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.
How Long
Thug Life Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, this for my nigga Kato
It's still on nigga, believe that
We live a Thug Life, Thugs for Life
Yeah (how long will they mourn me?) we handle this shit for you, boy
Yeah, nigga
2Pac in this motherfucker
Tears in everybody's eyes
Niggas cried, to mourn a homie's homicide
But I can't cry, instead I'm just a shoulder
Damn, why they take another soldier?
I load my clip before my eyes blurry, don't worry
I'll get them suckers back before your buried (shit)
Retaliate and pull a one-eight-seven
Do real niggas get to go to heaven?
How long will they mourn me? Bury me a motherfuckin' G
Bitch don't wanna die, then, don't fuck with me
It's kinda hard to be optimistic
When your homie's lyin' dead on the pavement twisted
Y'all don't hear me doe, I'm tryin' hard to make amends
But I'm losin' all my motherfuckin' friends, damn
They should've shot me when I was born
Now I'm trapped in the motherfuckin' storm
How long will they mourn me?
I wish it would have been another
How long will they mourn me?
How long, will they mourn my brother (half them niggas all dead and shit)
How long will they mourn me?
I wish it would have been another
(Dedicated this to Kato nigga, and every thug)
How long will they mourn me?
How long, will they mourn my brother
How long will they mourn me?
Every motherfuckin' day homie
You stayed down when the other niggas didn't know me
From my heart to the trigger, you my fuckin' nigga
And things won't be the same without ya, nigga
I remember kickin' back, you wanted a 'llac
And goin' half on a motherfuckin' hundred sack
Smokin' blunt after blunt, and steady drinkin'
Hung around so much, you knew what I was thinkin'
Tell me Lord, why you take Big Kato?
So confused not knowing which way to go
I'm goin' crazy and runnin' out of fuckin' time
I can't take it, I'm losin' my fuckin' mind
So day after day, ride after ride
We'll hook up on the other side
Watch over your family and your newborn
'Til we meet again, homie
How long will they mourn me?
I wish it would have been another (Big Kato)
How long will they mourn me?
How long, will they mourn, my brother (it's still on, nigga)
How long will they mourn me?
I wish it would have been another (yeah)
How long will they mourn me?
How long will they mourn, my brother (rated R, Double Jeopardy, MAC-10)
Damn, a nigga tired of feelin' sad
I'm tired of puttin' in work
I'm tired of cryin' watchin' my homies leave the earth
I know soon one day I'll be in the dirt
And my peoples'll be mournin'
When they get a call from the coroner
All niggas can say is, "That's fucked up"
And get tossed up, reminiscin' how we grew up (my nigga)
Rest and love to my nigga Kato
See you in the crossroads real soon
For now let me pour out some brew
I'll be always thinkin' of ya, homie
Rest in peace, how long will they mourn me?
We know life's a fuckin' trip
And everybody gotta go
But why the fuck it have to be my nigga Kato?
Another nigga fell victim to the chrome
It's enough to make you crazy, it's fuckin' with my dome
You only live once on this earth, a nigga had it bad
Since the day, of my motherfuckin' birth (uh)
But niggas say they down and they always be my homie
But when a nigga gone, how long will ya mourn me?
(Yeah) I wish it would have been another (MAC-10 in this motherfucker, yeah)
How long will you mourn me?
How long, will they mourn my brother (Thug Life boy, Nate, blowin' that shit)
I wish it would have been another (Nate Dogg do that shit nigga, yeah)
How long will you mourn me? (This for my nigga Kato, and all his kids)
How long will they mourn, my brother
How long will you mourn me?
I wish it would have been another
How long will you mourn my brother?
