Rakhimjonova Barno 236750

Final paper
Protest Literature and Music
Dr. Kim Seong-Hoon

Tupac Shakur and his use of music for social and political commentary

Tupac Shakur was a revolutionary rapper whose lyrics were unconventional and

powerfully metaphorical. His music served him as a form of platform for

communicating important messages and concerns with his audiences. He wrote songs

to narrate the relatable realities of the marginalized people. He used the power of a

language creatively to incorporate social justice and activism. On one hand, 2Pac was

a lyrical genius, who was critical of the racist society that he lived in. (Hodge, 2017)

Through his music,' 2Pac would effectively imply various political ideas and social -

issues that made people from various backgrounds take heed to his lyrics by rebelling

against social injustices. At times his music did implicate a fictional narrative (many

times fiction is used as a tunnel towards the truth), which became an effective tool in

bringing various social concerns to judgment (Robinson 1)

In this paper, I will analyze Tupac’s lyrics in terms of political and social references

he made, his storytelling ability and use of rhetorical devices to see how his use of

language helps his lyrics to be effective. 2Pac lyrics “must be viewed in the context of

social, political and cultural forms” (Smitherman 35). I will specifically look at the

songs “ Changes” from “Greatest hits”; "I Wonder If Heaven's Got A Ghetto" from

his album “Troublesome 21” and “White man’z world” from “The Don Killuminati”

to examine what he was implying.

believes it is. He brings up a simple morality issue by stating that sometimes people

have to sacrifice their moral principles when they do not have other options. It is

obvious that all human beings need to make money for their material needs. The drug

dealers make a profit by selling drugs to the kids who are addicted to them which is

destructive. 2pac is making a point that people sometimes overlook other’s life for the

sake of their personal needs. The line “that’s just the way it is” shows how the

capitalist system justifies this immoral act. 2pac portrays himself as someone who is

not excluded in this morality. Having lived in the ghetto, he experienced hardships of

being poor and at times, he had to do illegal things to survive. However, he defenses

himself saying that he “never did a crime (he) ain’t have to do”.

In the song, 2pac also mentions Huey P. Newton who was the leader of Black

Panther Party movement and who was shot by a drug-dealer at the age of 47. 2pac’s

political stanza were obvious in his activism in the movement. So, he had connections

with Huey. “‘It’s time to fight back’, that’s what Huey said. Two shots in the dark,

and now Huey’s dead” 2pac understands that in America, it is easy to have a gun and

kill other people. Huey tried to solve the problems and ended up being killed.

Obviously, 2pac is stating that hatred and violence is not the solution anymore. To

solve the problems he says that they need to make “changes”

In the song 2pac also states that “And though it seems heaven-sent we ain't ready, to

have a black President, huh” Having said that he assumes that the world is still racist

and more importantly black people are still in a state of emergency and he was right at

assuming. Until 2008, the USA did not have a president who is African-American

(wikipedia) Interestingly, the issues posited in his songs are still actual in America.
 Tupac’s insight into social problems grew from critical reflection on the harsh

circumstances of his youth (Dyson, 319) Thus, having born and raised in a ghetto, in

his song "I Wonder If Heaven's Got A Ghetto" 2pac portrays the frustrations of being

black in America. 2pac clearly knows that heaven doesn't have a ghetto. However, he

asks this question in order to make audience question their faith in God or Heaven

which helps them to visually imagine, understand or relate to what his soul is feeling.

This is a rhetoric question that asks if the realities here on Earth transcend to the

afterlife, particularly in regards to classism and racism. He poses this question more

as a “hope”, that the afterlife is a place with no inequities. He is actually questioning

the racial inequality in society and the possibility of a better future.

Furthermore, he constantly uses various slang and taboo words (i.e., Bitch, Fuck,

Whore, Nigga, Motha fucka, Shit, etc.) to be effective and sound more unconventional.

