Thug Life was a hip hop group founded by multi-platinum selling hip hop art… Read Full Bio ↴Thug Life was a hip hop group founded by multi-platinum selling hip hop artist Tupac Shakur (aka 2Pac) in late 1993. It featured Big Syke, Macadoshis, Mopreme, and The Rated R alongside Shakur. An interesting sidenote is that the Notorious B.I.G. was originally supposed to be a part of the group but was removed by record executives. The group released their first and only album, Volume 1, on Interscope in September 1994. After Shakur's incarceration in December 1994 and subsequent joining Death Row Records, the group eventually went their separate ways.

Thug Life

Consisting of Tupac Shakur, Rated R, Macadoshis, Mopreme Shakur, Big Syke, and with production and appearances by Stretch the album was originally supposed to be titled Thug Life: Out On Bail. The album was advertised on the liner notes of the single for Shakur's "Papaz Song". The single included the first song by Thug Life titled "Cradle to the Grave". The version that appeared on the "Papaz Song" single was not accepted by Interscope Records as a single and forced Thug Life to submit a remix. The remix was later on used for the album and the video. The title song, "Out on Bail" was rejected and the album's title Thug Life: Volume 1. The Notorious B.I.G. appeared on the track called "Runnin from the Police", which was supposed to be track 5 of the album. It was on the Thug Life: Vol. 1 promo version that was given to press outlets for review and reviews from the time still make reference to the song. The track was replaced with "Stay True" for the LP. The group eventually released their debut album, Thug Life: Volume 1, in September 1994 after it was rejected multiple times by Interscope. It only had ten tracks when dozens more were recorded during the sessions.

Promotion was lacking. The album didn't sell because few mainstream rap fans knew of it's existence. When Shakur was shot and incarcerated later that year, it forced Rated R and Macadoshis to part ways and the group quickly disbanded, although all remain on good terms and often collaborate on each other's projects.

Mopreme and Big Syke continued to rap with Shakur after his prison time while he was signed to Death Row. At the end of Shakur's life he and Big Syke were working on Thug Life: Volume 2, which was to be released on Makaveli Records.

Philosophy of Thug Life

As detailed in the film Tupac: Resurrection the concept of "Thug Life" was viewed by Shakur as a philosophy for life. Shakur developed the word into an acronym standing for "The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fucks Everybody." Also "Nigga" was interpreted as, "Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished." He declared that the dictionary definition of a "thug" as being a rogue or criminal was not how he used the term, but rather he meant someone who came from oppressive or squalid background and little opportunity but still made a life for themselves and were proud.

"I didn't create Thug Life, I diagnosed it." - Tupac Shakur.

Thug Life became a calling card for how Shakur viewed his influence on society. He had people from all walks of life -- criminals in jail, white kids in the suburbs, poor black kids in the ghetto -- wanting to know how they could be a part of his movement. Shakur admitted this sudden power he had over people frightened him. But he used the idea of Thug Life to transform the desires of these people into something he viewed as positive, a way to reach out to the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed. Gang members instituted what was called the Code of Thug Life, and gangs from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles claimed to abide by it. Examples of the rules in this Code of Ethics were that civilians were not to be targets in gang warfare, and that children in schools should not be indoctrinated by gang propaganda.

Shakur's philosophy of Thug Life was met with harsh criticism from most of the leaders in government and politics, including many notables in the black community.

Cradle To The Grave
Thug Life Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

From the cradle to the grave
Life ain't never been easy, livin' in the ghetto (yeah, yeah)
From the cradle to the grave
Life ain't never been easy

June 16th, 1971
Mama gave birth to a hell-raisin heavenly son
See the doctor tried to smack me but I smacked him back

