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.
Str8 Ballin' )
Thug Life Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But no
I'm up before the sunrise, first to hit the block
Little bad mothafucka with a pocket full of rocks
And I'm totin' these thangs, get my skinny little ass kicked
And niggas laugh, til' tha first mothafucka got blasted
I put the nigga in his casket
I smoke blunts on a regular buck when it counts
I'm tryin' to make a million dollars outta quarter ounce
And gettin' lost on the five-o, fuck them hos
Got a 45 screamin' about survival
Hey nigga can I lay low, cook some yay-yo
Hollar "one-time" when I say so
Don't want to go to the pen, I'm hittin' fences
Narcs on a nigga's back, missin' me by inches
And they say how do you survive weighin' 165
In a city where the skinny niggas die?
Tell Mama don't cry
Even when they kill me
They can never take the game from a young G
I'm str8 ballin'
Str8 ballin'
Still on parole and I'm the first nigga servin'
Pour some liquor on the curb for my niggas that deserve it
But if I want to make a million, gotta stay dealin'
It's kinda boomin' and today I'll make a killin'
Dressin' down like a villian', but only on the block
It's a clever disguise to keep me runnin' from the cops
Ha, I'm gettin' high. I think I'll die if I don't get no ends
I'm in a bucket with 'em ridin' it like it's a Benz
I hate to stip let my music bump
Drinkin' liquor, and I'm lookin' for some hoes to fuck
Rather die makin' money than live poor and legal
As I slang another ounce, I wish it was a kilo
A need money in a major way
Time to fuck my BEEEYATCHHey!, and getten' paid
You other mothafuckas callin'
But me and my mothafuckin' thug niggas
We str8 ballin'
Str8 ballin'
Damned if I don't, and damned if a nigga do
So watch a young mothafucka pull a trigga just to RAISE UP
But don't let them see you cry, dry your eyes
Young nigga time to do or die
I keep a pistol in my pocket
Ready on my block
Ain't no time for a nigga to even cock shit
And now they see that mothafucka beat pain
At point blank range cause he slept on the game
Ain't a damned thing changed
Shakin' the dice, now roll 'em
If you can't stand pain better hold 'em
Cause ain't no tellin' what you might roll
You might go catch AIDS from a slight cold. Nigga
Better live your life to the fullest
You 'bout to kill a fool, got a pistol mothafucka better pull it
Cause even when they kill me
They can never take the game from a young G
We str8 ballin'
We str8 ballin'
To my niggas in the penitentiary
Loked up like a mothafucka when they mention me
Cause you fuckin' with the realest motha fucka ever born
And once again it's on
I'm bustin' on these bitches till they gone
Who the hell can you get to stop me?
I'm in the projects, parlaying with my posse
I keep my glock cocked
I need it cause they're all shady
I finally made it
Now these jealous bitches tryin' to FADE me
I ain't goin' out I'd rather blast back
I'm on the corner with my niggas watchin' cash stack
And I came up a long way from food stamps
And takin' shit from the low-life ghetto tramps
Could you blame me if they sweat me I'm gonna open fire
What could I do? Pull my trigga or watch my nigga die
I'm representin' to the fullest givin' devil slugs
I'm on the block slangin' drugs with the young thugs
And mothafucka, we be ballin'
All mothafuckin' day long, stay strong
We str8 ballin'
The song "Str8 Ballin'" by Thug Life is a track that speaks about ballin' or getting rich through illegal means, such as drug dealing. The lyrics mainly revolve around the rough life of a young gangster trying to make a million out of quarter ounce by selling drugs, avoiding the law, and surviving in a city where skinny niggas die. The song is a representation of the political and social turmoil of the time, and how it affects people, specifically black youths. The song is filled with thematic metaphors stressing the need for survival, freedom, and success.
Line by Line Meaning
I would share the definition of ballin' with you white folks
But no
I won't explain what 'ballin'' means to white people.
I'm up before the sunrise, first to hit the block
Little bad mothafucka with a pocket full of rocks
And I'm totin' these thangs, get my skinny little ass kicked
And niggas laugh, til' tha first mothafucka got blasted
I put the nigga in his casket
Now they coverin' the bastard in plastic
I wake up early and sell drugs on the street, even though I'm small and get pushed around by others. One day, I shot and killed one of those people who laughed at me and now he's dead and being buried.
I smoke blunts on a regular buck when it counts
I'm tryin' to make a million dollars outta quarter ounce
And gettin' lost on the five-o, fuck them hos
Got a 45 screamin' about survival
Hey nigga can I lay low, cook some yay-yo
Hollar "one-time" when I say so
Don't want to go to the pen, I'm hittin' fences
Narcs on a nigga's back, missin' me by inches
And they say how do you survive weighin' 165
In a city where the skinny niggas die?
