Outlaw is an acronym for Operating Under Thug Laws As Warriors. In the Earlier years of the Outlawz they were known as Dramacydal. Dramacydal first appeared on the 2Pac's 1995 Me Against the World album, the Outlawz were on the title track "Me Against The World" & "Outlaw". Dramacydal was composed of:
* K-Dog - Later name changed to Kastro
* Young Hollywood - Later name changed to Yaki Kadafi
* Big Malcolm - Later name changed to E.D.I. Mean
When he signed to Death Row upon his release from prison, Shakur recruited his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur and Big Syke. Bruce Washington and Mutah Beale were also added, and together they formed the original lineup, which debuted on 2Pac's multi-platinum smash All Eyez on Me , on the song "When We Ride ". Other times members of the Outlawz appear on the record, they are still credited as "Dramacydal".
The idea behind the group was for each member to have a rap name coinciding with the names of various tyrants or enemies of America, past and present.
* Tupac Shakur, stage name 2Pac, was the leader of the group, and gave himself the title of Makaveli after Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli; his was the only pseudonym which wasn't taken from a dictator, though Machiavelli was a philosopher for dictatorship.
* Yaki Kadafi, Real name Yafeu Fula, Godbrother and childhood friend of 2Pac, was given the name Yaki Kadafi after Lybian Colonel Gadaffi.
* Kastro, Real name Katari Cox, Cousin of 2Pac, was given the alias Kastro after Cuban president Fidel Castro.
* E.D.I. Mean, Real Name Malcolm Greenridge, was given the alias E.D.I. Mean after Ugandian president Idi Amin.
* Hussein Fatal, Real Name Bruce Washington, Introduced to 2pac by childhood friend Yaki Kadafi, given the name Hussein Fatal after former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
* Napoleon, Real Name Mutah Beale, Childhood friend of Kadafi, was given the name Napoleon after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
* Mussolini, Real name Tyruss Himes. Previously known as Big Syke. Was in 2Pac's first group, Thug Life. Joined the Outlawz under the alias Mussolini, after former Italian president Benito Mussolini.
* Komani, Real name Mopreme Shakur. Tupac's stepbrother and previously in 2Pac's first group, Thug Life. Joined the Outlawz under the alias Komani, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
* Young Noble, Last official member.
Lost Souls
2Pac & The Outlawz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Tupac]
Cause I hate to spend
My life, my life, my life, my life
Duckin one-time! (Lost Soul)
How it start, how it start
Started off with, runnin from copses duck and hide from helicopters
We open fire, who can stop us
Gettin twenty-five to life, if the judge don't like us
In my clearest pictures, I see authorities itchin to get us
ATF state feds scandalous bitches
I wasn't promised to it, wasn't bitter or sweet
See if a, nigga don't hustle then the nigga don't eat
Only streets livin do or die circle complete
Repetitive motions and felons in the rush for cheese
Please understand my history a man of many acts
Livin Thug Life, comin equipped, with many gats
Maybe I was just a Lost Soul, trapped in time
Livin in between life, and the cracks were blind
Even though we had hope for dreams that never came
Yet and still we all feel pain
Just wait until rain turn to sunshine
Cause I hate to spend, my life, my life, my life, my life
Duckin one-time! Stranded in the County in the worst way
Hell of a way to spend my twenty-first birthday
Born in the ghetto as a street thug
It's for the neighborhood and weed spots that we love
Lost Souls...
Lost Souls nigga, for my homeboys that passed on
Words from the mind of a Lost Soul
Just wait until rain turn to sunshine
Cause I hate to spend, my life, my life, my life, my life
Duckin one-time!
[Young Noble]
My brother Sean, first on my list, he stuck with
a three-five when he get out would I be dead or alive
He taught me the rules so much, but still In Thugs I Trust
When in danger never hesitate to keep my fuckin trap shut
My Mom Dukes got a little bit of Thug in her
The Devil loves sinners crackheads and drug dealer
Sometimes I feel like the streets are takin over
Never stayin sober, the brain over and over backtrack
My stack's fat, I used to take new
One love to my crew aiyyo this one's for you
[Tupac]
R.I.P., rest in peace to Moo Brown
Know what we gotta do baby, one-time
Just wait until rain turn to sunshine
Cause I hate to spend, my life, my life, my life, my life
Duckin one-time!
