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.
Playa Cardz Right
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To beat them motherfuckers in they head to get them
Off of them, Haha
Another shady mission, tricks, like watchin' pictures in hazy vision
Tonight is love makin', take you any place you wish
Today we're satisfied, yesterday we've stolen kisses
Blind insanity, perfect pictures of me and my family
If I have kids, will I live to see them grow?
Though I don't know, I live the life of a thug nigga
Until the day I go, no broken promises
A sacred bond broken, I know I die alone
But yet and still I'm hopin'
Visions of prisons, maybe I'll be forgiven
I know it's better in heaven cause bein' here ain't livin'
Close my eyes and see nothing but pain, the world is crazy, still
Lookin' for a queen to plant seeds and have babies
Maybe I'll be the one or just maybe I'm lost
You'll never know being cautious, if you play your cards right
Play your cards right baby, haha, play your cards right
Play your cards right girl, take ya time
Take your time baby, be patient
Just be patient baby, don't rush
Don't you rush it girl
Uh huh, Luda
You ain't gotta do that baby
It's not the hand that you're dealt but how you playin' your cards
You got a brother feelin' mellow like a Cuban cigar
You truly a star, we'll take the days one at a time
I think we make the perfect pair, cause you my one of a kind
I say we make a full house, live out the family dreams
No jokers, no jacks, just kings and queens
And we should leave the clubs alone and take trips to islands
Give you all of my heart and flood your hands with diamonds
No more livin' like a playa, stop chasin' the hoes
I never put you in a shuffle, use my ace in the hole
I live a life full of riches we got places to go
So no bluffin', no rushin', just takin' it slow
Let your man do the hustling while you lay in the shade
I'll throw a deuce to the haters, call a spade a spade
And let you know I'll never hurt you, baby girl
You made me hurry up and wait and I know patience is a virtue
Haha, play your cards right baby
Play your cards right baby, haha, play your cards right
Play your cards right girl, take ya time
Take your time baby, be patient
Just be patient baby, don't rush
Don't you rush it girl
You're the one, the only one heaven sent for me
Baby, I'm hopin' that you understand, that you still believe
That I got the special times, on my mind, just hopin' that you see
Baby that the thug in me is lovin' you, that this is meant to be
Girl I'll never leave you alone
You're the one, the only one heaven sent for me
Baby, I'm hopin' that you understand, that you still believe
That I got the special times, on my mind, just hopin' that you see
Baby that the thug in me is lovin' you, that this is meant to be
Girl I'll never leave you alone
Play your cards right baby
Play your cards right girl, just play your cards
Take your time baby, play your cards right
Just be patient baby, take your time, girl
Don't you rush it girl
Rush it girl, hahaha
Play your cards right baby, be patient
Play your cards right girl, play your cards right
Take your time baby, yeah
Just be patient baby
Don't you rush it girl
Hahah
You know
I know how it is sometimes
I know exactly what you talking about
Mothafuckers be havin' a one track mind
That liquor be makin' a mothafucker just straight up stone cold thuggin
It's ok, we don't know no better sometimes, haha
You gotta slow down homie
We learn that
Playa cardz right
Yeah hahaha
Especially them niggas like Kastro
Kastro is a straight gorilla pimp
My homeboy I-20 is just like that man
And that nigga fuckin' uh, Yaki Kadafi, straight gorilla pimp
Lil' Fate the same way
Niggas just be takin' it, they don't give a fuck. Big what?
Exactly
Them niggas is just gorilla pimps
Haha, that's Jayo for ya
E.D.I. Mean
Hahaha, Haaaaa
That nigga done slow down huh
Please slow it down
He used to be a super gorilla pimp
Dolla Boy, Haha. Disturbin tha Peace, baby
We can take it slow sometimes man
Yeah, yeah
Woooo, play your cards right
Play your cards right
The lyrics of "Playa Cardz Right" are about trying to find true love while navigating the risks and pitfalls of life. The song discusses the challenges of being a "thug nigga," living a life full of broken promises, and the possibility of going to prison. It also touches on the importance of patience and taking things slow in relationships, instead of rushing into things. The chorus encourages the listener to play their cards right, which means being cautious, taking their time, and making smart decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
This going out to all the females that be having
Dedicated to all the women who have to deal with men who won't leave them alone
To beat them motherfuckers in they head to get them
To struggle to get rid of unwanted attention from men
Another shady mission, tricks, like watchin' pictures in hazy vision
Dealing with difficult situations that seem confusing and uncertain
Tonight is love makin', take you any place you wish
Tonight is about enjoying each other's company and being intimate wherever you want
Today we're satisfied, yesterday we've stolen kisses
Happy with the present moment, but reflecting on the past moments of excitement and naughtiness
Blind insanity, perfect pictures of me and my family
Crazy thoughts and ideas, imagining ideal moments with loved ones
Not understanding the destiny, had they planned for me?
Unsure of one's own fate and questioning if it was destined or chosen
If I have kids, will I live to see them grow?