Tell Mama don't cry
Even when they kill me
They can never take the game from a young G
I smoke and sell drugs to make money, but always look out for the police. I don't want to go to jail or get caught. People wonder how I can survive in a dangerous city while being skinny, but I tell my mom not to worry. Even if I die, they can't take my reputation as a gangster.
Still on parole and I'm the first nigga servin'
Pour some liquor on the curb for my niggas that deserve it
But if I want to make a million, gotta stay dealin'
It's kinda boomin' and today I'll make a killin'
Dressin' down like a villian', but only on the block
It's a clever disguise to keep me runnin' from the cops
Ha, I'm gettin' high. I think I'll die if I don't get no ends
I'm in a bucket with 'em ridin' it like it's a Benz
I hate to stip let my music bump
Drinkin' liquor, and I'm lookin' for some hoes to fuck
Rather die makin' money than live poor and legal
As I slang another ounce, I wish it was a kilo
A need money in a major way
Time to fuck my BEEEYATCHHey!, and getten' paid
You other mothafuckas callin'
But me and my mothafuckin' thug niggas
I'm still being watched by the authorities and pour out alcohol for my dead friends. I need to keep selling drugs to earn a million dollars, so I dress down to avoid attention. I'm high and riding in a car like it's a fancy one. I listen to music, drink and look for women to have sex with. I'd rather die than be poor and legal, and wish I had more drugs to sell. I need money, it's time to have sex and get paid. Me and my gangster friends ignore anyone else calling us.
Damned if I don't, and damned if a nigga do
So watch a young mothafucka pull a trigga just to RAISE UP
But don't let them see you cry, dry your eyes
Young nigga time to do or die
I keep a pistol in my pocket
Ready on my block
Ain't no time for a nigga to even cock shit
And now they see that mothafucka beat pain
At point blank range cause he slept on the game
Ain't a damned thing changed
Shakin' the dice, now roll 'em
If you can't stand pain better hold 'em
Cause ain't no tellin' what you might roll
You might go catch AIDS from a slight cold. Nigga
Better live your life to the fullest
You 'bout to kill a fool, got a pistol mothafucka better pull it
Cause even when they kill me
They can never take the game from a young G
I'll be in trouble whether or not I do something, so I might as well use my gun to defend myself. Don't show your emotions, it's time for action. I always have a gun on me and I'm ready to use it. Anything can happen, so be ready to face it. Don't waste your life and take risks. I'll use my gun to kill anyone who tries to harm me. Even when I die, nobody can take away my identity as a gangster.
To my niggas in the penitentiary
Loked up like a mothafucka when they mention me
Cause you fuckin' with the realest motha fucka ever born
And once again it's on
I'm bustin' on these bitches till they gone
Who the hell can you get to stop me?
I'm in the projects, parlaying with my posse
I keep my glock cocked
I need it cause they're all shady
I finally made it
Now these jealous bitches tryin' to FADE me
I ain't goin' out I'd rather blast back
I'm on the corner with my niggas watchin' cash stack
And I came up a long way from food stamps
And takin' shit from the low-life ghetto tramps
Could you blame me if they sweat me I'm gonna open fire
What could I do? Pull my trigga or watch my nigga die
I'm representin' to the fullest givin' devil slugs
I'm on the block slangin' drugs with the young thugs
And mothafucka, we be ballin'
All mothafuckin' day long, stay strong
We str8 ballin'
I shout out to my friends in jail for supporting me. Nobody can stop me because I'm the realist gangster there is. I'm in the poor part of town with my crew, keeping my gun ready. People are jealous of my success and try to hurt me, but I'm not going down without a fight. I'm on the corner selling drugs with my young friends and nobody will stop us. We are ballin' all day long and staying strong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: George Jr. Clinton, William Earl Collins, Gary Lee Cooper, Osten S. Jr. Harvey, Tupac Amaru Shakur
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elazzja
I've uploaded these songs many years ago and until this day still some of the best in the world.
That inspired me to start making some of my own. https://youtu.be/vyT9PbK5_T0 = Track #3 from my upcoming Wonder Why album
@skies4910
He actually stood for something unlike a ton of rappers now
@robertcovington1286
One of my all time Pac favorites! A man far versatile and intellectual before his time! Everything him and The Geto Boys grabbed our attention rappin about over hittin beats is in our faces today. My opinion! 💯
@brockbatiste7153
Man I lost my mom at 13years old and this shit save me because I took that thug life approach towards everything
@christophehornet
Tupac song’s gave me that courage when it’s was hard time to 😎
@daboss601
Can't enough be said about this Immortal, Legend, Prophet, Realist, Mentor, Friend.........
@23jumpmayne
Pac tha Greatest Rapper ever he lived his rhymes day by day! #thuglife
@cherylwenck4332
Don't forget really good poets
@tyronefelton6341
Ouch!
@tellydaughtry7522
There will never be another 2Pac