also the song was released on the album R U Still Down? (Remember Me) "I'm Gettin Money"
If you look up ‘balling’ on urbandictionary, you’ll see a biased opinion of the definition from the perspective of “white folk”. They pretty much define it just as being rich and blowing money on expensive things like gold chains instead of buying essential things you need to survive. But even though Pac understood that it was a great feeling to be able to flash your chain in the ghetto you grew up in as a sign of hope, he also knew that “balling” means a lot more than just showing off nice things. “Balling” encompasses a lot more than being rich, so Pac gives out a “fuck you” to those that try to define it without really experiencing it.
T.I.’s song “Just Doing My Job” was inspired by “Str8 Ballin'”
Samples “What’s a Telephone Bill” by Bootsy’s RubberBand.
Str8 Ballin'
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But, now, the game if for the soldier, not, so, fuck you
I'm up before the sunrise, first to hit the block
Little bad mothafucka with a pocket full of rocks
Learn to throw them thangs, get my skinny little ass kicked
And niggas laugh til' tha first mothafucka got blasted
I put the nigga in his casket
I smoke blunts on a regular, buck when it counts
I'm tryin' to make a million dollars outta quarter ounce
And gettin' lost on the five-o, fuck them hos
Got a forty-five screamin' 'bout survival
Hey, nigga, can I lay low, cook some yay-yo?
Hollar "one-time," when I say so
Don't want to go to the pen, I'm hittin' fences
Narcs on a nigga back, missin' me by inches
And they say how do you survive weighin' one-sixty-five
In a city where the skinny niggas die?
Tell Mama, don't cry
Even when they kill me
They can never take the game from a young G
I'm straight ballin'!
Straight ballin'!
Straight ballin'!
Still on parole, and I'm the first nigga servin'
Pour some liquor on the curb for my niggas that deserve it
But if I want to make a million, gotta stay dealin'
It's kinda boomin', and today I'll make a killin'
Dressin' down like I'm dirty, but only on the block
It's a clever disguise to keep me runnin' from the cops
Ha, I'm gettin' high. I think I'll die if I don't get no ends
I'm in a bucket, but I'm ridin' it like it's a Benz
I hate to stip, but let my music bump
Drinkin' liquor, and I'm lookin' for some hos to fuck
Rather die makin' money than live poor and legal
As I slang another ounce, I wish it was a kilo!
I need money in a major way
Time to fuck my Beyatch! Hey, and gettin' paid
You other mothafuckas fallin'
But me, and my mothafuckin' thug niggas
We straight ballin'!
Straight ballin'!
Straight ballin'
Damned if I don't, and damned if a nigga do
So watch a young mothafucka pull a trigga just to raise up!
But don't let them see you cry, dry your eyes
Young nigga, time to do or die
I keep a pistol in my pocket
Ready, on my block
Ain't no time for a nigga to even cock it, shit
And I done seen that mothafucka beat pain
At point blank range, 'cause he slept on the game
Ain't a damned thing changed
Shakin' the dice, now roll 'em
If you can't stand pain better hold 'em
'Cause ain't no tellin' what you might roll
You might go catch AIDS from a slight cold, nigga
Best to live your life to the fullest
Be quick to kill a fool, got a pistol, mothafucka, better pull it
'Cause even when they kill me
They can never take the game from a young G
We straight ballin'!
Straight ballin'!
Straight ballin'
To my niggas in the penitentiary
Locked up, like a mothafucka, when they mention me
'Cause you fuckin' with the realest mothafucka ever born
And once again it's on
I'm bustin' on these bitches till they gone
Who the hell can you get to stop me?
I'm in the projects, parlaying with my posse
I keep my glock cocked
I need it, 'cause they're all shady
I finally made it
Now these jealous bitches tryin' to fade me!
I ain't goin' out, I'd rather blast back
I'm on the corner, with my niggas, watchin' cash stack
And I came up a long way from food stamps
And takin' shit from the low-life ghetto tramps
Could you blame me? If they sweat me I'm a open fire
What could I do? Pull my trigga, or watch my nigga die
I'm representin' to the fullest, givin' devil slugs
I'm on the block, slangin' drugs with the young thugs
And, mothafucka, we be ballin'!
All mothafuckin' day long, stay strong!
We straight ballin'
In 2Pac's song "Str8 Ballin'", the lyrics describe the life of a young black man involved in drug trafficking and gang violence. The singer describes how he started selling drugs on the block carrying a pocket full of rocks despite being laughed at by other people. He put the first person who laughed at him in his casket and is now trying to make millions of dollars from selling drugs, while avoiding getting caught by the police. He is determined to survive, but is always aware of the dangers surrounding him. The verse ends with the singer declaring that even if he gets killed, he will never lose the "game" of hustling and surviving in the streets.
The song has reflective and defiant tones. It's a metaphor for the struggle of young African Americans trying to break out of poverty and make something out of themselves. Tupac uses the lyrics to paint a vivid picture of the struggles and pressure that people like him often face in the inner city.
Line by Line Meaning
I would share the definition of ballin' with you white folks
I won't explain to you the meaning of ballin because the game is now just for soldiers and not for white folks
But, now, the game if for the soldier, not, so, fuck you
The game is for soldiers only, so I don't need to explain to white folks
I'm up before the sunrise, first to hit the block
I'm awake before sunrise to be the first to hit the block
Little bad mothafucka with a pocket full of rocks
I am a young, tough guy with a pocket full of drugs to sell
Learn to throw them thangs, get my skinny little ass kicked
I had to learn how to defend myself while selling drugs even though I was small
And niggas laugh til' tha first mothafucka got blasted
Others laughed at me until the first person got shot
I put the nigga in his casket
I was the one who killed the person
Now they coverin' the bastard in plastic
The dead person is being covered with plastic
I smoke blunts on a regular, buck when it counts
I smoke weed regularly, but I am serious about violence and money
I'm tryin' to make a million dollars outta quarter ounce
I'm trying to make a million dollars from selling just a little bit of drugs
Got a forty-five screamin' 'bout survival
I have a gun for protection
Hey, nigga, can I lay low, cook some yay-yo?
