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.
Panther Power
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't nothing but another calculated schemes
To get us locked up shot up back in chains
To deny us of the future rob our names
Kept my history of mystery but now I see
The American Dream wasn't meant for me
Cause lady liberty is a hypocrite she lied to me
Promised me freedom, education, equality
And now look at how dangerous you made me
Calling me a mad man cause I'm strong and bold
With this dump full of knowledge of the lies you told
Promised me emancipation in this new nation
All you ever gave my people was starvation
Fathers of our country never cared for me
They kept my ancestors shackled up in slavery
And Uncle Sam never did a damn thing for me
Except lie about the facts in my history
So now I'm sitting hear mad cause I'm unemployed
But the government's glad cause they enjoyed
When my people are down so they can screw us around
Time to change the government now panther power
Panther power
Panther power
Panther power
Coming straight that resides within
Go toe to toe with a panther and you just can't win
Suffered fame bats suppressed the rest
The rich get richer and the poor take less
The American Dream was an American nightmare
You kept my people down and refuse to fight fair
The Klu Klux Klan tried to keep us out
Besides drew they know no blacks allowed
With intimidation and segregation was a way for our freedom
But now were impatient
Blacks the other skin: dead or sell outs
Freedom, equality, then I'll yell out
"Don't you ever be ashamed of what you are
It's ya panther power that makes you a star"
Panther power
Panther power
Panther power
Panther power
My Mother never let me forget my history
Hoping I was set free chains never put on me
Wanted to be more than just free
Had to know the true facts about my history
I couldn't settle for being a statistic
Couldn't survive in this capitalistic
Government cause it was meant to hold us back
Using ignorant, drugs, to sneak attack
In my community, they killed the unity
But when I charged them, tried to claim immunity
I strike America like a case of heart disease
Panther power is running through my arteries
Try to stop oh boy you'll be clawed to death
Cause I'll be fighting for my freedom with my dying breath
Do you remember that is what I'm asking you?
You think you living free don't let me laugh at you
Open your eyes realize that you have been locked in chains
Said you wasn't civilized and stole your name
'Cause some time has passed seem you all forget
There ain't no liberty to you and me we all ain't free yet
Panther power
Panther power
Panther power
Panther power
As real as it seems the American Dream
Ain't nothing but another calculated schemes
To get us locked up shot up back in chains
To deny us of the future rob our names
Kept my history of mystery but now I see
The American Dream wasn't meant for me
Cause lady liberty is a hypocrite she lied to me
Promised me freedom, education, equality
Never gave me nothing but slavery
And now look at how dangerous you made me
Calling me a mad man cause I'm strong and bold
With this dump full of knowledge of the lies you told
Promise me emancipation indispute nation
All you gave my people was our patience
Fathers of our country never cared for me
They kept my answer shackled up in slavery
And Uncle Sam never did a dam thing for me
Except lie about the facts in my history
So now I'm sitting hear mad cause I'm unemployed
But the government's glad cause they enjoyed
When my people are down so they can screw us around
Time to change the government now panther power
Panther power
Panther power
Panther power
In the song "Panther Power" by 2Pac, the rapper addresses the issues faced by Black Americans and sheds light on how the American dream is nothing but a calculated scheme to suppress them. He talks about the hypocrisy of Lady Liberty, who promised freedom, education, and equality, but ended up giving nothing but slavery to Black Americans. Through the song, 2Pac emphasizes the need for change and urges the people to embrace their panther power, which can help them fight against oppression and inequality.
2Pac highlights the fact that the American Dream has always been a nightmare for Black Americans. Despite the promises of equality and freedom, Black Americans have faced segregation, intimidation, and discrimination. The song talks about the struggle for emancipation and how the government has always exploited Black Americans. 2Pac also emphasizes the need for education and the importance of knowing the true history and facts. He cites the example of his mother, who never let him forget his history and urged him to be more than just free.
Through "Panther Power," 2Pac promotes the power of unity and activism. He urges people to open their eyes and realize the chains they have been locked in. The song emphasizes the importance of embracing one's identity and not being ashamed of who they are. 2Pac calls for change in the government and emphasizes that it is time to use the panther power to fight against oppression and inequality.
Line by Line Meaning
As real as it seems the American Dream
The idea of the American Dream appears to be genuine, but it is just another tactic to control us.
Ain't nothing but another calculated schemes
It is a fabricated notion designed to manipulate us.
To get us locked up shot up back in chains
It is an attempt to imprison or kill us, and return us to slavery.
To deny us of the future rob our names
It aims to strip us of our identity and prevent us from having success in the future.
Kept my history of mystery but now I see
My history was hidden from me, but I can finally comprehend its significance.
The American Dream wasn't meant for me
The American Dream was never intended for my people.
Cause lady liberty is a hypocrite she lied to me
Lady Liberty, the symbol of American freedom, is dishonest and betrayed me.
Promised me freedom, education, equality
She promised me these things, but did not deliver on her promise.
Never gave me nothing but slavery
Instead, she gave me slavery and oppression.
And now look at how dangerous you made me
Because of this oppression and injustice, I am now perceived as a threat.