(repeat 2X)
One-time! One-time! One-time!
[Idi Amin]
I was born twenty-two years ago, yesterday
But see I saw no reason for me to celebrate, let me demonstrate
Entered the world from out a poisonous womb
Heroin bein consumed already predicitin my doom, soon
to be one of the many misguided
Always the first one on the block to be done tried it and liked it
Lost before I had a chance to find my way
Now I travel through life, not knowin the time of day
Crime for pay, I'm on my way, but don't know, where I'ma end up
I swear to God, it's just a setup
And these are the words from the mind of a Lost Soul (I'ma Lost Soul)
[Tupac]
Just wait until rain turn to sunshine
Cause I hate to spend, my life, my life, my life, my life
Duckin one-time!
(repeat 8X)
All of y'all, keepin y'all in health
To all of y'all, keepin y'all in health
Just to see you smile and enjoy yourself
(repeat 2X)
For all my Doggz, keepin y'all in health
Just to see you smile and enjoy yourself
(repeat 3X)
Throw your hands up (4X to fade)
The song "Lost Souls" by 2Pac & The Outlawz is a powerful song that discusses the harsh realities of living a life of crime and violence. The lyrics describe the start of the 'thug life' and how it begins with running from cops and hiding from helicopters, to ultimately facing long prison sentences. The song also touches on the pain and loss of friends who have passed away due to this lifestyle, leaving the remaining 'lost souls' to navigate their path through life not knowing the time of day or where they will end up. Overall, the song is a stark reminder of the consequences of living a life of crime and the need for positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
Cause I hate to spend
I don't want my life to be wasted
My life, my life, my life, my life
I want to make the most of my life
Duckin one-time! (Lost Soul)
Avoiding being caught by the police
How it start, how it start
Reflecting on how everything began
Started off with, runnin from copses
My life of running from the law began with trying to avoid being caught by the police
duck and hide from helicopters
Trying to evade the police who are actively looking for me
We open fire, who can stop us
We fight back against the police who seem to be against us
Livin the life of trife juveniles, hopin for righteous
Living a life of trouble and hoping to be redeemed
Gettin twenty-five to life, if the judge don't like us
We can get a harsh punishment if the judge doesn't like us
In my clearest pictures, I see authorities itchin to get us
I feel like the police are always trying to catch us
ATF state feds scandalous bitches
The authorities who are supposed to protect us can be corrupt and dishonest
I wasn't promised to it, wasn't bitter or sweet
I didn't choose this life, it wasn't good or bad
See if a, nigga don't hustle then the nigga don't eat
If I don't work hard, I won't be able to survive
Only streets livin do or die circle complete
Surviving on the streets is a life and death situation
Repetitive motions and felons in the rush for cheese
Doing the same things over and over again just to get money and some people are willing to commit crimes for it
Please understand my history a man of many acts
Understand that I have lived a life of different experiences
Livin Thug Life, comin equipped, with many gats
I have accepted the life of a thug and have guns to protect myself
Maybe I was just a Lost Soul, trapped in time
Maybe I was lost and couldn't find my way in life
Livin in between life, and the cracks were blind
Living a life that's hidden from society
Even though we had hope for dreams that never came
We had hopes and dreams that never came true
Yet and still we all feel pain
We all experience pain regardless of our hopes and dreams not becoming true
Stranded in the County in the worst way
Being stuck in the county jail in a terrible situation
Hell of a way to spend my twenty-first birthday
Spending twenty-first birthday in jail is a bad experience.
Born in the ghetto as a street thug
I was born in the ghetto and I have known a life of a thug
It's for the neighborhood and weed spots that we love
It's the community we care for and places we habituate that we like
Lost Souls...
