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.
God Bless The Dead )
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's right bwoy
It's goin on, right here
Thug Life
God bless the dead
God bless the dead, and buried nigga
Don't worry if you see God first
I know you representin' the crew
And I can picture you in heaven with a blunt and a brew
Fuck the world, pain was a part of the game
If you a baller, money went as quick as it came
My role models gone or they locked in the pen
Straight hustlers, caught up in the whirlwind
The other day, I thought I seen my homeboy Biggy
Sayin' shit don't stop nigga no pity
We all hoods, and all we ever had was dreams
Money makin' motherfuckers plot scandalous schemes
In the gutter, you learn to have a criminal mind
I was addicted to tryin, never meant to do time
My epitaph, will read, was the last of G's
Kicked the shit to make the white man bleed
God bless the dead (that's right) (that's right)
God bless the dead (yeah don't stop)
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
Man, ain't nobody promised me a thang
I been caught up in this game
Ever since I was a little motherfucker wantin' to hang
I can see 'em in my head, pow
Memories of my nigga but he dead now
Lookin' back in my yearbook, all the years took
Half my peers, they're stretched for years
And if I die will they all shed tears?
Two to the dome, leave me alone, let me get my head clear
Paranoid got me lookin' in the mirror
Behind me, life without my nine, I'd rather do the time
See I'm old enough to know that ain't no justice
And all the courts, same way they fucked us
And why the hell am I locked in jail
They let them white boys free, we be shocked as hell
In my mind I can see it comin'
And all the time it's a plot to keep a nigga runnin'
I keep a gun and never run unless I'm comin' at ya
Cry later but for now let's enjoy the laughter
God bless the dead (that's right) (that's right)
God bless the dead
(God bless the dead) Yeah, rest in peace to all the motherfuckers that passed too early
All the young motherfuckers that was took in they prime (God bless the dead)
Real motherfuckin G's, this one is for you, yo Stretch, Biggy
Yo Big, this is to you my nigga
Springfield Hollis Crew, Thug Life, YG'z
Sendin' they respect, ya know what I mean?
You my nigga for life, forever
You're always gonna be with a nigga
No matter what, don't forget that
I pray before I go to sleep "Dear God"
Say my grace before I start to eat, 'cause times is hard
So I'm droppin to my knees, oh why?
Why you had to take my nigga with the rock-a-bye?
You had to take a good one, a ghetto hood son, uzi weighin a ton
Niggas terrified of drama from the young gun
Hearin' that they did it outta fear don't amaze me
But it's mind blowin' so I'm flowin' goin' crazy
Slip for cock the gun but he didn't run like a punk
He shoulda had the gauge in the trunk
But spunk is what he had, kid, I'd ratha attack Big
Now ya bout to smell the aftermath of what the mag did
Wannabe suckers wanna test, I'm tellin' you, yes
The teflon's bout to rip through your fuckin' vest
Guess who? I'll make a mess of your crew quick
The spirit Biggy Smallz and the thuggin' clique, yeah
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
The song "God Bless the Dead" by 2Pac ft. Sinima is a tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie Smalls) who was 2Pac's friend turned enemy. Despite their differences, 2Pac expresses his respect for Biggie, acknowledging him as a true representation of his crew. The song reflects on the harsh realities of the gangsta lifestyle and pays tribute to fallen soldiers who lost their lives too soon.
The first verse describes the pain that comes with the gangsta lifestyle, where pain is just another part of the game. The chorus is a prayer for the dead, specifically their fellow hustlers who were caught up in the game, either dead or locked up in prison. The second verse reflects on the paranoia that comes with the lifestyle, as well as the injustice in the court system that disproportionately affects people of color. The final verse is a tribute to fallen soldiers, including Biggie Smalls, who was taken too soon.
Overall, the song shows 2Pac's emotional side and his desire to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the pursuit of the gangsta lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Rest in peace to my motherfucker Biggy Smallz
Respect and farewell to my dear Biggy Smallz who has passed away
God bless the dead, and buried nigga
May God bestow His grace and blessings on all those who have passed away and have been laid to rest
Don't worry if you see God first
Do not worry if you meet God before I do
Tell him shit got worse, I ain't mad
Inform Him of the hardships I faced on earth, but I am not bitter about it
I know you representin' the crew
I know that you continue to represent our group even in death
And I can picture you in heaven with a blunt and a brew
I can visualize you having a good time in heaven with your blunt and beer
Fuck the world, pain was a part of the game
The world is harsh and pain is an inevitable part of life, especially in our line of work
If you a baller, money went as quick as it came
If you were rich and living the high life, the money came and went quickly
My role models gone or they locked in the pen
My role models are either dead or imprisoned
Straight hustlers, caught up in the whirlwind
Successful hustlers often get caught up in chaos and lose their way
The other day, I thought I seen my homeboy Biggy
Recently, I thought I saw my friend Biggy
Sayin' shit don't stop nigga no pity
He said that we should keep hustling and not show any mercy or pity
We all hoods, and all we ever had was dreams
We all come from the hood, and our only hope and aspiration was to fulfill our dreams
Money makin' motherfuckers plot scandalous schemes
Those who make money are always planning to carry out scandalous and illegal plots
In the gutter, you learn to have a criminal mind
Growing up in poverty teaches you how to think like a criminal
I was addicted to tryin, never meant to do time
I was always trying to make more money, but I never intended to go to jail
My epitaph, will read, was the last of G's
When I die, my tombstone will say that I was one of the last true gangsters
Kicked the shit to make the white man bleed
I rebelled against the white-dominated society to fight for my rights and make them pay for their oppression
Man, ain't nobody promised me a thang
Life is unpredictable and no one can guarantee me anything
I been caught up in this game
I got involved in this lifestyle and can't get out
Ever since I was a little motherfucker wantin' to hang
Since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a part of this life
I can see 'em in my head, pow
I can still visualize my friends getting shot
Memories of my nigga but he dead now
I still have memories of my friend even though he is no longer alive
Lookin' back in my yearbook, all the years took
Looking back at old photos, I realize how many friends I have lost over the years
Half my peers, they're stretched for years
Many of the people I knew are either dead or serving long prison sentences
And if I die will they all shed tears?
