Kaleb explores the complicated character of Tupac Shakur through his most famous songs.
People unfamiliar with rap often picture it as either an early 80s Will Smith or 50 Cent boasting about how many times he’s been shot. Although it is true that these styles certainly exist, and are large parts of the genre, rap encompasses so much more than that. I freely admit that I was guilty of this same misconception before I began to take an interest in rap, and what I found out shocked me. In my exploration of rap, I began to realize just how deeply young black men are stereotyped. Perhaps it is best to start off with one of the most complex and misunderstood rappers of all time, Tupac Shakur.
Due to his portrayal in the mass media and misinterpretation of his lyrics, many people casually dismissed Tupac as a criminal or prototypical loser. The stereotyping of young black men in the media led people to believe that Tupac could be nothing more than the aforementioned labels. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although he was a deeply flawed individual, Tupac was an exceptionally dedicated and caring person, as well as a gifted poet, rapper, and ballet dancer. To fully understand Tupac’s mindset, one must first understand where he came from.
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Tupac was extremely close with his mother, Afeni Shakur. Afeni was an active member of the Black Panther party, although after Tupac was born, she renounced the violent aspects of the Panthers. However, Tupac was raised with his mother’s sense of social responsibility and empowerment through social change. His rapping reflected the trials and tribulations of a young black man growing up in the ghetto, as well as the problems with the overall community. In his rapping, Tupac masterfully toed the line between his individual struggle and the struggle of his community as a whole. This article will analyze and showcase five of Tupac’s most famous songs, ones which I hope will show a side of him that is often overlooked.
Part of what makes Tupac such a legend is that even though his stories are specific, many of the messages and stories that he imparts are universal. I dare not compare my life with his, but when he frames his struggle in an emotional context that I, as a human, can understand, the songs become that much more powerful.
Changes
Tupac’s interpretation of Bruce Hornsby’s 1986 hit “The Way it Is”, “Changes” was the first single released posthumously on his Greatest Hits album. It is the only song to ever be nominated for a Best Solo Rap Performance Grammy even after the artist has died. This song is an excellent example of Tupac’s work, as it includes much of his ideology from the get-go. The first verse includes a furious indictment of police brutality and institutional racism, but does not shy from criticizing the black community as a whole as well. Despite the East Coast-West Coast rivalry, Tupac was incensed with gangs who attempted to create discord within his own people. He claimed to be both a Blood and a Crip, in an effort to show that gangs were nothing more than fake social institutions that had no bearing on real life.
The next verse returns to the theme of unity, but sees it on a larger scale. Tupac attempts reconciliation between the black and white communities, emphasizing that crack is a problem among the impoverished in both of them, and chides both sides for failing to see the other. Next up, Tupac tackles his anger with the ghetto youth. He confronts a stereotypical youth, proud of the money he made while dealing drugs. Tupac chastises him for failing to see the larger social implications of his actions, and thinking only about his own well being at the expense of others. The final verse is Tupac describing his own personal struggle in the stagnating ghetto, as he attempts to deal with racism, poverty, and internal rivalries in the ghetto.
Keep Ya Head Up
Tupac’s ode to the black matriarchal figure, originally off his second album, this song is considered by many to be his finest early work. Behind a funky beat, and a catchy hook, Tupac delivers an absolutely beautiful message. He starts off by exploring the struggles that mothers have attempting to raise their sons in the ghetto, delivering a message of understanding and compassion. He openly chastises the stereotypical “deadbeat dad,” one who leaves a woman with a child, but makes sure to keep room for hope, as he ends the verse by encouraging the “real men” to get up, acknowledging that they exist. In the next verse, he contrasts his own personal and familial struggles with those of a mother, emphasizing that he understands their plight, and again, pushing them to get through it. In the final verse, he assumes the role of a single mother raising a son, and articulates her problems beautifully.
This song is, at its very heart, the antithesis to rap’s misogynistic portrayal in the media. Time and time again Tupac has been typecast as hating women. This is patently untrue, and he rejected the notion that his characterization of certain women as “bitches” applied to all women. He felt that he was merely describing a certain type of woman, and in fact noted that he had been raised primarily by women and most of his friends and role models, including his mother, Jada Pinkett, and Gloria Steinberg, were women. Additionally, people also tend to forget how young he was. He was only twenty-five when he was murdered, and honestly, who hasn’t heard young men act a bit misogynistic or sexist, or blame the entire female species after being spurned? The idea that Tupac was doing more than youthful boasting in many of his lyrics is untrue, as he himself admitted.
