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.
LastOnesLeft
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Westside in this motherfucker
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Can't nobody stop us when we blunted up and swervin
Packed in a suburban, screamin outlaw runin on the curb
They never try me cause right behind me your killer team
I get a word cut the head off a nigga like a guillotine
They're sittin here seein me gettin coned though
Sittin in the back of the club tradin convo
Livin like I'm done in my own mind
Seein who can die for me nigga watch me with the chrome nine
All the time drinkin champagne
Walk through the crowd let the tramps say
Niggas playa hate but do a damn thing
Picture me doin eighty down a one way
Stuck in the trunk, caught with gun play
So I gotta keep my eyes open
Gettin high, wonder why we gotta die smokin
My alibi, I'm victory
Like them other vile men I'm marked for death
Spendin my nights like its the last one left
I'm an outlaw
Am I wrong, I wanna get it goin on
Last to leave, till I see everybodys gone
I'm at the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor
Puffin on the sweet submission I'm the last one left
Tell me am I wrong, I wanna get it goin on
Last to leave until I see everybodys gone
I'm at the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor
Puffin on the sweet submission, guess I'm the last one left
I got my back against the wall
Gat chillin by my balls
Prior to war is rider nigga only five six tall
Napoleon only knows on we outlaws fuck fear
Better strap down to the feelins cause we out yeah
Thug passion all up in me
Feelin like I took some Henne
It ain't easy I'm tryin to make a dollar out of two pennies
What we got with these rap niggas
Wanna pull they're gat niggas
Only got my side cause they think pac die nigga
Last niggas with our tape
Take a shot within our vest
Pac come and catch weight
Nigga we the last ones left
If we woulda known the zone inside my own dome
Fresh outs jail it was hell but I'm probably home
Lookin for niggas that was roofin that shit when I was locked back
Hands on the pump, makem jump when its cocked back
Fuckem all they're bitches inside a world of weak
Bitch niggas be afraid to speak
We the last ones left
Tell me am I wrong, I wanna get it goin on
Last to leave, till I see everybodys gone
At the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor
Puffin on a sweet swisher, Like I'm the last one left
Am I wrong, I wanna get it goin on
Last to leave till I see everybodys gone
At the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor
Puffin on a sweet swisher, last one left
Am I wrong, I wanna get it goin on
Last to leave till I see everybodys gone
At the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor (Yeah)
Puffin on a sweet swisher, I'm the last one left
I eat and sleep the worst shit, turfs and birth
Me and my team super supreme putin in work
I'm passed out, drunk as a fuck, till it hurt
And I call earl screamin fuck the world
I got a bitch on the side wanna be my wife
And wify beefin wanna know if she gonna see me tonight
And i know it ain't right, but its the life I got
And thats until I see Yak
And thats until I see Pac
Young know I lost a troll somebody owed me down
And if the world was a girl I'd stick my dick in the ground
Fuck the world
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Yeah
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Uh
Outlaw in this motherfucker right here
Outlaws in this motherfucker
Uh
In this motherfucker right here
In this motherfucker
Uh
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Uh
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
In this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Uh
Outlaw in this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Uh
In this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
In this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
In this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
In this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
In this motherfucker right here
Westside in this motherfucker
Westside in this motherfucker right here
Westside
The song "LastOnesLeft" by Tupac speaks to the life of being an outlaw and the mentality of living every moment like it's the last. The repetition of "Westside in this motherfucker" serves as a representation of the unity and strength of his team. Tupac speaks on the confidence he holds, knowing that his killer team is right behind him, and that he has the ability to cut off the head of anyone who tries him like a guillotine. He denies living in fear, and instead focuses on living his life like it's the last one left. He spends his nights drinking champagne and living like it’s his last, while being mindful of the dangers that come with it. Tupac also acknowledges that he is an outlaw, which means that he lives in a constant state of danger and must always keep his guard up.
