Throwback Wednesday’s:2 Pac’s “I Get Around”
August 5, 2009
This weeks throwback Wedsnesday is featuring the greatest rapper of all time, Tupac Shakur. Lost but never forgotten and always remembered, the infamous late rapper will always be remembered. The featured song “I Get Around” was Shakur’s coming out party as a solo artist. A product of The Digital Underground camp Pac came on to the scene with a bang with the release of this catchy flamboyant single describing his lifestyle as a star traveling meeting many different women from city to city and state to state. Its no secret the brother definitely got around. My only question is with all that getting around why didn’t Pac leave behind any kids? I guess he took advantage of prophylactics. Enjoy…
5 Tupac Lines to Live By going into 2009
December 27, 2008
As the year changes, as 2008 makes way for 2009, people are going to make new rules, create new motto’s, only to break all of them. So i figured i might as well add to the pot with 5 lines to live by in 2009. I’ve been listening to Tupac alot lately (CB listen’s to Tupac alot period… lol) and i figured why not. Pac said a lot of good things, most of which are real and will apply to life no matter the year. So here it goes… 5 Tupac lines to live by going into a new year.
*Sidenote: as a matter of fact they all come from the same song (i guess i’ll branch out later, just too many rules in this one song). Taken From “Blasphemy” off the Makaveli Album.
#1 – “I got advice from my father, all he told me was this// N!gg@, get off yo ass if you plan to be rich”
Make your money in 2009. You’ve heard people say time and time again, to get different results do something different. Sitting on the couch wont make you a dime. Unless of course you’re a reality TV blogger, only then is it an investment.
If you’re currently unemployed, while looking for a job, learn a trade, or a hustle. Rolling blunts isnt a skill you can add to your resume, im sure, as well, running from the police doesnt qualify you for public service. Running from the police doesnt equate to Running for office.
#2 – “There’s 10 rules to game, but i’ll share with you two// Know, n!gg@s goin hate you for whatever you do!”
As cliche’ as it may sound, you will be hated in 09 if (keyword “if”) you are progressing. Your enemies will definitely hate, and yes your boys will hate too. That conversation you always seem to walk into and the room gets quiet. Thats the hate, you see it. Dont think its the unemployed friends either. Check the scratching of the head, when you walk into that room and they go “sssh sssshhhh” look for the one who scratches his head. He’s the one that starts the hate circle. Remember hate is contagious, if you humor it you too will find yourself hating at some point during 2009. Which leads into another line which i will use to reinforce this one: “…Watch for phonies// keep yo, enemies close n!gg@ watch yo hommies!”
#3 – “Everybody kissing ass to go to heaven aint goin…”
So very true. For all the folks going to church on New Years Eve, kissing ass only works on the job. Act like God knows your heart, he sees through the b.s. believe me. So that “holy ghost” dance you’ve been practicing might look good to Sister Patterson, but to God, its ugly. I understand many of a believer will “change” for the new year, but who you fooling? If you already know come Jan 15th you’ll be back to that coke and yac’ why quit? There is a difference between living right and lying to yourself, as well there is a difference between true Praise and Kissing Ass!
#4 – “Do what you gotta do, but know you got to change// try to find a way to make it out the game”
Hustling in 2009. Is its played out yet? Hustling has been the fad for a few years now. I know that helped a lot of unemployed brothas get @$$ in 08. When she asked “Well, what do you do for a living?” and you replied in your best Jay-Z voice “Im a hustl-a, ima ima Hustl-a,” she may have thought it was cute, it WAS in style. (you may frown but i’ve seen it happen, even the career women had their moment of infatuation with the “hustla”). But come 2009 take that hustle money and invest it somewhere. Yes if you look at the stock market now, to the untrained eye it may seem like a moment to shy away from purchasing stock. Four words “Buy Low, Sell High.” Apply those block tactics you’re all too familiar with to the stock market, and trade your hoodie for a suit in 09.
#5 – “Promise if i have a seed, ima guild him right…”
It was either this line or “Money over B!tches cuz they breed envy…” but the latter of two seemed so trife i figured id leave it alone. So anyways, how about going into 09 we put more effort into parenting? “Mama gotta have a life too” was a lie, like Martin used to say “somebody done told you wrong!” Mama’s life is her child, and Daddy’s life too. Get your priorities right in 09, hell why wait, get em right, right now! Not saying you cant leave them with Grandma and go out every once in a while, but those children need rearing, and loving, correction and reinforcement. And quit trying to be your child’s friend act like an adult why dont you. Make it point, PTA meetings over happy hour and parent teacher conferences in place of the Savoy or the Dynasty (my L.A. folks know what im talking about lol)…
Any more lines? What you got?
