Runnin'
Tupac Featuring The Notorius B.I.G Lyrics

You know, I wonder if they'll laugh when I am dead
I feel uncertain about how people will perceive me after I pass away.

Why am I fighting to live, if I'm just living to fight
What's the point of trying to survive if life is just constant struggle?

Why am I trying to see, when there ain't nothing in sight
Why bother trying to understand things when everything is so unclear and uncertain?

Why I am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try
Despite my efforts to be generous, no one seems to reciprocate my kindness by giving me a chance.

Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die
If we're all just going to die in the end, what's the point in trying to survive and thrive?

Check it, I grew up a fuckin' screw up
Let me tell you about my rough upbringing and how it's shaped who I am today.

Got introduced to the game, got a ounce and fuckin' blew up
I got involved in the drug trade and quickly became successful at it.

Choppin' rocks overnight
I worked hard and long hours to make as much money as possible.

The nigga Biggie Smalls tryin' ta turn into the black Frank White
My friend Biggie was trying to emulate a notorious drug kingpin known as Frank White.

We had to grow dreads to change our description
To avoid being caught by the police, we changed our appearance by growing dreadlocks.

Two cops on the milk box missin'
Two police officers that we killed were featured on missing persons milk cartons.

Show they toes you know they got stepped on
The fact that we killed them is evident by the fact that they are now dead and their bodies have been stepped on.

A fist full of bullets a chest full of Teflon
Our guns were loaded with bullets that could pierce through bulletproof vests.

Run from the police picture that, nigga I'm too fat
I'm not in good enough physical shape to outrun the police, so I have to fight back.

I fuck around and catch a asthma attack
My health is so poor that I could have an asthma attack at any moment.

That's why I bust back, it don't phases me
I always fight back against the police because I am not afraid of them.

When he drop, take his glock, and I'm Swayze
When I succeed in killing a police officer, I take his gun and feel like the character Patrick Swayze played in the movie 'Point Break.'

Celebrate, my escape, sold the glock, bought some weight
After successfully evading the police, I sell my gun and use the profits to purchase drugs to sell.

Laid back, I got some money to make, motherfucker
Now that I have money and drugs to sell, I can relax and focus on making even more money.

And still I'm havin' memories of high speeds, when the cops crashed
I can't forget about the times when I tried to outrun the police and they ultimately crashed.

As I laugh pushin' the gas when my glocks blast
Despite the danger, I find it amusing and exhilarating to drive fast and fire my gun.

We was young, and we was dumb but we had heart
Even though we were foolish and inexperienced, we had bravery and determination.

In the dark when we survived through the bad parts
We managed to endure and overcome challenging and dangerous situations.

Many dreams is what I had, and plenty wishes
I used to have a lot of hopes and aspirations for my life, but now they all seem out of reach.

No hesitation in extermination of these snitches
I have no qualms about killing anyone who is disloyal or might reveal my crimes to the police.

And these bitches they still continue to pursue me
Even though I am a criminal and have faced numerous legal and personal challenges, women are still attracted to me and want to be with me.

A couple of movies now the whole world tryin' to screw me
After my life and crimes were depicted in movies, it seems like everyone wants to criticize and condemn me.

Even the cops tried to sue me so what can I do
Even law enforcement officials have tried to make my life difficult by taking legal action against me.

But stay true, sippin' 22's a brewin'now the medias tryin'
Despite all of the obstacles I have faced, I remain loyal to myself and my lifestyle. At the same time, I am drinking alcohol and the media is still scrutinizing me.

To test me got the press askin' questions, tryin' to stress me
Journalists are constantly trying to provoke a reaction from me by asking difficult and stressful questions.

Misery is all I see, that's my mind's state
At this point in my life, I am consumed by sadness and negativity, both in my thoughts and in the world around me.

My history with the police is shakin' the crime rate
My frequent run-ins with the police and my criminal activity are contributing to an increase in overall crime in my community.

Ma main man had two strikes, slipped, got arrested and flipped
One of my closest friends had two prior convictions and was at risk of facing life in prison. He eventually made a mistake and was arrested again, and as a result, he became an informant for the police.

He screamed, "Thug Life" and emptied a clip
My friend was trying to prove his loyalty to our criminal group by shooting at someone he perceived as a threat.

Gots tired of runnin' from the police
Eventually, I grew tired of constantly being on the run from the police and decided to give up my life of crime.

[Chorus]
These are the recurring lines that reflect on my inner turmoil and struggle to understand the significance of my life and actions.