Dear Mama
Tupac’s most widely recognized and revered song, this masterpiece was so influential and respected that the Library of Congress placed it in the national recording registry, along with this citation: “In this moving and eloquent homage to both his own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference, Tupac Shakur unflinchingly forgives his mother who, despite a cocaine habit, “never kept a secret, always stayed real.”
The song displays further evidence of hip hop as a musically sophisticated and varied genre that can artfully encompass a wide variety of themes and musical influences.” The influence of this song cannot be overstated. Despite the fear of being seen as a “mama’s boy” or in some way, soft, Tupac recounts his childhood and recognizes the difficulties his mother faced when trying to raise him. Eminem has called it his favorite song, despite his publicly tenuous relationship with his own mother, and Snoop Dogg has said that it solidified Tupac’s status as a legend, because he was one of the first rappers to bare his soul to the world. Part of the brilliance of this song is that analysis is largely useless; unlike some of Tupac’s and other rappers’ great songs is that it is not multilayered or complex.
There are no hidden messages or subliminal meanings (like Eminem’s magnum opus, “Stan”), nor are the verses structured in some kind of poetic way (“Unconditional Love”.) Tupac merely pours out his heart and soul, in the simplest way possible, and the result is beautiful. This is perhaps one of the easiest rap songs for people unfamiliar with the jargon and worldview to understand, because everyone has a mother, or some sort of equivalent parental figure. I am always taken aback by the first line, because every time I hear it, I am struck by how true it is: “When I was young me and my mama had beef.” Who hasn’t fought with their mother? It’s a part of growing up. Again, although Tupac’s experiences were on a totally different scale, everyone, black or white, can immediately sympathize.
Brenda’s Got a Baby
Tupac’s first single, released in 1991, this song is one of the first times a rapper seriously confronted issues in the ghetto. It features a very raw and young Tupac delivering a straightforward story about a twelve year old drug dealer turned prostitute, Brenda. Perhaps the song’s most important part is the introduction and the ending. Brenda’s ill-fated end is obvious from the beginning, but Tupac wisely decided not to start with only Brenda’s story. Instead, he chastises Brenda’s parents, her extended family, and the black community in general for not giving a care about what he sees as one of their own.
Although many other rappers, and Tupac, openly criticized the government, very few were openly willing to also indite entire neighborhoods for their failures. This is further supported by the last line in the song: “Prostitute found slain, and Brenda’s her name.” Tupac uses a newspaper headline to distance himself from this girl, even though he makes it obvious the whole song that her story is very near and dear to his heart. He comments on the hypocrisy of people who are willing to comment on the problems in the ghetto, but not willing to try to solve them. Interviews with Tupac at this age reveal he was very politically active, and indeed started campaigns devoted to stopping teen violence, promoting safe sex, and preventing AIDS, hardly things that one would realize after a cursory glance at Tupac, or any other young man in his position.
Unconditional Love
This gem, released posthumously as the second single on his Greatest Hits album, was originally written by Tupac for M.C. Hammer. The song, comprised of three verses, centers around relationships that he sees as unbreakable. Tupac makes a societal commentary by exploring various types of interpersonal bonds. The first verse is directed towards his family, the second towards his close friends, and the last, towards a female friend. In the first verse, Tupac recounts various conversations with his family, pouring out his heart and soul to his mother. Although Tupac is ashamed of the burden he feels he has caused, and his family’s struggles, his mother greets him with open arms, and they recognize that at the end of the day, nothing matters so long as they remain close.
The next verse approaches relationships between young black men in the ghetto. Tupac acknowledges that making money (to help his family) is a large part of his relationships and ambitions, but he also makes sure to approach the emotional side. The relationships he has with his friends are treasures, because they give each other emotional support through difficulties and tough times. Tupac unravels many stereotypes about relationships between young men, and emphasizes that in fact, they are not tied criminally or through gangs, rather, they are indeed emotionally connected, and all desire the same thing for their friends and families: a better life.
