How Do You Want It
2 Pac (Feat K-Ci & JoJo) Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

How do you want it?
How does it feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
How do you want it? (yeah)
How do you feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real

Love the way you activate your hips and push your ass out
Got a nigga wantin' it so bad I'm 'bout to pass out
Wanna dig you and I can't even lie about it
Baby, just alleviate your clothes, time to fly up out it
Catch you at a club, oh, shit you got me fiendin'
Body talkin' shit to me but I can't comprehend the meaning
Now if you wanna roll with me, then here's your chance
Doin' eighty on the freeway, police, catch me if you can
Forgive me, I'm a rider, still, I'm just a simple man
All I want is money, fuck the fame, I'm a simple man
Mr. International, player with the passport
Just like Aladdin, bitch, get you anything you ask for
It's either him or me, champagne, Hennessy
A favorite of my homies when we floss on our enemies
Witness as we creep to a low speed, peep what a ho need
Puff some mo' weed, funk, ya don't need
Approachin' hoochies with a passion, been a long day
But I've been driven by attraction in a strong way
Your body is bangin', baby, I love it when you flaunt it
Time to give it to daddy, nigga, now tell me how you want it
(Tell me how you want it)

How do you want it?
How does it feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
How do you want it? (yeah)
How do you feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
I'm livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real

Tell me is it cool to fuck?
Did you think I come to talk? Am I a fool or what?
Positions on the floor, it's like erotic
Ironic 'cause I'm somewhat psychotic
I'm hittin' switches on bitches like I been fixed with hydraulics
Up and down like a roller coaster
I'm up inside ya, I ain't quittin' 'til the show is over
'Cause I'ma rider in and out just like a robbery
I'll probably be a freak and let you get on top of me
Get her rockin' knees
Nights full of Alizé, a livin' legend
You ain't heard about, these niggas play these Cali days
C. Delores Tucker, you's a motherfucker
Instead of tryin' to help a nigga, you destroy a brother
Worse than the others, Bill Clinton, Mr. Bob Dole
You're too old to understand the way the game's told
You're lame, so I gotta hit you with the hot facts
Once I'm released, I'm makin' millions, niggas top that
They wanna censor me, they'd rather see me in a cell
Livin' in hell, only a few of us'll live to tell
Now everybody talkin 'bout us, I could give a fuck
Like we the first ones to bomb and cuss
Nigga, tell me how you want it

How do you want it? (tell me)
How does it feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
How do you want it? (yeah)
How do you feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
I'm livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real

Raised as a youth, tell the truth, I got the scoop
On how to get a bulletproof, lickin' shots off on the roof
Before I was a teenager, mobile phone, SkyPager
Gang rules, I'm livin' major, my adversaries
Is lookin' worried, they paranoid of gettin' buried
One of us gon' see the cemetery
My only hope is survive, if I was to stay alive
Gettin' high, see the demons in my eyes before I die
I wanna live my life and ball, make a couple million
And then I'm chillin', fade 'em all
These taxes got me crossed up and people tryin' to sue me
Media is in my business and they actin' like they know me (hahaha)
But I'ma mash out and peel out
I'm with a clique that's quick to whip that fuckin' steel out
Yeah, nigga it's some new shit, so better get up on it
When you see me, tell a nigga how you want it
How do you want it?

How do you want it?
How does it feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
How do you want it? (yeah)
How do you feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real

How do you want it?
How does it feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
(How you want it?) How do you want it?
How do you feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game (yeah, my nigga, Johnny J)
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real (yeah)

How do you want it?
How does it feel?
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
How do you want it? (tell me)
How do you feel? (girl, I-I-I-I)
Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real

How do you want it?
How do you feel?




Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 2Pac's "How Do U Want It" feature the rapper reflecting on his life as a black man in the music industry. The song begins with 2Pac asking the listener how they want to live and feel, as he reflects on his own experiences coming up in the "cash game" as a black man. He then transitions to addressing a woman, expressing his desire for her and the way she moves her body. In the second verse, he discusses his aspirations for fame and fortune as a rapper, and his frustrations with political figures like C. Delores Tucker and Bill Clinton who attempt to censor him.


Overall, the song is a reflection on 2Pac's own experiences as a black man in America, grappling with issues of race, power, and sexuality.


Line by Line Meaning

How do you want it?
Asking the person how they want to be pleased or satisfied


How does it feel?
Asking the person how they feel about what is happening


Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Growing up as an African-American in a life filled with money and fame


Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
Living the life of money, fame, and fast-paced activities


Love the way you activate your hips and push your ass out
Appreciating the way the person moves their body


Got a nigga wantin' it so bad I'm 'bout to pass out
Being so turned on that it is overwhelming


Wanna dig you and I can't even lie about it
Admitting that the person is desired


Baby, just alleviate your clothes, time to fly up out it
Encouraging the person to take off their clothes and be free


Catch you at a club, oh, shit you got me fiendin'
Being very attracted to the person at a club


Body talkin' shit to me but I can't comprehend the meaning
The person's body language is sending mixed signals


Now if you wanna roll with me, then here's your chance
Giving the person the opportunity to spend time with the artist


Doin' eighty on the freeway, police, catch me if you can
Driving recklessly and challenging the police to catch the artist


Forgive me, I'm a rider, still, I'm just a simple man
Apologizing for being a risk-taker and admitting to being a straightforward person


All I want is money, fuck the fame, I'm a simple man
Desiring money over fame and being straightforward


Mr. International, player with the passport
Being a world traveler and having a passport to prove it


Just like Aladdin, bitch, get you anything you ask for
Being able to provide anything the person desires, like Aladdin's genie


It's either him or me, champagne, Hennessy
The person has to choose between the artist or another person and indulge in champagne and Hennessy drinks