If Tupac Were Alive, I think he’d be in Politics | Ms. Kris
July 31, 2008
One of my favorite Tupac songs to just sit back and listen to is “Dear Mama” from his 1995 third album, Me Against the World. It is real easy to just sit back and embrace dysfunction and act out rather than doing what it takes to reconcile that situation and move forward stronger. At some point we all have to come to terms with our childhood and what was or wasn’t there for us, and take responsibility. Tupac’s song “Dear Mama” wasn’t just an open letter letting his mother know he is sorry for not understanding when he was younger, it also touches other mothers out there who struggle in their own way and sometimes feel alone. I will be honest, this song makes me emotional whenever I hear it. I didn’t share any of the struggles that Tupac’s mom experienced, but I am a single mom and there are times were just being a struggling and HARD working single mom can be tough, and I had times where I felt down because everything was on me to provide. When this song came out, it was as if Tupac sat me down and told me to hang in there and that I was doing a great job. It is the one rap song that comes to mind that actually lifts the female spirit on a much deeper level than just having ridiculous ass.
Today, we will focus on Tupac songs and examining their lyrics and contemplating the thought of what the world would be like right now if Tupac was still alive. That is an interesting question when you look back at the Tupac era and compare it to Hip Hop now. I remember hearing people refer to Tupac as a Prophet because of his tendency to go deep on you lyrically and he is practically a mythological symbol especially after dropping the Makaveli. There are actual grown men I know who will argue you down about and who seriously believe that Tupac is alive and laying low somewhere waiting for the right moment to pop out. Tupac would be 37 years old if he were still with us and I can see him running to occupying Barack Obama’s seat in the Senate when Obama moves on to become President. I never met Tupac, but he struck me as the type of person that took action rather than standing around complaining about how things are. He has a huge following and would win that seat in a second.
Tupac was recognized as being the highest selling rap artists in the Guinness Book of World Records, his acting career, but also for his activism. With his intellect, connection with the people, swagger, talent, passion and confidence, what else did you think you were going to get? I think the whole game of Hip Hop would be very different now if he were alive too. When your CD is dropping along side a man that is considered a Prophet by many, you would really need to step your lyrical game up if you want to remain relevant. Check out the lyrics below and see how he just broke down what is wrong in some family situations and how this affects the kids and, in turn, society. He got and he would have been the perfect person to help address and clean up the mess. I miss him.
Here are the lyrics so you can relive the power that was Tupac:
“Dear Mama”
You are appreciated
[Verse One: 2Pac]
When I was young me and my mama had beef
Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
Though back at the time, I never thought I’d see her face
Ain’t a woman alive that could take my mama’s place
Suspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a fool
with the big boys, breakin all the rules
I shed tears with my baby sister
Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids
And even though we had different daddy’s, the same drama
When things went wrong we’d blame mama
I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell
Huggin on my mama from a jail cell
And who’d think in elementary?
Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day
And runnin from the police, that’s right
Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside
And even as a crack fiend, mama
You always was a black queen, mama
I finally understand
for a woman it ain’t easy tryin to raise a man
You always was committed
A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it
There’s no way I can pay you back
But the plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
[Chorus: Reggie Green & "Sweet Franklin" w/ 2Pac]
Lady…
Don’t cha know we love ya? Sweet lady
Dear mama
Place no one above ya, sweet lady
You are appreciated
Don’t cha know we love ya?
[second and third chorus, "And dear mama" instead of "Dear mama"]
[Verse Two: 2Pac]
Now ain’t nobody tell us it was fair
No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn’t there
He passed away and I didn’t cry, cause my anger
wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger
They say I’m wrong and I’m heartless, but all along
I was lookin for a father he was gone
I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs
They showed a young brother love
I moved out and started really hangin
I needed money of my own so I started slangin
I ain’t guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
It feels good puttin money in your mailbox
I love payin rent when the rent’s due
I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you
Cause when I was low you was there for me
And never left me alone because you cared for me
And I could see you comin home after work late
You’re in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate
Ya just workin with the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin
But now the road got rough, you’re alone
You’re tryin to raise two bad kids on your own
And there’s no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
[Chorus]
[Verse Three: 2Pac]
Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama
I can always depend on my mama
And when it seems that I’m hopeless
You say the words that can get me back in focus
When I was sick as a little kid
To keep me happy there’s no limit to the things you did
And all my childhood memories
Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
And even though I act craaazy
I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
There are no words that can express how I feel
You never kept a secret, always stayed real
And I appreciate, how you raised me
And all the extra love that you gave me
I wish I could take the pain away
If you can make it through the night there’s a brighter day
Everything will be alright if ya hold on
It’s a struggle everyday, gotta roll on
And there’s no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
[Chorus]
Sweet lady
And dear mama
Dear mama
Lady [3X]
If Pac was still with us | CB’s perspective…
July 31, 2008
It is no secret that Tupac Shakur was a remarkable human being. In his short time on this earth (25 years) he touched many lives. His music to this very day still has a positive influence in our culture. If Shakur was still alive our society would not be the same. Tupac would have a strong influence on the music industry, film industry, and the black community as well. I am going to give you my version of how Tupac’s life would be had he not been killed in Las Vegas after the Tyson fight in 1996.
