The song generated a great deal of controversy when Ronald Howard, a Texan teenager shot and killed a police officer, whilst listening to this record. His defence attorney argued that he was influenced by 2Pacalypse Now and this song in particular.
Crooked Ass Nigga
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got 'em
A smokin'-ass nigga robbed me blind
I got a TEC-9, now his smokin' ass is mine
I guess I felt sorry for the bastard, he was broke
I didn't know he smoked so I didn't watch him close
He caught me on the sneak tip, now the punk's in deep shit
Pass the clip, I think I see him comin' now
Fuck the bullshit, posse deep and let's run him down
Gots to be the first one to hit ya when we meet
Comin' quickly up the streets is the punk ass police
The first one jumped out and said "Freeze"
I popped him in his knees and shot him, punk please
'Cause cops should mind they business, when we rush
Now you're pleadin' like a bitch, 'cause you don't know how to hush
Now back to the smoker that robbed me
I tell you like Latifah, motherfucker give me body
One to the chest, another to his fuckin' dome
Now the shit can rest, yo tell him to leave me the fuck alone
Two very bloody bodies on the streets
A nosey ass cop and a nigga that robbed from me
Run from your backup punk, how you figure?
My finger's on the trigger for you crooked ass niggas
Crooked ass niggas (criminal behavior)
(Criminal-criminal behavior)
(Suddenly I see)
(Cri-cri-criminal)
Now listen to the mack of the crooked nigga trade
With the fine criminal mind, cold rips like a blade
It's already quick stepping to the niggas with the props
And any motherfucker with the flim-flam drops to the knot
Ten o'clock, is a motherfuckin' gank move
Stretch is uptown clockin' weight, this shit is real smooth
A nigga's tryna' to play me like he know me, but he don't
Sittin' on ten ki's, I'mma get him, think I won't? (better get'em)
And my nigga 2Pac got the fucking Glock cocked, and he's ready
When the kid, didn't even bring the weight back instead he
Welcomed us into his apartment
Oh, this even better, two to the head, he's dead a clean get a-way
Niggas got paid
And yet another sleepin' ass nigga got slayed, word up
By a crooked motherfucker named Stretch
And the T-U-P-A-C, the police can't catch
The crooked ass niggas (criminal behavior)
Crooked ass niggas (criminal-criminal behavior)
(Suddenly I see some niggas that I don't like)
Now I could be a crooked nigga too
When I'm rollin' with my crew, watch what crooked niggas, do
I got a nine millimeter Glock pistol
I'm ready to get with ya at the drop of a whistle
So make your move, and act like you wanna flip
I fire thirteen shots, and pop another clip
I bring luck, my Glock's like a fuckin' mop
The more I shot, the more motherfuckers dropped
And even cops got shot when they rolled up
Best to bring a knot, or get popped, I'm a soldier
I ain't the type to fetch ya, ask Stretch, he's my witness
Smoke till I'm blitzed, fuck a motherfuckin' piss test
I'm trigger happy, try to 'tack me and I'll drop you quick
Long as I got a clip I got some shit to hit 'em with
The nigga killer I get iller when the shit gets thick
My brain flips, I start thinkin' like a lunatic
I rip shit, came equipped with a bigger crew
I thought these niggas knew, I'm a crooked nigga too
(Criminal behavior, criminal-criminal behavior)
Crooked, crooked ass niggas come in all shapes and sizes
They wear disguises, backstabbing's what they specialize in
They'll try to get 'cha, they'll sweat ya to get in the picture
And then they hit ya, son of a bitch, now he's richer
Crooked ass nigga (Criminal behavior, crimi-criminal behavior)
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
Criminal behavior, criminal- criminal
Crimi-crim-criminal behavior- havior, criminal behavior
Criminal behavior- havior
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
Criminal behavior- criminal be- criminal crim-
Crim-criminal behavior
Criminal be- crim-crim-crim-crim-crim-
Criminal behavior- criminal behavior)
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
(Got him)
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
(Got him)
(Suddenly I see, some niggas that I don't like)
(Got-)
The lyrics of 2Pac's song "Crooked Ass Nigga" depict a story of revenge and criminal behavior. The singer encounters a man who had previously robbed him and decides to take matters into his own hands by obtaining a weapon and seeking out the thief. However, as he sets out to find him, he encounters the police and engages in a shoot-out, resulting in the deaths of both the officer and the thief.