A favorite of my homies when we floss on our enemies
Showing off wealth and success in front of enemies


Witness as we creep to a low speed, peep what a ho need
Watching as the artist creeps up to a slower speed and observes what the person wants


Puff some mo' weed, funk, ya don't need
Smoking more weed to further enjoy the experience


Approachin' hoochies with a passion, been a long day
Approaching women with passion after a long day


But I've been driven by attraction in a strong way
Being motivated by strong attraction to the person


Your body is bangin', baby, I love it when you flaunt it
Being very attracted to the person's body and enjoying when they show it off


Time to give it to daddy, nigga, now tell me how you want it
It is time to have sex and the artist is asking the person how they want it


I'm livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
Continuing to live life with money, fame, and fast-paced activities


Tell me is it cool to fuck?
Asking if the person wants to have sex


Did you think I come to talk? Am I a fool or what?
Not being interested in talking, only sex


Positions on the floor, it's like erotic
Having sex in various positions on the floor


Ironic 'cause I'm somewhat psychotic
Being somewhat crazy when it comes to sex


I'm hittin' switches on bitches like I been fixed with hydraulics
Moving fast and furiously during sex like a car with hydraulics


Up and down like a roller coaster
Having sex in an up and down motion like a roller coaster


I'm up inside ya, I ain't quittin' 'til the show is over
Staying inside the person until both are finished


'Cause I'ma rider in and out just like a robbery
Likening sex to a robbery and being able to get in and out of situations smoothly


I'll probably be a freak and let you get on top of me
Being willing to be dominated in certain situations


Get her rockin' knees
Making the person orgasm


Nights full of Alizé, a livin' legend
Drinking a lot of Alizé and being hailed as a legend


You ain't heard about, these niggas play these Cali days
These people do not know about the life and culture in California


C. Delores Tucker, you's a motherfucker
Calling out politician and activist C. Delores Tucker for not supporting the artist and their music


Instead of tryin' to help a nigga, you destroy a brother
Feeling like Tucker is not helping the African-American community but instead destroying it


Worse than the others, Bill Clinton, Mr. Bob Dole
Feeling like politicians like Bill Clinton and Bob Dole are not doing anything to help the African-American community, and may be even worse than Tucker


You're too old to understand the way the game's told
Politicians like Clinton and Dole are too old and out of touch to understand the struggles of the African-American community


You're lame, so I gotta hit you with the hot facts
Calling out the politicians for being uncool and correcting their misinformation


Once I'm released, I'm makin' millions, niggas top that
Promising to make millions of dollars once released from prison


They wanna censor me, they'd rather see me in a cell
Feeling like people want to censor their art and would rather see them in prison


Livin' in hell, only a few of us'll live to tell
Not being able to speak out due to being in a bad situation


Now everybody talkin 'bout us, I could give a fuck
Not caring about what people say about the artist


Like we the first ones to bomb and cuss
Feeling like the artist is being unfairly targeted for using language and themes common in American culture


Raised as a youth, tell the truth, I got the scoop
Growing up as a child and knowing the truth


On how to get a bulletproof, lickin' shots off on the roof
Knowing how to obtain bulletproof protection and firing shots off a roof


Before I was a teenager, mobile phone, SkyPager
Having technology like a mobile phone and SkyPager before even becoming a teenager


Gang rules, I'm livin' major, my adversaries
Living a life ruled by gangs and being considered important by enemies


Is lookin' worried, they paranoid of gettin' buried
Adversaries are afraid of being killed


One of us gon' see the cemetery
Either the artist or their enemy will end up dead


My only hope is survive, if I was to stay alive
Wanting to survive and stay alive


Gettin' high, see the demons in my eyes before I die
Using drugs and being able to see the demons inside oneself before dying


I wanna live my life and ball, make a couple million
Wanting to enjoy life and make a lot of money


And then I'm chillin', fade 'em all
Relaxing and getting away from enemies once making money


These taxes got me crossed up and people tryin' to sue me
Feeling confused by taxes and being sued by others


Media is in my business and they actin' like they know me (hahaha)
Feeling annoyed by the media being in the artist's personal life and pretending to know them


But I'ma mash out and peel out
Being able to escape and leave quickly


I'm with a clique that's quick to whip that fuckin' steel out
Being part of a group that is not afraid to use weapons


Yeah, nigga it's some new shit, so better get up on it
Being innovative and successful, so others should follow their lead


When you see me, tell a nigga how you want it
When encountering the artist, letting them know what the person wants


How do you want it?
Asking the person how they want to be pleased or satisfied


Comin' up as a nigga in the cash game
Growing up as an African-American in a life filled with money and fame


Livin' in the fast lane, ah, for real
Living the life of money, fame, and fast-paced activities


How do you feel?
Asking the person how they feel about what is happening




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Johnny Lee Jackson, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Bruce Fisher, Quincy D. Jones, Leon Ware, Stanley J. Richardson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@understandingthescripture2907

I'm a 70-year-old Og female. I think I was 45 when I first heard this. I still love it. 2Pac was a poet.

@liltrapbi1402

How are you doing? In these times hope you stay safe

@dawnslayer

See, even boomers can have good taste. (No offense mam)

@gailhardy2565

Amen to that..I was the same age when I heard it. At 68 I still love Pac's music. He was brilliant!!!

@memphisown5503

U are a blessing

@marcanthonyferman5725

LIVING STRONG 💯🙏

532 More Replies...

@nac990

Tupac had a insane flow and he was ahead of his time

@estilosureno2053

shut up

@sugarray6250

I think Biggies flow was better but 2pac rapped about real life shit.

@nac990

@@sugarray6250 yeah yeah

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