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.
Soon As I Get Home
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon as I get home
Dear baby, it's me again, stuck inside this mad pen
Tryin' to pay my debt for all my sins, these is penitentiary times
Be so heavy on my mind, at times, it's like I'm livin' just to die
I'm livin' in hell, stuck in my jail cell
Stranded in the county jail, waitin' for my chance to post bail
I wanna be paid in large stacks and mash in fast Jags
I blast and wonder how long will I last
My memories fade when I'm intoxicated
Bustas is shady
So I'm dumpin' on cowards crazy whenever faded
I know I said it all before but now I mean it
Visions of me and you ballin', so crystal clear, I see it
Even though you mad at me, you'll be glad to see the strategy
Of makin' these chips come so easily
I max out in the morning, baby life is good
Me and you against the whole hood
Soon as I come home
Garb my strap, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Go get the money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I come home
Sittin' here lookin' at pictures of me and you livin'
But now you out in the world while I'm twisted in prison
Love letters come daily, words of affection
You send me money and nude pictures, beggin' for some sex
Stay wide open, keep your eyes peeled
And my advice is keep it it real or you could die squealin'
Plus I never have to worry about a visit
'Cause you're there daily, guards tryin' to get your number
You don't dare tell me, tongue kissin' steady humpin'
Tryin' to touch you somethin' 'fore the C.O. in the corner jump in
Frontin', late nights reminiscin'
Everybody's quiet, I think somethin's in the air
Prepare for the riot, it's padlocks in my socks
Steel from the bed springs, I touch 'em with thug love
And then let they heads ring, started a war but now I'm gone
Release me to the streets in the morning
It's on soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Since you've been gone
My whole life's been like a game of see-Low
Take and pick like they keep a see-note
Fillin' my dreams like Nino Brown
The whole town be shook up and me and mama survivin'
Depends on how many rocks, the young nigga cook up
Narcotics got drastic, seen 'em niggas you blated
Wantin' me in a casket on the grind coppin' plastic
Yeah, nigga I heard little Moo gave the word
You get parol on the third, it's all out we just heard
We out here frontin', still here but all about nothin'
My double o's what I'm wantin' and I'm tryin' to see somethin'
That we ain't never had luxury life results, livin' bad
Tricks of the trade, shit that should've been taught by dad
But learned through the crew, lessons between me and you
And once we lock this shit down, it ain't a thing they could do
Meanwhile, I stay waitin' by the phone
Hopin' I get the call, tellin' a nigga that you home
What?
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Let's get my money out the safe
It's time to turn the streets into a war zone
Soon as I get home
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Go get my money out the safe
The lyrics of “Soon as I Get Home” by 2Pac describes the struggles of being incarcerated and the longing to reunite with loved ones. The song starts with 2Pac speaking to his “baby” and acknowledging his mistakes that led him to prison. The idea of “penitentiary times” is illustrated in the lines “These is penitentiary times / Be so heavy on my mind, at times, it's like I'm livin' just to die.” 2Pac expresses his frustration with his current situation of being “stuck in [his] jail cell” and waiting for his bail to be posted. He then mentions his desire to earn large sums of money and drive fast cars despite the risks involved.
2Pac also touches upon his relationship with his partner, who he refers to as “you” throughout the song. Despite being apart, he can visualize their future together and the financial success that they will achieve. He acknowledges the sacrifices his partner makes for him, sending money and pictures, and also giving encouragement to keep his eye on the prize. There is also an intimate moment described in the song where 2Pac speaks about his partner’s daily visits to the prison.
