Usually, I review terrible songs and construct a no holds barred attack on them. However, this week I take a defensive stance in an attempt to shop Tupac Shakur to people who don't like Rap Music. Additionally, I will attempt to illustrate the reasons why Tupac was one of the best artists in American history. Expect a thorough discussion about the differences between 'Rap' and 'Music'; and, for Tupac fans, a few things about Tupac that you may not know. Enjoy.
Review:
If you happened to read my "Strait Playin'" review, you might be under the impression that I dislike Rap. You're right, I hate it. So, what separates Shaquille O'Neal from Tupac Shakur? How can I blast Rap one week and praise it the next? Because I love Music, and Tupac Shakur was a maker of Music. Music has a message, a reason for existing, a substantial message that positively influences it's audience. Rap is a non-creative use of language meant to express a wealth of riches and bitches; expressing nothing deep enough to influence positivity.
Tupac used his Music to reach people, and to spread a message. That message, while sometimes blurry, was one of encouragement. I used the term 'blurry' because not all of Shakur's music has a serious message; you gotta have fun sometimes, as illustrated in "I Get Around", "Heartz of Men", and "Can't See Me". Shakur also has some violent tracks, such as "When We Ride", "Hail Mary", and "Troublesome '96". Each of the three tracks encourage revenge via murder; however, Shakur uses jokes, explanations, and laughing to separate listeners from the reality of the content. Hell, he references a Klondike Bar Commercial at the end of "When We Ride"; and he offers an explanation for his actions in "Hail Mary":
"Penitentiaries is packed with promise makers,... Institutionalized, I live my life a product made to crumble, Much to hardened for a smile, way to crazy to be humble"
The passage is a fairly obvious attack on the overbearing power of society. However, the influence produced didn't completely corrupt Shakur: "I'm not a killer but don't push me". Also quoted from "Hail Mary", this excerpt explains that violent actions are a result of self defense. Also, violent lyrics expressed were a result of the gang war between the East and West Side. While violent, these lyrical expressions were purposed to give outsiders a frightening view of gang life. The most frightening and powerful of all of them appears in "Only God Can Judge Me":
"I hear the doctor standing over me, screaming I can make it, got a body full of bullet holes, laying here naked, Still I, can't breathe, something's evil in my I.V., cause every time I breathe, I think they killing me, I'm having nightmares, homicidal fantasies, I wake up strangling, dangle in my bedsheets, I call the nurse cause it hurts, to reminisce, how did it come to this?"
While it references his survival from a robbery, The excerpt suggests that Shakur knew his own fate. That, somehow, he accepted the price for expressing his message; and that he knew the perpetrators would eventually succeed. This idea is expressed with even more chilling clarity in "Life Goes On":
"Bury me smilin', with G's in my pocket, have a party at my funeral, let every rapper rock it,... Give me a paper and pen so I can write about my life of sin, a couple a'bottles of gin in case I don't get in, tell all my people i'm a rider, nobody cries when we die"
The passage encourages Shakur's family and friends to celebrate his death. In a way, Tupac Shakur was a modern day Martin Luther King. Both men had a message. Both men knew that their message would incite retaliation. Both fought through adversity, in the face of defeat, to emerge victorious. Both served jail time; and both used that time to educate themselves. Both brought to light the unjust treatment of the under privileged. Both men celebrated and empowered the image of African Americans. Both men died so that we could be enlightened about issues commonly disregarded.
Shakur had an unbelievable ability to depict artistic prose with deep meaning. He articulated real world issues and problems; and he spoke for the people whose voices were often unheard. While many rap songs disrespect women; Tupac's music empowers, and shows respect to, them with songs like "Keep Ya Head Up", "Can U Get Away", and "Temptations". Also, tracks like "Unconditional Love", "Changes", and "Dear Mama" articulate even more of Shakur's message:
"Unconditional Love":
"Come listen to my truest thoughts, my truest feelings, all my peers doing years beyond drug dealin', How many caskets can we witness, before we see it's hard to live this life without God, so we must ask forgiveness, ask momma why God deserved to die? witness the tears falling free from my eyes before she could reply, for we were born without a sliver spoon, my broken down T.V., showed cartoons in my living room"
"Changes":
"And still I see no changes, can't a brother get a little peace? There's war in the streets and a war in the middle east, instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me"
"Dear Mama":
"Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair, no love for 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"
Shakur even addresses the musical and real world treatment of certain women in "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch". Once again, he attempts to address an issue rarely discussed. The message is obvious:
"Still looking for a rich man, you dug a ditch, got your legs up trying to get rich, I love you like a sister but you need to switch, and that's why they called you bitch, I betcha"
How many rap songs today discuss these issues? How many 'artists' discuss anything more than material possessions? How much of it actually manages to sound good while conveying reflective thoughts? I'm not being cynical, I'm merely asking. I invite you to leave your suggestions below. I could discuss much more of Shakur's music; I could probably write a book on the topic. However, I must leave you now... no... fuck that! I owe it to Shakur's legacy to continue. You can leave if you'd like; but I suggest you stick around and pay your respects.
