The Sunday Series: 2Pac

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Tupac Amaru Shakur born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), better known by his stage name 2Pac and by his alias Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is considered by many to be one of the most influential rappers of all time.”

Much of Shakur’s work has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he is considered a symbol of resistance and activism against inequality…Shakur is one of the best-selling music artists of all time having sold over 75 million records worldwide. In 2002, he was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.[10  In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.[11] Rolling Stone named Shakur in its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[12] Outside music, Shakur also gained considerable success as an actor, with his starring roles as Bishop in Juice (1992), Lucky in Poetic Justice (1993) where he starred alongside Janet Jackson, Ezekiel in Gridlock’d (1997), and Jake in Gang Related (1997), all garnering praise from critics.”  1

You can blame, in any order your like, John Campbell, Mellowdownz or The Spinoff for this week’s subject of The Sunday Series.   A slightly kava-influenced Campbell discloses an earlier influence during his conversation with Mellowdownz.  Rap and Hop Hop are spoken word poetry and here we’re moving to the conclusion of our annual poetry-focused month.  It’s a strange month in a strange time made strange by something that’s been around for a short time.  The life and issues of Tupac have been around for a long time.  I usually collate the video performances for The Sunday Series; today it’s the words and I’ve deliberately selected the social justice words that speak most directly to me.  Elvis-like 2Pac has a contemporary website where you can buy a teeshirt – that’s the other side with the gangsta rap.

Changes

Come on come on
I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself
Is life worth living should I blast myself?
I’m tired of bein’ poor and even worse I’m black
My stomach hurts so I’m lookin’ for a purse to snatch
Cops give a damn about a negro
Pull the trigger kill a nigga he’s a hero
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares
One less hungry mouth on the welfare
First ship ’em dope and let ’em deal the brothers
Give ’em guns step back watch ’em kill each other
“It’s time to fight back, ” that’s what Huey said
Two shots in the dark now Huey’s dead
I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere
Unless we share with each other
We gotta start makin’ changes
Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers
And that’s how it’s supposed to be
How can the Devil take a brother if he’s close to me?
I’d love to go back to when we played as kids
But things changed, and that’s the way it is
That’s just the way it is
Things will never be the same
That’s just the way it is
Aww yeah
That’s just the way it is
Things will never be the same
That’s just the way it is
Aww yeah
I see no changes all I see is racist faces
Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this
One better place, let’s erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they’ll be acting right
‘Cause both black and white is smokin’ crack tonight
And only time we chill is when we kill each other
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And although it seems heaven sent
We ain’t ready, to see a black President, uh
It ain’t a secret don’t conceal the fact
The penitentiary’s packed, and it’s filled with blacks
But some things will never change
Try to show another way but you stayin’ in the dope game
Now tell me what’s a mother to do
Bein’ real don’t appeal to the brother in you
You gotta operate the easy way
(I made a G today) But you made it in a sleazy way
Sellin’ crack to the kid (I gotta get paid
Well hey, well that’s the way it is
That’s just the way it is
Things will never be the same
That’s just the way it is
Aww yeah
That’s just the way it is
Things will never be the same
That’s just the way it is
Aww yeah
We gotta make a change
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes
Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live
And let’s change the way we treat each other
You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do
What we gotta do, to survive
And still I see no changes can’t a brother get a little peace?
It’s war on the streets and the war in the Middle East
Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs
So the police can bother me
And I ain’t never did a crime I ain’t have to do
But now I’m back with the blacks givin’ it back to you
Don’t let ’em jack you up, back you up
Crack you up and pimp smack you up
You gotta learn to hold ya own
They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone
But tell the cops they can’t touch this
I don’t trust this when they try to rush I bust this
That’s the sound of my tool you say it ain’t cool
My mama didn’t raise no fool
And as long as I stay black I gotta stay strapped
And I never get to lay back
‘Cause I always got to worry ’bout the pay backs
Some buck that I roughed up way back
Comin’ back after all these years
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat that’s the way it is, uh
That’s just the way it is
Things will never be the same
That’s just the way it is
Aww yeah
That’s just the way it is
Things will never be the same
That’s just the way it is
Aww yeah
Some things will never change
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bruce Hornsby / Deon Evans / Tupac Amaru Shakur
Changes lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