The last part of the song is about 2Pac’s release from prison and his plan to seek out his enemies and get his money from the safe. This part of the song is about seeking revenge and turning the streets into a warzone, which showcases the gritty reality of 2Pac’s lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Soon as I get home
As soon as I am released from prison
Dear baby, it's me again, stuck inside this mad pen
Writing a letter to my baby while I'm in prison
Tryin' to pay my debt for all my sins, these is penitentiary times
Serving time in jail to atone for my past wrongdoings
Be so heavy on my mind, at times, it's like I'm livin' just to die
Punishment and guilt make it hard to live my life
I'm livin' in hell, stuck in my jail cell
Prison is a terrible place to live
Stranded in the county jail, waitin' for my chance to post bail
Waiting for bail so I can leave the county jail
I wanna be paid in large stacks and mash in fast Jags
I want to make a lot of money and drive fast cars
I blast and wonder how long will I last
I fear for my life every time I use violence
My memories fade when I'm intoxicated
I forget things when I'm drunk
Bustas is shady
People can't be trusted
So I'm dumpin' on cowards crazy whenever faded
I shoot at my enemies when I'm drunk
I know I said it all before but now I mean it
I've made promises before, but this time I'm serious
Visions of me and you ballin', so crystal clear, I see it
I have vivid dreams of us being successful together
Even though you mad at me, you'll be glad to see the strategy
You may be angry with me, but you'll be happy with the results of my plan
Of makin' these chips come so easily
Earning money is easier than we thought
I max out in the morning, baby life is good
I'm living my best life in the morning
Me and you against the whole hood
We are a team, and we can handle anything together
Garb my strap, locate my comrades
Get my gun and find my friends
Let's get my enemies not knowin' I'm comin' back
Surprise my enemies by attacking them when they least expect it
Go get the money out the safe
Retrieve the money we stored in a safe
Since you've been gone
Ever since you left me
My whole life's been like a game of see-Low
My life has been uncertain and unpredictable
Take and pick like they keep a see-note
People take advantage of me like I'm an easy target
Fillin' my dreams like Nino Brown
I dream of becoming as successful as Nino Brown
The whole town be shook up and me and mama survivin'
Everyone is scared, but my mother and I are tough
Depends on how many rocks, the young nigga cook up
The amount of drugs I produce determines how well we can survive
Narcotics got drastic, seen 'em niggas you blated
Policemen are becoming more aggressive, and I have seen people get arrested
Wantin' me in a casket on the grind coppin' plastic
People want to kill me for selling drugs
Yeah, nigga I heard little Moo gave the word
I heard that my friend Little Moo gave orders for our plan
You get parol on the third, it's all out we just heard
I heard that you will be released from parole on the third day of the month
We out here frontin', still here but all about nothin'
Everyone is pretending to be wealthy, but in reality, we have nothing
My double o's what I'm wantin' and I'm tryin' to see somethin'
I want to earn a lot of money, and I'm hoping to achieve something by doing so
That we ain't never had luxury life results, livin' bad
We want to achieve success and live a luxurious life because we've always been poor
Tricks of the trade, shit that should've been taught by dad
I learned how to sell drugs from other people because my father didn't teach me anything
But learned through the crew, lessons between me and you
I learned from my friends, and I want to share what I know with you
And once we lock this shit down, it ain't a thing they could do
Once we succeed, nobody can stop us
Meanwhile, I stay waitin' by the phone
In the meantime, I wait for your call
Hopin' I get the call, tellin' a nigga that you home
I hope that you will call me and tell me that you have arrived home safely
Padlocks in my socks, steel from the bed springs
I have hidden weapons in my socks and stolen metal from the bed
I touch 'em with thug love, and then let they heads ring
I use violence to hurt my enemies
Started a war but now I'm gone
I started a fight but had to leave before it was over
Release me to the streets in the morning
Let me go back to the streets tomorrow
Grab my gats, locate my comrades
Take my guns and find my friends
Let's get my money out the safe
Let's retrieve the money I stored in the safe
Lyrics © Birth Control Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, MIKE MESZY PUBLISHING, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Tupac Amaru Shakur, Yafeu Fula, Alex Landy Hill, Quincy Delight III Jones, Michael Marshall, Marcus Arnett Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Agent Bosconian
on So Many Tears - Live
I fear only God and no human being
Even in the face of danger, I will stay strong
I have cried so much and fear that I might die soon
God, please guide me and take me to heaven if I die
I grew up in a sad, and lonely environment and it affected me in a gravely manner
I was abandoned; all alone and grew up in a community that was doomed to fail
My mind was greatly troubled and I couldn't be able to find my inner peace
I found solace and comfort in adopting a tough and rebellious lifestyle
Do you understand my pain and sorrow? I don't ever dwell on the past memories
To survive in a dangerous environment, you must react aggressively and quickly; in order to stay alive
