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 CoastβWest 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 TΓΊpac Amaru II, the descendant of the last Incan ruler, TΓΊpac 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.
Outro
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothin' but a gangsta, no (say what? Say what?)
Nothin' but a gangsta, no, no (where my nigga 2Pac at?)
Nothin' but a gangsta, no (what's up nigga?) (Say what? Say what?)
Nothin' but a gangsta, no, no (say what? Say what?)
Nothin' but a gangsta, no (say what? Say what?) (Yeah)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, no (throw it up, throw it up)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, no (come on, come on) (throw it up)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, yeah (say that shit)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, yeah (say that shit)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, come on (say that shit)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, uh (party)
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, party
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, party
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, party
The lyrics to 2Pac's song "Outro" are repetitive and seem to celebrate the gangsta lifestyle. The chorus repeats the phrase "Nothin' but a gangsta" several times, along with calls to throw up gang signs and have a party. However, looking more closely at the song, it seems clear that 2Pac is aware of the dangers and consequences of living the gangsta life.
Throughout the song, he references the "struggle," and the fact that "niggas gots to do what they gotta do." He acknowledges that being a gangsta is not easy, and that there are real risks involved. However, he also acknowledges the sense of community and loyalty that comes with being part of a gang, as well as the importance of living life on your own terms, regardless of what society expects of you. Ultimately, he seems to be saying that living as a gangsta is a choice that some people make, and while it may not be the safest or most admirable choice, it is a valid one that should be respected.
In summary, the lyrics to "Outro" celebrate the gangsta lifestyle, but also acknowledge its pitfalls and dangers. 2Pac seems to be saying that being a gangsta is a choice that some people make, and while it may not be the most socially acceptable choice, it is one that should be respected.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothin' but a gangsta, nothin'
I am simply and only a gangsta, nothing else.
Nothin' but a gangsta, no (say what? Say what?)
I am only a gangsta, can't you hear me?
Nothin' but a gangsta, no, no (where my nigga 2Pac at?)
I am just a gangsta, but where is my brother 2Pac?
Nothin' but a gangsta, no (what's up nigga?) (Say what? Say what?)
I am nothing but a gangsta, what's up my brother? Can you hear me?
Nothin' but a gangsta, no, no (say what? Say what?)
I am only a gangsta, can you hear me?
Nothin' but a gangsta, no (say what? Say what?) (Yeah)
I am simply a gangsta, can you hear me? Yeah.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, no (throw it up, throw it up)
What we have here is simply a gangsta, let's throw it up.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, no (come on, come on) (throw it up)
All we have here is a gangsta, come on let's throw it up.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, no (throw it up) (say that shit)
What we have here is simply a gangsta, let's throw it up and say that shit.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, yeah (say that shit)
What we have here is simply a gangsta, say that shit.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, yeah (say that shit)
What we have here is just a gangsta, say that shit.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, come on (say that shit)
What we have here is just a gangsta, come on and say that shit.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, uh (party)
What we have here is just a gangsta, let's party.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, party
What we have here is just a gangsta, let's party.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, party
What we have here is just a gangsta, let's party.
It ain't nothin' but a gangsta, party
What we have here is just a gangsta, let's party.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Calvin Cordozar Broadus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S133py π€
I woke up feelin like this today π
King Fargo
Niggas was heated πππ
Poppalarge The Don
He woke up with violence ππ
travis allen
Lmao he was mad as hell
Raj Singh
Real hate and anger.
NiccolΓ² Machiavelli
Like only pac and deathrow could bring it π₯
Corona Virus
Nigga was mad as hell
Kovelli
Johnny j actually got pissed when they did the session π
Cindy C
lmao he just kept going π€£π€£π€£
ππ‘πͺπππ
We motherfucking thug life riders, Westside till we die!