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 Coast–West 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 Túpac Amaru II, the descendant of the last Incan ruler, Túpac 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.
Dedication
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lot of love back to uh
Some Bay Area artists like E-40, 4 Tay
(yup) , you know, Dru Down
And the whole crew
Talk about what made you decide
To work with them
And I know how the Bay is
The Bay is tight people, man
If you ain't there, they gone talk about you
So I want them to know, I
Love you, I feel you
I'm representing for you
So I know I got a certain
Amount of acclaim and everything
So I bring the Bay with me, and 4 Tay
He always been raw to me
And I like his style, when I was in jail
I used to listen to his stuff
So when I got out, we clicked
We did the song now he in jail
Now I got to do what he did for me
When I was in jail
He used to send out shout outs
And say how he support me and everything
Now I support 4 Tay
Everybody pray for him and send letters
I hope the brother get out of jail soon
As possible and get back to his shit
Because you know it's a struggle
For every young black man
4 Tay, you know how it is, only God can judge
I ain't trying to make you
Feel all down and bitter this is for my dog
About to pour me out a little liquor
Could of swam in the tears shedded in the Bay
Try to hold it in
Couldn't help but cry all day
I'm stressing, please with my rap
Hopefully it's working
Because when your folks leave
This earth, man, that shit be hurting
Emotional traumas
Enough to make you lose your ground
No matter what happen
Just represent and put it down
I feel I owe this to the
Real g's across the nation not just the RIP
A player's type of dedication
What's rap without the game, gangsters
And villains my fears of this calls me on
Got to make a killing
Because my voices is saying things that
I ain't ever heard of
And just because of that
A nigga wants to plot a murder?
But I got something for them suckers
Who intend to rush me
Part two, and only God can judge me
From the ghetto to the pen
Can you comprehend?
And all the real players, pour out some Hen
This my dedication to a million soldiers
May you rest in peace
This coming from the Forte
From the ghetto to the pen
Can you comprehend?
And all the real players, pour out some Hen
This my dedication, my nigga 2Pac
And you can best believe -
That it won't stop, uh
You should've known that I'd be coming back
Especially after
All the drama that done happened
Got to holler at you
Coolio hot and the Together
Brothers kicked the game
But things done got so out of
Hand that we can't even sing
This ain't a sad song
Man this some real shit
Go to clubs and chop up game
Who pump that rough shit?
Wish I could bring you all back
From heaven but I can't
Sometimes I reminisce and down a
Whole fifth of drink
But the least I could do is
Stay on the hit list
Despite the controversy
Put it down and shift the gift
Life goes on just like a show goes on
The player haters roll on
But man we oh so strong
Wish I could bring you back through the time
So we could spit some rhymes
And show them busters how players recline
So took the deepest feelings in the heart
And when the drama starts
Just ask yourself who was down
From the very start
Things just ain't the way they used to be
It seems the more money you stack
The more retracted enemies
First round draft pick, millions for baskets
Jealousy and envy results to
Nothing but caskets
And it's a cold thing for a black man
He clocking more than you clock
So you let that 9' rain?
True enough there's a lot of
Drama in a ghetto story and a lot of tears
But that comes with the territory
That's why you got to keep
The game on the shelf and by all means
Look out for your legitimate work
So let me put you up on the scoop
Because suckers like to swoop
Before you know it you got
Caught up in the pimping
And ain't nothing you can do to pay the price
Like innocent people I know with 25 to life
It's got me caught up, stuck
Trapped in a corner
But it's Westside for life
I'm representing California
And anybody who lost a loved one
Rappin' 4 Tay and Rag Top
We too willing not to feel you
May you rest in peace my dedication
The opening dialogue of 2Pac's song Dedication sets the scene for the rest of the track. In the first verse, he discusses his relationships with Bay Area artists like E-40, 4 Tay, and Dru Down. He explains that he chose to work with them because he wanted to represent and give love to the Bay Area when he couldn't physically be there. 4 Tay is particularly special to him, and he feels that he owes him for supporting him when 2Pac was in jail. Now that 4 Tay is behind bars, he wants to do the same for him.
The second verse is a dedication to fallen soldiers, including 2Pac's close friend, MC Breed. He talks about how it hurts him to lose these people and how he copes with that grief. He also touches on the dangers of living in the ghetto and the ways that envy and jealousy can lead to violence. 2Pac ends the track by encouraging his listeners to look out for each other and remain dedicated to their passions and pursuits.
Overall, Dedication is a song about loyalty and love in the face of hardship. 2Pac is reminding his fans to stick together and keep striving for success, even through the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
A yo Pac, you work, you gave a
Hey Pac, your hard work and dedication are evident
Lot of love back to uh
You showed a lot of love and support to others
Some Bay Area artists like E-40, 4 Tay
Specifically, you collaborated with Bay Area artists such as E-40 and 4 Tay
(yup) , you know, Dru Down
And let's not forget about Dru Down
And the whole crew
And of course, your entire crew
Talk about what made you decide
Can you explain what motivated you?
To work with them
To collaborate with these artists from the Bay Area
Because I can't always be in the Bay
I understand that I can't always physically be present in the Bay Area
And I know how the Bay is
But I am aware of how important the Bay Area is
The Bay is tight people, man
The community in the Bay Area is close-knit and supportive
If you ain't there, they gone talk about you
If you're not around, they will still discuss and mention you
So I want them to know, I
So, I want to make sure they understand that
Love you, I feel you
I have love and respect for them
I'm representing for you
I am representing their interests
So I know I got a certain
I am aware that I have a certain
Amount of acclaim and everything
Level of recognition and success
So I bring the Bay with me, and 4 Tay
I bring the spirit of the Bay Area everywhere I go, including my collaboration with 4 Tay
He always been raw to me
I've always appreciated his raw talent
And I like his style, when I was in jail
I admire his style, especially when I was incarcerated
I used to listen to his stuff
I would listen to his music while in jail
So when I got out, we clicked
So, when I was released from jail, we connected and had good chemistry
We did the song now he in jail
We collaborated on a song, but now he is the one in jail
Now I got to do what he did for me
Now it's my turn to support him, just like he supported me
When I was in jail
During my time in prison
He used to send out shout outs
He would publicly acknowledge and support me
And say how he support me and everything
He would express his support and encouragement for me
Now I support 4 Tay
Now it's my turn to show my support for 4 Tay
Everybody pray for him and send letters
I ask everyone to pray for him and send him letters of support
I hope the brother get out of jail soon
I hope he is released from prison as soon as possible
As possible and get back to his shit
So he can resume his music career and pursue his dreams
Because you know it's a struggle
We all know that it's a difficult journey
For every young black man
Especially for young black men in our society
4 Tay, you know how it is, only God can judge
4 Tay, you understand the challenges, and we can only rely on God's judgment
I ain't trying to make you
I don't want to bring you down or make you feel worse
Feel all down and bitter this is for my dog
I want to dedicate this to my close friend
About to pour me out a little liquor
I'm about to pour a small amount of alcohol as a tribute
Could of swam in the tears shedded in the Bay
The amount of tears that have been shed in the Bay Area is immense
Try to hold it in
I try to suppress my emotions
Couldn't help but cry all day
But I couldn't help but cry the whole day
I'm stressing, please with my rap
I'm anxious and pleading with my music
Hopefully it's working
I hope it's having the desired effect
Because when your folks leave
Because when your loved ones pass away
This earth, man, that shit be hurting
It really hurts deep inside
Emotional traumas
The emotional pain and suffering
Enough to make you lose your ground
Can be overwhelming and make you feel lost
No matter what happen
Regardless of what occurs
Just represent and put it down
I just need to represent and express myself
I feel I owe this to the
I believe I have a responsibility to
Real g's across the nation not just the RIP
The real gangsters and true individuals throughout the country, not just those who have passed away
A player's type of dedication
This is how a player shows dedication and loyalty
What's rap without the game, gangsters
The essence of rap is intertwined with the game and gangster culture
And villains my fears of this calls me on
And the fear of being labeled a villain motivates me
Got to make a killing
I need to achieve great success
Because my voices is saying things that
Because my inner thoughts and conscience are urging me to
I ain't ever heard of
Do things that I've never considered
And just because of that
Simply because of those thoughts
A nigga wants to plot a murder?
Am I being tempted to plan a murder?
But I got something for them suckers
But I have a plan of my own for those fools
Who intend to rush me
Those who plan to attack me
Part two, and only God can judge me
Continuing with my own plan and knowing that only God can truly judge me
From the ghetto to the pen
From the streets to prison
Can you comprehend?
Do you understand the struggle?
And all the real players, pour out some Hen
And all the genuine players, let's have a toast with Hennessy
This my dedication to a million soldiers
This is my tribute to all the brave individuals
May you rest in peace
May you find eternal peace
This coming from the Forte
I'm sending this message from the Forte
From the ghetto to the pen
From the streets to prison
Can you comprehend?
Do you understand the struggle?
And all the real players, pour out some Hen
And all the genuine players, let's have a toast with Hennessy
This my dedication, my nigga 2Pac
This is my dedication to you, my friend 2Pac
And you can best believe -
And you can be certain
That it won't stop, uh
That this dedication won't end
You should've known that I'd be coming back
You should have anticipated my return
Especially after
Especially considering
All the drama that done happened
The significant events and conflicts that have occurred
Got to holler at you
I need to talk to you
Coolio hot and the Together
Coolio and the Together movement
Brothers kicked the game
They made a powerful impact
But things done got so out of
But things have gotten completely chaotic
Hand that we can't even sing
To the point where we can't even express ourselves through music
This ain't a sad song
But this isn't a melancholic song
Man this some real shit
This is real and authentic
Go to clubs and chop up game
We go to clubs and have meaningful conversations
Who pump that rough shit?
Who plays that hardcore music?
Wish I could bring you all back
I wish I could bring all of you back to life
From heaven but I can't
But I can't do that from heaven
Sometimes I reminisce and down a
Sometimes I think about the past and drink a
Whole fifth of drink
Entire bottle of alcohol
But the least I could do is
But at the very least, I can
Stay on the hit list
Continue to be relevant and targeted
Despite the controversy
Regardless of the controversies surrounding me
Put it down and shift the gift
Keep making music and sharing my talent
Life goes on just like a show goes on
Life continues despite the difficulties, just like a show must go on
The player haters roll on
The individuals who are jealous or resentful continue to criticize
But man we oh so strong
But we, as individuals, are incredibly resilient
Wish I could bring you back through the time
I wish I could travel back in time and bring you all back
So we could spit some rhymes
So we could engage in freestyle rap
And show them busters how players recline
And demonstrate to those fools how real players chill
So took the deepest feelings in the heart
So I took the most profound emotions from my heart
And when the drama starts
And when conflicts arise
Just ask yourself who was down
Just ask yourself who remained loyal
From the very start
From the very beginning
Things just ain't the way they used to be
Things have significantly changed
It seems the more money you stack
The more wealth you accumulate
The more retracted enemies
The more enemies you gain
First round draft pick, millions for baskets
Referring to a successful athlete earning millions
Jealousy and envy results to
Jealousy and envy lead to
Nothing but caskets
Only resulting in death and funerals
And it's a cold thing for a black man
It's a harsh reality for a black man
He clocking more than you clock
When he is more successful than you
So you let that 9' rain?
So you resort to violence and use a gun?
True enough there's a lot of
It's true, there are a lot of
Drama in a ghetto story and a lot of tears
Conflict and sorrow in the narrative of the ghetto
But that comes with the territory
But that's something we have to accept
That's why you got to keep
That's why you need to
The game on the shelf and by all means
Put the dangerous lifestyle aside and, if possible,
Look out for your legitimate work
Focus on legal and honest endeavors
So let me put you up on the scoop
Allow me to update you on the situation
Because suckers like to swoop
Because opportunists like to take advantage
Before you know it you got
Before you realize it, you find yourself
Caught up in the pimping
Involved in the world of pimping
And ain't nothing you can do to pay the price
And there's nothing you can do to avoid the consequences
Like innocent people I know with 25 to life
Similar to innocent individuals I know who are serving lengthy prison sentences
It's got me caught up, stuck
It has me trapped and unable to escape
Trapped in a corner
Feeling cornered and without options
But it's Westside for life
But I will remain loyal to the Westside for life
I'm representing California
I am proudly representing the state of California
And anybody who lost a loved one
And also for anyone who has lost someone they love
Rappin' 4 Tay and Rag Top
Including artists like 4 Tay and Rag Top
We too willing not to feel you
We are empathetic and can relate to your pain
May you rest in peace my dedication
May your souls find eternal rest, this dedication is for you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericpadilla2454
Had this song 25 years ago on an original makaveli bootleg CD back in high school. Played the shit out of it. Easily the best tribute song
@mushimiyimanaaugustyniak4920
One of the best tribute song for pac
@ADogInSoup
Pac smiling wherever he is knowing that he's still loved.
@unevet882
Chorus is Legendary, cant be any better than this one, my heart bounce when i hear this lady singing it 🥺
OMG what a words, i miss Pac badly 🥺
@benluke7697
one of the most underrated rap songs ever
@msquared6695
Had this when it was a new release.Crazy remember most the lyrics
@silentg886
That ol skoo shit lot of niggas didn't know bout this here showin love from 727 Tha Burg FLA RIp to all that fallen
@OnTopOfWudan
See you in heaven Pac
@pacamootha
been searchin' for this song for a long time yo.Thanks for uploadin' .;)
@W3UnIT3
shed a tear 4 this one , trully mooving , makes me wish tupac was still here