The last verse is centered around his relationship with a female friend. Part of Tupac’s genius is that we do not know what type of friend this is. Although we know he never was a father, he theoretically could be talking about his hypothetical girlfriend of wife, or he could be talking about merely a friend, nothing more. Tupac talks greatly of love, but within the context of this song, never in a sexual sense. He clearly delineates between sexual attraction and emotional bonds.
This is the kind of Tupac song that is, at its very heart, universal. Everyone in this world, has experienced some or hopefully all, of the relationships that Tupac describes. Hopefully everyone can recognize the nurturing attributes of unconditional love, of knowing that you will have somebody to stand by you even through the darkest times. Although Tupac offers a message of hope to the ghetto, it rings true for everyone’s ears. Does anyone disagree with: “This fast life soon shatters, because after all the lights and screams, nothing but my dreams matter?”
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I hope that this article not only introduces people to a prolific musician, but also tries to dispel some of the myths about him. Even if some of them are true, but they do not present a full picture. There is a growing revisionism towards Tupac that attempts to portray him as some kind of saint, or larger than life figure, when he was neither. He was simply a person. Those who see him as a pure criminal miss out on a great deal, as to those who see him as an flawless martyr.
He was from perfect, and by his own admittance he was vain, stubborn, and oftentimes stupid. He was, as we all are, a living contradiction. If his songs appear to diametrically oppose, that’s because he did, as we all do. After much thought about why rappers have such a bad reputation, I can only comment on what I perceive to be an inherent facet of human nature, that pops up in most conversations or news stories. We tend to fixate on the bad, and when an opportunity to stereotype pops up, we take it. It’s easier to look at the frustration and anger of these young men and call them bad people, rather to actually analyze it, and attempt to figure out what’s causing it.
What makes Tupac the legend that he is, is the fact that he was willing to expose all sides of him, the good, and the bad. Those who ignore either side do themselves, and all young, black men; all young men; all men; a disservice.
Additionally, there is a very long interview that offers a rare glimpse at Tupac before stardom, and reveals an incredible amount about him. I highly suggest checking it out to learn more.
A very interesting and useful article. Too many people go around trying to run down great artists by making up bad stories about them. They say that Michael Jackson molested children. They said the same thing about Gary Glitter, and they are starting to say the same thing about Rolf Harris, and Roy Harper. Harper’s friend Jimmy Page so far hasn’t been accused of that, I’m glad the open minded can understand a rock star can have a consensual relationship with a 14 year old. They try to tell us that David Crosby, James Brown, and Kurt Cobain mixed drugs… Read more »
it was his death that moulded the vision we hold of him today, would he be seen as the prolific legendary jesus figure he is seen as today had he not died?? no
Pac knew that only in death could he secure his place in history and become legendary, i dont think songs like “hail mary” or “ballad of a dead soldier” etc etc would hold the same meaning and depth were he still alive.
“Im a _ _ _ _ _on these killing fields”
keep it real thug angel
As for the sexual assault. That’s still highly debated to this day. As it was proven they were sexually involved before the accusations and still lacked evidence that they were even involved that night. I truly believe he was charged for a crime he didn’t commit and his songs go far beyond “catchy” they were real and true and before you go spreading your dumb opinions. Take a minute to realize that the man has millions upon millions of fans all over the world. He’s the highest selling rap atrist EVER and probably the only rap artist who tried to… Read more »
@ Mike. Tupac shot 2 DRUNK racist off duty cops who were harassing a innocent black man and while standing up for that man, he shot the two during an altercation. Was it wrong? Yes. But he was still trying to do a good thing.
Tupac was a slimeball who once shot an off duty cop and was convicted of sexual assault. Writing some catchy songs does not excuse that.
2 were involved. One was shot. They were both drunk and assaulting someone. Tupac saved their life.
Hey im 14 and im a tupac fan i hate il never be able to see him live but i do want to say i love your website dear momma almost made me cry
“Tupac died at 25. If Malcolm X died at 25 he would have been a street hustler, named Detroit Red. If Martin Luther King died at 25 he would’ve been known as a local baptist preacher. And if I had died at 25 I would’ve been known as a struggling musician. Only a sliver of my life’s potential.” –Quincy Jones
Tupac didn’t even reach his potential, it’s sad. He was a very talented young man with a lot to offer.
