Rebel of the Underground
2Pac Lyrics

Rebel, rebel, rebel
There's no mistaking it, I'm a rebel

Rebel, rebel
I'm a rebel, and nothing's going to change that

They just can't stand the reign, or the occasional pain
People don't like when I take charge, or when I make them face uncomfortable truths

From a man like me, who goes against the grain
I don't follow the status quo, I do things differently

Sometimes I do it in vain, so with a little bass and treble
Sometimes I feel like my rebellion is pointless, but music gives me the strength to keep going

Hey Mister! It's time for me to explain that I'm the rebel
Listen up, I need you to understand that I am a rebel

Cold as the devil
I'm tough and unafraid, like a devil

Straight from the underground, the rebel, a lower level
I come from the streets and people who are overlooked or ignored, but I am still a rebel

They came to see the maniac psychopath
People expect me to be crazy and unstable

The critics heard of me, and the aftermath
The critics have heard about me and the consequences of my actions

I don't give a damn and it shows
I don't care what people think of me, and that's clear in my actions

And when I do a stage show I wear street clothes
I don't dress like a pop star when I perform, I stay true to my roots

So they all know me
People recognize that I am authentic and true to myself

The lyrical lunatic, the maniac emcee
I am known for my intense and often wild lyrical style

I give a shout out to your homies
I show respect to the people who support me

And maybe then, the critics'll leave your boy alone, G
If I am nice to my fans, maybe the critics will back off

On the streets or on TV
No matter where I am, I'm still a rebel

It just don't pay to be, a truth telling MC
Being honest and speaking the truth is not always rewarded in the music industry

They won't be happy till I'm banned
Some people don't want me to succeed and will work to stop me

The most dangerous weapon: an educated black man
Being intelligent and black is seen as a threat to some people

So point blank in your face, pump up the bass
I am direct and confrontational, and my music has a strong beat

And join the human race
I want my listeners to join me in standing up for what we believe in

I throw peace to the Bay
I show love and respect to the Bay Area

Cause from the Jungle to Oaktown, they backin' me up all the way
People in the Bay Area support me and my music

You know you gotta love the sound
My music is worth loving and appreciating

Now I'm face to face with the devils
I confront the people who wish to hold me back

Cause they breeding more rebels than the whole damn ghetto
The system is creating more people like me, who won't be held down

And police brutality
I speak out against police violence and oppression

Shit it put you in the nip and call it technicality
Police find ways to use the law to their advantage and oppress people

So you reap what you sow
The police will face the consequences of their actions

So reap the wrath of the rebel, jacking em up once mo'
I will fight back against the police and those who oppress me

Now the fox is in the hen house, creeping up on your daughter
I am a threat to those in power, and they fear me

While you sleep I got her sneaking out
I subvert authority and encourage others to do the same

Tupac ain't nothing nice
I am not a nice guy, I am a rebel who will not be silenced

I'll be nothing how I wanna, and doing what I'm gonna
I will always be true to myself and my beliefs, no matter what others say

Now I'm up to no good
I am a troublemaker, and I embrace that

The mastermind of mischief moving more than most could
I am a creative and intelligent troublemaker who is always plotting

So sit and slip into the sound
Relax and enjoy the music

Peep the rebel, the rebel of the underground
Pay attention to the message and the source of the music

They say they hate me, they wanna hold me down
Some people despise me and want to silence me

I guess they scared of the rebel, the rebel of the underground
People fear me because I am a powerful and unrelenting rebel

But I never let it get me
I refuse to be broken by those who hate me

I just make another record bout the punks trying to sweat me
I turn my frustration into music, calling out those who try to intimidate me

In fact, they trying to keep me out
My critics are actively working against me

Try to censor what I say
They are trying to limit my speech and expression

Cause they don't like what I'm talking bout
They dislike the message behind my music

So what's wrong with the media today?
I question the motives of the media and their attempts to silence me

Got brothers selling out cause they greedy to get paid
Other artists are willing to compromise their values for money

But me, I'm coming from the soul
I am true to myself and my experiences

And if it don't go gold, my story still getting told
Even if my music doesn't sell as much, my message will still be heard

And that way they can't stop me
No matter what the critics do, they can't silence me completely

And if it sells a couple of copies, the punks'll try to copy
If my music is successful, other artists will try to copy it

It's sloppy, don't even try to
They won't be able to match my style

I'm a slave to the rhythm, and I'm about to fly through
I am a musician at heart, constantly chasing my dreams

So yo to the people in the ghetto
A shout-out to those facing hardship and struggle

When ya hear the bass flow, go ahead and let go
When the music hits, let your worries fade and enjoy the moment

Now everybody wanna gang bang
People are attracted to violence and danger

They talking street slang, but the punks still can't hang
They try to act tough, but they can't handle the reality of the streets

They making records bout violence
Other artists glorify violence in their music

But when it comes to the real, some brothers go silent
When faced with real danger, some people are too scared to act

It kinda make you wanna think about
It's worth taking a closer look at these issues

That ya gotta do some selling out, just to get your record out
Some artists are forced to compromise their values to get their music heard

But 2Pacalpyse is straight down
I am always true to myself and my message

So feel the wrath of the rebel. the rebel of the underground
My music is full of passion and anger, representing the rebellious spirit of the streets