Be The Realist
2Pac feat. The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics


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[GUNSHOT]
Yo Redd Spyder (ooh-wee) is that 50 Cent/Pac joint ready?
[gun cocking] Let me know, holla
[Tupac - from the song "Smile"]
There's gon' be some stuff you gon' see
That's gon' make it hard to smile in the future
[50 Cent]
Yeah nigga! Ha ha
Let's go nigga, this is what it is
Tupac cut his head bald
Then you wanna cut yo' head bald (you PUSSY nigga!)
Tupac wear a bandana
You wan' wear a bandana
Tupac put a cross on his back
You wanna put crosses on yo' back
Nigga you ain't Tupac - THIS Tupac!
[Verse One: Tupac]
Is it, money or women to funny beginnings, tragic endings
I can make a million and STILL not get enough of spending
And since my life is based on sinnin, I'm hellbound
Rather be buried than be worried, livin held down
My game plan to be trained and, military
Mind of a Thug Lord, sittin in the cemetary
Caught, I've been lost since my adolescence, callin to Jesus
Ballin as a youngster, wonderin if he sees us
Young black male, crack sales got me three strikes
Livin in jail, this is hell, enemies die
Wonder when we all pass is anybody listenin?
Got my, hands on my semi shotty, everybody's bitchin
Please God can you understand me, bless my family
Guide us all, before we fall into insanity
I make it a point, to make my peep bumpin warlike
Drop some shit, to have these stupid bitches jaws tight.
[Chorus: 50 Cent + (Tupac)]
'Til Makaveli returns, it's +All Eyez On Me+
(What do we have here NOWWW?)
And you can hate it or love it, but that's what it's gon' be
{oooooooooohhhh}
You shoulda listened, I told you not to fuck with me
(What do we have here NOWWW?)
Now can you take the pressure, that's what we gon' see
[click clack, GUNSHOT]
[Verse Two: 50 Cent]
Now since you're cryin for mercy I promise
My success'll be the death of you
Lo and behold you sold your soul
Nigga there's nuttin left of you
Look in the mirror, ask yourself who are you?
If you don't know who you are, how could your dreams come true?
Motherfucker, I sat back and watched
You pretended to be 'Pac, you pretended to be hot
But you're not (NOWWWW) - I see it so clear
You can't take the pressure, you pussy
I warned you not to push me
You see me and chills run up your spine
Hardly even in the same war, but your heart ain't like mine
Press, they look at me like I'm a menace
I was playin with guns
while your momma had your punk ass playin tennis
I'm a nightmare, you see me when you dream
Wake up, turn on your TV and see my ass again
You cowardly hearted, you couldn't make it on your own
Fuck THE SOURCE, I'm on cover of Rolling Stone
(YOU PUSSY!)
[Chorus]
G-G-G-G-Unit!




[Chorus]
[gunshot]

Overall Meaning

The song "Be The Realist" by 2Pac feat. The Notorious B.I.G. is a confrontation of two rival rappers, 2Pac and 50 Cent. The song begins with a gunshot and a conversation between 2Pac's producer and another person about the readiness of the joint they produced together. Tupac then starts his verse by saying that life is full of ups and downs, and he is addicted to spending money. He admits that his life is sinful and that he is on a path to hell. He reminisces about his childhood, his time in jail, and his enemies, questioning if anyone is listening. 50 Cent takes over the next verse, saying that his success will be the death of his enemies. He warns his rival about his toughness and how he has sold his soul to pretend to be like Tupac.


The song is based on a beef between Tupac and 50 Cent. Tupac's verse is a reflection of his life and how his choices and sins have led him to where he is. 50 Cent's verse is a direct attack on Tupac's character, with the intention of questioning his authenticity. The song is a confrontation, with each rapper trying to prove that he is realer than the other. It is also a display of bravado and toughness, two traits that are essential in the world of rap.


Line by Line Meaning

[GUNSHOT]
Opening sound effect indicating the start of the song.


Yo Redd Spyder (ooh-wee) is that 50 Cent/Pac joint ready?
Asking Redd Spyder if a song by 50 Cent and Tupac is ready for release.


[gun cocking] Let me know, holla
Cocking a gun and telling Redd Spyder to contact him when the song is ready.


There's gon' be some stuff you gon' see That's gon' make it hard to smile in the future
Tupac warns that life will have difficult and tragic moments which will make it hard to be happy in the future.


Yeah nigga! Ha ha Let's go nigga, this is what it is Tupac cut his head bald Then you wanna cut yo' head bald (you PUSSY nigga!) Tupac wear a bandana You wan' wear a bandana Tupac put a cross on his back You wanna put crosses on yo' back Nigga you ain't Tupac - THIS Tupac!
50 Cent taunts an imposter by pointing out that they are copying Tupac's style, but they are not actually Tupac himself.