The lyrics illustrate a sense of loyalty and bravado within the singer's community as he is shown to be with his "posse" as they seek out revenge. The use of crude language and derogatory terms such as "nigga" and "bitch" are also prevalent throughout the song, highlighting the aggressive and violent nature of the culture.
Overall, "Crooked Ass Nigga" portrays a gritty and ruthless reality of inner-city life, where individuals are forced to defend themselves and their honor in any way possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Suddenly I see a nigga I don't like
Out of nowhere, I spot a man who I have negative feelings towards
Got 'em
I caught him in my sights
A smoking ass nigga robbed me blind
An untrustworthy man who smoked took advantage of me and stole from me
I got a tek nine now his smoking ass is mine
I have acquired a powerful weapon and now I seek revenge against the man who wronged me
I guess I felt sorry for the bastard, he was broke
Initially, I sympathized with the man because he was poor
I didn't know he smoked so I didn't watch him close
I failed to pay close attention to his behavior and habits, not realizing he was capable of deception
He caught me on the sneak tip
He tricked me with subtle and covert actions
Now the punks in deep shit
He is now in serious trouble and there will be consequences for his actions
Catch him on the streets, bring him to his feet, quick
Find him out in public and forcefully confront him
Pass the clip, I think I see him coming now
Share the ammunition because the target is approaching
Fuck the bullshit, posse deep and lets run him down
Don't waste time with unnecessary conversation, gather the group and chase him
Gots to be the first one to hit yah when we meet
I must be the one to strike first when I encounter him
Coming quickly up the street, is the punk ass police
The law enforcement is rapidly approaching the situation
The first one jumped out and said freeze
The first officer on the scene yelled for us to stop moving
I popped him in his knees and shot him punk please
I shot the officer in his knees and told him to be quiet
These cops are reminded, and get us as when we rush
The police often use violence to handle situations and may arrest us if we act too quickly
Now you clear like a bitch cause you don't know how to hush
Now you are speechless and powerless because you didn't know how to keep quiet
Now back to the smoke of the robbery
Returning to the topic of the theft that occurred earlier
I tell you like Latifah, mutha-fucker give me body
Like Queen Latifah, I demand that the man who wronged me give me what I am owed
One to the chest, another to his fucking dome
I shoot him once in the chest and again in the head
Now the shit can rest, yo tell 'em to leave me the fuck alone
The situation has ended and now everyone should leave me alone
Two very bloody bodies on the streets, A noisy ass cop and a nigga that robbed from me
Two dead men lay on the pavement, one loud and disruptive police officer and the other the thief who stole from me
Well from me, back up punk, how you figure
You should back away from me, you cowardly person, do you understand?
My fingers on the trigga for you
I am ready to use my weapon against you if necessary
Crooked ass niggas
Dishonest and deceitful black men
Crooked ass niggas
Dishonest and deceitful black men
Criminal Behaviour
Engaging in illegal actions
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, MELOMEGA MUSIC LTD, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andre Romell Young, Charles C. Carter, Clarence Satchell, Eric Wright, Leroy Bonner, Lorenzo Dow IV Patterson, Marshall Jones, Marvin Pierce, Napler Norman, O'Shea Jackson, Ralph Middlebrooks, Randy Walker, Roger Parker, Steve Arrington, Tupac Amaru Shaku
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Agent Bosconian
on So Many Tears - Live
I fear only God and no human being
Even in the face of danger, I will stay strong
I have cried so much and fear that I might die soon
God, please guide me and take me to heaven if I die
I grew up in a sad, and lonely environment and it affected me in a gravely manner
I was abandoned; all alone and grew up in a community that was doomed to fail
My mind was greatly troubled and I couldn't be able to find my inner peace
I found solace and comfort in adopting a tough and rebellious lifestyle
Do you understand my pain and sorrow? I don't ever dwell on the past memories
To survive in a dangerous environment, you must react aggressively and quickly; in order to stay alive
I will always remember my friend, Kato. A good friend who has tragically died, and is no longer with us, anymore
I witnessed the day Kato perished on the streets and was calling for help
May Kato, and those who died before him, truly find peace in death
Is there really a place in heaven for a gangster like me? Always think and never forget about me
The friends that I once shared my laughter with; are now buried in their graves in the cemetery. I continue to shed countless tears for them; as I grieve for them