My first words was, "Thug for life," and, "Papa pass the MAC"
I'm bustin' on these motherfuckers ballin'
Listen you can hear my mini fourteen callin'
From out the window of my drop top, I got my Glock cocked
Bustin' at niggas, when will it stop?
Now tell me are you scared of the dark?
Can't close my eyes I see visions
And even with this thug livin', will I escape prison?
Penitentiary chances was an all day thang
The only way to advance, and if you slang
Then you'd better have yo' Nike's on - 'cause when we fight
It's in the middle of the night with no lights on, hey
There must be a God, 'cause I feel lucky
Paranoid out my mind, 'cause motherfuckers tryna rush me
Am I goin' to jail? Look at me bailin'
Comin' out the court house, all about my mail and bank
Never, never die I'll be a hustler motherfuckers
And makin' thugs out you suckers from the cradle to the grave

From the cradle to the grave (from the cradle to the grave)
Life ain't never been easy, livin' in the ghetto (livin' in the ghetto)

From the cradle to the grave since a little bitty child
I've been known to get ill and kinda buck wild
Pop pop, just like the part that's in my walk with street talk
I'm runnin' up the block in the dark where lead spark
Surveillance on a nigga every day
Waitin' on my daddy just to take his ass away
Now mama always workin' tryna make ends meet
So now a young nigga's bein' raised by the streets
And then the only other one that ever showed me love
Was my dope fiend uncle strung out on drugs
A straight thug, just me, my mama out here on our own
So I got two gats, one black and one of chrome
Now I don't wanna hurt nobody, but I must defend mine
It's all the fuck I got, so stop and walk a thin line
Young niggas be brave
And keep on thuggin' from the cradle to the grave
From the cradle to the grave

From the cradle to the grave (life ain't never been easy)
Life ain't never been easy (from the cradle), livin' in the ghetto

From the cradle to the grave
I'm glad to say, I made it this far
Many G's died hogs and all they got was they name hit up on a wall
It's sad thinkin' about the times
Life goes on, I'm steady lost in this land
That's the war zone, I gots no home, don't have no friends neither
It's just me by my lonely so I married my nina
I keeps her wherever I go, I love my ho
Never leave home with out my sugar, I'm hafta plug a nigga
Mama told me not to trust no punks
And kick his ass if he lay a hand on me since then I been knowin'
Sometimes I think my own self stupid
'Cause I stay shootin at marks, get twisted up in police reports
Since the cradle, I've been ungrateful
My first toy was a gun I got sprung and learned to love weapons
But now I'm through with money, and through with street fame
Somebody peeled my cap, and put me in my grave

From the cradle to the grave (from the cradle)
Life ain't never been easy, livin' in the ghetto (life ain't never been)
(Livin' in the ghetto)
From the cradle to the grave (from the cradle)
Life ain't never been easy, livin' in the ghetto

March 18th, a rainy day, my mama gave birth
To a baby boy trapped in hell on Earth
From day one, it wasn't fun I never had a crumb
Daddy worked two jobs and mama won't stop drinkin' rum
I tried to cope loc, but my family's broke
And my pocket's short so now I got to slang dope
In the game filled with pain it's a fuckin' shame
The white man got a motherfucker slangin 'caine
So now it's on from dusk to dawn I'm gettin my serve on
Always in the spot with my Glock slingin' rocks at the Rox
The shit don't stop, I'm steady dodgin' cops
I never flip-flop, hear my Glock cock, thug 'til I drop
And if I hit the pen' I gotta do my time
Sittin' on my bunk reminiscin' bout the good times
It's fucked up a nigga gotta grow up doin' dirt
But from the cradle to the grave I'ma put in work

From the cradle to the grave (from the cradle)
Life ain't never been easy (life ain't never been), livin' in the ghetto
(Easy, no, no no no, no no no no no, no no no no)
From the cradle to the grave (from the cradle)
Life ain't never been easy (life ain't been, life ain't been)
Livin' in the ghetto (life ain't never been easy in the ghetto)

Time's movin' fast, will I last another day?
So I pray and I lay with my A-K
Did I sell my soul as a young kid?
All the things I did wishin' someone held me but they never did
I can't take it, will I make it to my older age?
Before I'm shot up or locked up in a fuckin' cage
Lord help me, guide me, save me
'Cause that's the way that Daddy raised me, crazy
Do or die, nigga pull the trigger don't give a fuck
You'd rather be in jail than get yo' ass bucked
Nobody cares, it's me against the world
Keepin' murder on my mind and my Tec-9
I got nothin' to lose, payin' dues, nigga you wanna die?
I get high and then my mission is a walk-by
You'd better jet when I hit your set 'cause I'm comin'
Start runnin' yellin', "Evil mind" as I'm gunnin'
One in the chamber for the anger that I build inside
For the mothers that cried, for my homies that died
The beginning is an ending, am I just a slave?
So I got to be brave from the cradle to the grave