Is it, money or women to funny beginnings, tragic endings I can make a million and STILL not get enough of spending And since my life is based on sinnin, I'm hellbound Rather be buried than be worried, livin held down
Tupac questions whether money or women are the root of his problems, and recognizes that his life of sinning will lead him to hell. He would rather die than continue to feel trapped and worried.


My game plan to be trained and, military Mind of a Thug Lord, sittin in the cemetary Caught, I've been lost since my adolescence, callin to Jesus Ballin as a youngster, wonderin if he sees us
Tupac sees himself as a soldier and criminal mastermind, waiting to die in a cemetery. He has been lost since he was young and he is hoping for guidance from Jesus. He was successful at a young age but wonders if God is watching over him.


Young black male, crack sales got me three strikes Livin in jail, this is hell, enemies die Wonder when we all pass is anybody listenin? Got my, hands on my semi shotty, everybody's bitchin
Tupac feels that he has been unfairly punished due to his race and drug dealing. He is wondering if anyone will remember him once he dies, and is prepared to use violence to defend himself.


Please God can you understand me, bless my family Guide us all, before we fall into insanity I make it a point, to make my peep bumpin warlike Drop some shit, to have these stupid bitches jaws tight.
Tupac pleads with God to protect and guide his family, and prevent them from going crazy. He wants to make music that will energize people and make them feel aggressive, even if some people find it offensive.


'Til Makaveli returns, it's +All Eyez On Me+ (What do we have here NOWWW?) And you can hate it or love it, but that's what it's gon' be {oooooooooohhhh} You shoulda listened, I told you not to fuck with me (What do we have here NOWWW?) Now can you take the pressure, that's what we gon' see
The chorus references Tupac's alter ego Makaveli and emphasizes that Tupac is the one to watch. Listeners can either like or dislike his music but it will still be successful. Tupac warned his enemies to not challenge him but they didn't listen. Now they will see if they have what it takes to handle the pressure of dealing with him.


[click clack, GUNSHOT]
Sound effect of a gun being loaded and fired, indicating violence.


Now since you're cryin for mercy I promise My success'll be the death of you Lo and behold you sold your soul Nigga there's nuttin left of you Look in the mirror, ask yourself who are you? If you don't know who you are, how could your dreams come true?
50 Cent claims that his success will ultimately kill his enemies who are begging for mercy. He accuses them of selling their soul and having no identity. If someone does not know who they are, they will never achieve their dreams.


Motherfucker, I sat back and watched You pretended to be 'Pac, you pretended to be hot But you're not (NOWWWW) - I see it so clear You can't take the pressure, you pussy I warned you not to push me
50 Cent admits to watching his enemies copy Tupac's style and act like they are important. He claims that he saw through their façade and recognizes that they cannot handle the pressure. He warned them not to challenge him but they did anyway.


You see me and chills run up your spine Hardly even in the same war, but your heart ain't like mine Press, they look at me like I'm a menace I was playin with guns while your momma had your punk ass playin tennis
50 Cent says that his enemies are scared of him and he has a stronger heart than them. The press portrays him as dangerous but he thinks it's silly. He played with guns while his enemies were playing tennis, meaning he had a rougher upbringing than they did.


I'm a nightmare, you see me when you dream Wake up, turn on your TV and see my ass again You cowardly hearted, you couldn't make it on your own Fuck THE SOURCE, I'm on cover of Rolling Stone (YOU PUSSY!)
50 Cent claims that he is so scary that his enemies see him in their nightmares, and they continue to see him on TV when they are awake. He insults his enemies and says that they cannot succeed on their own. He prefers the recognition from Rolling Stone over The Source magazine.


[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the song's main message.


G-G-G-G-Unit!
The outro is a chant representing 50 Cent's group, G-Unit.


[Chorus]
The final refrain of the chorus, repeating the song's main message one last time.


[gunshot]
The song ends with a sound effect of a gunshot, emphasizing the violent themes throughout the song.




Contributed by Leah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Ero702

Notorious B.I.G.]
Split the dutches fill it with the skunk we about to
Get wicked in the joint uh Notorious is glorious
Niggas now who's the mind blower, the weed grower
Have you seeing doubles like Noah, the rhyme flower
B.I.G. top notch with the Glock check your pockets
And your sock it's just the way my pops taught me
When you throw the drop check em thoroughly
The bastard might spin around and try to bury me
And dead niggas don't make no moves
When I'm slingin in the hood I don't fake no moves aight
Reminiscin on my swingin days
When I drove a Caddy and my bitch sported finger waves
Yea she had the Gucci boots I had Sarducci suits
Oshkosh-begosh Coca-Cola lookin real cute
Junior M.A.F.I.A. representin Bucktown
Mac-11 cocked back niggas better duck down
Face down you know the routine the cream
Earrings you know the drama Biggie bring

