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.
Homeboyz
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't that a bitch
Hey, uh, this one here is, uh
For them niggas that be Johnny Dangerous
When they be fuckin' fifty deep
But they be fuckin' cowards when they by they selves
You know who I'm talkin' about
That's right, you ain't shit without your homeboyz
You ain't shit without your homeboyz
You ain't shit without your homeboyz
Now, now every time I see you cats is rollin' in packs
For the life of me I cannot see why you don't know how to act
Love to clown when you deep, but when you on that solo creep
Out on the streets you don't hear a peep
Nigga it's a goddamn shame, somebody explain
Why they sent a Bad Boy to play a grown man's game
Tear that ass out the frame, completely get that ass kicked
Woke up on the street but you'll be sleepin' in the casket
How long will it last, nigga don't ask, just be first to blast
Outlaw on the mash tryin' to be the first to see some cash
My shit's classic, like my nigga Nate, go get the tape
We keep the nation anticipatin' until we break
Money made me evil, court cases got me stressed
Niggas aimin' at my head but I still wear my vest
I don't give a fuck motherfuckers I'm LOC
They all duckin' when my gun smoke
'Cause you ain't shit without your homeboyz
You probably run at the sound of funk
I give a fuck, you niggas is punks
Without your homeboyz
You be the first to reach in your trunk
You scary niggas is punks
You ain't shit without your homeboyz
Nigga, punk ass motherfucker
You ain't shit without your homeboyz
Throw your hands up
You little trick, coward motherfucker
Like Yak said, ?How the fuck you gonna shoot me rocks
When you got the Outlaw 'Pac shittin' ya box?
You was lookin' real weak walkin' down the street
Now a nigga thirty deep, oh you wanna beef
Talk cheap, shoot a nigga the fair one
Your homies like fuck it
What's this you the only scared one
(Fagot ass)
Damn son, close call I bet
Now down around the way you gets no respect
They like that Outlaw nigga played you out
We could have took it to the fifth
I would I have laid you out
Niggas be actin' all different
When they dogs come around
Watch 'em act like bitches
When Outlawz draw down
They all clown, better yet they all stunned
You the type to have a gun
And never blased it once
Get y'all banana split, you ain't Emmanuel
Outlawz you'll never forget
Makaveli the Don get a call y'all
Turnin' these streets into Vietnam
Where your homeboyz, homeboy?
You ain't shit without your homeboyz
My thug niggas, I love niggas
From small time crooks to big-time drug dealers
My homeboyz, the only thing a nigga got left
I love my niggas to death, we ain't shit without our homeboyz
You know what time it is
I ain't shit without my homeboyz
Hey, tell 'em the story how you came up, nigga
Now I was born alone
Took my first joint and I got high alone
Now I'm an Outlaw nigga, I never die alone
Me and my niggas is so close, it's complicated
One nigga smokin' and drinkin' and yet we all faded
My nigga Edi had a son we all happy
'Cause now that little ridah got to deal with eight daddies
My niggas cry, we all cry, and all ride
To rectify the problem, motherfuckers they all die
Been tryin' to make a million, by hustlin' since my adolescence
From crack dealin' to rap villain, my new profession
Who wanna see me at eight deep, fuck 3D
You coward ass motherfuckers'll never see me
Bustin' with automatic straps
My raw raps like good crack
Niggas fiendin', I got 'em comin' back
Until I die, they label me as a ridah
Forever, my niggas be together
Ain't shit without your homeboyz
Thug niggas, I love niggas
From small time crooks to big-time drug dealers
Without your homeboyz
The only thing a nigga got left
I love my niggas to death
We ain't shit without our homeboyz
(Without our homeboyz)
Love my niggas to death
We ain't shit without our homeboyz
Love you niggas to death
In the song 'Homeboyz' by 2Pac & The Outlawz, the artist expresses his disgust towards individuals who tend to act tough only when they are in a group, and are often too scared to confront situations or people on a one-on-one basis. Tupac's lyrics suggest that a person's toughness or power comes from their group of friends or homeboys, rather than their individual abilities. The chorus of the song repeatedly states that "you ain't shit without your homeboyz," emphasizing the message of the song.
Throughout the verses, 2Pac raps about different scenarios where people act differently when they are with their group of friends. He also addresses his personal struggles with fame and the constant threat of violence directed towards him. The song also includes references to other rappers like The Notorious B.I.G., as well as some of Tupac's Outlawz associates.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh shit, caught that nigga alone
I've caught that person by themselves.
Ain't that a bitch
That's unfortunate.
Hey, uh, this one here is, uh
For them niggas that be Johnny Dangerous
When they be fuckin' fifty deep
But they be fuckin' cowards when they by they selves
You know who I'm talkin' about
(You know who I'm talkin' about)
This song is dedicated to those who act tough in a group, but are cowards when alone.
That's right, you ain't shit without your homeboyz
You ain't shit without your homeboyz
You are nothing without your friends.
Now, now every time I see you cats is rollin' in packs
For the life of me I cannot see why you don't know how to act
Whenever I see you, you're in a group and misbehaving.
Love to clown when you deep, but when you on that solo creep
Out on the streets you don't hear a peep
You enjoy acting foolish when with others, but are silent when alone.
