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.
Who Do You Believe In
2Pac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heavenly Father, hear a nigga down here
Before I go to sleep
Tell me, who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
I see mothers in black cryin', brothers in packs dyin'
Plus everybody's high, too doped up to ask why
It's like we don't believe in God 'cause we livin' in sin
I asked my homie on the block why he strapped, he laughed
Pointed his pistol as the cop car passed and blast
It's just another murder, nobody mourns no more
My tear drops gettin' bigger but can't figure what I'm cryin' for
Is it the miniature caskets, little babies
Victims of a stray, from drug dealers gone crazy
Maybe it's just the drugs, visions of how the block was
Crack came and it was strange how it rocked us
Perhaps the underlyin' fact stay high explain genocide
It's when we ride on our own kind
What is it we all fear, reflections in the mirror
We can't escape fate, the end is gettin' nearer
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Can't close my eyes 'cause all I see is terror
I hate the man in the mirror
'Cause his reflection makes the pain turn realer
Times of Armageddon, murder in mass amounts
In this society where only gettin' the cash counts
I started out as a beginner
Entered the criminal lifestyle became a sinner
I make my money and vacate, evade prison
Went from the chosen one to outcast, unforgiven
And all the Hennessey and weed can't hide, the pain I feel inside
You know, it's like I'm livin' just to die
I fall on my knees and beg for mercy, not knowin' if I'm worthy
Livin' life thinkin' no man can hurt me
So I'm askin', before I lay me down to sleep
Before you judge me, look at all the shit you did to me, my misery
I rose up from the slums, made it out the flames
In my search for fame will I change? I'm askin'
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Faith in Allah, believe in me and this plastic
'Cause so far I done witnessed to many dead niggas in caskets
With they chest plates stretched like elastic
And what's worse I'm on front line, holdin' down camp, still mashin'
Heard my cousin, one of the old heads from the block
Just came home October of '95 back in Yardsville stuck
with a three to five, if he don't act up, now he realize
If you don't stay wise, then in this game you fucked
Talk to my baby girl, give me the word on what she heard
One of the grimmies is snitchin', Diamond a stool pigeon I talked to him
He said he didn't, my man said he did, in fact he's sure
Cause he just came home off of bail
Now tell me
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
Is it Buddha, Jehovah, or Jah? Or Allah?
Is it Jesus? Is it God? Or is just yourself?
definitely not to be imposed, being a demon
Because this is the joy of believing!
Men, to believe in yourselves
But for sure, the higher power
Resides only to ride in the heart of the true
From the soul, of the man, for truth never has an alibi
In the poetry, or in it's realm
That's what pulls all words together
Just to understand, that every man, is his own man
And only man can satisfy the man
Only the soul of the man, the feelings of the man
The for realness of the man
You can't shake the man when you feel the man you know the man
And you gotta call yourself because you are that man
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
(Blessed and still breathin' even though it's hard)
Who do you believe in? Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God,(before I'm leavin') even though it's hard
(I'm askin') Before I'm leavin I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
Blessed and still breathin' (oh blessed)
Before I'm leavin' I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
Blessed and still breathin'
That's who I believe in
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Who do you believe in?
Who do you believe in?
The lyrics of 2Pac's "Who Do U Believe In" deal with the subject of faith, belief and trust. The song starts with a prayer to God to hear the singer's plea. The first verse talks about societal issues such as people being too consumed by drugs to care about the bigger picture, and how our own downfall seems to be the end result of not believing in God's plan. The second verse talks about the singer's personal troubles, such as seeing terror all around him, feeling like a sinner, and struggling to understand why he is in so much pain. The song ends on a philosophical note about man's inherent nature to be his own savior and trust his instincts, despite the existence of a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
Let us pray
Beginning with a prayer to God
Heavenly Father, hear a nigga down here
Asking God to hear his plea as someone who is suffering
Before I go to sleep
Asking God before he goes to sleep
Tell me, who do you believe in?
Asking God who he believes in and seeking guidance
Who do you believe in?
