Fame
2 Pac (Feat Kadafi Kastro Napoleon & Young Noble) Lyrics

And my niggas say
My friends express their desire

We want the fame
They want to become famous

C'mon (C'mon)
They urge each other to pursue it

One thing we all adore
Fame is the one thing they all desire

Something worth dying for
They would go to extreme lengths to obtain it

Nothing but pain
Success in the industry comes at a great cost

Stuck in this game
They are trapped within the music industry

Searching for fortune and fame
They are striving to achieve wealth and notoriety

Though we exist and breathe some believe currency comes to G's
Some people think that money comes easily to gangsters

Stresses after battle with success comes greed (echo)
After overcoming challenges and achieving success, people tend to become greedy

They got me hot when they shot me
He was angry after being shot

Plotted my revenge to increase my ends
He sought revenge in order to achieve more success

Enemies gettin' dropped
He eliminates his enemies

Win or lose, red or blue, we must all stay true
Regardless of the outcome or affiliation, they must remain loyal

Play the game nigga, never let the game play you
They must control the industry instead of being controlled by it

And for the fame, niggas change fast, that's a shame
People often change rapidly once they become famous, which is unfortunate

What's the game, lost souls, who controls our brain?
They question who has power over their minds and souls in the music industry

Who can I blame? The world seems strange at times, somewhat insane
The world can be confusing and unpredictable, leaving them uncertain about who to hold accountable

I'm hoping we can change with time
They aspire to make positive changes in the industry over time

I'm living blinded, searching for refinement, curse, I know death follows me, but I murder him first
Although he is aware of the risks, he continues to pursue success and eliminate threats

And worse yet, with each breath, steps I take, breathless, is there a cure for a hustler with a death wish?
Despite the toll his career takes, he is unable to stop

Cigar ashes, coaster, crystal glasses
He indulges in luxurious items and habits

We mash on them jealous bastards with a ski mask
He retaliates against those who envy and oppose him

I'm the first one to warn them, blast it, wrapped in plastic, bullshitting got his ass hit (outlaws)
He makes it clear that he will not hesitate to take action against threats, as seen in the case of the Outlaws

Ain't nothing left now, treated like a stepchild, was not for me, nothing but busters and bitches (fuck 'em all)
He feels disrespected and undervalued by those in the industry who do not support him

Be rocking beats, fake in fame, block run and shoot slugs, we throw them back like hardballs without the gloves
He produces music while dealing with the dangers of fame and violence, but he is resilient and retaliates

No love for these fake desperados and thugs I bleed to envy, smoke and blow out they blunts, sipping Henney, drunk nights and hot days
He has no respect for those who pretend to be tough or for those who envy him, and he indulges in vices to cope with the stress of his career

Cocking my heat shooting it sideways, a wife on the run, full of common blunts, unconditionally married to my gun
He is always prepared to use his gun and is devoted to keeping himself and his loved ones safe

Fulfillin' my destiny, on knees, and ones desires, be pulling all my cabbage like priors, stuck in the trance searching for something higher
He sees success as his destiny and seeks to fulfill his desires, but he also hopes to achieve greater things than just material wealth

Fortune and fame, lost in the rain, a lose of the game, with life the cost of the game, we forcing the change, mother fuck flossing the chain, all the blame belongs to the part of the brain (that we never use nigga, plus my heart is in pain)
He acknowledges that the cost of success is high and that he has taken risks to achieve it. He also critiques the materialism and superficiality that often come with fame

And if I ever lose homey, bet I'm at it again, outlaws don't die, so united we stand, and if family come before all the fortune and fame
He is determined to continue working towards success regardless of setbacks. He values his relationships with other artists and prioritizes his family over fame

As I walk up in the crib, laid to rest my head, say some rhymes to angels, hope they bless my bed
He prays for protection and success as he goes to sleep

Hope they bless me the righteous way, got a homie locked down, outta town, I sent him a kite today
He hopes to receive blessings in a fair and just manner. Additionally, he reaches out to support a friend who is incarcerated

Man that hate in your heart you gotta cleanse it dog, praying for my downfall and I can sense it dog
He advises others to let go of negative feelings and thoughts, as they may bring bad energy. He is aware that some people hope to see him fail

I was passed down the street fame, like glock clocked and keep aim, was raised up with a clock box, and I ran with the local street gang
He was raised in a tough neighborhood and learned to survive through violence and toughness

They say the light is faded, but still shine in the dark, you can easy been a man, but you is a boy in your heart, and that's some game that I got from generation of game, in the road of life dog we need to switch up lanes
He believes that people can find success even in difficult circumstances, but it requires a mindset and attitude shift. He received this wisdom from older members of the industry and encourages others to adapt and grow

Think about it, I can't complain, I've seen my fair share of the fame, it won't change me, now I've got this piece of change, I feel strange I got so used to the hood, that when I finally got out at first it ain't feel good
He reflects on his career and acknowledges the changes he has experienced. Although he has experienced success, he still feels connected to his roots. He also mentions the difficulty of adjusting to a new lifestyle

I was just a baby still retarded from slavery, when we struggle to shovel shit ain't nobody saved me, ghetto ain't made me I made myself, poverty raised me thinking ain't no help
He acknowledges the challenges he faced growing up in poverty and having to work hard to succeed. He also critiques the systemic oppression that caused his struggling upbringing

I pray for my health my mind and my family too, state of myself my grind and my family crew, where one hand watches the other, no we ain't blood, but we still real brothers
He prioritizes the well-being of himself and his loved ones and emphasizes the importance of working together as a community

The struggle is real, nothing can steal, what we build, and that remains the same, 'till that day we killed, and that's real
He recognizes the reality of the struggles he faces and the dedication it takes to build something meaningful. He also acknowledges the risks involved in their lifestyle

Life that I was aimed to be, love by my family tree, that's fame to me, how about it, searching for fortune and fame
He believes that his true source of fulfillment and success is his family's love and support, not fame. However, he still strives to achieve wealth and notoriety