As I face many difficulties in the music industry, I will do whatever it takes to overcome it
People call me greedy and selfish for making money, yet they rarely can see me
I feel like I'm being cursed by the world and havin' disturbing; yet horrible premonitions
I have a fear that I will die and lie inside a coffin on a hearse, and want God's guidance and empathy
I want to escape from the problems, stress and the hurting of life
I yearned; longing for happiness and clarity in my troubled life
I'm trapped in jail and my life is in shambles
I feel like I'm doomed to go to Hell, but I don't know why
I'm in denial about my life, and I'm scared of death
If I go to hell, I will be in eternal pain and cry so much
I'm lost and tired, and I've cried so much
I'm contemplating suicide, so stay away from me
I'm intentionally moving towards death
I'm ready to die, and I feel like I have nothing to live for
The streets were ruthless, and I couldn't find peace
I'm on the verge of breaking down, and I long for peace
I lost my soul and my identity, but I was unaware
I had demons in my mind that were taking over
The demons inside me grew and ignited a fire
My head felt like a bomb ready to explode, it was a nasty game
I have no happy memories, only pain and sadness
I imagine my enemies murdering me in my sleep
I wonder if I'll live to see the next day
I ask God to pardon me for my wrongs as death approaches
God knows I tried my best, but I've seen people get killed
I witnessed innocent people, including children, being killed by drive-by shootings
I wonder why these tragedies happen as I pass by
I feel sad as I see the outline of a body on the ground and turn to drugs for comfort
I don't want this life, I want something different
There is no promising future for me; I'm trapped in the cycle of crime and violence
I feel like I'm in a never-ending maze
Alcohol made me act out and lose my mind
I've been disillusioned and now want a family
I want a family to see a better side of myself that isn't tainted by my past
I don't trust my girlfriend because she's been influenced by the negative environment around us
I hear rumors that my girlfriend is cheating on me with my friends, and I can't handle it
I collapse and pray for God to let me into heaven
I've cried countless tears and beg for God's mercy to let me into heaven
I've lost so many years and cried so many tears
God, I lost so many friends and associates, and...
God knows I tried my best, but I've seen people get killed
I witnessed innocent people, including children, being killed by drive-by shootings
I wonder why these tragedies happen as I pass by
I feel sad as I see the outline of a body on the ground and turn to drugs for comfort
I don't want this life, I want something different
There is no promising future for me; I'm trapped in the cycle of crime and violence
I feel like I'm in a never-ending maze
Alcohol made me act out and lose my mind
I've been disillusioned and now want a family
I want a family to see a better side of myself that isn't tainted by my past
I don't trust my girlfriend because she's been influenced by the negative environment around us
I hear rumors that my girlfriend is cheating on me with my friends, and I can't handle it
I collapse and pray for God to let me into heaven
I've cried countless tears and beg for God's mercy to let me into heaven
I've lost so many years and cried so many tears
God, I lost so many friends and associates, and cried so many tears
Aliyu
on 'Pac's Life
Nice
A.Bosconian
on So Many Tears
I am not afraid of anything or anyone other than God.
Even when I am in the darkest of times and places.
I have cried so many tears because of the pain and hardships I have faced in my life.
I ask God to guide me and be with me in my journey through life.
Even as a child in elementary school, I found myself attracted to and surrounded by sadness and hopelessness.
I was abandoned and grew up among a generation of people who were doomed to fail.
My mind was constantly struggling, and I could not find a sense of peace or comfort anywhere.
I found a sense of identity and belonging when I got the tattoo of 'Thug Life' on my chest.
Do you understand the struggles and pain that I have experienced in my life?
I am not dwelling on my past mistakes, and if you want to be successful, you shouldn't be either.
In order to defend yourself and your community from violence, you must be the first one to take action. We should never forget Kato, who was killed due to senseless violence.
Kato is no longer with us and has passed away.
I witnessed violent crimes, and I've seen the aftermath of people being killed on the streets.
I hope Kato, and all those who have passed before him, are resting in peace.
Is there a place in heaven for someone like me, who has lived a life of violence and crime?
Remember me and all of my friends who have died and are now buried in the cemetery.
I address God.
I have experienced a lot of suffering throughout my life.
I have cried so many tears because of the pain and hardships I have faced in my life.
Now that I am struggling in the music industry.