2Pac]
How should I plead forever thuggin on a quest to get G's
Runnin from enemies ever since the days of a seed
I'm under pressure the stress will have me drinkin
Thinkin niggas after me much too paranoid to blink
Wonder why the police don't want to see me stackin G's
They after a playa but I won't let em capture me
I gotta thank the lord for the weed and the nicotine
I can't sleep close my eyes I see wicked deams (deamons)
I keep my pistol by my bedside one in the chamber
Preoccupied with homocide my life's in danger
Rollin down the four-five beware of stangers
Hand on my 4-5 that's what the fame does
I'm probably wrong but I'll never know it till I'm gone
From out the gutter where the jealous motherfuckers roam
Pass the weed let that Hennessey get to me
Before the penitentiary



@jakelongstaff4102

[Verse 1: Notorious B.I.G.]
Split the dutches fill it with the skunk we about to
Get wicked in the joint uh Notorious is glorious
Niggas now who's the mind blower, the weed grower
Have you seeing doubles like Noah, the rhyme flower
B.I.G. top notch with the Glock check your pockets
And your sock it's just the way my pops taught me
When you throw the drop check em thoroughly
The bastard might spin around and try to bury me
And dead niggas don't make no moves
When I'm slingin in the hood I don't fake no moves aight
Reminiscin on my swingin days
When I drove a Caddy and my bitch sported finger waves
Yea she had the Gucci boots I had Sarducci suits
Oshkosh-begosh Coca-Cola lookin real cute
Junior M.A.F.I.A. representin Bucktown
Mac-11 cocked back niggas better duck down
Face down you know the routine the cream
Earrings you know the drama Biggie bring

[2Pac]
How should I plead forever thuggin on a quest to get G's
Runnin from enemies ever since the days of a seed
I'm under pressure the stress will have me drinkin
Thinkin niggas after me much too paranoid to blink
Wonder why the police don't want to see me stackin G's
They after a playa but I won't let em capture me
I gotta thank the lord for the weed and the nicotine
I can't sleep close my eyes I see wicked deams (deamons)
I keep my pistol by my bedside one in the chamber
Preoccupied with homocide my life's in danger
Rollin down the four-five beware of stangers
Hand on my 4-5 that's what the fame does
I'm probably wrong but I'll never know it till I'm gone
From out the gutter where the jealous motherfuckers roam
Pass the weed let that Hennessey get to me
Before the penitentiary



@bober4ik36

Split the dutches fill it with the skunk we about to
Get wicked in the joint uh Notorious is glorious
cough, cough
Niggas now who's the mind blower, the weed grower
Have you seeing doubles like Noah, the rhyme flower
B.I.G. top notch with the Glock check your pockets
And your sock it's just the way my pops taught me
When you throw the drop check em thoroughly
The bastard might spin around and try to bury me
And dead niggas don't make no moves
When I'm slingin in the hood I don't fake no moves aight
Reminiscin on my swingin days
When I drove a Caddy and my bitch sported finger waves
Yea she had the Gucci boots I had Sarducci suits
Oshkosh-begosh Coca-Cola lookin real cute
Junior M.A.F.I.A. representin Bucktown
Mac-11 cocked back niggas better duck down
Face down you know the routine the cream
Earrings you know the drama Biggie bring

How should I plead forever thuggin on a quest to get G's
Runnin from enemies ever since the days of a seed
I'm under pressure the stress will have me drinkin
Thinkin niggas after me much too paranoid to blink
Wonder why the police don't want to see me stackin G's
They after a playa but I won't let em capture me
I gotta thank the lord for the weed and the nicotine
I can't sleep close my eyes I see wicked deams (deamons)
I keep my pistol by my bedside one in the chamber
Preoccupied with homocide my life's in danger
Rollin down the four-five beware of stangers
Hand on my 4-5 that's what the fame does
I'm probably wrong but I'll never know it till I'm gone
From out the ghetto where the jealous motherfuckers roam
Pass the weed let that Hennessey get to me



All comments from YouTube:

@ChloefileFIN

If they've stayed friends, we'd have nothing else than good rap today... RIP Tupac & BIG <3

@jezzter4106

I can't even imagine how it would have went down if the beef between Pac and Biggie never happened. The collaboration between the two would have been bigger than Death Row. It would have shaped the history of hip Hop in a completely different way. These two together are turnt the fuck up!!

@ammarizvandiar5374

theyd both be on drink champs

@4upacfan

2PAC = 2 Program, And Control. It was all planned, thats why he knew he was gona die, same reason biggie released "ready to die" and "life after death" It is a CIA plot to control a generation, strip rights, and destroy black homes. He is still alive as Akil the MC. I was obsessed with 2pac until I turned 36 and a friend joined an agency I cant name.. He showed me proof he lives

@jadekissling

Another great Tupac & Biggie collaboration!!!

@kayabauer1731

S i m p l y l e g e n d s!!! Always on top. Always heart touching, always gold.

@nicollas8299

The best rappers in history🔥🔥

@luchinny86

PAC and BIGGIE'S the best RAPPER OF THE hystory!!

@josefbosef5668

Faxx

@tylerdurden8655

Don't forget X bro. Pac Biggie Dmx 3 of the realist to do it. Stood for what they believed in

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