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.
My Block
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You either working or you slanging cocaine on my block
You had to hustle, cause that's how we was raised on my block
And you stayed on your hop until you made you a knot
On my block, to hang out was the thing back then
And even when you left out, you came back in
To my block, from Holloway, Bellfort, to Scott
Reed Road to Phlox, we know the spots
On yo' block you prolly bred a Fat Pat or 2Pac
Or Big Pun, or B.I., ya homeboys from knee, high
And even when it was storming outside, that nigga'd be by
That's me, dogg, on my block, I ain't have to play the big shot
Niggas knew me back when I was stealing beers from Shamrock
And my nickname was Creepy, if Black June could see me
He'd be tripping, and I'd bet he still try to tease me
My block, where everything is everything for sheezy
My block, we probably done it all homey believe me
My block, we made the impossible look easy, for sheezy
My block, I'd never leave my block, my niggas need me
On my block, we duck the nigga, haters and the cops
Fuck a hotrod, we race Impalas, chromed, out
On my block, it ain't no different than the next block
Ya get drunk and pass out, and they back ya to the house
And when you wake up on the couch you going right back at it
On my block when ya that fucked up they laugh at it
On my block, it's just another day in the heart
Of the Southside of Houston Texas, making your mark
On my block, we're cuing all the time, playing dominoes
Keep the Swishers sweet down until my Mama goes
Back inside ,, then we can fire
Pass it around a few times to get high
My block, where everything is everything for sheezy
My block, we probably done it all homey believe me
My block, we made the impossible look easy, for sheezy
My block, I'd never leave my block, my niggas need me
My block, where everything is everything for sheezy
My block, we probably done it all homey believe me
My block, we made the impossible look easy, for sheezy
My block, I'd never leave my block, my niggas need me
On my block, everybody business ain't ya business
What's going on in this house is staying here, comprende?
On my block, ya had to have that understanding
Cause if ya told Ms. Mattie, she went and told Gladys
And once ya mama got it, it was all on the wire
And when the word got back, they set yo' ass on fire
On my block, we got some 'Nam vets shell, shocked
Who never quite got right, now they inhale rocks
On my block, , it's like the world don't exist
We stay confined to this small little section we living in
Oh my block, I wouldn't trade it for the world
Cause I love these ghetto boys and girls
Born and raised on my block
In "My Block," 2Pac reflects on his upbringing and experiences living in the Southside of Houston, Texas. He paints a vivid picture of the sights and sounds on his block and the struggles of everyday life. He acknowledges that hustling is a way of life, but also celebrates the camaraderie amongst friends and family.
The lyrics describe the panorama of activities that happen on his block, from the chaos of drug dealing to the simple pleasures of playing dominoes and smoking weed. He emphasizes the sense of community and shared history that exists on his block, highlighting the fact that it's not just a place to live but also a part of his identity.
Ultimately, the song is a tribute to the resilience of people who grow up in tough circumstances and the importance of staying connected to one's roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday it's been the same old thang on my block
Every day on my block is characterized by the same old routine.
You either working or you slanging cocaine on my block
Residents on my block either work honestly or engage in illegal activities such as selling cocaine.
You had to hustle, cause that's how we was raised on my block
Growing up on my block, one had to engage in various activities to survive.
And you stayed on your hop until you made you a knot
One had to work hard until they earned a stable income.
On my block, to hang out was the thing back then
Socializing with peers on my block was a common activity back then.
And even when you left out, you came back in
People often come back to my block even after leaving.
Smoke weed and rocks, drink all the blue dots
People indulged in illegal substances such as marijuana and cocaine while drinking blue-colored soda.
On yo' block you prolly bred a Fat Pat or 2Pac
It's possible that your block produced notable rappers such as Fat Pat or 2Pac.
And my nickname was Creepy, if Black June could see me
If Black June, a friend from back then, saw me, he would likely find my current nickname amusing or strange.
Ya get drunk and pass out, and they back ya to the house
When one gets drunk, others will often escort them back home.
On my block, it's just another day in the heart
For those who reside on my block, every day is typical and ordinary.
Of the Southside of Houston Texas, making your mark
Living on the Southside of Houston is a distinctive aspect of life on my block.
On my block, we're cuing all the time, playing dominoes
Playing dominoes is a popular activity on my block.
Keep the Swishers sweet down until my Mama goes
People on my block will not smoke marijuana until a certain neighbor, referred to as 'Mama,' is no longer present.
On my block, everybody business ain't ya business
Not all residents on my block have publicized their business to others.
What's going on in this house is staying here, comprende?
The activities taking place inside a house on my block will remain private and undisclosed.
Cause if ya told Ms. Mattie, she went and told Gladys
If one tells Ms. Mattie anything, it will likely result in the information being spread to others, such as Gladys.
And once ya mama got it, it was all on the wire
If one's mother learned of something, it would quickly spread to others throughout the neighborhood.
On my block, , it's like the world don't exist
Life on my block often feels detached from life beyond its borders.
We stay confined to this small little section we living in
Residents of my block rarely venture outside of their immediate area.
Born and raised on my block
Many people, myself included, were born and raised on my block.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRAD JORDAN, CHARLES MANN, CHARLES M. MANN, DONNY HATHAWAY, LEE STONE, NASHIEM MYRICK, ROBERTA FLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@krazy93650
You don’t just hear pacs music with your ears you feel it with your heart !!
@lavendertahruecii7644
Exactly 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💯💯💯
@bmwjarvo
with your soul
@sandrinetea2886
exactly son true , that make you feel good , better , that remind you that you're a men
@tyresecoady5556
This is why I say pac is the best rapper
@katelynkalidascope833
I luv you . pretty much couldn't of better
@abdobrouk9314
I'm almost 19. Had to face anxiety, depression and pain during last couple of years. I was put in a big pressure because I needed to study hard to feed my parents and save them from poverty. I had nobody by my side but this man. Pac literally was the brother that my mom didn't give birth to. He was the redemption and the relief. For that, I want to thank you dearly for helping me go through the sh*t I was living. It's 2022 and your poetic rhymes still hit deeper and deeper. Love you, Pac. I hope you're in a better place. Rest in heaven ❤️
@mavphotography9313
💪🏾💪🏾
@tlakatlaka194
😢❤
@stockstock6805
Wow, ur comment was real deep and heart felt bro. May God keep blessing you and your family with success, joy, peace and happiness 🙏