2Pac

Songwriter: Johnny J 2Pac

Producer: Johnny J

[Samples]
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Somebody in the house say YEAH!")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Tick tock ya don't stop")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Got me starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Somebody in the house say YEAH!")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"

[Verse 1]
Nobody thought I'd make it, the world called me loser
Just a high school dropout, young drug abuser
Mama told me there'd be days like this, I never listened
Spent my childhood years in my neighborhood prison
The world don't give a fuck about the kids
I can see from the poverty and the evil shit they did
To my young nation
Participation, more hesitation could turn lethal
When ain't no love for a young nigga, he turn evil
And burn people with no hope, there's no peace
So all my niggas start regulatin' on your streets
Bustin' the neighborhood scatters, another drug war
There ain't no truce or negotiatin' with thug lords
Tried conversatin' but he won't listen
He said the world is a livin' hell for God's children
Picture him still in the pen', doin' life plus two
While I'm starin' at the world through my rearview

[Samples]
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Somebody in the house say YEAH!")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Tick tock ya don't stop")

[Verse 2]
It's clearer now, 'cause I'm a noted individual
Plus I'm a Don, not just a small time criminal
Times have changed, homies died, only lives remain
Massive amounts of narcotics help me hide the pain
Wishin' on Benz, came up on a Jag
Then got it out for the quiet times, reflect on the past
All my homeboys that didn't make it, for you I'll do it
'member back in the days as young truants
HUH! tellin' me to beware
Because you cared and helped me to be prepared
Cemetery full of homies no longer here
But what about the babies, lost in watchin' burglars
Too dumb to be a dealer, too young to be a murderer
I'm beggin' you God, don't make their lives too hard
They're already scarred, too doped up to see the stars
We're livin' to die, everybody is high, plus I'm high too
Starin' at the world through my rearview HUH!

[Samples]
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Got me starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Somebody in the house say YEAH!")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
(Starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Tick tock ya don't stop")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Somebody in the house say YEAH!"

[Verse 3]
Pictures are plenty, handlin' semi, sippin' Henny
I hustle for pennies, know my own feared by many
I watched and took notes as a child I strategized
Witnessin' crack dealings and drug killings have scattered lives
Niggas don't know me but they think
That we could be closer than homies
Nigga you're phoney so quit buyin' drinks
Mind on my money, you're funny, you're about my currency
Niggas don't wanna see me
Shootin', but they ain't worry me, livin' to tell
Prison is hell for a nigga, they're usin' my bail
Built bigger jails for a nigga
Father I'm feelin' tired, forgive me, 'cause I'm a sinner
Livin' life as a thug, while duckin' cops and the criminals
Homies is dead and buried, past times are gone
You ask why I drink liquor? 'Cause my mind is gone
And if I die, then let me watch what we been through
Starin' at the world through my rearview HUH!

[Samples]
(Starin' at the world through my rearview)
("Somebody in the house say YEAH!")
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
They caught me starin' at the world through my rearview
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Somebody in the house say YEAH!"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Somebody in the house say YEAH!"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Somebody in the house say YEAH!"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Somebody in the house say YEAH!"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"

[Collision]
Starin' at the world through my motherfucking rearview
Peep what a nigga trying to say; recognize that a nigga done did it all
And seen it all and got shit to say to the motherfuckers
That ain't seen shit and did shit yet
Peep game, look you little young motherfuckers
Stop running your heads up against brick walls
These old niggas got something for you nigga you better listen
Gotta get your over that hump, you know?
You got to get over the humps ha ha
Staring at the world through my motherfucking rearview
That's right baby, Thug life, West Side
Death Row, Outlawz, you know what time it is
Staring at the world through my rearview HUH!
They got me staring at the world through my rearview
Aight

[Samples]
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Somebody in the house say YEAH!"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "
"Tick tock ya don't stop"
"I grabbed the mic and try to say, 'yes, y'all' "

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an actor and a highly influential rapper who is considered by many to be the greatest of all-time due to the revolutionary spirit and thug passion he mixed into his music. During his music career, he made appearances in movies such as his acclaimed debut in Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), and Above the Rim (1994).

Born in Harlem, New York City to Black Panther Party members Billy Garland and Afeni Shakur, Tupac would later move to Baltimore before settling in the Bay Area cities of Oakland and Marin City in the late 1980s. There, he joined his first rap group Strictly Dope with Ray Luv before connecting with Shock G and Digital Underground. He was a roadie and backup dancer for the group before his breakthrough performance on their 1991 song “Same Song.”

2Pac released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, which featured intense storytelling on singles such as “Trapped” and “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” His sophomore album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z featured one of his signature songs, the Digital Underground-assisted “I Get Around.” After working on the Thug Life group album in 1994, 2Pac released Me Against the World the following year, which is considered by many to be his best album, peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200 and receiving a Grammy nomination—all while he sat in prison.

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