Classic Music Albums: 2pacalypse Now

As a roadie for the Hip Hop superstar act known as Digital Underground in the early 90’s, Tupac Shakur was looking to branch out on his own and make his first solo album. Having been entrenched in the newly vibrant world of Hip Hop and coming from a militant Black Panther family background, Tupac Shakur’s first album would come in the form of 2pacalypse Now.

Inspired by the conscious and militant, as well as the gangster rap rebellious likes of Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, NWA and Ice Cube, Tupac wanted to make his own lyrical revolutionary contribution to the evolving world of Hip Hop that was the early 90’s. After spending time as a roadie for the Hip Hop funk ensemble known as Digital Underground, Tupac was finally given the chance to stake his own claim when Digital Underground headliner Shock G allowed Tupac to step in the recording booth and craft the lyrical masterpiece that would become 2pacalypse Now.

Coming from a family lineage of Black Revolutionaries and being influenced by pro-Black socio-political figures in Hip Hop like Ice Cube, Public Enemy and KRS-One, Tupac was quite sure of what he wanted for the sound for his solo debut. He wanted to talk about the plight of the inner city and show the world what life looked like for a young Black male living in the ghetto.

“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, puttin' death to his arms, it's sad 'cause I bet

Brenda doesn't even know

Just 'cause you're in the ghetto doesn't mean you can't grow.”

Those are the opening lyrics from The first single off the album titled “Brenda’s Got a Baby”. This song is perhaps the sharpest example of how deep this album was going to dig into taboo subject matter. The song is inspired by the true story of a young woman named Brenda who struggles to care for her infant child who was the byproduct of an incestuous relationship. The label heads of Interscope records who distributed the album thought the song was too brass to put out as the leading single, but Tupac refused to accept otherwise. The song titled “Part Time Mutha” off the album is very similar to “Brenda’s Got a Baby” with its commentary about the struggle of the Black woman as a mother.

Hailing from a street background 2pacalypse Now was also nothing short of Gangster Rap with songs like “Soulja’s Story”, “I Don’t Give A F**k”, “Crooked A**N*gga”, and “Violent”. The verbal vulgarity of these records drew a lot of criticism from prominent public figures like then Vice President Dan Quail, mainly for their anti-law enforcement lyrics which lash out at rogue policing.

With songs like the 2nd single from the album titled “Trapped” Tupac details the life of a young Black male who constantly clashes with the justice system due to the hostile environment of the ghetto in which he grew up. The song opens with these lyrics:

“You know they got me trapped in this prison of seclusion

Happiness, living on the streets is a delusion

Even a smooth criminal one day must get caught

Shot up or shot down with the bullet that he bought

Nine-millimeter kickin' thinkin' about what the streets do to me

'Cause they never taught peace in the Black community

All we know is violence, do the job in silence

Walk the city streets like a rat pack of tyrants.”

With “Trapped” we also see Tupac take a more articulated stance on the brokenness of the Black community. He expands on this articulation with the songs “Words of Wisdom” and “Rebel of the Underground”. These songs also sought to educate the Black community to be more conscious of the surrounding world and to be liberated in thought process.

Interestingly enough the album has a considerable tone of lightheartedness to it in the form of the album’s third single “If My Homie Calls”. This song is centered around friendship and the importance of being present for a friend in need and Tupac expresses this with lyrics from the song like:

“If you need my assistance

There’ll be no resistance

I’ll be there in an instant

Who am I to judge another brother

Only on his cover, I’d be no different than the other

H to the O to the M to the I to the E. I’m down to the E-N-D.”

Amidst all of the album’s serious subject matter Tupac also makes a big point to show how adept the lyrical ability of his rapping skills are with songs like “Something Wicked” and “Tha Lunatic”. With these songs Tupac shows off his wordplay and rhyming with lyrics like:

“2Pacalypse is back and strapped

Attackin' the packs, I’m kickin' the facts on stacks of raps

And those that max, relax, and let the Blacks get jack

Are gettin' taxed, by packs and packs of angry Blacks

I'm ready to go, I'm rippin' the shows

Hittin' the door, gettin' the hoes, clothes

Pumpin' the funk, thanks to the Hump, 'cause the nose knows

Check the pose, froze when you see me close

Punks, you gonna roast, hopes in a cloud of smoke

Broke, choked on some potent dank smoke

Wrote rhymes that'll bring me bank notes.”

All in all, 2pacalypse Now is a Hip Hop masterpiece. The album was released to critical and commercial success and began the iconic career of one of music’s most iconic voices. This album is one of my favorite albums ever and it is without a doubt a classic music album.

“It's fate, it wasn't my choice to make

To be great, I'm giving it all it takes

Trying to shake, the crates and fakes and snakes

I gotta take, my place or fall from grace

The foolish way, the pace is quick and great

Smiling face, to hide the trace of hate

But my homie would never do me wrong

That's why I wrote this song, if you ever need me it's on.” - Tupac (If My Homie Calls).