Shakur was born in New York City to parents who were both political activists and Black Panther Party members. Raised by his mother, he relocated to Baltimore in 1984 and to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988. With the release of his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, he became a central figure in West Coast hip-hop for his conscious rap lyrics. Shakur achieved further critical and commercial success with his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995). His Diamond certified album All Eyez on Me (1996), the first double-length album in hip-hop history, abandoned his introspective lyrics for volatile gangsta rap. In addition to his music career, Shakur also found considerable success as an actor, with his starring roles in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above the Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).
During the later part of his career, Shakur was shot five times in the lobby of a New York recording studio and experienced legal troubles, including incarceration. In 1995, Shakur served eight months in prison on sexual abuse charges, but was released pending an appeal of his conviction. Following his release, he signed to Marion "Suge" Knight's label Death Row Records and became heavily involved in the growing East CoastโWest Coast hip hop rivalry. On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times by an unidentified assailant in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days later. Following his murder, Shakur's friend-turned-rival, the Notorious B.I.G., was at first considered a suspect due to their public feud, but was also murdered in another drive-by shooting six months later in March 1997 while visiting Los Angeles.
Five more albums have been released since Shakur's death, all of which have been certified Platinum in the United States. In 2002, Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Shakur among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Shakur was born on June 16, 1971, in the East Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City. While born Lesane Parish Crooks, at age one he was renamed Tupac Amaru Shakur. He was named after Tรบpac Amaru II, the descendant of the last Incan ruler, Tรบpac Amaru, who was executed in Peru in 1781 after his failed revolt against Spanish rule. Shakur's mother explained, "I wanted him to have the name of revolutionary, indigenous people in the world. I wanted him to know he was part of a world culture and not just from a neighborhood."
Shakur had an older stepbrother, Mopreme "Komani" Shakur, and a half-sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, two years his junior.
Bow Down
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fuck 'em... Fuck all y'all
Money gone fuck friends
I need a homie that know me
when all these muthafuckin' cops be on me
I got problems ain't nobody calling back
now what the fuck is happenin' with my ballin' cats
Sippin' Hennessy hanging with the clowns and
all we used to do is drink brew, screw and common knew
we had bitches by the dozens oh we fuckin' cousins
You can throw ya middle finger if ya feel me loc
a nigga just got paid and we still was broke
It took time but finally the cash was mine
all the rewards of a hustler stuck in the grind
Look around and all I see is snakes and faces
like scavengers waitin' to take a hustler's pape's
and when you stuck where the fuck is all ya friends
They straight busted and can't be trusted fuck y'all
Fuck all y'all I'm sippin' Tanqueray and juice and what's the use
cause I'm a hopeless thug
Ain't no love reminiscing on how close we was
way back in the day before they put the crack in the way
and heeyyy how much money can you stack in a day
It's gettin' rough collect calls from my niggas in court
I recollect we used to ball now just living's enough
I stand tall in the winter summer spring or fall
Thug for life scrawled all across the wall
and all about my dollars make me wanna holla
drop an album sell a million give a fuck about tomorrow
I know it's gettin' crazy after dark
these marks keep on huffin' and puffin'
ain't no fear in my heart
What's going on in the ghetto still struggle and strive
I still roll with the heater smokin' chocolate thai
In 94 I'll be going solo
too many problems with my own
so I'm rolling do-do
Fuck all y'all
I went from rags to riches quick
to socializing with the baddest bitches
went from a bucket to a rag with switches
I'm seein' death around the corner
I'm bumpin' Gloriaaaa doin' 90 'cause I wanna
I'm getting high like I said it with some chocolate thai
mixed with some indonesia watch me fly
And even though I know the cops behind me
hit the weed and uh I continue doing 90 (Biotch)
will I get caught another ticket get to kick it in court
Fuck the law give a shit I'm even worse than before
I know they wanna see a nigga buried
but I ain't worried still throwing these thangs
got me locked in these chains
and hey nigga what the fuck is you wailin' 'bout
soon as I hit the cell I'll be bailin' out
And when I hit the streets I'm in a rush to ball
I'm screaming Thug Life nigga fuck y'all
In 2Pac's song "Bow Down", he expresses his mistrust and disappointment in people who he thought were his friends, including law enforcement officials. The lyrics are filled with anger and frustration towards those who have betrayed him. He talks about the struggles he has faced, including financial problems, dealing with the police, and losing friends. He also reminisces on the times when he had friends and everything was much simpler, before things got complicated. The lyrics speak to the harsh realities of life and the people who turn their backs on you when things get tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha ha ha... fuck all y'all... fuck all y'all... I don't need nobody
I don't care about any of you, I'm independent and don't need anyone's help
Money gone fuck friends
Having money can ruin friendships
I need a homie that know me
when all these muthafuckin' cops be on me
I need a friend who understands me and supports me when the police are after me
I got problems ain't nobody calling back
now what the fuck is happenin' with my ballin' cats
I have issues and my so-called friends aren't answering my calls, what's going on with my successful peers?