Calling me a mad man cause I'm strong and bold
They label me as crazy because I possess strength and courage.
With this dump full of knowledge of the lies you told
I possess knowledge of the deceitful propaganda and falsehoods used to control us.
Promised me emancipation in this new nation
They promised me freedom in this new country.
All you ever gave my people was starvation
Instead, they subjected us to poverty and deprivation.
Fathers of our country never cared for me
The founders of America did not care about the well-being of my people.
They kept my ancestors shackled up in slavery
They kept my ancestors enslaved and oppressed.
And Uncle Sam never did a damn thing for me
The government never did anything to help me or my people.
Except lie about the facts in my history
They distorted the truth about my people's history.
So now I'm sitting hear mad cause I'm unemployed
I am angry and frustrated because I am jobless.
But the government's glad cause they enjoyed
The government is content with our plight because it benefits them.
When my people are down so they can screw us around
They take advantage of our struggles to further oppress us.
Time to change the government now panther power
It is time to overhaul the government and embrace radical political power.
Coming straight that resides within
We possess an innate strength and power within us.
Go toe to toe with a panther and you just can't win
If you try to fight us, you will not succeed; we are too strong.
Suffered fame bats suppressed the rest
A few individuals prosper while the rest suffer in poverty and obscurity.
The rich get richer and the poor take less
The wealth gap continues to widen, and the poor receive fewer benefits.
The American Dream was an American nightmare
The American Dream was a false ideal that caused us great suffering.
You kept my people down and refuse to fight fair
You have oppressed my people and refuse to rectify the situation.
The Klu Klux Klan tried to keep us out
The KKK tried to exclude us from society through intimidation and discrimination.
Besides drew they know no blacks allowed
They only permitted mixed-race individuals; black people were not welcome.
With intimidation and segregation was a way for our freedom
Intimidation and segregation were employed in an attempt to limit our rights and freedoms.
But now were impatient
We are no longer willing to wait for our freedom; we demand it now.
Blacks the other skin: dead or sell outs
Black people are marginalized and viewed as either criminals or conformists.
Freedom, equality, then I'll yell out
When we achieve freedom and equality, we will celebrate and proclaim our success.
"Don't you ever be ashamed of what you are
Do not feel shame for who you are.
It's ya panther power that makes you a star"
Your strength and power make you extraordinary.
My Mother never let me forget my history
My mother taught me the importance of understanding my people's history.
Hoping I was set free chains never put on me
She hoped that I would not experience the chains of slavery.
Wanted to be more than just free
She wanted me to have greater opportunities and prosperity than just being free.
Had to know the true facts about my history
It was crucial for me to comprehend the reality of my people's past.
I couldn't settle for being a statistic
I refused to become just another statistic of oppression and marginalization.
Couldn't survive in this capitalistic
I could not thrive in a society that values capitalism over humanity.
Government cause it was meant to hold us back
The government was designed to oppress us.
Using ignorant, drugs, to sneak attack
They use ignorance and drugs to attack and control us.
In my community, they killed the unity
In my community, they destroyed our sense of solidarity.
But when I charged them, tried to claim immunity
When I fought back, they attempted to evade responsibility.
I strike America like a case of heart disease
I will attack America and cause it pain, like a heart disease.
Panther power is running through my arteries
The strength and power of my people runs through my veins.
Try to stop oh boy you'll be clawed to death
If you attempt to stop me, I will fight back fiercely and ferociously.
Cause I'll be fighting for my freedom with my dying breath
I will fight for my freedom and the freedom of my people until my last breath.
Do you remember that is what I'm asking you?
Do you remember the sacrifice and struggle of my people?
You think you living free don't let me laugh at you
Do not be deceived; we are not truly free.
Open your eyes realize that you have been locked in chains
You must comprehend that you are still oppressed and marginalized.
Said you wasn't civilized and stole your name
They stole our culture and identity and claimed we were not civilized.
'Cause some time has passed seem you all forget
We have been forgotten over time.
There ain't no liberty to you and me we all ain't free yet
We still do not have true freedom or liberty, despite what they claim.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARK DORADO, JIMI C. DRIGHT, TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR, RAYMOND JR. TYSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@darlenebimbai2145
Tupac was so ahead of his time. This song is almost 30 years old and still speaks on what's going on today in our society. I miss him so much ;(
@godthoth2609
@Technews yes but kept doing till 96 when he went underground hiding dummy not in his era in his era they was doing gangsta rap to mislead the youth. Only nas wu tang clan and some others where rapping like this. 2pac and the wutang where most influential in the 90s
@evygrany8592
@OfficialBien. Bravo stop insulting people poor guy
@Rdla-xs3yp
Technews but nobody did it on the grand scale pac did it on is the difference my man.
@Rdla-xs3yp
And also nobody could put it together as articulate as pac did maybe a handful of rappers but damn sure not many.
@BryanHernandez-nz6fm
2022 is around the corner and this still holds true 😞
@jimbeam2299
Can’t believe people try and say he couldn’t spit
One of the greatest to ever grace the mic
@kenankk8613
🐐
@omlet1231
Who said that. Everyone says he is amazing.
@ceez8731
East Coast rappers @@omlet1231