Nigga it's a goddamn shame, somebody explain
Why they sent a Bad Boy to play a grown man's game
Tear that ass out the frame, completely get that ass kicked
Woke up on the street but you'll be sleepin' in the casket
It's a pity that a member of a rival group was sent to fight us, he will be severely beaten and end up in a casket.
How long will it last, nigga don't ask, just be first to blast
Outlaw on the mash tryin' to be the first to see some cash
I don't know how long this will go on, but we need to be aggressive and try to make money.
My shit's classic, like my nigga Nate, go get the tape
We keep the nation anticipatin' until we break
Our music is a classic, like Nate Dogg's, and our fans eagerly anticipate our new music.
Money made me evil, court cases got me stressed
Niggas aimin' at my head but I still wear my vest
Money has changed me for the worse, while legal issues have made me anxious, and despite the threats, I still wear protective gear.
I don't give a fuck motherfuckers I'm LOC
They all duckin' when my gun smoke
'Cause you ain't shit without your homeboyz
I don't care, I'm a member of LOC gang, and people fear me only because I have my friends with me.
You probably run at the sound of funk
I give a fuck, you niggas is punks
Without your homeboyz
You likely flee at the first hint of danger, showing cowardice, and you're nothing without your friends.
You be the first to reach in your trunk
You scary niggas is punks
You're the first to grab a weapon from your car when in a fight, showing fear.
Nigga, punk ass motherfucker
Throw your hands up
You little trick, coward motherfucker
You're a cowardly, weak individual.
Like Yak said, ?How the fuck you gonna shoot me rocks
When you got the Outlaw 'Pac shittin' ya box?
You was lookin' real weak walkin' down the street
Now a nigga thirty deep, oh you wanna beef
As Yak said, you can't fight me alone, because I have the Outlawz with me, and it's funny how you went from walking alone to coming back with a group.
Talk cheap, shoot a nigga the fair one
Your homies like fuck it
What's this you the only scared one
(Fagot ass)
Let's fight one-on-one, but your friends won't let you, because you're the weakest one.
Damn son, close call I bet
Now down around the way you gets no respect
They like that Outlaw nigga played you out
We could have took it to the fifth
I would I have laid you out
You barely got away, and now you've lost respect in your neighborhood because you were beaten by an Outlawz member, and if we had fought again, I would have won.
Niggas be actin' all different
When they dogs come around
Watch 'em act like bitches
When Outlawz draw down
People act differently when they see us with our friends, and they become weak when we're armed.
They all clown, better yet they all stunned
You the type to have a gun
And never blased it once
They're all acting foolish, but you're the worst for carrying a gun without ever using it.
Get y'all banana split, you ain't Emmanuel
Outlawz you'll never forget
Makaveli the Don get a call y'all
Turnin' these streets into Vietnam
Leave now before something bad happens, because we're Outlawz and we'll never forget, Makaveli will show up and turn this neighborhood into a war zone.
Where your homeboyz, homeboy?
My thug niggas, I love niggas
From small time crooks to big-time drug dealers
My homeboyz, the only thing a nigga got left
I love my niggas to death, we ain't shit without our homeboyz
Where are your friends? I love my friends, from small-time criminals to big-time drug dealers. My friends are the only thing I have left, I love them and we are nothing without them.
You know what time it is
I ain't shit without my homeboyz
You know how important friends are, I'm nothing without my friends.
Hey, tell 'em the story how you came up, nigga
Now I was born alone
Took my first joint and I got high alone
Now I'm an Outlaw nigga, I never die alone
Me and my niggas is so close, it's complicated
One nigga smokin' and drinkin' and yet we all faded
Tell them about your background, I was born alone and started using drugs alone. Now I'm part of the Outlawz and I will never die alone, my relationships with my friends are complicated, but we all get high together.
My nigga Edi had a son we all happy
'Cause now that little ridah got to deal with eight daddies
My niggas cry, we all cry, and all ride
To rectify the problem, motherfuckers they all die
My friend Edi had a son, and we're all happy. Now that little boy has eight father figures. When one of my friends is hurt, we all hurt, and we'll all fight back to fix the problem.
Been tryin' to make a million, by hustlin' since my adolescence
From crack dealin' to rap villain, my new profession
Who wanna see me at eight deep, fuck 3D
You coward ass motherfuckers'll never see me
Bustin' with automatic straps
My raw raps like good crack
Niggas fiendin', I got 'em comin' back
Until I die, they label me as a ridah
Forever, my niggas be together
Ain't shit without your homeboyz
I've been trying to make money since I was young, selling drugs and now rapping. Whoever wants to fight me, good luck, because you'll never see me alone. I'm armed and my music is addictive, and people keep coming back. I'm labeled as a criminal, and I'll always be with my friends, because we're nothing without each other.
Thug niggas, I love niggas
The only thing a nigga got left
I love my niggas to death
We ain't shit without our homeboyz
(Without our homeboyz)
Love my niggas to death
Love you niggas to death
I love my thug friends, they're the only thing I have left, and I love them to death. We're nothing without each other, and I have a lot of love for them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DELMAR DREW ARNAUD, RUFUS LEE COOPER, 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