Tupac's song "Hail Mary" explores contradictions between violence and religion. The song was released after Tupac's death on his final album. In it, Tupac raps about the Black Panther ideology of using violence for racial equality, though he claims not to be a "killer." He also frequently references the Bible and calls out to God and Jesus Christ. Tupac believes this contradiction is necessary given his upbringing surrounded by crime and views revenge as justified, though he shows deference to religion through his references. The song examines Tupac's ability to embrace both devotion to religion and loyalty to violence when needed.
Tupac's song "Hail Mary" explores contradictions between violence and religion. The song was released after Tupac's death on his final album. In it, Tupac raps about the Black Panther ideology of using violence for racial equality, though he claims not to be a "killer." He also frequently references the Bible and calls out to God and Jesus Christ. Tupac believes this contradiction is necessary given his upbringing surrounded by crime and views revenge as justified, though he shows deference to religion through his references. The song examines Tupac's ability to embrace both devotion to religion and loyalty to violence when needed.
Tupac's song "Hail Mary" explores contradictions between violence and religion. The song was released after Tupac's death on his final album. In it, Tupac raps about the Black Panther ideology of using violence for racial equality, though he claims not to be a "killer." He also frequently references the Bible and calls out to God and Jesus Christ. Tupac believes this contradiction is necessary given his upbringing surrounded by crime and views revenge as justified, though he shows deference to religion through his references. The song examines Tupac's ability to embrace both devotion to religion and loyalty to violence when needed.
Tupac's song "Hail Mary" explores contradictions between violence and religion. The song was released after Tupac's death on his final album. In it, Tupac raps about the Black Panther ideology of using violence for racial equality, though he claims not to be a "killer." He also frequently references the Bible and calls out to God and Jesus Christ. Tupac believes this contradiction is necessary given his upbringing surrounded by crime and views revenge as justified, though he shows deference to religion through his references. The song examines Tupac's ability to embrace both devotion to religion and loyalty to violence when needed.
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Tupac "Hail Mary" Pre-Class Essay
Tupac Shakur is one of the most well-known
rappers in the world, and arguably the most influential on the West Coast, sharing that title only with N.W.A. Tupac became famous by rapping about social problems like racism and conflict within inner cities. He was born into a family of Black Panthers, and their mentality of solving American racism through violence was prevalent through his music. "Hail Mary" was released just under five months after Tupac's death, and it was the final song on his fifth and final studio album: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. "Hail Mary" was technically a song by Tupac's alter ego, Makaveli, but it features the contradictions that Tupac has come to symbolize in rap culture: on one hand, Tupac raps about Black Panther-style violence and how people are only violent because they are forced into crime, but on the other hand, he raps about religion and trying to connect with god. Tupac begins "Hail Mary" by explaining his views on violence and revenge, following the ideals of the Black Panther Party. Makaveli (Tupac) begins the song by rapping that he "blows like a 12-gauge" comparing the intensity of his rapping to shooting a bullet "all through your body," and setting up the comparison between himself and violence. He then proceeds to rap: "I ain't a killer, but don't push me" creating a contradiction between Tupac not being "a killer" yet being willing to kill if he is "push[ed]" to do
so. Most of Tupac's family had a criminal history, and
as Black Panthers they shared this mentality of being willing to do whatever they were "push[ed]" to do in order to gain racial equality. Tupac follows this line (a line that has been sampled multiple times, including by Lil Wayne in "Right Above It," and has become a slogan for rappers who commit crimes because they feel they are being pressured to) by rapping: "Revenge is like the sweetest joy next to getting pussy." The music video shows Makaveli coming back from the dead and killing the gang who set up his best friend as the one who murdered Makaveli. This killing is described as "revenge" in the music video, and it shows an example of a situation where Tupac would be willing to be "a killer." Tupac believes a gangsta lifestyle that includes criminal acts is necessary in the "killing fields" of Marin, California that he lived in, because that was the only way to survive. He also adds: "Selling drugs, we all wrapped up in living life as thugs" because it is impossible for him or anyone else to escape life as a "thug." The dichotomy between Tupac considering "revenge...the sweetest joy" yet not considering himself "a killer" is representative of life in crime-riddled, "killing fields" neighborhoods, where young people turn to crime because they are "push[ed]" there by the actions of the people around them. Throughout the song, Tupac repeatedly makes biblical references in order to strengthen his connection with god and maintain an aspect of morality even with his violent revenge. Right after
Tupac mentions the "12-gauge" he moves on to rap:
"And God said he should send one begotten son / To lead the wild into the says of the man / Follow me!" The "one begotten son" is Jesus Christ (based on John 3:16), and the "Follow me" refers to when Christ spoke this line to Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4:19. These biblical references serve to show firstly his devotion to god and the Bible, and secondly that he needs god to send Jesus into his life, to guide the "wild" that is the gangsta culture into "the man" which is religion and peacefulness. Tupac also compares himself to Jesus in these lines as after rapping that god was supposed to send Jesus, he says to "follow" himself; also, he then raps: "Eat my flesh, flesh of my flesh" referring to John 6:54 and Genesis 2:23, thereby comparing himself to Jesus once again, as "eat[ing his] flesh" should make the person immortal. In his next verse, Tupac shows a different take on his religion, as he raps: "Bow down, pray to God, hoping that he's listening" showing Tupac's deference to religion. He then raps: "bless me please Father" and "Hail Mary, catch me if I go" showing more deference to religion and Christianity. Also, "catch me if I go" is a striking prediction of his death that occurred soon after recording this song, as he really did need the Virgin Mary to save his soul after his death. Overall, "Hail Mary" is a song about contradictions. Tupac raps about violence and its necessity, but he also raps about religion and its necessity. Tupac realizes it is nearly impossible to escape life as a "thug" so he accepts that although he
"ain't a killer," he will do whatever necessary if he is
"push[ed]." However, Tupac justifies this revengebased mentality--a mentality stylized after the Black Panther party--by showing his connection to god and deference to religion. Tupac uses "Hail Mary" to show that he, and anybody surrounded by crime, can take this contradiction and make it their own; Tupac believes anyone can be devoutly religious, yet also devoutly loyal to revenge when necessary.