Can I hide out and cook some drugs?
Hollar "one-time," when I say so
Tell me to be quiet if the police come
Don't want to go to the pen, I'm hittin' fences
I don't want to go to prison, so I am running away from law enforcement
Narcs on a nigga back, missin' me by inches
The police are chasing me and almost catching me
And they say how do you survive weighin' one-sixty-five
People wonder how I survive being so small in a dangerous city
In a city where the skinny niggas die?
In a dangerous city where small people often get killed
Tell Mama, don't cry
Don't worry, even if I die doing this, I love you
Even when they kill me
Even when I'm dead
They can never take the game from a young G
No one can take my hustling spirit from me
Still on parole, and I'm the first nigga servin'
I'm still on parole, but I am the most successful dealer
Pour some liquor on the curb for my niggas that deserve it
I pour some alcohol out on the street to honor my friends who have passed away
But if I want to make a million, gotta stay dealin'
If I want to make a lot of money, I have to keep selling drugs
It's kinda boomin', and today I'll make a killin'
Business is good, and I will make a lot of money today
Dressin' down like I'm dirty, but only on the block
I wear dirty clothes to blend in with the people on the block
It's a clever disguise to keep me runnin' from the cops
It's a smart way to hide myself from the police
Ha, I'm gettin' high. I think I'll die if I don't get no ends
I'm smoking weed. If I don't make any money, I might die
I'm in a bucket, but I'm ridin' it like it's a Benz
I am driving in a cheap car, but I treat it like it is a luxury car
I hate to stip, but let my music bump
I don't want to stop my music, but it's time to sell drugs
Drinkin' liquor, and I'm lookin' for some hos to fuck
I'm drinking alcohol and trying to find some women to have sex with
Rather die makin' money than live poor and legal
I'd rather die trying to make money than live legally and poor
As I slang another ounce, I wish it was a kilo!
I'm selling a little bit of drugs now, but I wish I had a lot more to sell
I need money in a major way
I need money urgently
Time to fuck my Beyatch! Hey, and gettin' paid
Time to have sex and make money
You other mothafuckas fallin'
Other people who sell drugs are failing
But me, and my mothafuckin' thug niggas
But my group of tough guys and I
We straight ballin'!
We are successful hustlers
Damned if I don't, and damned if a nigga do
I am in a bad situation either way
So watch a young mothafucka pull a trigga just to raise up!
Watch me shoot someone to defend myself
But don't let them see you cry, dry your eyes
Don't show emotions in front of enemies, calm down
Young nigga, time to do or die
As a young Black person, it's time to succeed or die trying
I keep a pistol in my pocket
I always have a gun with me
Ready, on my block
Ready to use it when necessary, on my block
Ain't no time for a nigga to even cock it, shit
There is no time to even prepare the gun, so the situation is dangerous
And I done seen that mothafucka beat pain
I have seen many people suffer from violence
At point blank range, 'cause he slept on the game
Someone was shot from close range because he underestimated the game
Ain't a damned thing changed
Nothing has changed, and things are still dangerous
Shakin' the dice, now roll 'em
Taking risks by playing a game of luck
If you can't stand pain better hold 'em
If you can't handle the consequences, you shouldn't take risks
'Cause ain't no tellin' what you might roll
Because you never know what will happen when you take risks
You might go catch AIDS from a slight cold, nigga
Taking risks can have serious, even deadly, consequences
Best to live your life to the fullest
It's best to enjoy your life while you can
Be quick to kill a fool, got a pistol, mothafucka, better pull it
Kill someone who is threatening you, and make sure to use your gun
To my niggas in the penitentiary
To my friends who are in prison
Locked up, like a mothafucka, when they mention me
They are in prison because of their connection to me
'Cause you fuckin' with the realest mothafucka ever born
Because you are friends with someone who is the most real person ever born
And once again it's on
I'm back at it again
I'm bustin' on these bitches till they gone
I'm shooting at these women until they are dead
Who the hell can you get to stop me?
Who is powerful enough to stop me?
I'm in the projects, parlaying with my posse
I'm in the public housing area, hanging out with my group of friends
I keep my glock cocked
I always have my gun ready to use
I need it, 'cause they're all shady
I need it for protection because everyone is untrustworthy
I finally made it
I finally achieved success
Now these jealous bitches tryin' to fade me!
People who are jealous of my success are trying to harm me
I ain't goin' out, I'd rather blast back
I won't go down without a fight, I will shoot back
I'm on the corner, with my niggas, watchin' cash stack
I'm on the street corner with my friends, watching our money pile up
And I came up a long way from food stamps
I achieved success after being poor and needing government assistance
And takin' shit from the low-life ghetto tramps
I used to be pushed around by people who were worse off than me
Could you blame me? If they sweat me I'm a open fire
Can you blame me if I shoot back when someone threatens me?
What could I do? Pull my trigga, or watch my nigga die
What choice do I have? Shoot and defend myself, or watch my friend die?
I'm representin' to the fullest, givin' devil slugs
I'm representing my gang to the fullest, shooting bullets at those who oppose me
I'm on the block, slangin' drugs with the young thugs
I am selling drugs on the street with my fellow young criminals
And, mothafucka, we be ballin'!
And, my friends, we are succeeding and making a lot of money
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: George Jr. Clinton, William Earl Collins, Gary Lee Cooper, Osten S. Jr. Harvey, Tupac Amaru Shakur
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