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.
Violent...
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These hypocrites are havin' fits, 'cause I'm not buyin' it
Defyin' it, envious because I will rebel against
any oppressor, and this is known as self defense
I show no mercy, they claim that I'm the lunatic
But when the shit gets thick, I'm the one you go and get
Don't look confused, the truth is so plain to see
Cause I'm the nigga that you sell-outs are ashamed to be
I'm never ignorant, getting goals accomplished
The underground railroad on an up rise
This time the truth's gettin' told, heard enough lies
I told 'em fight back, attack on society
If this is violence, then violent's what I gotta be
If you investigate you'll find out where it's comin' from
Look through our history, America's the violent one
Unlock my brain, break the chains of your misery
This time the payback for evil shit you did to me
They call me militant, racist 'cause I will resist
You wanna censor somethin', motherfucker censor this!
My words are weapons, and I'm steppin' to the silent
Wakin' up the masses, but you, claim that I'm violent
(They claimin' that I'm violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
The cops can't stand me, but they can't touch me
Call me a dope man, 'cause I rock dope beats
Jacked by the police, didn't have my ID
I said, "Excuse me, why you tryin' to rob me?"
He had tha nerve to, say that I had a curfew
(Do you know what time it is?
Get out the fucking car, or I'll hurt you!)
"Get out the car or I'll hurt you"
So here I go, I better make my mind up
Pick my nine up, or hit the line-up
I chose B, stepped into the streets
The first cop grabbed me, the other ripped my seat
They grabbed my homie and they threw him to the concrete
(Ay man Aye yo ay man just c'mon ?)
("What you doin man?") They tried to frame me
They tried to say I had some dope in the back seat
But I'm a rap fiend, not a crack fiend
My homie panicked ("I'm out") he tried to run
(Freeze nigga!) I heard a bullet fire from the cop's gun
My homie dropped so, I hit the cop
I kept swingin', yo, I couldn't stop
Before I knew it, I was beatin' the cop senseless
The other cop dropped his gun, he was defenseless
(? Argh, fuck you! Ungh!)
Now I'm against this cop who was racist
Given him a taste, of tradin places
And all this, 'cause the peckerwood was tryin' this
frame up, but I came up
Now they claimin that I'm violent
(They claimin' that I'm violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
As I was beatin' on a cop, I heard a gun click (uh-oh)
Then the gun shot, but I wasn't hit
I turned around it was my homie with the gun in hand
He shot the cop (damn!) now he's a dead man
I said, come on, it's time for us to get away
(Let's go, we gotta get the fuck outta here)
They called for backup, and they'll be on their way
Jumped in the car, and tried to get away quick
The car wouldn't start (damn!) we in deep shit
So we jumped out (C'mon let's take the cop's car)
We drove a little ways thinkin' that we got far
But I looked up, and all I saw was blue lights
If I die tonight, I'm dying in a gunfight
I grabbed the AK, my homie took the 12 gauge
Load 'em up quick, it's time for us to spray
We'll shoot 'em up with they own fuckin' weapons
And when we through sprayin' (audi) then we steppin'
This is a lesson, to the rednecks and crooked cops
You fuck with real niggas, get ya fuckin' ass dropped
So here we go, the police against us
Dark as dusk, waitin' for the guns to bust (What's next man?)
What's next, I don't know and I don't care
One things fo' sho', tomorrow I won't be here
But if I go, I'm takin' all these punks with me
Pass me a clip G, now come and get me
You wanna sweat me, never get me to be silent
Givin' them a reason, (a reason) to claim that I'm violent
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
(Just because we play what the people want)
(Violent)
In his song "Violent," 2Pac addresses the accusations of violence that were often leveled against him. He refuses to remain silent in the face of oppression, and instead, he fights back. He makes it clear that he is defending himself against those who seek to oppress him and others like him. He calls out the hypocrisy of those who label him as violent while ignoring the violence that has been inflicted upon Black people throughout American history.
2Pac also speaks to the racial profiling and harassment that he and others in his community faced from law enforcement. He recounts an incident where he and his friend were unjustly pulled over and accused of carrying drugs. Frustrated by the situation, 2Pac decides to fight back, ultimately leading to a violent confrontation with the police.
Throughout the song, 2Pac makes it clear that he will not be quiet in the face of injustice, and he encourages others to do the same. He sees his words as weapons and a means of waking up others to the reality of the violence and oppression that they face.
Line by Line Meaning
They claim that I'm violent, just 'cause I refuse to be silent
People label me as violent and aggressive because I refuse to remain quiet and submissive.
These hypocrites are havin' fits, 'cause I'm not buyin' it
These people are criticizing me for my actions and beliefs, but they are being hypocritical and I refuse to believe them.
Defyin' it, envious because I will rebel against
any oppressor, and this is known as self defense
I will never bow down to any oppressor and will rebel against them in the name of self-defense. This makes others envious of my strength and courage.
I show no mercy, they claim that I'm the lunatic
But when the shit gets thick, I'm the one you go and get
People call me crazy and violent, but when they are in trouble and need protection, they come to me because they know I won't back down and will fight for them.
Don't look confused, the truth is so plain to see
Cause I'm the nigga that you sell-outs are ashamed to be
Don't be confused, the truth is obvious - sellouts are ashamed of who they are and try to bring me down because I represent everything they are not.
In every Jeep and every car, brothers stomp this
I'm never ignorant, getting goals accomplished
My music is heard everywhere and I am proud of it. I am not ignorant and always try to accomplish things that I believe in.