Remember me I'm ya homie that was down to brawl
Sippin' Hennessy hanging with the clowns and
all we used to do is drink brew, screw and common knew
we had bitches by the dozens oh we fuckin' cousins
I'm the friend that always had your back, and we used to drink, party and have sex, and even slept with the same women
You can throw ya middle finger if ya feel me loc
a nigga just got paid and we still was broke
You can express your anger if you relate to me, even though I've made money, I'm still struggling financially
It took time but finally the cash was mine
all the rewards of a hustler stuck in the grind
It took a while, but I finally made money from my hard work and dedication
Look around and all I see is snakes and faces
like scavengers waitin' to take a hustler's pape's
and when you stuck where the fuck is all ya friends
They straight busted and can't be trusted fuck y'all
Everyone around me is fake and just waiting to steal my money, and when I'm struggling, my so-called friends are nowhere to be found
Fuck all y'all I'm sippin' Tanqueray and juice and what's the use
cause I'm a hopeless thug
I don't care about any of you, I'm drinking and feeling hopeless because of my thug lifestyle
Ain't no love reminiscing on how close we was
way back in the day before they put the crack in the way
and heeyyy how much money can you stack in a day
There's no love left, just memories of how close we used to be before drugs ruined everything, and how much money can one really make in a day?
It's gettin' rough collect calls from my niggas in court
I recollect we used to ball now just living's enough
Things are getting tough, my friends are calling me from jail, and we used to live life to the fullest, but now just surviving is enough
I stand tall in the winter summer spring or fall
Thug for life scrawled all across the wall
and all about my dollars make me wanna holla
drop an album sell a million give a fuck about tomorrow
I am a true thug all year round, and I don't care about the consequences of making money, as long as I can sell albums and become rich
I know it's gettin' crazy after dark
these marks keep on huffin' and puffin'
ain't no fear in my heart
What's going on in the ghetto still struggle and strive
I still roll with the heater smokin' chocolate thai
The night is getting crazier, but I'm not afraid, I'm just a thug doing what I have to do to survive in the ghetto by smoking weed and carrying a gun
In 94 I'll be going solo
too many problems with my own
so I'm rolling do-do
Fuck all y'all
In 1994, I'll be pursuing a solo career because I have too many problems with my crew, and I don't care about any of you
I went from rags to riches quick
to socializing with the baddest bitches
went from a bucket to a rag with switches
I'm seein' death around the corner
I'm bumpin' Gloriaaaa doin' 90 'cause I wanna
I'm getting high like I said it with some chocolate thai
mixed with some indonesia watch me fly
I quickly became successful, started hanging out with beautiful women, upgraded my car, but I know death is always around the corner, so I'm driving fast while high on weed mixed with chocolate Thai and Indonesian strains
And even though I know the cops behind me
hit the weed and uh I continue doing 90 (Biotch)
will I get caught another ticket get to kick it in court
Fuck the law give a shit I'm even worse than before
I know the police are following me, but I'll just smoke weed and keep speeding, if I get caught, I'll just go to court, but I don't care about the law, I'm even more rebellious than before
I know they wanna see a nigga buried
but I ain't worried still throwing these thangs
got me locked in these chains
and hey nigga what the fuck is you wailin' 'bout
soon as I hit the cell I'll be bailin' out
The system wants to see me dead or in jail, but I'm not afraid, I'll keep fighting and throwing punches, even though I'm currently in jail, I'll bail out as soon as I can
And when I hit the streets I'm in a rush to ball
I'm screaming Thug Life nigga fuck y'all
As soon as I'm free, I'll be in a hurry to make money, and I don't care about any of you, I'm a thug and I'm living my life my way
Contributed by Dylan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@555777bear
Bro, this is amazing! ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ You are the best!
@WestsideEntertainment
Thank you so much brother very grateful please share around if you get chance
@555777bear
@Westside Entertainment Brother, I would really like to somehow help you so that many people hear your music, but I donโt have such an opportunity. I'm sorry
@WestsideEntertainment
@555777bear no worries whatsoever my friend I'm grateful you take your time to listen and comment thank you as always
@husnisherif2840
11
@husnisherif2840
@Westside Entertainment 1
@ImGoingToMakeShowsWithOprah
A lot of times I have big emotions but donโt know what they are or how to express them. Music like this sings the song of my soul. โค Seriously ๐ข Thank You ๐๐ป
@WestsideEntertainment
I know exactly where u coming from with this comment well said!!!!
@zacmorash8374
Keeping their hussle ,meaning, image , brand , and voice alive is what I need man they need my role models for years pac since I was kid and I only recently found nip again right before he died it fucked me up I miss two men I've never met like crazy man their music was inspiration to keep pushing thank youu for keeping that going man ๐๐
@julienkuhnl2735
ใฝ(*ใ>ะ<)oใ- word. #rip #themarathoncontinues #makaveli - o(TใTo)