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.
West Coast
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With my nigga vp
Get scratched nigga
In the place to be
Check it
Comin straight from the town releasin so much pow
I got the people feel used to this album I made
Its 1997 trick I must get payed
Im takin no kind of shorts I want every last penny
Dont make me have to put a -----
Coz then I have to open ur pours so dont fuck with ma money I wont mess with urs
I got the skills to pay the bills so I can live an chill in the hills, stack mills an run my --- gold wheels back down to the spot
An say wsup to ma niggas thas still servin them rocks
Thats my gorillas still poppin' even though I left it
Niggas best not try to come an grill... Ul get molested
Test it if u want to ma nigga an ima treat ur ass as if u stole some of ma scrilla
But now back to the spot to make the law abiding pray
I cant forget the 1500 clique he the capital of sinners they both makin a grip
-------------------
U rich ass motherfuckers better donate me some loot
And eddy whats up to you too
Even though I took a loss young soul loves you
But put me back on my feet when I said I was ready
Movin major bubonic in my pockets I kept fatty
But who kicks the rymes an who stacks the cash
Whos droppin major pow
West side thats how we ride
Niggaz gota watch they backs coz its do or die
Coz if thety tryna see me or ma partner vp
We yellin get scratched ye thats right for the west coast west side thats how we ride
Niggaz gota watch they backs coz its do or die
Coz if they tryna see me or ma partner vp we yellin get scratched ye thats right
Every since I was little, I had the gift to use the microphone
Now that im famous all these suckers wanna tag along
Like hoes tryna pull ------
I peepin hella punks plottin
Stalkin a nigger just like an apple rottin man, now they rotten
Watchin ma house as if they workin for the feds
They probly can tell u exactly when I go to bed
I baught me some straps
Incase I got a cap some snaps in they back
To make there spinal cords crack
I acts like that just for the fact I think im at a point in my life where theres just no turning back
So I wears a vest when its time to get some rest an hoe relive the stress ---- havin sex
Coz punks is tryin rob me plus me do like ---
Bruttaly mass murderd -----
Puttin bullet holes up in me with some fat 9s no time to die coz I can almost hear the flat lines
I cant cry
I see my niggaz sayin yo soul please dont go we bein a partner got a fofo but I dont know which way to go
Without gettin burned but if these niggas let me get em whereever we turn I stay in this game
West side thats how we ride
Niggaz gota watch they backs coz its do or die
Coz if thety tryna see me or ma partner vp
We yellin get scratched ye thats right for the west coast west side thats how we ride
Niggaz gota watch they backs coz its do or die
Coz if they tryna see me or ma partner vp we yellin get scratched ye thats right
For the west coast west side thats how we ride
Niggaz gota watch they backs coz its do or die
Coz if they tryna see me or ma partner vp we yellin get scratched ye thats right nigga
Ride or just die, fuck it thats the way I feel
Im startin a slow death, thats what im writin on my will
My mom thinks im crazy, but she knows she aint raise no dummy
I guess its like this, when I die take all my money
Ma automobiles plus my house upon the hill, and if you feel the same keep my 9mm near
Tell ma sisters I love em, ---- & jeanette
My two twin sisters, you know I love they ass to death
And if I die soon, I pray to god that I dont,
I hope I sell enough records to get 'em anything they want
As I look in the bible 27 book of psalms, verses 1 - 10 I dedicated to my moms
But ima keep flowin, keepin much pride, its the best side
Where you from soul dawg?? West side nigga!!
The lyrics to 2Pac's song "West Coast" are filled with references to his tough background and the challenges he faces in the music industry. At the start of the song, he mentions a friend named VP, implying that he is on the scene with someone he trusts. The lyrics go on to reference 2Pac's violent origins, rapping about his past in the hood and his skill at making music. He talks of earning money from his music, and warns people not to mess with him as he will protect his earnings.
In the latter half of the song, 2Pac references the dangers he faces as a famous musician. He talks of people watching his house and his need for protection, and even refers to thoughts of his own death. The song ends on a note of pride, with 2Pac declaring his allegiance to the West Coast and his place in the rap community.
Line by Line Meaning
Comin straight from the town releasin so much pow
I am coming straight from the town, releasing enough power that my sound could be heard up and down your block.
Up an down ur block my sound shakes the ground
The sound is shaking the ground up and down your block.
I got the people feel used to this album I made
People are used to the album I made and released.
Its 1997 trick I must get payed
It's 1997 and I must get paid for my art.
I got the skills to pay the bills so I can live an chill in the hills, stack mills an run my --- gold wheels back down to the spot
I have the necessary skills to pay my bills, live and relax in the hills, stack up some money and ride back down to the neighborhood in my flashy car.
Thats my gorillas still poppin' even though I left it
My gorillas are still selling drugs even though I left the game.
Ul get molested Test it if u want to ma nigga an ima treat ur ass as if u stole some of ma scrilla
Don't test me because if you do, I'll treat you as if you stole some of my money.
Even though I took a loss young soul loves you
Although I took a loss, I still love you Edie.
I peepin hella punks plottin
I notice many people plotting against me these days.
They probly can tell u exactly when I go to bed
They may have all the information about everything I do, including when I go to bed.
Puttin bullet holes up in me with some fat 9s no time to die coz I can almost hear the flat lines
Punks are shooting me and I cannot die because I can still hear my heartbeats.
Tell ma sisters I love em, ---- & jeanette
Tell my sisters ---- and Jeanette that I love them.
Where you from soul dawg?? West side nigga!!
Where are you from, Soul Dawg? West Side, Nigga!
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MimoTupac
2Pac, The REAL West Coast King! 🔥
This beat is produced by me, check out this and many more beats on my beats channel (Description)
Discord: https://discord.gg/2pac
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/mimotupac
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https://teespring.com/stores/dj-mimo-merchandise-2
Support me on patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/mimotupac
@MimoTupac
2Pac, The REAL West Coast King! 🔥
This beat is produced by me, check out this and many more beats on my beats channel (Description)
Discord: https://discord.gg/2pac
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/mimotupac
Dj Mimo Merchandise:
https://teespring.com/stores/dj-mimo-merchandise-2
Support me on patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/mimotupac
@mimobeats
You can find this beat and many more on this channel!
@thatomofolo452
@@mimobeats
@HipHopNationMusic
yep bro!🔥💪💯
@2packarbuocesann734
C'est puissant !!!!
@MihaiLeonardoNiculescu
Hoping for another hype inducing banger, like Thug Life feat Biggie and 50 Cent Run New York
@Thug.Theory
Very dope mix. Your beats are getting better. Keep it up 🔥💯
@MimoTupac
Thanks G!🙏💪🏽
@oscalylopez9535
2 Pack Gangstar King,💪
@GMIXd0_0b
dopee 🔥