Well I think that his last release when he was alive which was Makaveli would have basically sounded the same with a few minor changes to it. As good an album as it was I think that Pac was so much of a musical genius he would have added a little twist to it which would have made the album even more of a classic. Makaveli would have been his last release under Suge Knight’s Death Row Records. I feel that during this period that Pac was looking to have his own label. It makes sense for somebody big as he was to start his own label where he calls the shots. Of course he would have signed the Outlaws which was his group. Since he was such a powerful influence in the rap game I think that Pac would have signed many artist under his label which include Snoop and the Dogg Pound, Naughty by Nature, E 40, and many other relevant artist at the time. When Pac died he and Dr Dre were not on good terms, I think eventually they would have fixed the situation. Dre would have been a major player in Shakur’s label, in house producer and CO CEO. Due to the heavy influence Pac would have had with this label it would have naturally ended his friendship with Suge Knight, in turn making Death Row irrelevant in the rap industry.
Pac died as an angry person in terms of the beef with the east coast.
Eventually after things cooled down the beef with Biggie Smalls would have ended. I think that they would have organized a big conference where they would have settled their issues like men, leaving the meeting as friends.
Despite this I do not think that Pac and Puffy Combs(head of Bad Boy
Entertainment) would have ever seen eye to eye. I just do not see Diddy as the type of person Tupac would have been cool with. Pac would have definitely squashed his beef with Nas. I see them also meeting up but on a lower level and reconciling their differences. Nas and Tupac are two genuine people with a lot in common so I could never see them being enemies for too long. These two would have definitely collaborated to make classic music and more than likely toured together. Other artist I see Pac making music with would have been Eminem, TI, UGK, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Jadakiss, Game, Joe Budden, Common, Most Def, The Roots, Mary J, Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana, DMX, BG, Talib Kweli, Alicia Keys, Anthony Hamilton, Pharell and many other artist I cannot think of at the moment. But I think Pac would have worked with artist who worked hard like he did and actually were genuine about their music.
If Pac was alive today some of the big named artist would not be who they are today or who they were in the recent past. These artist include Jay Z, 50 Cent, Ja Rule, and Snoop Dogg (being that Pac would have been the leader of the West Coast). I feel this way because Pac would have called out people like 50 Cent because his story is some what similar to his life, being that he was shot and made a career out beefing with other artist. Pac would have definitely spoke up on this which would have lessened 50′s impact in the rap industry. Jay Z and Pac would eventually have squashed their beef as well but it would have been much later, probally in the 
2000′s. With Pac alive Jay Z would not have ran the rap game like he did. He would have had success but not as much as he has had up to date. I mention JA Rule because in my opinion his whole style was imitating Pac. If you look at his mannerism when he came out and how he talked when he raped, it had Pac written all over it. It is only room for one Pac and this world and it would have made it hard for Ja Rule to come out the way he did.
Shakur enjoyed a short successful acting career when he was alive. He had his start in Juice and then moved on to starring roles in Poetic Justice, Gang Related and more. These roles he had were only just the beginning of his acting career. He would have eventually became a mega box office star.
I truly believe he would have been up there with the likes of a Denzel Washington. Acting came so natural for him, this would allowed for him to take on many roles. I think we would have witnessed Tupac gracing the stage accepting an Oscar award.
A lot of people feel that Pac would have gotten into Politics but I beg to differ. I do not think he would have ran for office or anything like that.
But I do think he would have been a leader amongst blacks, a hip hop modern day Black Activist. I see him speaking out on issues that most entertainers shy away from. He would have actually made a change in the black community. I see him stopping gang violence, building schools, creating job opportunities, providing free college education opportunities and more.
We were blessed to experience the life of Tupac. He maximized his time with the small amount of years he was given here on this earth. Its amazing when you think of the impact he made on peoples lives in such a short time. This makes you wonder how much more he would have done if he never was killed. I think the state of hip hop would be a lot better if he was here. Tupac would also have the black community more united if he was alive as well. It is unfortunate that he is gone. He will always be missed but never forgotten. May his legacy live on.
What would the world be like if Pac was still alive?
July 31, 2008
Ever wondered what the world would be life if Tupac was still here with us? It’s a question we’ll never know the answer to, but being that Tupac was such a prolific writer, you can’t help but wonder if what he said then would be true now.