The underground railroad on an up rise
This time the truth's gettin' told, heard enough lies
The underground movement for equal rights is growing stronger and the truth is finally being told, as people are tired of being lied to.
I told 'em fight back, attack on society
If this is violence, then violent's what I gotta be
I encourage people to fight back against the oppressive society and if that is considered violent, then I have no choice but to be violent.
If you investigate you'll find out where it's comin' from
Look through our history, America's the violent one
If people look into history, they will realize who is truly violent - America. They have always oppressed and caused harm to others.
Unlock my brain, break the chains of your misery
This time the payback for evil shit you did to me
I want to break free from the chains of misery that others have imposed on me. It's time for me to get revenge on those who have wronged me.
They call me militant, racist 'cause I will resist
You wanna censor somethin', motherfucker censor this!
People call me militant and racist because of my resistance to their oppression. But instead of censoring me, they should pay attention to my message.
My words are weapons, and I'm steppin' to the silent
Wakin' up the masses, but you, claim that I'm violent
My words are powerful and I am using them to wake up the masses who have been silenced for too long. But people still label me as violent despite not being physically aggressive.
The cops can't stand me, but they can't touch me
Call me a dope man, 'cause I rock dope beats
Police officers don't like me and are unable to arrest me because I am not doing anything wrong, I am just making great music.
Jacked by the police, didn't have my ID
I said, "Excuse me, why you tryin' to rob me?"
Police stopped and searched me without any valid reason and I questioned them, asking why they were trying to take advantage of me.
He had tha nerve to, say that I had a curfew
(Do you know what time it is?
Get out the fucking car, or I'll hurt you!)
The police officer had the audacity to accuse me of breaking curfew and threatened to hurt me if I didn't get out of the car.
So here I go, I better make my mind up
Pick my nine up, or hit the line-up
I had to decide whether to pick up my gun and fight back or surrender and go to the police station.
They grabbed my homie and they threw him to the concrete
(Ay man Aye yo ay man just c'mon ?)
("What you doin man?") They tried to frame me
Police officers threw my friend to the ground and tried to frame me for crimes I didn't commit.
But my homie panicked ("I'm out") he tried to run
(Freeze nigga!) I heard a bullet fire from the cop's gun
My friend got scared and tried to run away, but the police shot at him.
My homie dropped so, I hit the cop
I kept swingin', yo, I couldn't stop
My friend was shot and I couldn't control myself. I hit the cop and kept hitting him.
Before I knew it, I was beatin' the cop senseless
The other cop dropped his gun, he was defenseless
I lost control and was hitting the cop until he was senseless. The other cop was too scared and dropped his gun.
(? Argh, fuck you! Ungh!)
Now I'm against this cop who was racist
Given him a taste, of tradin places
I am fighting back against a racist police officer and giving him a taste of his own medicine by trading places with him.
And all this, 'cause the peckerwood was tryin' this
frame up, but I came up
Now they claimin that I'm violent
All of this happened because a racist police officer was trying to frame me for crimes that I didn't commit. But I fought back and now they are calling me violent.
As I was beatin' on a cop, I heard a gun click (uh-oh)
Then the gun shot, but I wasn't hit
While I was fighting, I heard the click of a gun and then it went off, but I was not hit by the bullet.
I turned around it was my homie with the gun in hand
He shot the cop (damn!) now he's a dead man
When I turned around, I realized that my friend was the one holding the gun. And he shot the cop, killing him.
They called for backup, and they'll be on their way
Jumped in the car, and tried to get away quick
The police officers called for backup and we tried to escape quickly by getting in the car.
The car wouldn't start (damn!) we in deep shit
So we jumped out (C'mon let's take the cop's car)
Unfortunately, the car wouldn't start and we were in trouble. So we decided to steal the cop's car.
We drove a little ways thinkin' that we got far
But I looked up, and all I saw was blue lights
We thought we had escaped, but when I looked up, all I could see were the flashing blue lights of the police cars behind us.
If I die tonight, I'm dying in a gunfight
I grabbed the AK, my homie took the 12 gauge
I am ready to die tonight if it means fighting for what I believe in. I grabbed my weapon and my friend took his.
Load 'em up quick, it's time for us to spray
We'll shoot 'em up with they own fuckin' weapons
We loaded our weapons and were ready to fight back against the police officers. We planned to use their own weapons against them.
And when we through sprayin' (audi) then we steppin'
This is a lesson, to the rednecks and crooked cops
Once we were done with our attack, we planned to leave. This is a warning to the rednecks and crooked cops that if they mess with us, we will fight back.
You fuck with real niggas, get ya fuckin' ass dropped
So here we go, the police against us
Don't mess with real people like us, or else you will face the consequences. And now we are facing off against the police officers.
Dark as dusk, waitin' for the guns to bust (What's next man?)
What's next, I don't know and I don't care
As we waited in the darkness, we knew that gunshots would soon fill the air. But we didn't care what happened next.
One things fo' sho', tomorrow I won't be here
But if I go, I'm takin' all these punks with me
I know for sure that I won't be alive tomorrow, but if I am going down, I am taking these cowardly people with me.
Pass me a clip G, now come and get me
You wanna sweat me, never get me to be silent
Givin' them a reason, (a reason) to claim that I'm violent
Give me more ammunition because I am ready to fight until the end. People can try to intimidate and silence me, but I will never back down and that gives them a reason to call me violent.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF, RON BROOKS, DAVID ELLIOT, TUPAC 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