Quotes by Tupac Shakur
Welcome to our collection of quotes (with shareable picture quotes) by Tupac Shakur. We hope you enjoy pondering them and that you will share them widely.
Wikipedia Summary for Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; 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 widely considered 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 has often been considered a symbol of activism against inequality.
Shakur was born in Manhattan, a borough of New York City, but relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1984 and then the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988. He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to further pursue his music career. By the time he released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, he had become a central figure in West Coast hip hop, introducing social issues to the genre at a time when gangsta rap was dominant in the mainstream. Shakur achieved further critical and commercial success with his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995).
In 1995, Shakur served eight months in prison on sexual assault charges, but was released after agreeing to sign with Marion "Suge" Knight's label Death Row Records in exchange for Knight posting his bail. Following his release, Shakur became heavily involved in the growing East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry. His double-disc album All Eyez on Me (1996) was certified Diamond by the RIAA. On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada; he died six days later and the gunman was never captured. Shakur's friend-turned-rival, The Notorious B.I.G., was at first considered a suspect due to the pair's public feud, but was also murdered in another drive-by shooting six months later in Los Angeles, California. Five more albums have been released since Shakur's death, all of which have been certified platinum in the United States.
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. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone named Shakur in its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Outside music, Shakur also found 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 of which garnered praise from critics.
Imperfection is inherited, therefore we all sin, but fighting the war of sin is the greatest war of all because we all die in the end, no matter how hard we fight.
I just don't know how to deal with so many people giving me that much affection. I never had that in my life.
I said it in the beginning. That I was gonna take them niggaz out the game and sure enough I will. Already people can't look at Biggie and not laugh.
Strength is overcome by weakness Joy is overcome by Pain The night is overcome by Brightness and Love-it remains the same.
The eyes of mortal men, threaten you with doom
They regret to see you, set, but it is time, for the moon.
And still, the best of us build, and reach monetary gains. Some of us kill, but still, most of us can change.
I want to grow. I want to be better. You Grow. We all grow. We're made to grow.You either evolve or you disappear.
The ground is the symbol for the poor people; the poor people is gonna open up this whole world and swallow up the rich people. It's gonna be like -- there might be some cannibalism out this mother. They might eat the rich.
Please wake me when I'm free
I cannot bear captivity
4 I would rather be stricken blind
Than 2 live without expression of mind.
Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die
In L.A. we wearin Chucks not Ballies (that's right).
It's not like I idolize this one guy Machiavelli. I idolize that type of thinking where you do whatever's gonna make you achieve your goal.
It's no longer a fad to be down for the young Black male. Everybody wants to go past. Like the gangster stuff, it just got exploited.
I want there to be a life for the street element. Instead of we always getting shut out. Instead of defenseless, having power.
No matter what these people say about me, my music doesn't glorify any image. My music is spiritual when you listen to it. It's all about emotion, I tell my innermost, darkest secrets.
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 thang.
God damn! Drug dealers dealin' to the kiddies,
Livin' in the city ain't no pity on the itty-bitty.
We try to cry, but still they all die,
I try to speak to the youth, and the truth is: they all high.
We are being wiped off the face of this earth
At an extremely alarming rate
And even more alarming is the fact
That we are not fighting back.
I have no fear, I have only ambition, and I want mine, And I will do anything to protect and feed my family.
Look at those words, 'role' and 'model.' Both of those are fake words, to play a role and to model, that's fake. I'm real. Being real, I drink, I hang out, I party.
One day I'm gonna bust, blow up on this society, why did you lie to me, I couldn't find a trace of humanity.
I feel close to Marvin Gaye, Vincent van Gogh, because nobody appreciated his work until he was dead. Now it's worth millions.
Be grateful for blessings,
Don't ever change, keep your essence.
The power is in the people and politics we address.
Gotta start teaching the children that they can be just what they want to be, there's much more to life than poverty.
You reached your level, you don't want any more. We asked ten years ago, we were askin' with the Panthers, we were askin' in the Civil Rights Movement. Now those who were askin' are all dead or in jail, wo what are we gonna do? And we shouldn't be angry!?