Worries and doubts about surviving long enough to see one's children grow up
Though I don't know, I live the life of a thug nigga
Living life as a tough person with a rough exterior
Until the day I go, no broken promises
Keeping one's promises and staying true to one's word until death
A sacred bond broken, I know I die alone
Knowing that even though one may have close relationships, death is a solitary journey
But yet and still I'm hopin'
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, still maintaining hope for the future
Visions of prisons, maybe I'll be forgiven
Thoughts of being imprisoned and possibly being able to seek forgiveness for one's past mistakes
I know it's better in heaven cause bein' here ain't livin'
Believing that life after death is better than the struggles and hardships of life on earth
Close my eyes and see nothing but pain, the world is crazy, still
Recognizing the pain and chaos in the world and feeling overwhelmed by it all
Lookin' for a queen to plant seeds and have babies
Searching for a partner to start a family with and build a future together
Maybe I'll be the one or just maybe I'm lost
Contemplating one's own identity and whether or not they are meant for a particular role in life
You'll never know being cautious, if you play your cards right
Encouraging caution and careful choices in decision-making
Play your cards right baby, haha, play your cards right
Advocating for smart decision-making and strategic planning
Play your cards right girl, take ya time
Take time to make the right choices and don't rush into anything
Take your time baby, be patient
Encouraging patience and taking time to make the right choices
Just be patient baby, don't rush
Urging patience and caution in decision-making
Don't you rush it girl
Implying that rushing things could lead to negative consequences
You ain't gotta do that baby
Assuring someone that they don't have to work too hard to impress or please others
It's not the hand that you're dealt but how you playin' your cards
Emphasizing that it's not the circumstances you face, but how you handle them that matters
You got a brother feelin' mellow like a Cuban cigar
Feeling relaxed and content like smoking a high-quality cigar
You truly a star, we'll take the days one at a time
Complimenting someone and acknowledging that life should be lived one day at a time
I think we make the perfect pair, cause you my one of a kind
Expressing love and affection, and acknowledging someone's uniqueness
I say we make a full house, live out the family dreams
Creating a vision of a complete and happy family with shared dreams and goals
No jokers, no jacks, just kings and queens
Using a poker reference to emphasize the idea of royalty and a powerful family
And we should leave the clubs alone and take trips to islands
Suggesting spending time in more relaxing and romantic settings rather than a club scene
Give you all of my heart and flood your hands with diamonds
Showing love with gifts and promises of commitment
No more livin' like a playa, stop chasin' the hoes
Acknowledging a change in lifestyle, no longer pursuing casual sexual relationships
I never put you in a shuffle, use my ace in the hole
Promising to always put effort into the relationship and never treating the other person as an afterthought
I live a life full of riches we got places to go
Having a rich and fulfilling life with exciting future plans
So no bluffin', no rushin', just takin' it slow
Avoiding deceitful behavior and impatience, and instead taking things slow
Let your man do the hustling while you lay in the shade
Allowing the man to take on more responsibility while the other person relaxes and enjoys life
I'll throw a deuce to the haters, call a spade a spade
Ignoring negativity and being honest and straightforward with others
And let you know I'll never hurt you, baby girl
Reassuring the other person of love and loyalty
You made me hurry up and wait and I know patience is a virtue
Acknowledging the other person's influence on one's patience and expressing admiration for that virtue
You're the one, the only one heaven sent for me
Believing that the other person is meant to be together with them, as if sent by fate or a higher power
Baby, I'm hopin' that you understand, that you still believe
Expressing hope that the other person believes in their love and relationship
That I got the special times, on my mind, just hopin' that you see
Thinking of special moments and experiences, and hoping the other person feels the same way
Baby that the thug in me is lovin' you, that this is meant to be
Expressing love and affection despite a rough exterior or past mistakes
Girl I'll never leave you alone
Promising to always be there for the other person
Please slow it down
Asking for a slower pace in life and relationships to avoid mistakes or problems
Lyrics © STREETROPICAL MEDIA, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL J. CLERVOIX, JOHNNY LEE JACKSON, CHRISTOPHER BRIAN BRIDGES, TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR, YAFEU FULA, TYRUSS GERALD HIMES, KEON BRYCE, MAURICE S. HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mrtitowayz
Who's Here 15 Years Later? This Still A Great Album. I Remember The Access Granted On BET For This Video. Rip Afeni And 2Pac. 🐐🐐🐐🔥🔥🔥
@morganmorgan884
❤❤❤❤
@ollynehring470
2pac killed the verse ,talk about energy
@delorestaylor3910
God blessed in the life he would have live forever😊😅😮❤keep posted him in your heart amen .
@delorestaylor3910
Godgeace in mercy 😊😮😢 beall u an be blessed and safe though out the day
@DripNasty-gk8mw
Homicide
@adelepresley7121
RIP to his mother. Such a beautiful tribute to include her.
@zacharytunson3673
Yes
@TraeSonYbc24
🙏🏾💎
@Gemgirl05
Very Beautiful😘💖