and address the injustices faced by African Americans.

Steady stressin', Smith and Wessons, count my blessings
This line reflects the daily struggles in the ghetto, where people are constantly under stress and have to rely on guns for protection. Despite this, the singer is counting their blessings, implying that they remain hopeful despite the hardships.

Class is in session, the worst question is the first question
This line represents a metaphor for the tough and unfair nature of life, where the worst question (life's difficulties) often comes first.

Why do we work like slaves, sweatin' blades to an early grave
This line highlights the harsh reality of African Americans being forced to work hard and tirelessly without proper compensation, leading to exhaustion and ultimately an early death.

Never got paid but still we slave (in the nine trey)
Despite working hard, African Americans still often do not receive fair compensation, leading to a continual cycle of slavery that still exists in the 1990s, represented by the 'nine trey' or 1993.

Answer that, then answer this too, love's gonna get ya, you know it's true, life's a bitch true
This line is an appeal to address the injustices of life and how, despite trying to fight back, love or the desire for change will eventually catch up, despite life remaining difficult.

You best to backtrack and try to act Black and live, not to be phony and positive but why be negative?
This line implores the listener to acknowledge and embrace their blackness and try to live their best life despite harsh conditions. It also questions why we should ever choose negativity over positivity.

What's the matter, G? Black cat, got your tongue?
This line is a challenge to those who remain silent about the injustices of African Americans. It asks why people are so quiet and implies that this silence makes them complicit in the ongoing struggles.

Fat track got you sprung, now you're hung (do ya feel me?)
This line is a play on words, where a 'fat track' or great song has gotten listeners excited and 'hung'. The line then asks if the listener understands the message of the song.

Dum-dum-diddy, is it me?
This phrase is a play on sounds and asks if the listener truly understands the point of the song.

Attempt to reach each and every brother on the streets
This line is a call to reach out to African Americans who are struggling on the streets, showing the desire to help and instigate change.

If not peace, then at least, let's get a piece
This line implies that if peace cannot be achieved, let's at least work on getting a portion of the success and recognition that has been denied to African Americans.

I'm tired of seeing bodies on the streets deceased
This line reflects the exhaustion felt at the prevalence of violence in the ghetto and the need for change to stop seeing so many people killed.

Reminiscin' of the tears as the years took, one homie, two homie, three homies, poof
This line references the lost lives of friends in the ghetto and the grief felt for those who have been lost over the years.

We used to have troops but now there's no more youth to shoot
This line echoes the theme of the loss of young lives, where there used to be groups of people to fight for change, but now the youth have been killed or imprisoned.

God come save the misbegotten, lost ghetto souls of black cotton (in God's eyes)
This line appeals to God to help fix the injustices and save the lost souls of African Americans represented by black cotton.

Nobody don't care (no matter how hard I try, look to the sky, and I ask God why)
This line implies that no one seems to care or address the struggles of African Americans, leading to feelings of hopelessness and unanswered prayers.

Feels like I'm pressed, why do I stress? It's like I'm being tested
This line reflects the stressful and difficult life in the ghetto and the feeling of being constantly tested, with no end in sight.

In the belly of the beast, I'm bubbling up, running out of luck, 'bout to self destruct
This line refers to the difficult life in the ghetto and how the artist is barely holding on, at risk of destruction from the harsh realities of their surroundings.

It's sure to catch up with you one day, boy, I wouldn't listen to 'em
This line reflects the idea of living life dangerously, where the actions you take will eventually catch up to you, despite ignoring advice to the contrary.

Your power movement was cool, but it ain't fix nothin',
This line implies that despite working hard to create change and a power movement, nothing has actually changed in the ghetto.

So I just go with what I know, I don't trust none
This line reflects a sense of mistrust in the world and the need to rely on what one knows to survive.

Look what the 80s did to us baby kids, and now we grown up
This line reflects on the damaging impact of the 1980s on the youth of the ghetto and how they have grown up with many struggles and hardships.

Black cotton, I'm plottin' on what they owe me, I'm workin' without a profit, they shacklin' all my homies
This line reflects a sense of injustice at the lack of fair compensation for hard work, with African Americans feeling shackled and held back by the system, leading to anger and frustration.

What's the reward for a struggler? If the lord loving us then why they hate to see us comin' up?
This line highlights the lack of reward for working hard and striving for change in the ghetto, despite the belief that God loves everyone equally. It questions why those who work hard are often held back.

Waitin' for my forty acres and a blunt to blaze, biblical times, good hearts with militant minds
This line references the long history of African American struggles and the hope for recognition with the reward of 'forty acres', a reference to the promise of land after the abolition of slavery. It also references good intentions and a willingness to fight for change.

For black cotton, I'm hoppin' over enemy lines, for black cotton, I ain't stoppin' 'til they giving me mine
These lines reflect an unyielding determination to fight for the recognition of the struggles of African Americans represented by black cotton. The artist is willing to cross lines and keep fighting until change is made.

My mama told me there'd be days like this (black cotton) (rotten black cotton in God's eyes)
This line reflects the idea that life is not easy, with black cotton representing the struggles faced by African Americans. God sees these struggles as rotten or unjust.