(From the cradle) from the cradle to the grave (from the cradle to the grave)
Life ain't never been easy (it ain't easy, Lord), livin' in the ghetto
From the cradle to the grave (people gettin' robbed)
Life ain't never been easy (people gettin' shot)

Livin' in the ghetto (livin' in the ghetto)
From the cradle to the grave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Cradle to the Grave" by Thug Life paint a picture of life in the ghetto from birth to death. The song starts with Tupac's birth on June 16th, 1971, and him saying his first words: "Thug for life" and asking his father to pass him the "MAC" (a type of firearm). From a young age, Tupac was exposed to violence, as he was "bustin' on these motherfuckers ballin'" and "bustin' at niggas" from the window of his drop top car with his "Glock cocked." He was paranoid about being rushed and sent to jail due to the penitentiary chances that came with a life of hustling.

However, the lyrics also highlight the resilience and determination of those raised in the ghetto, with lines like "And making thugs out you suckers from the cradle to the grave" and "Young niggas be brave and keep on thuggin' from the cradle to the grave." Tupac's own experiences of growing up in the ghetto with a mother who had to work constantly to make ends meet and a drug-addicted uncle who showed him love, and him ultimately turning to selling drugs to make money, are reflected in the song as well.

Overall, "Cradle to the Grave" is a raw and honest commentary on life in the ghetto, where violence, poverty, and hopelessness are a constant struggle.

Line by Line Meaning

From the cradle to the grave
Throughout my entire life, starting from birth until death

Life ain't never been easy, livin' in the ghetto (yeah, yeah)
Living in the impoverished neighborhood, life has always been challenging and difficult

June 16th, 1971 Mama gave birth to a hell-raisin heavenly son
On June 16th, 1971, my mother gave birth to me, a rebellious and fearless child

See the doctor tried to smack me but I smacked him back
The doctor attempted to strike me, but I fought back and defended myself

My first words was, 'Thug for life,' and, 'Papa pass the MAC'
As an infant, my first words expressed my inclination towards a life of crime, and I requested my father to give me a firearm

I'm bustin' on these motherfuckers ballin'
I am shooting and attacking those who try to show off and act tough

Listen you can hear my mini fourteen callin'
If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of my firearm, a Mini Fourteen rifle

From out the window of my drop top, I got my Glock cocked
I am driving in my convertible car, with my Glock pistol ready to be fired

Bustin' at niggas, when will it stop?
I am shooting at my enemies, and I wonder when this violence will cease

Now tell me are you scared of the dark?
I ask if you have fear of the dangerous and unknown aspects of life

Can't close my eyes I see visions
I cannot rest or sleep peacefully because I constantly see disturbing images

And even with this thug livin', will I escape prison?
Despite my criminal lifestyle, I wonder if I will be able to avoid ending up in prison

Penitentiary chances was an all day thang
The possibility of going to prison was an everyday reality in my life

The only way to advance, and if you slang
Engaging in drug dealing was the only way to progress and succeed in my circumstances

Then you'd better have yo' Nike's on - 'cause when we fight
If you find yourself in a conflict with me, be prepared to run quickly, represented by having your Nike shoes on

It's in the middle of the night with no lights on, hey
Our fights often happen in the darkness of the night, with no visibility

There must be a God, 'cause I feel lucky
I believe in the existence of a higher power because I often find myself fortunate and blessed

Paranoid out my mind, 'cause motherfuckers tryna rush me
I am constantly on edge and fearful because there are individuals who want to attack and harm me

Am I goin' to jail? Look at me bailin'
I wonder if I will end up in prison, but for now, I am able to post bail and avoid incarceration

Comin' out the court house, all about my mail and bank
After leaving the courthouse, I am focused on my money and financial matters

