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 CoastโWest 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 Tรบpac Amaru II, the descendant of the last Incan ruler, Tรบpac 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.
Street Fame
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
More, haha, comin' to a ghetto near you
I wasn't mad until these tricks shot me
It's time I sanitize my posse
Look how paranoid these niggas got me
Cellular calls are being traced since surveillance silently
Closed caskets, expose bastards, I leave 'em bloody
Deloris Tucker, don't let your kids
Hear a nigga speak on gettin' money
Ain't nothin' funny, green got a nigga seein' things
Why? Hit the lye, hope to God I can fly
Lethal weapon, I'm a savage, still a method to my madness
Blast, niggas laugh, callin' cash cabbage
Read 'em and weep, put 'em to sleep they hell bound
Lyrics'll leave 'em spell bound
Clown, now tired of bein' held down
Cross my heart, hope to die blinded in some pussy
Millionaire, livin' care free, sucka free, playa haters miss me
Hope in hard times never catch me slippin'
Fuck authorities, they wonder why minorities be trippin'
We ain't havin' it, time to tear this shit back
Ghetto children kick back
Once I hit the MAC, niggas'll never get this shit back
Spit it so eloquently, my pistols represent me
Bust until my rounds empty, back for the street fame
One love to my true thugs
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame (bust)
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
All out warfare, eye for a eye
Bustin' on my enemies, Bad Boy Killaz (street fame)
Straight dissin' you
Fuck, Lil' Kim, you nasty bitch
Temperatures rises, niggas blinded by my lyrical disguise
No time to plot retreats, niggas shiver and die
Multiple rounds found laced in his body and face
Wrapped in plastic, the acid erased all traces
Criminal tactics, the rap game became so drastic
Military mind, mashed all the hoes, get blasted
If we bleed then they suffocate, chokin' in terror
So we strive seein' our lives be reflected in mirrors
The prophecy is clear, niggas lock and load, disappear
Strategize with no fear, wagin' war for years
The crack game wasn't big enough, ready to rush
Bitch made motherfuckers get murdered and touched
I go to jail, niggas screamin', "Free me", speakin' freely
Conversatin' with my comrades, kickin' Swahili
Indeed they should fear my first seed
It gets worse, planned a curse to be a G on the first to breathe
Currency in stacks, artillery in the back
Strapped, armies, we camouflaged in all black
When we attack, holla out my set
Nigga, tighten your jaw, givin' birth to Outlawz
Haha, street fame
Bust, nigga, bust
Comin' to a ghetto near you (hell yeah, it's true)
Street fame
Only Makaveli the Don can put it down like this
Ain't nothin' like this (comin' to a ghetto near you with street fame)
Positive identification, got me rushed to the station
Stuck in this line up, tryin' hard to hide my face
They placed the name but can't recall description
"I ain't did shit, officer, that bitch trippin'"
Promise retaliation, their plan busted, no man to be trusted
Everything corrupted once man touch it
Kamikaze, hopin' that none of the spies find me
That's why we bye-bye daily, knowin' cops trail me
But why cry? Floatin' while we tokin' on this potent branch
Flossin' in the thug stance, pistol tucked inside my pants
Never underestimate me, playa hate me, see me and hide
Sure as hollow points shatter, enemies die
Spread love, dead thugs gettin' buried in riches
Take a chance to advance, fuck them worryin' bitches
Penitentiary's a possibility, bust and pray
Wear a rubber so I live to fuck another day, ayy
Ain't nothin' strange, I'm 25 dyin' to change
But still I bang wantin' street fame, that's the end of that
Thugged out, Makaveli the Don
Representin' the Outlawz, street fame
One love to my true niggas
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
Makaveli the Don, Killuminati
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
Yo, check this out
I'ma tell you like this
Street fame
The lifestyle that you livin'
Got you takin' more fuckin' shorts than gettin' props
Then that lifestyle need to stop
You best to recognize this Outlaw shit
'Cause only in this Outlaw lifestyle can you truly come to
To see what this life's supposed to be like
Nigga, you'll start to see riches, fine bitches and hittin' switches
Shit, to me that shit sound delicious
Street fame