The song "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" by Thug Life (which included rapper Tupac Shakur) is a tribute to their friend and fellow rapper, Kato, who was killed in a drive-by shooting. The song begins with a direct tribute to Kato: "this for my nigga Kato, it's still on nigga, believe that." The lyrics express the pain and anger of losing a friend to gun violence and wondering how long the mourning will continue. Tupac raps about the difficulty of coping with the loss, stating "It's kinda hard to be optimistic when your homie's lyin' dead on the pavement twisted." He also acknowledges his own responsibility to seek revenge for Kato's death, rapping "I load my clip before my eyes blurry, don't worry, I'll get them suckers back before your buried / Retaliate and pull a one-eight-seven."
Throughout the song, Tupac questions the nature of life and death, wondering if real "niggas" - those involved in gang life and violence - get to go to heaven. The song concludes with a reflection on the inevitability of death and the love and memories that remain: "We know life's a fuckin' trip / And everybody gotta go / But why the fuck it have to be my nigga Kato? / Another nigga fell victim to the chrome / It's enough to make you crazy, it's fuckin' with my dome / You only live once on this earth, a nigga had it bad / Since the day of my motherfuckin' birth / But niggas say they down and they always be my homie / But when a nigga gone, how long will ya mourn me?"
Line by Line Meaning
How long will they mourn me?
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve his death
Yeah, this for my nigga Kato
The author dedicates the song to his friend, Kato
It's still on nigga, believe that
The author is promising to continue his legacy and fight for justice in his memory
We live a Thug Life, Thugs for Life
The author and his friends embrace their tough, street lifestyle and are committed to each other even in death
Yeah (how long will they mourn me?) we handle this shit for you, boy
The author and his friends promise to avenge Kato's death and keep his memory alive
2Pac in this motherfucker
The author is asserting his presence and reputation as a famous rapper
All my homies drinkin' liquor
The author and his friends are mourning Kato's death with alcohol
Tears in everybody's eyes
The author and his friends are all crying over Kato's death
Niggas cried, to mourn a homie's homicide
The author and his friends are mourning Kato's murder
But I can't cry, instead I'm just a shoulder
The author doesn't cry because he needs to be strong for his friends who are grieving
Damn, why they take another soldier?
The author is lamenting the death of Kato, who he considers a warrior
I load my clip before my eyes blurry, don't worry
The author is preparing for revenge, even though he is emotional
I'll get them suckers back before your buried (shit)
The author is promising to avenge Kato's death before he is even buried
Retaliate and pull a one-eight-seven
The author is talking about killing Kato's murderers
Do real niggas get to go to heaven?
The author is questioning whether he and his friends will go to heaven because of their violent lifestyle
How long will they mourn me? Bury me a motherfuckin' G
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve him and wants to be buried as a gangster
Bitch don't wanna die, then, don't fuck with me
The author is warning his enemies not to mess with him or they will be killed
It's kinda hard to be optimistic
The author is finding it difficult to be positive after Kato's death
When your homie's lyin' dead on the pavement twisted
The author is describing the traumatic experience of seeing his friend's dead body
Y'all don't hear me doe, I'm tryin' hard to make amends
The author feels like his friends are not listening to him despite his efforts to make things right
But I'm losin' all my motherfuckin' friends, damn
The author is losing his friends because of their violent lifestyle
They should've shot me when I was born
The author is saying that he was born to die because of the dangerous environment he grew up in
Now I'm trapped in the motherfuckin' storm
The author feels stuck in a violent, dangerous lifestyle
I wish it would have been another
The author wishes that someone else had died instead of Kato
How long, will they mourn my brother (half them niggas all dead and shit)
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve Kato, even though many of them are already dead
(Dedicated this to Kato nigga, and every thug)
The author is dedicating the song to Kato and everyone who lives a tough, street lifestyle
Every motherfuckin' day homie
The author thinks about Kato and his other deceased friends every day
You stayed down when the other niggas didn't know me
The author is thanking Kato for being a loyal friend when others weren't
From my heart to the trigger, you my fuckin' nigga
The author considers Kato his best friend and is willing to kill for him
And things won't be the same without ya, nigga
The author is mourning the loss of Kato and knows that life will never be the same
I remember kickin' back, you wanted a 'llac
The author reminisces about spending time with Kato and wanting to buy a Cadillac
Tell me Lord, why you take Big Kato?
