I'm willing to bet that most of us have at least heard the name "Tupac" sometime in our lives, and heard at least some of his music. While I'm not a rap music fan, I do know about Shakur, and some bits of information about his life and music.
Shakur was born in New York in 1971 to a former Black Panther activist.[1] In looking at his work, it's easy to see the influence that this had on Shakur. In many of his songs, he raps about poverty, police brutality, crime, and a gang lifestyle.
I'm going to highlight one of his songs, "Changes" here.
In the first verse of the song, he accuses police and other authority figures of perpetuating poverty, drug addiction, and gang activity among Black youths in America. He also references the murder of Huey P. Newton for wanting a change in the system.
In the next verse, he goes more into drug dealing and addiction. I also noticed that he says "We ain't ready to see a black president," because, of course, we do at this moment.
The chorus of the song calls out to America to make changes, to start a new system where people are equal and can get along, because "You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive."
His third verse continues his previous sentiments, showing a need for a change from the gangs and drugs and ignorance.
I think that this song encapsulates the general feeling of Tupac's works. It's a cry for a change, for equality, and for peace. As much as I disapprove of violence in general, I can see his point of view, that in the situation he and other like him were in, it's inevitable.
Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, at the age of 25.[2] And you know, I really wish he had lived to see the nation's first black president.
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[1] "Tupac Shakur Biography." http://www.biography.com/articles/Tupac-Shakur-206528?part=0.
[2]Ibid.
1 comments:
ّّI like your topic about tupac. You wrote about the verses he made and explains it that shows how important he is to modern music.
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