Tupac Shakur:

The Meaning Behind the Words

Tupac Amaru Shakur, also know as 2pac, has appeared in various movies and has written many poems, but his legacy will forever remain in his music. Tupac passed away a little over two years ago leaving behind many examples of his lyrical diversity. I intend to show the contrast in Tupac's lyrics from one album to another.

One of the songs on Tupac's album Me Against the World is called "Dear Mama". In this song Tupac talks about how his mother managed to raise him regardless of the struggles they endured. A good Example of the way Tupac Expresses these feelings comes from the middle of the song:

I can see ya coming home after work late

ya in tha kitchen trying ta fix us a hot plate

just working with tha scraps you wuz given

and mama made miracles every Thanksgiving

but now tha road got rough, your alone

trying ta raise two bad kids on your own

and there's no way I can pay ya back

but my plan is ta show ya that I understand

you are appreciated..... (Dear Mama)

Another song from Me Against the World is named "Fuck the World". In this song Tupac reflects the way he was treated by critics, media, and other skeptics. I feel it is

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fairly obvious what Tupac's feelings were at the time he wrote this song. Here is the opening verse of "Fuck the World":

Who you callin' rapist ??

ain't that a bitch

you devils are so two faced

wanna see me locked in chains

droped in shame

and getten socked by these crooked cops and game

fuckin' with tha young black male

tryin' ta stack bail

and stay away from tha packed jails

told tha judge i'm in danger

and that's why I had that 45 with one in tha chamber

Fuck tha World. (Fuck the World)

In the first line of the song Tupac is reffering to his prior rape convictions to which he, until his death, proclaimed his innocence. The rest of this verse addresses the way the media always tried to find faults in him.

Tupac's lyrical mood has gone through many changes, and the difference between

Me Against the World and All Eyes on Me is a prime example. The mood in Me Against the World is somewhat reflectionist, while the mood in All Eyes on Me is more upbeat and flashy.

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The song "All Eyes on Me" off of the CD of the same title is an example of this upbeat, flashy mood. The lyrics below will show the way Tupac was living it up during this period of time.

Cuz all I want is cash and thangs,

a five double 0 Benz and flaunting flashy rings Uhh

Bitches pursue me like a dream,

been know to disappear before your eyez, just like a dope fiend, it seems

My main thang was to be major paid

The game sharper than a mutha-fuckin razor blade

Say money bring bitches, bitches bring lies

One niggas getting jealous, and muthafuckas died

Depend on me like the first and fifteenth

They my homies for a second, but these punks won't get me

We got four niggas, and low riders, and ski masks

screaming Thug Life every time they pass

All Eyez on Me…

Chorus

Live my life as a Thug nigga

Until the day I die

Live my life as a Boss playa

cuz we be getting high

All Eyez on me

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Live my life as a Thug nigga

Until the day I die

Live my life as a Boss playa

cuz we be getting high. (All Eyes on Me)

There are many different songs that I could have chosen to show the lyrical diversity of Tupac Shakur, but I feel these three songs are good examples. As a person who listens to a lot of I appreciate when a musician diversifies their music. While there is a large amount of people who do not enjoy rap music, I can guarantee that Tupac will not soon be forgotten, at least not in my mind.

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Works Cited

1. Shakur, Tupac. "Dear Mama". Me Against the World (1995) Online. Internet.

14 Nov. 1998 Available: hiphopstore.simplenet.com/2pac/lyrics/eyes2.htm

2. Shakur, Tupac. "Fuck the World". Me Against the World (1995) Online. Internet.

14 Nov. 1998 Available: hiphopstore.simplenet.com/2pac/lyrics/eyes2.htm

3. Shakur, Tupac. "All Eyes on Me". All Eyes on Me (1996) Online. Internet.

14 Nov. 1998 Available: hiphopstore.simplenet.com/2pac/lyrics/eyes2.htm