Twenty one years ago today, Tupac Shakur was killed. Ever since then, many have argued that he's still alive; not necessarily because they've seen him, but because of the music that was released after his death and how some of his lyrics are just as relevant today as when they were first written.
Whether Pac was talking about the streets, drugs, money, politics or emotions, his ability to break down the seemingly complex into simple and digestible words is why he is one of the greatest of all time. Whether being an underdog, or a favorite, or having been setback or springboarded forward, everyone can relate to Tupac at one time of his life or another.
Pac's first album, 2Pacalypse Now, was released in 1991 and featured hits like "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got a Baby." His next album, Striclty 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., was released in 1993 highlighted by "Keep Ya Head Up" and "I Get Around." Me Against The World followed in 1995 which included the Platinum single "Dear Mama." Shakur's fourth album was All Eyez on Me, released the next year, in 1996, headlined by "California Love," "I Ain't Mad At Ya" and "How Do You Want It?" On September 7, 1996, Tupac was gunned down on a Las Vegas street following a Mike Tyson fight. Pac spent the next six days fighting for his life in the hospital before he tragically passed on September 13. Tupac was 25 years old.
Pac was working on his fifth album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory at the time of his death. It was posthumously released two months later featuring singles "To Live and Die in L.A." and "Hail Mary."
Countless artists and performers have attributed a portion of their passion for music, to music made by Tupac. His five albums provide a uniquely introspective look into one of the most influential young Black men our country has seen. From his days rapping about slanging rock to him seeming to predict his own death at times, Tupac is an artistic exhibit of the human condition translated through sound. In a tribute to Pac on the 21st anniversary of his death, HNHH is ranking the top 10 Tupac songs that are still lyrically relevant today.
How Do You Want It?
Now, I’ll admit, this song is mostly about sex, and all the awesomeness that comes with being an icon but there’s also some political references in the second verse that, if a few names were changed, would still apply today. In the age of social media, the first amendment is being tested today unlike ever before. Pac dealt with skeptics of his craft, a craft rooted in free speech, and musicians, and even journalists now, have to contest with that today.
Thugz Mansion
Thugz Mansion got my mom to like hip hop. A purist resistant to the “thump” of hip hop, she heard "Thugz Mansion" on the radio and before I knew it, she had it on a cassette tape. This song embodies so much of the inner city version of the American dream that it will live on for a long time. From smoking in peace, to kicking it with Sam Cooke to just wanting to step away for a second, this song’s lyrics have it all.
I Ain't Mad At Ya
Released shortly after his death in 1996, this song was Pac reflecting on how his old friends saw him after his success. Everybody wants to be a millionaire and earn their way out of the hood but many also criticize those who actually do. “I Ain’t Mad at Ya” is Pac accepting that criticism and moving forward.
Dear Mama
Tupac released "Dear Mama" in 1995 as a tribute to the struggles that his mother went through raising him. This song was influential because it represented the softer side of hip-hop that most rappers before him kept hidden. Older, wiser and better able to understand the world, this is a coming of age song that many with single parents can relate to, including myself.
Keep Ya Head Up
This track was released in 1993 and could be Pac’s most popular song. Outside of the catchy and unmistakable beat, this song’s lyrics have deeper meaning. Written partially in response to the senseless death of Latasha Harlins, the message of this song is for young Black women to stay positive despite how society often makes them feel. I have to believe that if Tupac lived to see Twitter, this song would be tagged #BlackGirlMagic.
Me Against The World
This song is about Pac feeling alone and feeling the weight of the world against him, hence the title. In the last verse he comments on dreams and politics which is an intersection that many people find themselves balancing. This song title became the name of the entire album which, released in 1995 while still in prison, is widely regarded as his best project.
Hail Mary
The second track on Pac’s last and darkest album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Pac brings the force with “Hail Mary.” Released in 1997, after his death, this track has become one of Pac’s most popular of all time. It was played while his hologram appeared at Coachella in 2012 and appears in several movie scores but the lyrics still resonate with many today.
So Many Tears
This song was on Pac’s Me Against the World album and is a sobering look inside the struggles with his own demons while in prison. This amount of introspection is a clouded window into life on the streets, which becomes clear for Pac in the penitentiary, but could be applied to many sitting in jail today.
Changes
Given the current political climate, “Changes” is still eerily relevant to current times. A reflection on race, police, and culture. Although Tupac didn’t survive to see Barack Obama in office and he said, “We ain’t ready to see a black president,” most of his other commentary in this song still rings true.
Ghetto Gospel
Produced by Eminem in 2004, well after his death, this track, which features Elton John, could represent any hood in America at any time in the last 50 years. While all of the words are poignant and worthy of a listen, the ones below are specifically timeless.