Tupac somehow made music that withstood time. Music that is still relevant on many planes, classic if you will, and what scares me the most is that many of his lyrics are JUST becoming relevant. Coincidence or not, I am going to take those very lyrics and show you a world WITH Tupac.
“And though it seems heaven sent// We aint ready, to have a black president//”
So would Tupac have supported Obama? And would the hiphop community have followed Pac’s lead? Well from Pac’s stand on Politics and Politicians as a whole, not to mention, the lyric above, I’d bet that he would have passed on Obama-rama. But I’m only 45-55 on that standpoint. %55 of me says he would have been against the 2008 political figure in Obama, but the other %45 says he would have been a supporter. He says in “Thugz Mansion” “See the politicians ban us// they rather see us locked in chains// please explain why they can’t stand us//,” And Obama is a politician, no matter how you look at it.
BUT, the big but about it is the very fact that Tupac was speaking from [Thugz Mansion] a standpoint where Politics has usually been against our community. Obama has seemingly embraced Hiphop, thus embraced the ‘community.’ The only problem here is Pac may have questioned the motives behind that very ‘embrace’ possibly writing it off as propaganda, because again, he is a Politician.
Another inclination as to what Pac might have thought is in the rest of the lyrics from “I wonder if heaven got a ghetto” following “…we aint ready to have a black president…”
“…It aint secret don’t conceal the facts// our penitentiary packed// and it’s filled with blacks//
I wake in the morning and I ask myself// is life worth living should I blast myself//
I’m tired of being poor and even worse I’m black// my stomach hurts so I’m looking for a purse to snatch//
Cops give a damn about a ne-gro// pull a trigger kill a nigga he’s a he-ro//…”
When I read that, I take that to be the real issues at hand, the issues that most Politicians don’t address. I would go as far as saying that many-a-hip-hop-act wouldn’t address these issues. Remember The Game, and how he felt when no one wanted to jump on the Sean Bell tribute? Right… exactly. So I’m gonna go ahead and say that Pac would have played the Obama card neutral and from the amount of influence he had, I think the hiphop world would have followed.
Against All Odds (The whole song); The Intro (Both tracks on Makavelli – The Don Killuminati – The 7 Day Theory)
Now it’s hard to say that Pac’s influence was strong enough to contain the careers of all artist noted within these two tracks but I’m going to go as far and say that Jay-Z’s career would far less illustrious than it is now. For one the duet between Jay and Beyonce would have never been cleared, thus that hit would have never been made. I think that was the beginning of the Jay and B corporate takeover. At the time Jay was still more of a hot emcee that rolled with Biggie. As much of a Jay fan as I am, fact is, he was ill, but he wasn’t shit till Biggie (and Pac) died. After which he made countless tributes to his fallen friend and ‘honored’ him many times by reciting and re-arranging Big’s lyrics. You can find many of both Pac and Big’s lyrics sprinkled throughout Jay’s verses.
Now as far as Nas, I think Nas had more of a secure career, being that he had already established himself as Nasty, already was a classic artist, where as Jay was still coming into his own. So what was said about Nas could only help, in the sense of “There is no such thing as bad publicity.”
Puffy? Now as much as we think Diddy is a superficial, egotistical, metro-sexual, on some real shit, Diddy got his hands dirty, according to Pac of course. And from what I’ve heard, Diddy got a gangsta side to him. So as much dirt that would have gotten flung Diddy’s way, he would’ve slung it back. Even after Pac said “Puffy getting robbed like a bitch, to hide that fact// he did some shit he shouldn’t have did so we riding for that//,” Big and Diddy were still eating. Diddy was only as good as Big was, and Big was damn good.
And now my favorite: Dre. Dr. Dre. Pac got a couple references to Dre within the 7 day theory. “…We shook Dre punk ass, now he out of the closet…” on Against all Odds, and “…California Love part muthafuckin two, without gay ass Dre.” on To Live and Die in L.A. Now Dre couldn’t take the heat over at Death Row and shook after which Pac verbally attacked him more than once.
When Dre left Death Row he jumped out of Suge’s boat and onto another ship. A ship he owned, well, owned along with one of the other owners of the previous boat he was on. (Jimmy I, Interscope, both Death Row and Aftermath we under Interscope). The new boat was Aftermath. Aftermath’s initial introduction to the game was less than great, partly due to Pac’s influence on the West Coast. Dre leaving Death Row and Pac was like Dre leaving California. Which is what it seemed like he did with the Dre assisted “The Firm” album. At the time it seemed like Dre was no more. Now had Pac’s continued influence lasted, we might not have seen the likes of Eminem, 50 Cent, G-Unit as a whole, The Game, or Bishop Lamont, as we know them now. Imagine Shady at Def Jam, or 50 Cent at Koch, or The Game having signed with Diddy, crazy right?
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