If I die, will people mourn me or forget about me?
Two to the dome, leave me alone, let me get my head clear
I've been shot in the head twice and need some space to clear my thoughts
Paranoid got me lookin' in the mirror
My fear of getting killed has made me paranoid and I constantly look over my shoulder
Behind me, life without my nine, I'd rather do the time
Without my gun, I would rather serve time in jail than live without protection
See I'm old enough to know that ain't no justice
I'm wise enough to understand that the justice system is not fair
And all the courts, same way they fucked us
The justice system has wronged us and we can't trust it
And why the hell am I locked in jail
Why am I imprisoned when white offenders got away with their crimes?
They let them white boys free, we be shocked as hell
White offenders often get away with their crimes, which is why we are surprised when they serve time
In my mind I can see it comin'
I can anticipate future violence and chaos
And all the time it's a plot to keep a nigga runnin'
The system is designed to keep black people struggling and hustling their entire lives
I keep a gun and never run unless I'm comin' at ya
I always carry a gun and only run towards danger, not away from it
Cry later but for now let's enjoy the laughter
We have to live in the moment and enjoy life, even though we know hard times are coming
Rest in peace to all the motherfuckers that passed too early
May all the people who died young rest in peace
All the young motherfuckers that was took in they prime
All the young people who died in their prime deserve to be remembered and respected
Real motherfuckin G's, this one is for you, yo Stretch, Biggy
This song is dedicated to all the real gangsters we have lost, like Stretch and Biggy
Yo Big, this is to you my nigga
This song is also specifically dedicated to Biggy
Springfield Hollis Crew, Thug Life, YG'z
Shoutout to all my crew members from Springfield, Hollis, Thug Life, and YG'z
Sendin' they respect, ya know what I mean?
We are sending our respect to all those who have passed away and their families
You my nigga for life, forever
You will always be my friend, no matter what happens
You're always gonna be with a nigga
You will always be on my mind and in my memories
I pray before I go to sleep „Dear God"
I pray to God before going to bed
Say my grace before I start to eat, 'cause times is hard
I say my blessings before eating because times are tough and food is a scarce commodity
So I'm droppin to my knees, oh why?
I'm falling to my knees in prayer and asking why so many bad things are happening
Why you had to take my nigga with the rock-a-bye?
Why did you have to take my friend away and make him sleep forever?
You had to take a good one, a ghetto hood son, uzi weighin a ton
You had to take a good person, who was raised in the ghetto and always carried a powerful gun
Niggas terrified of drama from the young gun
People were scared of my friend because he was a young and reckless gangster
Hearin' that they did it outta fear don't amaze me
I've heard that people killed him out of fear, but it doesn't surprise me
But it's mind blowin' so I'm flowin' goin' crazy
The fact that he was killed is shocking and overwhelming, which is why I'm rapping about it and feeling insane
Slip for cock the gun but he didn't run like a punk
He drew his gun, ready to fight, but he didn't run away like a coward
He shoulda had the gauge in the trunk
He should have kept his shotgun in the trunk of his car for better protection
But spunk is what he had, kid, I'd ratha attack Big
He was fearless and had a lot of courage, which is why I'd rather have him still be alive and attacking his enemies
Now ya bout to smell the aftermath of what the mag did
You will now see the aftermath of what the bullets from his gun have done
Wannabe suckers wanna test, I'm tellin' you, yes
People who want to challenge or doubt my gangster lifestyle are likely to face my wrath
The teflon's bout to rip through your fuckin' vest
My bulletproof teflon-coated bullets will easily pass through your flimsy bulletproof vest
Guess who? I'll make a mess of your crew quick
You already know who I am, and I'm not afraid to take down your entire crew with no hesitation
The spirit Biggy Smallz and the thuggin' clique, yeah
I'm doing this for my friend Biggy and my entire gangster group
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, D.T.N.T. PUBLISHING
Written by: Duane Thomas Nettlesbey, Tupac Amaru Shakur
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