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.
Thugz Mansion
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tired of gettin' chased by the police and arrested
Niggas need a spot where we can kick it
A spot where we belong, that's just for us
Niggas ain't gotta get all dressed up and be Hollywood
Y'knahmean? Where do niggas go when we die?
Ain't no heaven for a thug nigga
That's why we go to thug mansion
At thug mansion
A place to spend my quiet nights, time to unwind
So much pressure in this life of mine
I cry at times I once contemplated suicide
And woulda' tried but when I held that 9, all I could see was my momma's eyes
No one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble
Not knowin' it's hard to carry on when no one loves you
Picture me inside the misery of poverty
No man alive has ever witnessed struggles I survived
Prayin' hard for better days, promise to hold on
Me and my dawgs ain't have a choice but to roll on
We found a family spot to kick it
Where we can drink liquor and no one bickers over trick shit
A spot where we can smoke in peace, and even though we G's
We still visualize places, that we can roll in peace
And in my mind's eye I see this place, the players go in fast
I got a spot for us all, so we can ball, at thug's mansion
Every corner, every city
There's a place where life's a little easy
Little Hennessy, laid back and cool
Every hour, cause it's all good
Leave all the stress from the world outside
Every wrong done will be alright (I wanna go)
Nothing but peace, love (I wanna go, I wanna go nigga)
And street passion, every ghetto needs a thug mansion
A place where death doesn't reside, just thugs who collide
Not to start beef but spark trees, no cops rolling by
No policemen, no homicide, no chalk on the streets
No reason, for nobody's momma to cry
See I'm a good guy, I'm trying to stick around for my daughter
But if I should die, I know all of my albums support her
This whole year's been crazy, asked the Holy Spirit to save me
Only difference from me and Ossie Davis, gray hair maybe
Cause I feel like my eyes saw too much suffering
I'm just twenty-some-odd years, I done lost my mother
And I cried tears of joy, I know she smiles on her boy
I dream of you more, my love goes to Afeni Shakur
Cause like Ann Jones, she raised a ghetto king in a war
And just for that alone she shouldn't feel no pain no more
Cause one day we'll all be together, sipping heavenly champagne
Where angels soar, with golden wings in thug's mansion
Every corner, every city
There's a place where life's a little easy
Little Hennessy, laid back and cool
Every hour, cause it's all good
Leave all the stress from the world outside
Every wrong done will be alright
Nothing but peace, love
And street passion, every ghetto needs a thug mansion
Dear momma don't cry, your baby boy's doing good
Tell the homies I'm in heaven and they ain't got hoods
Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook
Dripping peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke
Then some lady named Billie Holiday
Sang sitting there kicking it with Malcolm, 'til the day came
Little LaTasha sho' grown
Tell the lady in the liquor store that she's forgiven, so come home
Maybe in time you'll understand only God can save us
When Miles Davis cutting lose with the band
Just think of all the people that you knew in the past
That passed on, they in heaven, found peace at last
Picture a place that they exist, together
There has to be a place better than this, in heaven
So right before I sleep, dear God, what I'm asking
Remember this face, save me a place, in thug's mansion
Every corner, every city
There's a place where life's a little easy (thugz mansion)
Little Hennessy, laid back and cool
Every hour, cause it's all good
Leave all the stress from the world outside
Every wrong done will be alright (I wanna go)
Nothing but peace, love (I wanna go, I wanna go nigga)
And street passion, every ghetto needs a thug mansion
The lyrics of Thugz Mansion by 2Pac/J. Phoenix/Nas talk about the struggles of being a thug in life and how there is no heaven for them. They long for a place where they can unwind and find solace after all the struggles they have been through. They want a place where they don’t have to dress up like Hollywood stars or pretend to be someone they are not. They seek a place where they can be themselves, without being chased down by the police or shot at. This place is Thug Mansion, where the thugs can enter for free, but only if they are a G.
The first verse of the song is about the struggles of life, how one longs for a place of solace where they can escape from their worries. The second verse talks about the difficulties of being a thug and how one feels alone in their struggle. They are a victim of their past and the situation, and they just want a place to escape from all that. The chorus of the song talks about the Thug Mansion, a place for the children, dead homies, and family where they can find peace and happiness.
The song is an enigmatic, poignant, and poignant tribute to Tupac Shakur, with his iconic "Thug Life" tattoo on his stomach, and his musings of life, love, and death. The song was first released as an acoustic guitar-based demo with Yafeu Fula playing guitar, under the title of "Until the End of Time (RP Remix)." Tupac's friend and member of the Outlawz, Yaki Kadafi, had said in an interview that Tupac had planned to establish Thugz Mansion, a home for disadvantaged youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Shit, tired of gettin' shot at
Fed up of constantly being shot and endangered
Tired of gettin' chased by the police and arrested
Exhausted from being pursued by law enforcement and being locked up
niggas need a spot where we can kick it
A place where individuals can comfortably relax
A spot where we belong, that's just for us
A place exclusively belonging to a designated group
niggas ain't gotta get all dressed up and be Hollywood
Y'knahmean?
No need to portray or pretend as someone else
Where do niggas go when we die?
Where does one go after death?