Thug 4 Life

Uh, hit em with a little ghetto gospel
Those who wish to follow me
My ghetto gospel
I welcome with my hands
And the red sun sinks at last
Into the hills of gold
And peace to this young warrior
Without the sound of guns
If I could recollect before my hood days
I sit and reminisce
Thinking of bliss and the good days
I stop and stare at the younger
My heart goes to em
They tested with stress that they under
And nowadays things change
Everyone’s ashamed of the youth ’cause the truth look, strange
And for me it’s reversed
We left em a world that’s cursed
And it hurts
‘Cause any day they’ll push the button
And all come in like Malcolm X or Bobby Hutton died for nothing
Don’t it make you get teary
The world looks dreary
When you wipe your eyes see it clearly
There’s no need for you to fear me
If you take your time and hear me
Maybe you can learn to cheer me
It ain’t about black or white ’cause we human
I hope we see the light before it’s ruined, my ghetto gospel
Those who wish to follow me
My ghetto gospel
I welcome with my hands
And the red sun sinks at last
Into the hills of gold
And peace to this young warrior
Without the sound of guns
Tell me do you see that old lady
Ain’t it sad
Living out of bags
Plus she’s glad for the little things she has
And over there there’s a lady
Crack got her crazy
Guess who’s giving birth to a baby
I don’t trip or let it fade me
From out of the fryin’ pan
We jump into another form of slavery
Even now I get discouraged
Wonder if they take it all back
Will I still keep the courage
I refuse to be a role model
I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottles
I make mistakes but learn from every one
And when it’s said and done
I bet this brother be a better one
If I upset you don’t stress never forget
That God isn’t finished with me yet
I feel his hand on my brain
When I write rhymes I go blind and let the Lord do his thing
But am I less holy
‘Cause I chose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
Before we find world peace
We gotta find peace and end the war in the streets
My ghetto gospel
Those who wish to follow me
My ghetto gospel
I welcome with my hands
And the red sun sinks at last
Into the hills of gold
And peace to this young warrior
Without the sound of guns
Lord can you hear me speak
To pay the price of being hellbound
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bernie Taupin / Deon Evans / Elton John / Luis Edgardo Resto / Marshall B. Iii Mathers / Tupac Amaru Shakur
Thug 4 Life lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Songtrust Ave

Dear Mama

I love you
I love you
You are appreciated
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, breaking 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 reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell
Hugging on my mama from a jail cell
And who’d think in elementary?
Hey! I see the penitentiary, one day
And running from the police, that’s right
Mama catch me, put a whooping 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 trying to raise a man
(I know it ain’t easy)
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
Dear mama
Don’t you know I love you?
Dear mama
Place no one above you
(Dear mama) Oh mama, I appreciate you
Although my shadow’s gone
I will never leave you
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 looking 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 hanging
I needed money of my own so I started slanging
I ain’t guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
It feels good putting money in your mailbox
I love paying 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 coming home after work late
You’re in the kitchen trying to fix us a hot plate
Ya just working with the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving
But now the road got rough, you’re alone
You’re trying 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
Dear mama
Don’t you know I love you?
Dear mama
Place no one above you
(Dear mama) Oh mama, I appreciate you
Although my shadow’s gone
I will never leave you
Pour out some liquor and I reminisce, 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 crazy
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
Dear mama
Don’t you know I love you?
Dear mama
Place no one above you
Oh mama, I appreciate you
Although my shadow’s gone
I will never leave you
I appreciate you
I love you
I need you
Oh mama
I love you
Appreciate you
I need you
Oh mama
I appreciate you
I love you
I need you
Oh mama
I love you
Appreciate you
I need you
Oh mama
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Tupac Amaru Shakur / Tony Pizarro / Bruce Andre Hawes / Charles B Simmons / Joseph Banks Jefferson / Joseph Leslie Sample / Terence Thomas / Tony D Pizarro
Dear Mama lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network

 

Brenda’s Got a Baby

Brenda’s (Brenda’s)
Got a (got a)
Baby
Say that one more time Brenda
Brenda’s
Got a (baby)
Baby
I hear Brenda’s got a baby
But, Brenda’s barely got a brain
A damn shame, the girl can hardly spell her name
(That’s not our problem, that’s up to Brenda’s family)
Well let me show ya how it affects the whole community
Now Brenda really never knew her moms and her dad was a
Junky, went in death to his arms, it’s sad ’cause I bet
Brenda doesn’t even know
Just ’cause your in the ghetto doesn’t mean you can’t grow (you can’t grow)
But oh, that’s a thought, my own revelation
Do whatever it takes to resist the temptation
Brenda got herself a boyfriend
Her boyfriend was her cousin, now let’s watch the joy end
She tried to hide her pregnancy, from her family
Who didn’t really care to see, or give a damn if she
Went out and had a church of kids
As long as when the check came they got first dibs
Now Brenda’s belly is gettin’ bigger
But no one seems to notice any change in her figure
She’s 12 years old and she’s having a baby
In love with the molester, who’s sexing her crazy
And yet she thinks that he’ll be with her forever
And dreams of a world with the two of them are together,
Whatever, he left her and she had the baby solo
She had it on the bathroom floor and didn’t know so
She didn’t know, what to throw away and what to keep
She wrapped the baby up and threw him in the trash heep
I guess she thought she’d get away, wouldn’t hear the cries
She didn’t realize
How much the the little baby had her eyes
Now the baby’s in the trash heep balling
Momma can’t help her, but it hurts to hear her calling
Brenda wants to run away
Momma say, you makin’ me lose pay
The social workers here everyday
Now Brenda’s gotta make her own way
Can’t go to her family, they won’t let her stay
No money no babysitter, she couldn’t keep a job
She tried to sell crack, but end up getting robbed
So now what’s next, there ain’t nothing left to sell
So she sees sex as a way of leaving hell
It’s paying the rent, so she really can’t complain
Prostitute, found slain, and Brenda’s her name, she’s got a baby
Baby
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Deon Evans / Tupac Amaru Shakur
Brenda’s Got a Baby lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
1 Wikipedia
This interview with Tupac at 17 years of age is amazing not only for what he says but the youthfully soft and pleasant presentation of what he says later in a harder, harsher way.
“The ones you know didn’t do it”         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7DRo20X0iI
From a background of activism.   https://www.biography.com/musician/tupac-shakur
RIP Tupac Amaru Shakur      E kore wareware te ingoa ki a ratou e ngkau ana – A name is never forgotten by those it matters to
Compiled from text and information available online
Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current Managing Editor of ARTbop. Rosemary has arts and law degrees from the University of Auckland. She has been a working lawyer and has participated in a wide variety of community activities where information gathering, submission writing, community advocacy and education have been involved. Interested in all forms of the arts since childhood Rosemary is focused on further developing and expanding multi-media ARTbop as the magazine for all the creative arts in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

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Check out the archives of The Sunday Series which feature an eclectic range of creative topics from the importance of local markets  to creative and artisan producers in small rural communities to the music of Alien Weaponry.   And take a look at the wider ARTbop archives.  More recent additions, Chapter III of Nick Scott’s episodic novel “Temple’s Job” and Part II of Busted: Auckland & Black Asterisk.  We are saddened to see that the beautiful little Black Asterisk Gallery in Ponsonby Auckland is closing.      And don’t forget to submit your creative information to the online Directory being put together by Creative Bay of Plenty   https://creativebop.org.nz/creative-directory/

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