In 2Pac's song Street Fame, he addresses the violent life he leads and the cost it comes with it. He mentions the paranoia he feels and the ways in which he's always being monitored by law enforcement, which has led to him taking precautions such as switching up his posse and being careful with his phone calls. He also references the late Deloris Tucker and her criticisms of rap music, saying that his lyrics are intended to make money and that she shouldn't let her children listen to it. He mentions his use of marijuana and the feeling of invincibility it brings, as well as the fact that he's been held back by "playa haters" and authorities who don't understand the struggles of minorities in the ghetto. He concludes by expressing his desire for street fame, despite the dangers it brings.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released posthumously, as it was recorded in 1996 but not officially released until 2002 on the Better Dayz album. Another is that the song samples the chorus and melody from the 1982 classic "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force. Some fans speculate that the song was a diss track aimed at rap group Bad Boy Records, with whom 2Pac had a long-standing feud, due to the line "Bustin' on my enemies, Bad Boy Killaz / Straight dissin' you". The line "Fuck, Lil' Kim, you nasty bitch" is also thought to be a diss aimed at female rapper Lil' Kim, who had been associated with Bad Boy Records. The song's chorus, "Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame", was also referenced in the chorus of 2Pac's earlier hit "I Get Around". Street Fame showcases 2Pac's ability to rap with an aggressive flow while still maintaining a signature smoothness and melodic delivery.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this song are not known.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn it up in my headphones, please
I want the volume in my headphones to be louder, please
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
My fame and attention will soon be reaching the disadvantaged neighborhoods
More, haha, comin' to a ghetto near you
Even more fame and attention will soon be reaching the disadvantaged neighborhoods
I wasn't mad until these tricks shot me
I wasn't angry until these deceitful individuals attacked me
It's time I sanitize my posse
I need to clean up and remove any shady people from my group
Look how paranoid these niggas got me
Observe how overly suspicious these individuals have made me
Cellular calls are being traced since surveillance silently
My phone conversations are being monitored without my knowledge
Mama, chill, thug livin' pay the bills, I'm dyin' violently
Mother, relax, the violent lifestyle I lead is the way I make a living, and it may ultimately lead to my death
Closed caskets, expose bastards, I leave 'em bloody
Funerals with closed caskets reveal the true nature of those deceitful individuals, leaving them in a bloody mess
Deloris Tucker, don't let your kids
Deloris Tucker, please prevent your children from
Hear a nigga speak on gettin' money
Hearing a black man talk about acquiring wealth
Ain't nothin' funny, green got a nigga seein' things
There's nothing amusing about the effects of marijuana making me hallucinate
Why? Hit the lye, hope to God I can fly
Why? Smoke marijuana, hoping that I can fly by divine intervention
Lethal weapon, I'm a savage, still a method to my madness
I am a dangerous individual, but there is still a purpose and logic behind my actions
Blast, niggas laugh, callin' cash cabbage
I shoot and kill, while others mock me and refer to money as insignificant
Read 'em and weep, put 'em to sleep they hell bound
Read the lyrics I write and make them cry, then kill them, sending their souls to hell
Lyrics'll leave 'em spell bound
My lyrics will leave them mesmerized and enchanted
Clown, now tired of bein' held down
Enough of being oppressed and restrained
Cross my heart, hope to die blinded in some pussy
I swear on my life to engage in risky sexual behavior
Millionaire, livin' care free, sucka free, playa haters miss me
Living as a wealthy individual, free from worry and without any fake friends, while those who despise me long for my attention
Hope in hard times never catch me slippin'
I have faith that in difficult circumstances, I won't make any mistakes
Fuck authorities, they wonder why minorities be trippin'
Defy and disrespect the figures of authority, who wonder why people from minority groups act out in frustration
We ain't havin' it, time to tear this shit back
We are not tolerating this anymore, it's time to reclaim what's rightfully ours
Ghetto children kick back
Children from disadvantaged areas relax and take a break
Once I hit the MAC, niggas'll never get this shit back
Once I start using my firearm, my enemies will never recover from the damage I inflict
Spit it so eloquently, my pistols represent me
I express myself with great articulation, and my firearms symbolize my identity
Bust until my rounds empty, back for the street fame
Continue firing my weapon until I run out of ammunition, all for the sake of gaining fame in the streets