Ain't no heaven for a thug nigga
That's why we go to thug mansion
There's no afterlife suited for individuals living a life of crime, hence the concept of Thug Mansion
That's the only place where thugs get in free and you gotta be a G
At thug mansion
The only spot welcoming to thugs without demand of social hierarchy, but requires a specific character
A place to spend my quiet nights, time to unwind
A location for undisturbed, mellow evenings to relax
So much pressure in this life of mine,
I cry at times I once contemplated suicide,
The burden and hardships faced can be overwhelming, leading to suicidal thoughts
and woulda' tried but when I held that 9, all I could see was my momma's eyes
Planned to attempt suicide but can't bring oneself to do it due to memories of loved ones
No one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble
Not knowin' it's hard to carry on when no one loves you
Others perceive the problems faced rather than the struggles endured, making it difficult to persist without love and support
Picture me inside the misery of poverty
No man alive has ever witnessed struggles I survived
Imagining oneself in the poverty and misery experienced, surpassing anyone else in difficulty
Prayin' hard for better days, promise to hold on
Me and my dawgs ain't have a choice but to roll on
Hoping for a brighter future while persevering through hardships with those closest
We found a family spot to kick it
Where we can drink liquor store and no one bickers over trick shit
Discovering a place to relax and bond, where disagreements have no place
A spot where we can smoke in peace, and even though we G's
We still visualize places, that we can roll in peace
A place to quietly smoke and contemplate future peaceful locations despite being gangsters
And in my mind's eye I see this place, the players go in fast
I got a spot for us all, so we can ball, at thug's mansion
Imagining an ideal, fast-paced location that is akin to one's own exclusive, grand spot
Ain't no place I'd rather be
Chil'ren, dead homies and family
Sky high, iced out paradise, in the sky
A heavenly place in the sky containing deceased loved ones, youth, and eternal luxury
Will I survive all the fights and the darkness?
Trouble sparks, they tell me home is where the heart is, dear departed
Survival through battles and difficult times is uncertain, while being advised home is where loved ones are
I shed tattooed tears and couldn't sleep good
For multiple years, witness peers catch gunshots
Nobody cares, seen the politicians ban us
They'd rather see us locked in chains, please explain
Why they can't stand us, is there a way for me to change?
Crying on the inside for years, watching friends being killed, neglected by politicians, and wondering why the government despises them
Or am I just a victim of things I did to maintain?
I need a place to rest my head
With the little bit of homeboys that remains, 'cause all the rest dead
Maybe being victimized is the result of struggles to survive, seeking a place to ease the mind, and mourning the loss of close friends
Is there a spot for us to roll, if you find it
I'll be right behind ya, show me and I'll go
How can I be peaceful? I'm comin' from the bottom
Watch my daddy scream peace while the other man shot him
If one discovers an exclusive location to bond with friends, the artist will join, but achieving peace is hard when one's background contains continuous hardship, illustrated by their father's murder
I need a house that's full of love when I need to escape
The deadly places slingin' drugs, in thug's mansion
A home with ample love to retreat to, away from perilous areas where drugs are sold
Dear momma don't cry, your baby boy's doin' good
Tell the homies I'm in heaven and they ain't got hoods
Requesting mother to stop crying as the artist is safe in heaven; informing friends that there are no dangers they can face in heaven
Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night,
it had me shook drippin' peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke
Recounting a dream of watching a concert alongside notable musicians such as Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke, while shaken and drinking Schnapps
Then some lady named Billie Holiday sang sittin' there kickin' it with Malcolm, 'til the day came
Little LaTasha sho' grown tell the lady in the liquor that she's forgiven, so come home
Listening to Billie Holiday sing and hanging with Malcolm until death calls inevitably; asking a liquor store clerk to tell Little LaTasha she's forgiven so she can return home
Maybe in time you'll understand only God can save us
When Miles Davis cuttin' lose with the band
Just think of all the people that you knew in the past
That passed on, they in heaven, found peace at last
Hoping that people may eventually understand only God can save them, listening to Miles Davis perform, thinking about deceased loved ones in heaven finally at peace
Picture a place that they exist, together
There has to be a place better than this, in heaven
Imagining a location where passed loved ones are united, believing there must be an improved place of comfort in paradise
So right before I sleep, dear God, what I'm askin'
Remember this face, save me a place, in thug's mansion
Before sleeping, hoping God remembers the artist's name and saves a spot for them in Thug Mansion
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: 7 Marcus Aurelius, Anthony Hamilton, Johnny Lee Jackson, Tupac Shakur
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Perez
My father died today and this song makes me think of him so much. RIP Pops ❤️
Daniel Kladnik
RIP, I wish you all the best brother
Roger Le mans
My condoleances, let´s rejoice the memories.
Warren Hall
🙏❤️
bright Flight27
"no one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble not knowing its hard to carry on when no one loves you" that's what most people see in young brown/black kids.
Brandonb90
That's a deep verse
Frank Villareal
I’ll agree brown/black kids get no love from anyone… We’re just products of our environment and do what we gotta do to SURVIVE THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW HOW TO… But we change and we have good intentions with a heart of gold… But the world only sees us for the wrong weve committed… MY GHETTO CHILDREN KEEP YA HEAD UP
Fuck You
People feel like that regardless of their color I feel like no one sees the good I do or how I've changed the just see who I used to be
Alexis Martinez
all of us suffer like that, we don't own the rights to that.
TheQuietCity
amon