Bury me smilin' with G's in my pocket, Have a party at my funeral let every rapper rock it Let the hoes that I used to know, from way before Kiss me from my head to my toe, Gimme a paper and pen so I can write about my life of sin, Couple bottles of gin, in case I don't get in.
Give me a paper and pen, so I can write about my life of sin. A couple of bottles of gin, in case I don't get in.
I don't want to be a role model. I just want to be someone who says, this is who I am, this is what I do, I say what's on my mind.
I am society's child. This is how they made me and now I'm sayin' what's on my mind and they don't want that. This is what you made me, America.
Picture perfect, I paint a perfect picture bomb the hoochies wit' precision, my intentions to get richer.
If they take half the buildings that they use to praise god and give it to the motherfuckers who need god we'd be 'aight.
Tomorrow I see change, a chance to build a new. Built on spirit intent of heart, and ideals based on truth.
Yo get a real job. Rappin doesn't pay the rent, I hate the studio cause that's where all my money went.
Every female wanna come up to me and show me how much they're not attracted to me... these minority women... they're the only women I can get cause everyone else is scared of me.
We look at death from the selfish side, like: That guy died. Oh, it's so sad. Why is it sad? He's away from all of this bad stuff that's here on Earth. I mean, at the worst, he's just somewhere quiet, no nothing. At best, he's an angel... or he's a spirit somewhere. What is so bad about that?
Papa wasn't man enough, couldn't stand up to his responsibilities. Instead of taking care of me, he'd rather live lavishly.
When an angel comes down and takes me away, memories of me and my songs will always stay until the end of time.
I was raised in this society so you can't expect me to be a perferct person cause Ima do what Ima do.
If I was white I would have been like John Wayne... I feel like a tragic hero in a Shakespeare play.
Well, the first two days in prison, I had to go through what life is like when you've been smoking weed for as long as I have and then you stop. Emotionally, it was like I didn't know myself.
Time to heal our women, be real to our women. And if we don't, then we'll have a race of babies, that hate the ladies that make the babies.
My mother taught me three things: respect, knowledge, search for knowledge. It's an eternal journey.
Longer Version/[Notes]:
My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge always. And she taught me to not be quiet, if there's something on my mind speak it. But also to listen.
How many caskets can we witness before we see it's hard to live this life without God, so we must ask forgiveness.
I'm not thuggin' for me, I'm thuggin' for my family, I pay all the bills, I feed my whole family, wrong or right, I do and I can't stop.
After a long day of trying, to make my songs pay, making love all day against the wall in the hallway.
I am being ripped off, because I've never lied to the press. Just as much truth I bring to my work, a journalist should bring that much truth to their work.
Hip Hop was supposed to be this new thing that had no boundaries and was so different to everyday music. As long as it has soul to it, hip hop can live on.
I'm used on every level. I have no friends. I have no resting place. I never sleep. I can never close my eyes. It's horrible.
Instead of of being so metaphorical with the rhyme, I was encouraged to go straight at it and hit it dead on and not waste time trying to cover things.
Everybody raps. We rap to make money. We do business. Ain't no other record company out there that sold as many records as we did.
I struggle to be rugged and raw dude, trying to survive in the trials and lawsuits, Everybody wants to test me, WHY ME?
The people made me from the littlest crack head to the biggest baller so if i am bad its because of the bay and if i am good its because of the bay.
Mama gave birth to a hell raising heavenly son. See the doctor tried to smack me, but I smacked him back.
Throw it up y'all, throw it up, Throw it up, Let's show these fools how we do this on that west side. Cause you and I know it's tha best side.
We ain't meant to survive, cause it's a setup, And even though you're fed up, Huh, ya got to keep your head up.
I rap about fighting back. I make it uncomfortable by putting details to it. It might not have been politically correct but I've reached somebody; They relating to me. They relate to the brutal honesty in the rap.
Everybody against me. Why? Why me? I have not brought violence to you. I have not brought Thug Life to America. I didn't create Thug Life. I diagnosed it.
I feel like role models today are not meant to be put on a pedestal. But more like angels with broken wings.
Perspective. You start looking at things differently, like everything's not so important. You don't take things so personally. Everyone changes, becomes better people. We all should get that chance.
First ship them dope, let them deal to brothers, give them guns, step back and watch them kill each other.