I will do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it means being labeled as greedy and only focused on making money.
Even though I am chasing success, I rarely get to enjoy it or be seen by others.
I feel cursed and have a negative outlook on the world.
I am having visions of dying and leaving this world in a coffin.
I ask God if he can understand what I am going through and help me.
I want to be relieved of all the stress and suffering I feel.
I want to experience happiness again, which has been absent from my life for some time.
I feel like I am losing sight of what's important in my life.
I feel trapped in my current situation, and my quality of life is suffering as a result.
I already feel like I am destined to go to hell, and I question where I went wrong in my life.
I am unable to come to terms with my reality.
When I die, I fear that I will be punished forever in the afterlife.
I feel lost and tired.
I have cried so much that I am now having suicidal thoughts, so please don't be near me.
Everything I do feels like a complicated and difficult step.
To bring me closer to what I want to achieve.
I am prepared to accept death at any moment since I feel like I have nothing to live for.
Things were very rough and merciless on the streets.
I was never able to find peace or rest in that environment.
I am close to falling apart and screaming for peace.
Even though I was empty and lost, I couldn't understand or recognize it at the time.
My mind was plagued with negative thoughts and emotions, which were trying to escape constantly.
The negative thoughts and emotions had been planted long ago and have now taken root, and the flame of negativity is now growing stronger.
Just like a match can light a fire, the negative thoughts in my brain can also do the same, causing pain and suffering.
I have no good memories to comfort me, only sadness and suffering.
I am afraid of being attacked and killed by the people who hate me, even in my sleep.
I wonder if I will survive through the night to see the light of the new day?
I ask God for forgiveness for my past mistakes and wrongdoings.
I am trying to face my problems and come out stronger and better.
The Lord knows I have tried my best, and I have witnessed violent deaths in my community.
Drive-by shootings have resulted in the loss of many lives, including innocent children.
I wonder why these tragedies are happening in my community as I walk around and see the devastation.
I am saddened as I look at the markings on the pavement where someone has been killed, and the only way I can deal with this pain is by getting high.
I understand that this isn't the kind of life that I want for myself, and I want to change it.
I want to change my life for the better.
I feel like there is no future for me, no matter how hard I try to change.
I am trapped in the cycle of crime and violence that exists in my community.
I am lost and confused about how to get out of this situation.
The alcohol has influenced me to act more recklessly and dangerously.
I have lost faith and become cynical about life recently.
I have been wanting to have children and start a family.
I want to see a better version of myself in my children, someone who isn't always involved in negative activities.
I don't fully trust my partner because of the negative influence of our environment.
My partner has also been affected by the negative influences of our environment, and I am hearing strange noises because of how paranoid I am.
I am paranoid that my partner is cheating on me with my friends, and I can't handle the stress anymore.
I am begging God to forgive me and let me into heaven when I die.
I have lost many friends and acquaintances to violence and death.
As a result of these losses, I have cried many tears and experienced a lot of sadness.
I have experienced a lot of pain and suffering throughout my life.
A.Bosconian
on So Many Tears
The lyrics of Tupac Shakur's song "So Many Tears" explore the themes of paranoia, pain, and death. The first verse of the song presents Tupac's fearlessness of men, but not of God. The rapper then describes his life growing up, where he felt like he was surrounded by misery but found a sense of identity and belonging in the Thug Life culture. He mourns the deaths of his friends, particularly Kato, who was murdered in the streets. Tupac questions to himself whether there is heaven for a "G" and reflects on the many homies who died; that are now in the cemetery.
In the second verse, Tupac reveals his struggles in the music industry, where he feels overwhelmed by the pressure and pain. He admits to being greedy and having a vision of dying young. Tupac requests God to free him from the pain and suffering he experiences in life. The final verse of the song sees Tupac lost, weary, and suicidal. He delves into his struggles with addiction, and he starts to hear voices and experience demons in his mind. Tupac desires to change, but he feels trapped in the game, and he is unsure of his lady's loyalty.
Overall, Tupac Shakur's "So Many Tears" is a poignant song that reflects the artist's tumultuous life and his struggles with death and paranoia. The lyrics also tackle the harsh realities of growing up in the ghetto and the impact that violence and loss have on the psyche of an individual.
Gabriel Benard Cote
on California Love - Original Mix (Explicit)
2 pac is the best