This looks to be a great interpretation of his work and his life. In terms of what makes Tupac Shakur so iconic and so revered, and what makes him the subject of so much analysis, isn’t the fact that he died so young a big part of it? I wonder if he was still alive today if he would be the same kind of hero. Dying young usually creates a mystique, and even a halo, around people that would not have been revered as much otherwise. (For example, JFK was not a very good president, all things considered, but his… Read more »
That’s a really good point, actually. I use the JFK example a lot myself (the only reason he navigated the Cuban Missile Crisis was because he started it in the first place). I think that dying young definitely creates that mystique, hence the revisionism surrounding his legacy. That being said, during Tupac’s life his influence was huge among the circles he socialized in, and he was well respected not only for his toughness, but for his intelligence and heart. I think that in death that circle has been expanded, even if along the way, yes, some of his worse qualities… Read more »
Kaleb – dying Old is no protection from revisionism and mystique. You only have to look at the life of Ghandi to see that! P^) Same with Mandela – though he’s not dead. It’s the changes in himself – and the changes that brought about on a bigger scale that override so much in the past. Some like Steve Biko also died young – and yet there is no mystique there. The term that gets applied most is Martyrdom. Death is Death, however it happens. I prefer to deal with the reality of the person (Warts And All) and leave… Read more »
Very true. Dying young leaves behind an unanswerable of “What could they have been?” And this is especially true of people in music, acting, and other forms of entertainment. (Also look up Aaliyah and Kurt Kobain for other examples of this.) Tupac is a bit of a special case because not only did he die young but was killed in a shooting. The fact that no charges have even been brought against anyone adds to the mystique (and really would you confess to killing one of the most popular rappers of all time?). Tupac died when he was 25 years… Read more »
Not to mention the fact that once you’re gone you can’t do anything to hurt your image anymore. You can’t come out with a lame album or become a parody of yourself or wind up on a D-list celebrity reality TV show. No one will pity you for how far you’ve fallen or be embarrassed for you. (Remember when Arsenio Hall was a pop culture force of nature?) I’m not saying Tupac Shakur would have done that, but there are lots of people who peaked and then disappeared whose work has never been rediscovered.
What makes him great is his honesty and love in his lyrics, what every rapper today misses, that’s why i think if he was alive today he would still be great, the goat for me!!!
Thank you for shedding a positive light on one of the most talented, misunderstood poets of our time. May his soul live on forever.
I appreciated his ability to speak on different subjects from different perspectives. It was like there was no subject he was afraid to talk about: addiction, poverty racism, sexual abuse, joy, pain, anything. Good song choices too. You know you should have had “Letter to my Unborn Child” here, but I’ll let that slide :o) Also, IT’s “Dance With the Devil” is one of the few track that caused a visceral reaction when I first heard it.
I know but whittling it down to five was almost impossible. 🙁 It was already getting too long and I was thinking of putting Life Goes On at the end, but I thought Unconditional Love was a nice way to end it. And I agree wholeheartedly about his ability to change his perspective. Really all these reasons are why I don’t think there will ever be another Tupac. At least not in the rap scene.
Thanks for this Kaleb. I’m no Rap fan, but Tupac’s work has been in my music library from day one. I always liked his honesty and unique way of looking at social justice. I have always been struck by how he spoke and what he said – and just how often he said “We” have to deal with it. I remember him on TV and saying something that went right to the centre of so much: “I want to be the only way I have been practising to be my whole life, to be responsible for what I do. I… Read more »
😀 What a great quotation; if I had known about it earlier I would have put it in the article! And yes, thug life is incredibly misunderstood term. Ultimately, it’s about self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-motivation on a community scale. I used to say that I didn’t like rap in general, but now that I’ve started to listen to more Tupac I generally just say I like very specific rap. Immortal Technique’s Dance With the Devil is one of the few others I can think of that really hits hard. It’s great partly because its shock value, but its also a… Read more »
Ultimately, it’s about self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-motivation on a community scale. That just about sums it up. I have to say – Tupac was a massively talanted musician and performer. The nearest person to him for me is Eva Cassidy. Her renditions of “Fields of Gold” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” just took the originals and remade them – spine-tingly so – so many people I know can’t even relate her work to the originals. “That’s The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and The Range is a classic – and yet Tupac didn’t take just the music and remake… Read more »