I was unpacking the last few cardboard boxes from my move, and found a bunch of CDs I haven't listened to in quite some time. Seeing those Tupac albums released before his death (never bothered with the post-murder cash ins) brought back a LOT of memories.
2Pacalypse Now
Strictly For My NIGGAZ
Me Against The World
Thug Life Vol. 1
Even now, the anger, pain, and the hope resonate in his lyrics - and honestly, I could never really give a shit about gangster rap after real pioneers like NWA, Ice-T and DJ Quik laid the groundwork for a zillion shitty studio wannabes to ape - but listening to Tupac felt like he was walking you through exactly what you needed to see and experience, whether you wanted to or not. Eazy E may have referred to himself and NWA as street reporters, but Tupac perfected it to a T.
walk in the store, what's everybody starin at
they act like they've never seen a motherfucker wearing black
following a nigger and shit
ain't this a bitch
all I wanted was some chips
That feeling of marginalization certainly didn't help when asshole politicians looked to make their mark and get over on the real concerns the community had. Choosing to focus on how the message is delivered instead of the message itself. Sound familiar? It should. I remember the Republican's Golden Boy, Dan Quayle, demanding that 2Pac "withdraw this record (referring to "Violent", a cop-bashing tale from his first album), there's no place for it in our society. There's absolutely no reason for this record to be published". Funny how politicians are so quick to demonize those who point out the problems, instead of dealing with the problem itself. Always a place for racial profiling and cop beatdowns in our society, of course. And Clinton did it to Sister Souljah too, so you GOPers can put down your crayons. Everybody gets the finger.
unlock my brain, break the chains of your misery
this time the payback for evil shit you did to me
they call me militant, racist cuz I will resist
you wanna censor something, motherfucker censor this
If Tupac hadn't been killed, would he still be as strident now? Cooled down a bit, sold out a bit - maybe with his own show on Fox or UPN? Or would he have taken his voice into the political arena and really shaken things up? We'll never know - but even with all of the contradictions, the vitriol and the fingerpointing, the bravado, venomous hatred, his body of work still stands up now. And to this day:
1. "Hit 'Em Up" is the greatest diss track ever created.
2. Tupac > Biggie Smalls.
3. In the end, everybody gets the finger.
2Pacalypse Now
Strictly For My NIGGAZ
Me Against The World
Thug Life Vol. 1
Even now, the anger, pain, and the hope resonate in his lyrics - and honestly, I could never really give a shit about gangster rap after real pioneers like NWA, Ice-T and DJ Quik laid the groundwork for a zillion shitty studio wannabes to ape - but listening to Tupac felt like he was walking you through exactly what you needed to see and experience, whether you wanted to or not. Eazy E may have referred to himself and NWA as street reporters, but Tupac perfected it to a T.
walk in the store, what's everybody starin at
they act like they've never seen a motherfucker wearing black
following a nigger and shit
ain't this a bitch
all I wanted was some chips
That feeling of marginalization certainly didn't help when asshole politicians looked to make their mark and get over on the real concerns the community had. Choosing to focus on how the message is delivered instead of the message itself. Sound familiar? It should. I remember the Republican's Golden Boy, Dan Quayle, demanding that 2Pac "withdraw this record (referring to "Violent", a cop-bashing tale from his first album), there's no place for it in our society. There's absolutely no reason for this record to be published". Funny how politicians are so quick to demonize those who point out the problems, instead of dealing with the problem itself. Always a place for racial profiling and cop beatdowns in our society, of course. And Clinton did it to Sister Souljah too, so you GOPers can put down your crayons. Everybody gets the finger.
unlock my brain, break the chains of your misery
this time the payback for evil shit you did to me
they call me militant, racist cuz I will resist
you wanna censor something, motherfucker censor this
If Tupac hadn't been killed, would he still be as strident now? Cooled down a bit, sold out a bit - maybe with his own show on Fox or UPN? Or would he have taken his voice into the political arena and really shaken things up? We'll never know - but even with all of the contradictions, the vitriol and the fingerpointing, the bravado, venomous hatred, his body of work still stands up now. And to this day:
1. "Hit 'Em Up" is the greatest diss track ever created.
2. Tupac > Biggie Smalls.
3. In the end, everybody gets the finger.
ours out a Little Liquor:
