Tupac, His Music, And Me (Us Against The World)

I heard his name but was not interested in knowing who he is.   I heard so many bad things about him, a gangster whose music is not good for the kids to listen to.  In short, I was not a fan.  I thought back then his music was all noise.  But one day as I was on the bus, his music played.  “Dear Mama” put me into tears right at my seat.   Oh my!

Source: pixabay.com

I didn’t even know how he looked.   Absorbed with the lyrics of that song I just heard, I searched about him the moment I got home.  Shaved head, bandana, tattoos, gangster look, and the intriguing gaze in his eyes is what this bold guy from the street looked like.  I listened intently to more of his music and digested every letter he wrote.  He was an intellectual, literary master.  The depth in his songs definitely passed on the message.  He is not just another noisemaker.   He is considered a troublemaker in the sense that he was hated by many for the truth in his songs and the bravery to make the reality of life known.  He was hated by many because he became the voice of rejection.


Dear Mama

Whoever says this song sucks, doesn’t even have the right to be called his mother’s son or her mother’s daughter.  Tupac paid tribute not only to his mom but every mom around the world.   He even called her a queen (putting her in the pedestal) despite her flaws.  She was a drug addict, abuser, locked up in jail while pregnant.  But he didn’t look at those negative qualities, instead, recognized the way they were loved despite.  No mom is perfect!


Her mom was given an award, recognizing her mothership, and many raised their browse.  How can that be? Many moms did even better with the exact opposite, almost perfect bio.  Well, Tupac was the first to recognize her mother, and every mother deserved to be recognized by their children.   The world recognition doesn’t matter to a mother, but his own children’s appreciation means the whole world to every mom.  And I came to appreciate and love my mom more, and become bluntly open about it while I still can say it and while she still can hear my words.

Source: pixabay.com

Violence In His Songs

Misunderstood is how Tupac is best described.  Being “tagged” as a troublemaker doesn’t always mean that troubles rooted from him.  He isn’t the source of the violence but instead has become its voice, a very loud voice.  He made reality known, and those in authority hated him for that.  Instead of listening, they put the blame on him.  And as a person who empathizes the victims of wrongdoings, I can relate to this.


I think it’s not just the violence.   There’s more of raising awareness in Tupac’s songs about what’s happening in the world.  How little girls are abused and mistreated, how the politics is, the things that are indeed happening in his and our own community, and how it affected him and think of how it affects us.  In his music, he represents us.


He Earned My Respect

Not all go through what he went through.   But if you will listen to the lyrics, you will not just be touched, but you will be moved.  For it may not be you, but someone you know had lived a life like that of the characters in his songs.

Source: pixabay.com

The many Brendas that are neglected, abused, mistreated, and shamed are heard, understood, and appreciated (not judged or condemned) by someone in the name of Tupac.

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