Let me say for the record, I am not a gangster and never have been. I'm not the thief who grabs your purse. I'm not the guy who jacks your car. I'm not down with people who steal and hurt others. I'm just a brother who fights back. I'm not some violent closet psycho. I've got a job. I'm an artist.
A lot of people, black, white, mexican, young or old, fat or skinny have a problem being true to they self. They have a problem looking in the mirror and looking directly into their own souls. Only reason I am who I am today is because I can look directly into my face and find my soul.
Tupac the son of the Black Panther, and Tupac the rider. Those are the two people inside of me. I was raised off those ideals.
Dear Mama, don't cry, your baby boy's doin' good, Tell the homies I'm in heaven, and they ain't got hoods. Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook, Drippin' peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke.
I am not a perfectionist, but still I seek perfection. I am not a great romantic, but yet I yearn 4 affection.
Since I only got one life to ive, God forgive me for my sins, let me make it and i'll never steal again, or deal again, my only friend is my misery. Wantin revenge for the agony they did to me.
God come save the youth, Ain't nothin else to do but have faith in you, Dear Lord I live the life of a Thug, hope you understand Forgive me for my mistakes, I gotta play my hand.
Why am I fighting to live, If I am just living to fight Why am I trying to see. When there aint nothing in sight Why am I trying to give, When no one gives me a try Why am I dying to live, If I am just living to die?
I'm a thug. And my thug comes from... my definition of thug comes from half of the street element. Straight street hustling.
I believe that everything that you do bad comes back to you. So everything that I do that's bad, I'm going to suffer from it. But in my mind, I believe what I'm doing is right. So I feel like I'm going to heaven.
Picture me inside the misery of poverty, no man alive has ever witnessed struggles ive survived, praying hard for better days promised to hold on me and my dogs aint have a choice but to hold on.
This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.
When my Mama asks me will I ever change, I tell her yeah... But it's clear I will always be the same until the end of time.
There's gon' be some stuff you gon' see that's gon' make it hard to smile in the future. But through whatever you see, through all the rain and the pain, you gotta keep your sense of humor. You gotta be able to smile through all this bullshit. Remember that.
I'm not really a religious person. But I believe that God wants me to do something and it has to do with Thug Life.
When I say ' thug' I mean not a criminal, someone who beats you over the head, I mean the underdog. You could have two people- one person has everything he needs to succeed and one person has nothing. If the person who has nothing succeeds, he's a thug. Cuz he overcame all the obstacles.
No thank you to all the bustas, cowards, and FAKE HOMIES who showed me the depths of jealousy, envy and greed.
I finally understand for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man 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.
If I win and get the money, then the Oakland Police department is going to buy a boys' home, me a house, my family a house, and a Stop Police Brutality Center.
If we really are saying rap is an art form, then we got to be more responsible for our lyrics. If you see everybody dying because of what you saying, it don't matter that you didn't make them die, it just matters that you didn't save them.
I don't advocate senseless violence of any human being. I'm the one who's been beat down. But I will not be a victim again.
I know it seems hard sometimes but remember one thing. Through every dark night, there's a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it get, stick your chest out, keep ya head up.... and handle it.
I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.
Whatever you see you gotta keep a sense of humor; you gotta be able to smile through all the bullshit.
Out of anger comes controversy, out of controversy comes conversation, out of conversation comes action.
You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've, would've happened... or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on.
Thanks for comin out, God bless you, good night... What of fame? Everyone knows your face, the world screams your name And never again, are you alone.
I think I'm a natural-born leader. I know how to bow down to authority if it's authority that I respect.
I don't see myself being special; I just see myself having more responsibilities than the next man. People look to me to do things for them, to have answers.
I worked hard all my life as far as this music business. I dreamed of the day when I could go to New York and feel comfortable and they could come out here and be comfortable.
I just spent 11 and a half months in a maximum-security jail, got shot five times, and was wrongly convicted of a crime I didn't commit.
I'm 23 years old. I might just be my mother's child, but in all reality, I'm everybody's child. Nobody raised me; I was raised in this society.
I would rather have been shot straight-up in cold blood-but to be set up? By people who you trusted? That's bad.