Never, never die I'll be a hustler motherfuckers
I will continue to live as a determined and relentless hustler, defying death

And makin' thugs out you suckers from the cradle to the grave
My influence and actions turn ordinary individuals into tough and ruthless individuals like me, from birth until death

From the cradle to the grave (from the cradle to the grave)
Throughout my entire life, starting from birth until death

Life ain't never been easy, livin' in the ghetto (livin' in the ghetto)
Living in the impoverished neighborhood, life has always been challenging and difficult

From the cradle to the grave since a little bitty child
Starting from when I was a very young child, until death

I've been known to get ill and kinda buck wild
I have a reputation for being aggressive and unpredictable

Pop pop, just like the part that's in my walk with street talk
I make a popping sound like a gun, symbolizing my fearless and gangster demeanor

I'm runnin' up the block in the dark where lead spark
I am fearlessly running through the neighborhood at night, where gunshots frequently occur

Surveillance on a nigga every day
I am constantly being watched and monitored by authorities

Waitin' on my daddy just to take his ass away
I am anxiously waiting for my absent father to be removed from my life

Now mama always workin' tryna make ends meet
My mother is constantly working to make enough money to cover our basic needs

So now a young nigga's bein' raised by the streets
Due to my mother's absence, I am growing up and learning life lessons from the neighborhood and its dangerous elements

And then the only other one that ever showed me love
The only other person who displayed affection and care towards me

Was my dope fiend uncle strung out on drugs
My uncle, who was addicted to drugs, was the only source of love and support in my life

A straight thug, just me, my mama out here on our own
I am a true gangster, with only my mother as a companion, facing the challenges of life alone

So I got two gats, one black and one of chrome
To protect myself, I carry two firearms – one black and one chrome-plated

Now I don't wanna hurt nobody, but I must defend mine
I have no desire to harm anyone, but I will do whatever it takes to protect myself and what is mine

It's all the fuck I got, so stop and walk a thin line
Defending myself is the only thing I possess, so be cautious and careful in your actions around me

Young niggas be brave
I encourage the younger generation to be courageous and fearless

And keep on thuggin' from the cradle to the grave
I urge them to persist in their gangster lifestyle from birth until death

I'm glad to say, I made it this far
I express my satisfaction in having survived and reached this point in my life

Many G's died hogs and all they got was they name hit up on a wall
Numerous gangsters died violently, and the only recognition they received was having their names memorialized on graffiti-covered walls

It's sad thinkin' about the times
It is heartbreaking to reflect on those past moments

Life goes on, I'm steady lost in this land
While life continues, I find myself constantly feeling confused and disoriented in this environment

That's the war zone, I gots no home, don't have no friends neither
The neighborhood I live in resembles a battlefield, and I have no permanent residence or genuine companionship

It's just me by my lonely so I married my nina
I am alone and isolated, so I rely on my firearm (nina) as my only companion

I keeps her wherever I go, I love my ho
I carry my gun with me wherever I travel because I have a deep attachment and affection for it

Never leave home with out my sugar, I'm hafta plug a nigga
I never leave my residence without my gun, as I may need to intimidate or shoot someone

Mama told me not to trust no punks
My mother advised me to be cautious and not to place trust in unreliable individuals

And kick his ass if he lay a hand on me since then I been knowin'
Ever since my mother instructed me to fight back if someone assaulted me, I have been aware and prepared to defend myself

Sometimes I think my own self stupid
Occasionally, I consider my own actions foolish and senseless

'Cause I stay shootin at marks, get twisted up in police reports
I continue to engage in acts of gun violence, which gets me involved in criminal investigations and documented by the police

Since the cradle, I've been ungrateful
Since my early childhood, I have been unappreciative and dissatisfied

My first toy was a gun I got sprung and learned to love weapons
My initial plaything was a firearm, and from that point, I became infatuated and fascinated with weapons

But now I'm through with money, and through with street fame
I have grown tired of financial wealth and the notoriety that comes from living a criminal lifestyle

Somebody peeled my cap, and put me in my grave
An individual shot me in the head, leading to my death and burial