We are lost and cannot seem to find our way
for my homeboys that passed on
For my friends who are no longer with us
Words from the mind of a Lost Soul
These are my thoughts from someone who is lost
My brother Sean, first on my list, he stuck with
My first concern is for my brother Sean who is in jail with me
a three-five when he get out would I be dead or alive
He has a life sentence, and I worry if I'd be alive or not by the time he's out
He taught me the rules so much, but still In Thugs I Trust
Even though my brother taught me how to survive on the streets, I cannot trust anyone but my fellow thugs
When in danger never hesitate to keep my fuckin trap shut
If in a dangerous situation, must keep quiet and stay low
My Mom Dukes got a little bit of Thug in her
Even my mom is street-smart and knows how to survive in the ghetto
The Devil loves sinners crackheads and drug dealer
The devil likes to corrupt and use people who already have problems, like drug addicts and dealers
Sometimes I feel like the streets are takin over
Sometimes I feel like the streets are taking over my life
Never stayin sober, the brain over and over backtrack
I don't stay sober and my mind keeps going back to the same thoughts
My stack's fat, I used to take new
I have a lot of money and used to indulge in drugs
One love to my crew aiyyo this one's for you
This is a shout out to my crew, this is dedicated to you
Rest in peace to Moo Brown
Moo Brown, one of our crew members, rest in peace
Know what we gotta do baby, one-time
We got to move on, one time
I was born twenty-two years ago, yesterday
I was born twenty-two years ago yesterday
But see I saw no reason for me to celebrate, let me demonstrate
I have no reason to celebrate my birthday, let me explain
Entered the world from out a poisonous womb
I was born to a mother who was addicted to drugs
Heroin bein consumed already predicitin my doom, soon
My mother consumed heroin and I was in trouble right from the start
to be one of the many misguided
Being one of the many who are lost and hopeless
Always the first one on the block to be done tried it and liked it
I was always the first to try new things and became addicted to them
Lost before I had a chance to find my way
I am lost and never had a chance to find my way
Now I travel through life, not knowin the time of day
Now, I'm just drifting through life without direction
Crime for pay, I'm on my way, but don't know, where I'ma end up
Resorting to crime to make a living and still don't know where I will end up
I swear to God, it's just a setup
I think it's all a game and an unfair setup
All of y'all, keepin y'all in health
Wishing everyone well and healthy
Just to see you smile and enjoy yourself
I just want to see everyone happy and enjoying their lives
For all my Doggz, keepin y'all in health
Wishing everyone from my crew well and healthy
Throw your hands up (4X to fade)
Celebrate and show your enthusiasm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID MARTIN FRANK, MALCOLM GREENIDGE, MICHAEL A. MURPHY, RUFUS LEE COOPER, SEAN C. THOMAS, TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikepierce7766
Pac music was so deep, Bro was the greatest to ever do it. It’s 2023 and you can still feel the passion he put in his lyrics rip 😢
@andrewrich6905
Pac's music is a cure for your soul...full of emotions!!!!
@TheStrengthHouse
thats what i always tell people who dont listen to pac. its like many packages filled with pure emotions
@manuginobilisbaldspot424
I've always said that's why he's my GOAT. Wasn't the best lyricist, didn't have the best flow, but no one ever made you feel what they were feeling about EVERYTHING more than Pac. Ever. When he was angry, you got angry. We he was happy, it made you happy rappin' along. He's the pathos of hip hop...the emotional soul. And everyone's that's 1/2 way decent has been trying tap in to that ever since.
@Gnrz45
Amen
@ahriandavhian5642
Every single time.......the amount of stuff he's gotten me through is chilling
@ahriandavhian5642
And why do people say he wasn't the best lyricist??? He didn't have a dope flow??? Have y'all even listened to all his music?? Tupac was lyrically genius.
@JJB855
20th century Shakespeare, this song is a true masterpiece.
@TraceyEasterPhotography
Yes indeed and I'd rather listen to Pac than read Shakespeare 🤣🤣🤣
@herodinero
@luke assad pac was pac , he would of been the same whenever , just got company on the way to ride with him🙌🏽