One love to my true thugs
I have deep respect and love for my loyal, street-oriented friends
All out warfare, eye for a eye
Engaging in a full-fledged battle where vengeance is sought for every wrong committed
Bustin' on my enemies, Bad Boy Killaz
Shooting at and killing my adversaries, who are affiliated with the Bad Boy label
Straight dissin' you
Directly and openly insulting you
Fuck, Lil' Kim, you nasty bitch
Fuck you, Lil' Kim, you disgusting woman
Temperatures rises, niggas blinded by my lyrical disguise
People become heated and overwhelmed by the hidden meanings within my lyrics
No time to plot retreats, niggas shiver and die
There's no opportunity to plan an escape, and as a result, people tremble in fear and perish
Multiple rounds found laced in his body and face
Numerous bullets discovered throughout his torso and head
Wrapped in plastic, the acid erased all traces
His body wrapped in plastic, and the corrosive acid removed any evidence
Criminal tactics, the rap game became so drastic
Resorting to illegal methods, the rap industry has become excessively intense and dangerous
Military mind, mashed all the hoes, get blasted
Possessing a strategic and militant mindset, I dominate all the promiscuous women and violently attack my enemies
If we bleed then they suffocate, chokin' in terror
If we show any weakness or vulnerability, they will crush us with fear and intimidation
So we strive seein' our lives be reflected in mirrors
Therefore, we exert ourselves to ensure that our lives are accurately represented in society
The prophecy is clear, niggas lock and load, disappear
The prediction or message is evident: we must prepare our weapons, vanish from sight, and go into hiding
Strategize with no fear, wagin' war for years
Plan our moves carefully without feeling scared, as we have been involved in ongoing warfare for a significant amount of time
The crack game wasn't big enough, ready to rush
The crack cocaine industry wasn't satisfying our cravings, so we were prepared to seize it forcefully
Bitch made motherfuckers get murdered and touched
Cowardly individuals who lack courage are killed and harmed
I go to jail, niggas screamin', 'Free me', speakin' freely
When I am incarcerated, people proclaim 'Free me', expressing themselves boldly and without restraint
Conversatin' with my comrades, kickin' Swahili
Engaging in conversations with my close companions, speaking in the Swahili language
Indeed they should fear my first seed
They should certainly feel afraid of my first child
It gets worse, planned a curse to be a G on the first to breathe
The situation deteriorates, as I have intentionally plotted for my child to grow up as a gangster
Currency in stacks, artillery in the back
I possess a significant amount of money, as well as weapons stored in the trunk of my car
Strapped, armies, we camouflaged in all black
Equipped with firearms, our group conceals ourselves in black clothing to blend into the surroundings
When we attack, holla out my set
When we initiate an assault, shout out the name of our gang or crew
Nigga, tighten your jaw, givin' birth to Outlawz
Prepare yourself for a difficult and challenging situation, as we are giving rise to a group of fierce and rebellious individuals known as the Outlawz
Haha, street fame
Laughs, as the attention and recognition in the streets continue to grow
Bust, nigga, bust
Shoot, man, shoot
Only Makaveli the Don can put it down like this
Only I, Makaveli the Don, have the ability to deliver such powerful lyrics
Ain't nothin' like this
There is nothing else quite like this
Comin' to a ghetto near you with street fame
The fame and attention that I have gained will soon be experienced by the disadvantaged communities
Positive identification, got me rushed to the station
Being correctly identified led to me being quickly taken to the police station
Stuck in this line up, tryin' hard to hide my face
Trapped in this lineup, attempting to conceal my identity
They placed the name but can't recall description
They assigned a name to the suspect but cannot remember any specific details about their appearance
'I ain't did shit, officer, that bitch trippin''
I didn't do anything, officer, that woman is exaggerating or making false accusations
Promise retaliation, their plan busted, no man to be trusted
Pledge to seek revenge, their scheme has been exposed, and no one can be relied upon
Everything corrupted once man touch it
The moment a person intervenes or becomes involved, everything becomes tainted and corrupted
Kamikaze, hopin' that none of the spies find me
Taking reckless risks, hoping that none of the undercover agents discover me
That's why we bye-bye daily, knowin' cops trail me
That's why we say 'bye-bye' and relocate on a daily basis, fully aware that the police are monitoring my movements