Line by Line Meaning
Nigga westside
I represent the West Coast
Westside in this motherfucker
I am from the West Coast and proud of it
Westside in this motherfucker right here
I am from the West Coast and won't back down
Can't nobody stop us when we blunted up and swervin
No one can touch us when we are under the influence and driving recklessly
Packed in a suburban, screamin outlaw runin on the curb
I am with my friends, driving in a suburban and causing chaos in the streets
They never try me cause right behind me your killer team
No one messes with me because I have a dangerous crew behind me
I get a word cut the head off a nigga like a guillotine
If someone crosses me, I won't hesitate to take their life
They're sittin here seein me gettin coned though
People are envious of my success and watching me closely
Sittin in the back of the club tradin convo
I am hanging out with my friends, chatting in the back of the club
Livin like I'm done in my own mind
I am living my life as if every day could be my last
Seein who can die for me nigga watch me with the chrome nine
I am testing my friends to see who is willing to die for me, while holding a gun in my hand
All the time drinkin champagne
I am always drinking expensive liquor
Walk through the crowd let the tramps say
I am walking through the crowd and ignoring the women who are trying to get my attention
Niggas playa hate but do a damn thing
People are jealous of me, but they can't do anything about it
Picture me doin eighty down a one way
I am driving extremely fast down a one-way street
Stuck in the trunk, caught with gun play
I am trapped in the trunk of a car and have a gun with me
So I gotta keep my eyes open
I need to be alert and aware of my surroundings
Gettin high, wonder why we gotta die smokin
I am questioning why we enjoy engaging in dangerous habits that could lead to death
My alibi, I'm victory
My excuse for any wrongdoing is that I am successful
Like them other vile men I'm marked for death
I am aware that many people wish to see me dead
Spendin my nights like its the last one left
I am living every night as if it could be my last
I'm an outlaw
I am a rebel who doesn't follow the rules
Am I wrong, I wanna get it goin on
I ask myself if it is wrong to live the way I do, but I still want to party
Last to leave, till I see everybodys gone
I am the last person to leave the party, waiting until everyone else is gone
I'm at the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor
I am at the bar, holding a lot of alcohol
Puffin on the sweet submission I'm the last one left
I am smoking a cigar and am the last person still partying
I got my back against the wall
I feel trapped and helpless
Gat chillin by my balls
I have a gun with me, ready to protect myself
Prior to war is rider nigga only five six tall
I may not be physically imposing, but I am still a warrior
Napoleon only knows on we outlaws fuck fear
We are outlaws and fear nothing, just like Napoleon
Better strap down to the feelins cause we out yeah
Hold on tight to your emotions because we are wild and unpredictable
Thug passion all up in me
I am filled with a passionate love for the thug lifestyle
Feelin like I took some Henne
I feel intoxicated, just like I drank Hennessy
It ain't easy I'm tryin to make a dollar out of two pennies
It's hard to make money and become successful, but I am trying my best
What we got with these rap niggas
We are better than all the other rappers out there
Wanna pull they're gat niggas
Other rappers are jealous of us and want to cause us harm
Only got my side cause they think pac die nigga
People are on my side because they think I am like Tupac, who is dead
Last niggas with our tape
We are the last remaining group of people with our music
Take a shot within our vest
People are trying to shoot us, but we are protected by our bulletproof vests
Pac come and catch weight
Tupac would be proud of us and the legacy we are carrying on
If we woulda known the zone inside my own dome
If we had known what was happening inside my own mind
Fresh outs jail it was hell but I'm probably home
I just got out of jail and it was a terrible experience, but I am finally back home
Lookin for niggas that was roofin that shit when I was locked back
I am looking for the people who supported me while I was in jail
Hands on the pump, makem jump when its cocked back
I have my gun ready, and I can make people scared with just a small movement of my hand
Fuckem all they're bitches inside a world of weak
I don't care about anyone else and see the world as full of weak people
Bitch niggas be afraid to speak
People who are afraid to speak up are weak and cowardly in my eyes
In this motherfucker right here
I am still representing the West Coast and standing my ground
Outlaw in this motherfucker right here
I am proud to be an outlaw and live life on my own terms
Outlaws in this motherfucker
My friends and I are outlaws and we don't follow the rules
At the bar you can catch me hands full of liquor
I enjoy drinking and partying, and you can always find me at the bar
Puffin on a sweet swisher, Like I'm the last one left
I am smoking a cigar and partying hard, like I am the last person still standing
I eat and sleep the worst shit, turfs and birth
I am fully dedicated to living the thug lifestyle, even if it means eating and sleeping in dangerous places
Me and my team super supreme putin in work
My friends and I are the best, and we are always working hard to achieve our goals
I'm passed out, drunk as a fuck, till it hurt
I am so intoxicated that I have passed out and can't feel anything
And I call earl screamin fuck the world
I am so fed up with the world that I am literally screaming and cursing
I got a bitch on the side wanna be my wife
I have a woman who wants to marry me, but I am not sure if I am ready for that kind of commitment
And wify beefin wanna know if she gonna see me tonight
My girlfriend is upset with me and wants to know if I will be coming home tonight
And i know it ain't right, but its the life I got
I know that my lifestyle is not ideal, but it's the only one I have
And thats until I see Yak
I won't stop living this way until I see my friend Yak, who has passed away
And thats until I see Pac
I won't stop living this way until I see Tupac, who has passed away
Young know I lost a troll somebody owed me down
I recently lost a friend and feel like someone owes me something for it
And if the world was a girl I'd stick my dick in the ground
I am so angry and fed up with the world that I would literally have sex with the ground if I could
Fuck the world
I am so angry and fed up with the world that I am cursing and swearing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOHNNY LEE JACKSON, KATARI T. COX, MALCOLM GREENIDGE, MUTAH W. BEALE, TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR, YAFEU FULA
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