He also uses Black English words like "Mo' (more) and“Nigga." Although the word

is not appropriate, he often uses the word "Nigga" in order to create a sense of

understanding within his black audience.

The song "White Man's World" is a fictional narrative that shows his storytelling

ability. The song is the critique of the societal structure that perpetuates racial

inequality and marginalization. In the following lines, 2pac is trying to describe the

life of a prisoner who is imprisoned in White Man’z World: “Eatin jack macks starin

at the walls in silence” and “Inside this cage where they captured all my rage and

violence” Here, the word prison is not in its original meaning. 2pac employs

metaphor to describe the world which oppresses African-Americans and to imply

what a person goes through in that prison he uses the third person. He continues: “I

passed his casket gently asked him is there heaven for Gee's?” It is obvious that there

is no such thing as a heaven for gangsters. However, this rhetorical question helps his
listeners to picture what gangster’s life is worth. It is sometimes difficult to

understand whom his lyrics are addressed to as he often uses the third person pronoun

“they”. However, I assume that he must be referring to white people in America. As a

matter of fact, skillful rappers can often avoid having to prove themselves through

deeds if their rap is strong enough" (Smitherman, p.83). The boy prisoned in White

Man’z World poses unanswerable questions: “where my daddy at? Mama, why we

live so poor?” , “why you cryin? heard you late night through my bedroom door”, “do

ya love me mama? why they keep on callin me nigga?” These lyrics imply that he is

inferior and troubled by the pain he sees and feels. 2pac employs exaggeration

effectively which make his listeners to believe or even sympathize with him.
 Conclusion

Tupac was not the best MC in the rap game (that honor goes to Rakim), but he was a

charismatic presence, a gifted actor, and a poet who is still very much alive in the

public mind. The preoccupation with Tupac is poignant but not surprising. (Johnson

319) A listener emotionally gets drawn into 2pac’s lyrics and relate to it

sympathetically as it is delivered with poetic narratives. His lyrics take his listeners

deeper not only into the lives of black people, but also their inner world, feelings. He

was ahead of his time with his unorthodox thinking and ability to convey those

thoughts that are still important. One of the reasons Tupac still resonates in the

culture is his outsized literary ambition. When it comes to the themes of his music,

Tupac thought big, and often in stark binaries: life and death (“Life Goes On”); love

and hate (“Hail Mary”); judgment and forgiveness (“I Ain’t Mad at Cha”); joy and

pain (“To Live and Die in L.A.”); and heaven and hell (“I Wonder if Heaven Got a

Ghetto”). He fearlessly, and poetically, explored dimensions of the male psyche

rejected by his rap peers (Dyson) His lyrics revealed the difficulties of being black

and poor and living in ghetto in America. They "presented an idealistic vision of the

90's," thus, along with many other rappers, establishing rap music as America's

creative and most influential music form/speech community today (George 143).

Being unconventional, controversial and metaphorical, his lyrics left dramatic effect

on his listeners. He effectively imply various political ideas and social-issues in his

music that people who were inspired and motivated by him, started to rebel against

social injustices.

Throughout the analysis, it is safe to conclude that Tupac Shakur’s lyrics stand out

with a powerful delivery resulted in his narrative and poetic ability.

Daniel White Hodge, “Hip Hop’s Totemic Prophet: Tupac Amaru Shakur,” in Hip Hop’s Hostile
Gospel, (Leiden, NL: Brill, 2017), 95–115

Holler if you hear me, 2001 by Michael Eric Dyson Published by Basic Civitas Books

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AfricanAmerican_United_States_presidential_and_vice_presiden

tial_candidates

George', Nelson. 1998. Hip Hop And America: New York, Penguin Books

Michael Eric Dyson. Black Issues Book Review

Robinson, Alonford James. Africana Research Center Archives: 2000

Smitherman, Geneva. 1977. Talkin And Testifying: The Language of Black America. Detroit: Wayne
State University Press.

The life and times of an American icon. Tayannah Lee MCQuillar & Fred Johnson. Dacapo Press