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
I see mothers in black cryin', brothers in packs dyin'
Observing the tragedy of death and mourning in his community
Plus everybody's high, too doped up to ask why
Noticing how drug use is numbing people's emotions and preventing them from questioning their circumstances
Watchin' our own downfall, witness the end
Seeing how their community is self-destructing and heading towards a grim future
It's like we don't believe in God 'cause we livin' in sin
Suggesting that their sinful, destructive behavior is responsible for God's seeming absence in their lives
I asked my homie on the block why he strapped, he laughed
Questioning why his friend is carrying a gun and getting an unsettling, dismissive response
Pointed his pistol as the cop car passed and blast
Demonstrating how his friend acts on his aggression by attacking the police
It's just another murder, nobody mourns no more
Showing how death and violence has desensitized people to such an extent that they no longer mourn the victims
My tear drops gettin' bigger but can't figure what I'm cryin' for
Feeling overwhelmed with sadness but unable to articulate the source of his pain
Is it the miniature caskets, little babies
Wondering if his sorrow stems from seeing small coffins carrying children's bodies
Victims of a stray, from drug dealers gone crazy
Blaming drug traffickers for the widespread violence and death in his community
Maybe it's just the drugs, visions of how the block was
Speculating that his drug use may be affecting his perceptions and memories of his neighborhood
Crack came and it was strange how it rocked us
Reflecting on how the introduction of crack cocaine had disastrous consequences for their community
Perhaps the underlyin' fact stay high explain genocide
Offering a theory that drug addiction is partially responsible for the destruction of his community
It's when we ride on our own kind
Condemning the violence and murder of people in their own community
What is it we all fear, reflections in the mirror
Questioning what they're all afraid of and acknowledging how self-reflection can provoke anxiety
We can't escape fate, the end is gettin' nearer
Recognizing that death is inevitable and drawing closer
I put my faith in God, blessed and still breathin'
Expressing his trust in God and gratitude for still being alive
And even though it's hard, that's who I believe in
Stating that despite challenges, he continues to place his faith in God
Before I'm leavin', I'm askin' the grievin'
Before he dies, asking those who mourn him to consider his perspective
Can't close my eyes 'cause all I see is terror
Unable to sleep because of frightening visions and memories
I hate the man in the mirror
Expressing self-loathing and condemning his own behavior
'Cause his reflection makes the pain turn realer
Explaining that seeing his own reflection intensifies his emotional pain
Times of Armageddon, murder in mass amounts
Describing the apocalyptic state of their community, with widespread violence
In this society where only gettin' the cash counts
Commenting on the materialistic values of their society, in which gaining wealth is the only important thing
I started out as a beginner
Acknowledging his humble origins and inexperience
Entered the criminal lifestyle became a sinner
Admitting to a life of crime and immoral behavior
I make my money and vacate, evade prison
Describing his tactics for making money and avoiding the law
Went from the chosen one to outcast, unforgiven
Expressing regret for his actions, which led to him being shunned and ostracized from his community
And all the Hennessey and weed can't hide, the pain I feel inside
Recognizing that drugs and alcohol can't numb the emotional pain he feels inside
You know, it's like I'm livin' just to die
Feeling hopeless and as though his life has no purpose
I fall on my knees and beg for mercy, not knowin' if I'm worthy
Praying for forgiveness and feeling unworthy of redemption
Livin' life thinkin' no man can hurt me
Confident that he is invincible and unable to be hurt
So I'm askin', before I lay me down to sleep
Asking God for clarity and guidance before he dies
Before you judge me, look at all the shit you did to me, my misery
Justifying his own behavior by pointing out that others have wronged him and contributed to his misery
I rose up from the slums, made it out the flames
Describing how he overcame poverty and hardship
In my search for fame will I change? I'm askin'
Wondering if he will compromise his values or identity in order to become famous
Faith in Allah, believe in me and this plastic
Stating that he has faith in God and in himself as represented by his music
'Cause so far I done witnessed to many dead niggas in caskets
Reflecting on the many deaths he has seen in his community
With they chest plates stretched like elastic
Describing the gruesome scene of violent deaths with graphic detail
And what's worse I'm on front line, holdin' down camp, still mashin'
Admitting to being part of the problem and still being involved in violent behavior
Heard my cousin, one of the old heads from the block
Referencing a family member who is well-respected in the community
Just came home October of '95 back in Yardsville stuck
Explaining that his cousin has recently been released from prison
with a three to five, if he don't act up, now he realize
Describing his cousin's situation, that he has a shorter prison sentence if he behaves well while on probation
If you don't stay wise, then in this game you fucked
Warning others that if they aren't careful, they too will end up in prison or worse
Talk to my baby girl, give me the word on what she heard
Asking his daughter for information about the streets and what she has heard
One of the grimmies is snitchin', Diamond a stool pigeon I talked to him
Revealing that someone is informing to the police and acknowledging that he spoke with this person
He said he didn't, my man said he did, in fact he's sure
Hearing conflicting information about someone being a snitch
Cause he just came home off of bail
Speculating that the person in question may have been released from jail on bail recently
Now tell me
Asking for feedback or input from others
Is it Buddha, Jehovah, or Jah? Or Allah?
Listing different religious figures and questioning which one people believe in
Is it Jesus? Is it God? Or is just yourself?
Asking if people rely on themselves or a higher power
Definitely not to be imposed, being a demon
Rejecting the idea of being a persecuted and demonized figure
Because this is the joy of believing!
Emphasizing the importance and happiness of believing in something
Men, to believe in yourselves
Encouraging people to have faith in themselves
But for sure, the higher power
Acknowledging the importance of a higher power
Resides only to ride in the heart of the true
Suggesting that true believers will have God in their hearts
From the soul, of the man, for truth never has an alibi
Stating that truth doesn't need to be justified
In the poetry, or in its realm
Acknowledging that this truth can be expressed in various art forms
That's what pulls all words together
Explaining that truth unifies all expressions and words
Just to understand, that every man, is his own man
Stating that everyone has their own individuality
And only man can satisfy the man
Explaining that each person needs to find their own satisfaction and fulfillment
Only the soul of the man, the feelings of the man
Suggesting that emotions and spirituality are what give life meaning
The for realness of the man
Asserting the importance of authenticity and sincerity
You can't shake the man when you feel the man you know the man
Stating that you can recognize and understand someone's true essence
And you gotta call yourself because you are that man
Encouraging people to understand and define themselves
(Blessed and still breathin' even though it's hard)
Repeating a previous line to emphasize gratitude for still being alive
Who do you believe in? Who do you believe in?
Repeating the central question of the song for emphasis
I put my faith in God, (before I'm leavin') even though it's hard
Reaffirming his faith in God despite difficulties and struggles
(I'm askin') Before I'm leavin' I'm askin' the grievin',
Asking people who mourn him to consider the message and meaning of his song
Blessed and still breathin' (oh blessed)
Expressing gratitude for still being alive and blessed
Before I'm leavin' I'm askin' the grievin'
Asking people who mourn him to consider the message and meaning of his song
Blessed and still breathin'
Repeating the previous line to emphasize gratitude for still being alive
That's who I believe in
Affirming his faith in God
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YAFEU FULA, JOHNNY LEE JACKSON, TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR, JASON KAY, TOBY SMITH, DWIGHT DELEMOND WILLIAMS
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