I will always remember my friend, Kato. A good friend who has tragically died, and is no longer with us, anymore
I witnessed the day Kato perished on the streets and was calling for help
May Kato, and those who died before him, truly find peace in death
Is there really a place in heaven for a gangster like me? Always think and never forget about me
The friends that I once shared my laughter with; are now buried in their graves in the cemetery. I continue to shed countless tears for them; as I grieve for them
As I face many difficulties in the music industry, I will do whatever it takes to overcome it
People call me greedy and selfish for making money, yet they rarely can see me
I feel like I'm being cursed by the world and havin' disturbing; yet horrible premonitions
I have a fear that I will die and lie inside a coffin on a hearse, and want God's guidance and empathy
I want to escape from the problems, stress and the hurting of life
I yearned; longing for happiness and clarity in my troubled life
I'm trapped in jail and my life is in shambles
I feel like I'm doomed to go to Hell, but I don't know why
I'm in denial about my life, and I'm scared of death
If I go to hell, I will be in eternal pain and cry so much
I'm lost and tired, and I've cried so much
I'm contemplating suicide, so stay away from me
I'm intentionally moving towards death
I'm ready to die, and I feel like I have nothing to live for
The streets were ruthless, and I couldn't find peace
I'm on the verge of breaking down, and I long for peace
I lost my soul and my identity, but I was unaware
I had demons in my mind that were taking over
The demons inside me grew and ignited a fire
My head felt like a bomb ready to explode, it was a nasty game
I have no happy memories, only pain and sadness
I imagine my enemies murdering me in my sleep
I wonder if I'll live to see the next day
I ask God to pardon me for my wrongs as death approaches
God knows I tried my best, but I've seen people get killed
I witnessed innocent people, including children, being killed by drive-by shootings
I wonder why these tragedies happen as I pass by
I feel sad as I see the outline of a body on the ground and turn to drugs for comfort
I don't want this life, I want something different
There is no promising future for me; I'm trapped in the cycle of crime and violence
I feel like I'm in a never-ending maze
Alcohol made me act out and lose my mind
I've been disillusioned and now want a family
I want a family to see a better side of myself that isn't tainted by my past
I don't trust my girlfriend because she's been influenced by the negative environment around us
I hear rumors that my girlfriend is cheating on me with my friends, and I can't handle it
I collapse and pray for God to let me into heaven
I've cried countless tears and beg for God's mercy to let me into heaven
I've lost so many years and cried so many tears
God, I lost so many friends and associates, and...
God knows I tried my best, but I've seen people get killed
I witnessed innocent people, including children, being killed by drive-by shootings
I wonder why these tragedies happen as I pass by
I feel sad as I see the outline of a body on the ground and turn to drugs for comfort
I don't want this life, I want something different
There is no promising future for me; I'm trapped in the cycle of crime and violence
I feel like I'm in a never-ending maze
Alcohol made me act out and lose my mind
I've been disillusioned and now want a family
I want a family to see a better side of myself that isn't tainted by my past
I don't trust my girlfriend because she's been influenced by the negative environment around us
I hear rumors that my girlfriend is cheating on me with my friends, and I can't handle it
I collapse and pray for God to let me into heaven
I've cried countless tears and beg for God's mercy to let me into heaven
I've lost so many years and cried so many tears
God, I lost so many friends and associates, and cried so many tears
Aliyu
on 'Pac's Life
Nice
A.Bosconian
on So Many Tears
I am not afraid of anything or anyone other than God.
Even when I am in the darkest of times and places.
I have cried so many tears because of the pain and hardships I have faced in my life.
I ask God to guide me and be with me in my journey through life.
Even as a child in elementary school, I found myself attracted to and surrounded by sadness and hopelessness.
I was abandoned and grew up among a generation of people who were doomed to fail.
My mind was constantly struggling, and I could not find a sense of peace or comfort anywhere.
I found a sense of identity and belonging when I got the tattoo of 'Thug Life' on my chest.
Do you understand the struggles and pain that I have experienced in my life?
I am not dwelling on my past mistakes, and if you want to be successful, you shouldn't be either.
In order to defend yourself and your community from violence, you must be the first one to take action. We should never forget Kato, who was killed due to senseless violence.
Kato is no longer with us and has passed away.
I witnessed violent crimes, and I've seen the aftermath of people being killed on the streets.
I hope Kato, and all those who have passed before him, are resting in peace.
Is there a place in heaven for someone like me, who has lived a life of violence and crime?
Remember me and all of my friends who have died and are now buried in the cemetery.
I address God.
I have experienced a lot of suffering throughout my life.
I have cried so many tears because of the pain and hardships I have faced in my life.