There are entire college courses on the importance of literature and music. There are studies that attempt to delve into the minds of poets passed. Why then, is Shakur not included? Because he didn't limit his thoughts to conform to society? Because his prose wasn't accurately depicted using MLA Format? Fuck that, it's time to make some "Changes". Shakur was a poet; did you ever read this in your anthologies?
"And 2Morrow":
"Today is filled with anger, fueled with hidden hate, scared of being outcast, afraid of common fate, today is built on tragedies, which no one wants 2 face, nightmares to humanities, and morally disgraced, tonight is filled with rage, violence in the air, children bred with ruthlessness, because no one at home cares, tonight I lay my head down, but the pressure never stops, knawing at my sanity, content when I am dropped, but 2morrow I c change, a chance to build a new, built on spirit intent of heart, and ideals, based on truth, and tomorrow I wake with second wind, and strong because of pride, 2 know I fought with all my heart, 2 keep my dream alive"
As you may have noticed, the poem seems to omit Tupac's thug image. Shakur was a smart man; he knew that to gain attention, he had to cater to a community. To accurately distribute his message; he had to strip off the kid gloves and speak the brutal truth. Truth being, the fact that poverty stricken communities offer little to no chance of escape. Shakur elaborates on being alone in his struggle in "Me Against the World":
"More bodies being buried, I'm missing my homies in a hurry, they relocatin' to the cemetery, got me worried, stressin', my visions blurry, the question is will I live? no one in the world loves me, I'm headed for danger, don't trust strangers, put one in the chamber, whenever I'm feeling this anger, don't wanna make excuses, cause this is how it is, what's the use?, unless we're shootin' no one notices the youth, it's just me against the world baby"
Messages and explanations are abound in Shakur's work. He elaborates on the repercussions of gang life in "So Many Tears" and "Lord Knows". He discusses the difficulty in rising out of the ghetto in "It Ain't Easy". He elaborates on how time changes friendships in "I Ain't Mad At Cha". He tributes his success to past musicians in "Old School". In contrast to other Rappers, He actually implicates his intentions for a relationships in "Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find".
Shakur was a genius, and his influence will remain present in our culture; with or without your consent. However, I hope I have, at least, opened your eyes to the possibility of finding enjoyment outside of your comfort zone. Because, as powerful as the messages portrayed are; they wouldn't have excelled if they weren't fun to listen to; or, if they didn't inspire more than a head bob.
Well, it's "Check Out Time". I'll see you next week.
Da Menace
I agree that much of rap music deals with the difficulty of social and economic hardship. It was rap music that got me interested in ideas like social justice, racial inequality, and even deconstruction. My names are different (Chuck D, Ice Cube, Rakim), but I found interest outside my comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteI despise “rap music” as it know to the general public, but I remember watching a movie filmed in the early 1960’s, I believe the name of it was the “Music Man” and the lead male role was singing (rapping). I have also discovered some rappers who have positive messages, such as Toby Mac (formerly of DC Talk). Check him out.
ReplyDeleteI think that one of the biggest difficulties when considering rap music is that it is based on ideas and experiences of a repugnant lifestyle. We think that the messages are positive when they chronicle how the artist survived the ghetto life and overcame it, and despise it usually when he talks about how great it is to live that way, with violence or drugs or abuse. The central problem is that we still see, and I don't know how true it is, rap as mostly supporting and representing the "gangsta" life. And most of us think that young people listening and WANTING to be like that, is about the worst influence they could have. Personally, if my kids want to listen to rap, fine. The second they start acting "gangsta"....
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