The author is questioning why God let Kato die
So confused not knowing which way to go
The author is lost and doesn't know how to move forward after Kato's death
I'm goin' crazy and runnin' out of fuckin' time
The author is losing his mind and feels like he doesn't have much time left to live
So day after day, ride after ride
The author is continuing to live his life, even though he is grieving Kato's death
We'll hook up on the other side
The author believes that he will reunite with Kato in the afterlife
Watch over your family and your newborn
The author promises to take care of Kato's family and his new baby
'Til we meet again, homie
The author is saying goodbye to Kato and promising to meet him again in the afterlife
Damn, a nigga tired of feelin' sad
The author is tired of grieving his friends' deaths
I'm tired of puttin' in work
The author is tired of living a violent lifestyle
And my peoples'll be mournin'
The author knows that his friends and family will grieve his death when it happens
When they get a call from the coroner
The author is talking about how his loved ones will find out about his death
All niggas can say is, "That's fucked up"
The author knows that his friends will be angry and upset when they hear about his death
And get tossed up, reminiscin' how we grew up (my nigga)
The author's friends will think back on their childhood and time with the author when he dies
Rest and love to my nigga Kato
The author is saying goodbye to Kato and sending him love and peace in the afterlife
See you in the crossroads real soon
The author believes that he and Kato will reunite in the afterlife
For now let me pour out some brew
The author is pouring out beer as a tribute to Kato
I'll be always thinkin' of ya, homie
The author will never forget Kato and will always remember him fondly
We know life's a fuckin' trip
The author is reflecting on the unpredictability and danger of life
And everybody gotta go
The author knows that everyone will die eventually
But why the fuck it have to be my nigga Kato?
The author is questioning why Kato had to die
Another nigga fell victim to the chrome
Kato was killed by gunfire
It's enough to make you crazy, it's fuckin' with my dome
The author is losing his mind because of the trauma of losing his friend
You only live once on this earth, a nigga had it bad
The author knows that life is short and difficult for people like him
But niggas say they down and they always be my homie
The author's friends claim to be loyal, but many of them have already died
But when a nigga gone, how long will ya mourn me?
The author is asking how long his remaining friends will grieve him when he dies
MAC-10 in this motherfucker, yeah
The author is referencing his gun, a MAC-10
Rated R, Double Jeopardy, MAC-10
The author is promoting his upcoming album and referencing his gun again
Nate Dogg do that shit nigga, yeah
The author is giving a shout-out to his friend and collaborator, Nate Dogg
(This for my nigga Kato, and all his kids)
The author is dedicating the song to Kato and his children
How long will you mourn my brother?
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve him when he dies
How long will they mourn, my brother
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve his deceased brother
How long will you mourn me?
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve him when he dies
How long will they mourn my brother
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve his deceased brother
Lyrics © Regard Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Missing Link Music
Written by: Daryl Rivers, James D. Gass, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Tyruss Gerald Himes, Walter Burns, Warren Griffin, Warren Iii Griffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@asagoodfriend
To answer Pac's question :- You Sir will be mourned till the end of the time! 🌟
@jasongarzon6758
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
@xsuicide6594
GIᗩ
@bonesdaily1354
HELL MOTHAFUKIN YEAH
OUTLAWZ TILL THE END 👌🔥🔥🔥
@shonnonwootensr.7762
Hanging out in Thugz Mansion
@AnshulBedi
💯💯❣️🌠
@jimmydagun888
Lets give some likes for Big Nate Dogg OG
@joeyfamous7134
jimmydagun888 RIP king of G-Funk
@jedi32r2
The Hook Master!! RIP NATE DOGG
@seanliu6193
The best vocal in d hip hop history