Now that I am struggling in the music industry.
I will do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it means being labeled as greedy and only focused on making money.
Even though I am chasing success, I rarely get to enjoy it or be seen by others.
I feel cursed and have a negative outlook on the world.
I am having visions of dying and leaving this world in a coffin.
I ask God if he can understand what I am going through and help me.
I want to be relieved of all the stress and suffering I feel.
I want to experience happiness again, which has been absent from my life for some time.
I feel like I am losing sight of what's important in my life.
I feel trapped in my current situation, and my quality of life is suffering as a result.
I already feel like I am destined to go to hell, and I question where I went wrong in my life.
I am unable to come to terms with my reality.
When I die, I fear that I will be punished forever in the afterlife.
I feel lost and tired.
I have cried so much that I am now having suicidal thoughts, so please don't be near me.
Everything I do feels like a complicated and difficult step.
To bring me closer to what I want to achieve.
I am prepared to accept death at any moment since I feel like I have nothing to live for.
Things were very rough and merciless on the streets.
I was never able to find peace or rest in that environment.
I am close to falling apart and screaming for peace.
Even though I was empty and lost, I couldn't understand or recognize it at the time.
My mind was plagued with negative thoughts and emotions, which were trying to escape constantly.
The negative thoughts and emotions had been planted long ago and have now taken root, and the flame of negativity is now growing stronger.
Just like a match can light a fire, the negative thoughts in my brain can also do the same, causing pain and suffering.
I have no good memories to comfort me, only sadness and suffering.
I am afraid of being attacked and killed by the people who hate me, even in my sleep.
I wonder if I will survive through the night to see the light of the new day?
I ask God for forgiveness for my past mistakes and wrongdoings.
I am trying to face my problems and come out stronger and better.
The Lord knows I have tried my best, and I have witnessed violent deaths in my community.
Drive-by shootings have resulted in the loss of many lives, including innocent children.
I wonder why these tragedies are happening in my community as I walk around and see the devastation.
I am saddened as I look at the markings on the pavement where someone has been killed, and the only way I can deal with this pain is by getting high.
I understand that this isn't the kind of life that I want for myself, and I want to change it.
I want to change my life for the better.
I feel like there is no future for me, no matter how hard I try to change.
I am trapped in the cycle of crime and violence that exists in my community.
I am lost and confused about how to get out of this situation.
The alcohol has influenced me to act more recklessly and dangerously.
I have lost faith and become cynical about life recently.
I have been wanting to have children and start a family.
I want to see a better version of myself in my children, someone who isn't always involved in negative activities.
I don't fully trust my partner because of the negative influence of our environment.
My partner has also been affected by the negative influences of our environment, and I am hearing strange noises because of how paranoid I am.
I am paranoid that my partner is cheating on me with my friends, and I can't handle the stress anymore.
I am begging God to forgive me and let me into heaven when I die.
I have lost many friends and acquaintances to violence and death.
As a result of these losses, I have cried many tears and experienced a lot of sadness.
I have experienced a lot of pain and suffering throughout my life.
A.Bosconian
on So Many Tears
The lyrics of Tupac Shakur's song "So Many Tears" explore the themes of paranoia, pain, and death. The first verse of the song presents Tupac's fearlessness of men, but not of God. The rapper then describes his life growing up, where he felt like he was surrounded by misery but found a sense of identity and belonging in the Thug Life culture. He mourns the deaths of his friends, particularly Kato, who was murdered in the streets. Tupac questions to himself whether there is heaven for a "G" and reflects on the many homies who died; that are now in the cemetery.
In the second verse, Tupac reveals his struggles in the music industry, where he feels overwhelmed by the pressure and pain. He admits to being greedy and having a vision of dying young. Tupac requests God to free him from the pain and suffering he experiences in life. The final verse of the song sees Tupac lost, weary, and suicidal. He delves into his struggles with addiction, and he starts to hear voices and experience demons in his mind. Tupac desires to change, but he feels trapped in the game, and he is unsure of his lady's loyalty.
Overall, Tupac Shakur's "So Many Tears" is a poignant song that reflects the artist's tumultuous life and his struggles with death and paranoia. The lyrics also tackle the harsh realities of growing up in the ghetto and the impact that violence and loss have on the psyche of an individual.
Gabriel Benard Cote
on California Love - Original Mix (Explicit)
2 pac is the best