But why cry? Floatin' while we tokin' on this potent branch
But why should we shed tears? We remain calm while smoking this strong marijuana
Flossin' in the thug stance, pistol tucked inside my pants
Flaunting and showing off my toughness, with a concealed pistol in my waistband
Never underestimate me, playa hate me, see me and hide
Never underestimate my abilities, as other individuals who envy me will avoid confrontation upon encountering me
Sure as hollow points shatter, enemies die
Just as hollow-point bullets cause devastating damage, my adversaries meet their demise
Spread love, dead thugs gettin' buried in riches
Promote love and unity, as deceased gangsters are being buried alongside their wealth
Take a chance to advance, fuck them worryin' bitches
Seize the opportunity to progress and ignore those women who bring unnecessary stress and concerns
Penitentiary's a possibility, bust and pray
There is a chance of ending up in prison, so I must be prepared and hope for the best
Wear a rubber so I live to fuck another day, ayy
Use protection during sexual encounters to ensure that I survive and have more opportunities for pleasure in the future
Ain't nothin' strange, I'm 25 dyin' to change
There's nothing unusual about it, I am 25 years old and eager for transformation
But still I bang wantin' street fame, that's the end of that
But I am still involved in gang activities and desire attention and recognition in the streets, and that concludes my explanation
Thugged out, Makaveli the Don
Fully immersed in a criminal lifestyle, I am Makaveli the Don
Representin' the Outlawz, street fame
Acting as a representative of the Outlawz, seeking recognition and respect in the streets
One love to my true niggas
I send love and loyalty to my authentic accomplices
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
My fame and attention will soon be reaching the disadvantaged neighborhoods
Makaveli the Don, Killuminati
I, Makaveli the Don, believe in the concept of Killuminati (killing the Illuminati)
Comin' to a ghetto near you, street fame
My fame and attention will soon be reaching the disadvantaged neighborhoods
Yo, check this out
Hey, listen up
I'ma tell you like this
I'm going to explain it to you in the following way
Street fame
The fame and attention that is achieved through the streets and its associated lifestyle
The lifestyle that you livin'
The way you are currently living your life
Got you takin' more fuckin' shorts than gettin' props
Has resulted in you experiencing more disappointments and setbacks than receiving recognition or praise
Then that lifestyle need to stop
If that's the case, then you should consider ending that way of life
You best to recognize this Outlaw shit
It would be wise for you to acknowledge and understand this Outlaw lifestyle
'Cause only in this Outlaw lifestyle can you truly come to
Because it is only through this Outlaw lifestyle that you can genuinely reach
To see what this life's supposed to be like
To witness and experience what this life is truly meant to be
Nigga, you'll start to see riches, fine bitches and hittin' switches
You will begin to witness and enjoy wealth, attractive women, and the act of operating convertible cars in a flashy manner
Shit, to me that shit sound delicious
To me, that lifestyle sounds extremely appealing and satisfying
Street fame
The fame and attention that is achieved through the streets and its associated lifestyle
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Delmar Drew Arnaud, Tupac Amaru Shakur
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ttorrence100
One of the hardest/ most lyrical/ powerful/ songs of All Time. Simply a classic and one of Pacs biggest sleeper songs of all time
dirty
The first time I heard this,,I was blown away, the raw emotion, the energy into the whole song, the way he describes the body being put in acid to erase all trace of someone is brilliant, this is a serverly underated and overlooked song, I think it's fuc@ing unbelievable ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฅถ
Mr Swaby
my pistols represent me buss till my rounds empty ๐lol the don ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐ข
Liu Kang
I turn this on for motivation
Black Panther
๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฏ
Troy James Sr.
IF THE LIFE STYLE YOU LIVING......GOT YOU TAKING SHORTS๐ฆ๐ช๐พ๐ฏ๐คท๐พโโ๏ธโ๐พ๐๐พ๐ค๐ฅ....SAYLESS.....PEACE GOD...ALL FACTS... SLEEPING ON A LOT OF HIS TRACKS NOT LISTENING TO THE MESSAGES,๐ฏ๐คจ๐ค
MK-Ultra
This is why 2Pac is a lyrical genius and the best rapper EVER. Unlike rap today where they sing, say the same damn word 20 times and call it rap.
Donald Hayes
This that shit one luv pac ๐ฅ
Taz Akra Khan
U mean mumble cRap ๐ฉ - ๐๐๐
Big Dawg
@Taz Akra Khan exactly