MUSIC ANALYSIS: Changes by Tupac Shakure
For most people that listen to music, a song can be classified as simply a plethora of words constructed into verses in the midst of an appealing tune playing in the backdrop. But it is when an artist can take all of this and add even more to it to make it memorable and even sometimes controversial he or she is considered a great artist. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood rap, along with hip hop artist of the 20th century is the late Tupac Shakure. ... However, to his fans and critics, he was perceived as a political poet and a lyrical genius. Though I wasn’t supposed to, I have listened to Pac since I was a child...and Ill have to
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That is a great aspect of Pac’s rapping style. Tupac has released around 15 albums and an uncountable amount of underground tracks. I have chosen to look at one of Tupac’s song that I think is the most concentrated on Black and White race relations in America. This song is called Changes, this song was released on his Greatest hits CD in 1998. In this song Tupac addresses this issue he begins the second verse with the lines; “And still I see no changes all I see is racist faces….” (verse2). This verse is very powerful in that it addresses political racial issues, society’s justice system and how things in society are set up in a way that blacks will remain at the bottom of society and how that is accepted as the norm. He addresses in this verse the American presidency and how we aren’t ready to see a black man occupy the white house. Tupac says “we aint ready to see a black president…..huu” (verse2) I interpret this as him using sarcasm in that he laughs at the end and uses the term “we” when in all reality he knows that the majority of blacks in the U.S. are patiently waiting for that day. In his first verse Pac also addresses the law enforcement issues based on racial inequalities in our society. He addresses the fact that the life of and African American is not
Tupac made albums/singles talking about real life problems such as teen pregnancy, police brutality, and drug abuse (Marcovitz 26). Tupac was born in 1971 (Marcovitz 4). Tupac was a very talented artist that many people looked up to because he wrote lyrics about hard lifestyle and many people could relate to what he sing about.
copies, and I want that so badly, but I can't do that. I would be wrong to do that, knowing what I know and having the brain that I have, for me to even go and write some simple *censored* would be wrong even though I would get paid and I would get more people's money." (Patrick, Tony, n.p.) This means that Tupac has a strong will and values. He resisted the temptation to write some easy rhyming words and get peoples money. He instead followed his values and worked
When most people hear the name Tupac, they think of a tattooed thug, a gangsta rapper killed in a tragic shooting who only got what was coming to him, a man who lived by the gun, and who died by the gun. However, those people probably have never taken a chance to look beyond what their eyes tell them, past the ignorance and into the depths of the man who really was Tupac.
In the same fashion that Elvis defined Rock ‘n’ Roll; Tupac Shakur defined the hip-hop music scene, as we know it today. What made Tupac (also known as 2Pac, or Makaveli) so special were his enormous talent, his on screen friendly looks, and the sense that he was “real” and talked the talk, while walking the walk. Tupac was born on June 16, 1971, Tupac Amaru Shakur. He was named after Tupac Amaru, the Inca Indian that was sentenced to death by the Spaniards. He was originally from Brooklyn, New York. Tupac spent a lot of time moving around as he was growing up. He was the son of a Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur and Billy Garland. Tupac moved from Harlem, to Baltimore, to Oakland. The constant moving caused Tupac to fit into his new
Tupac was a well-known, successful rapper and poet who often talked about violence, sex, drugs, as well as political issues in his music. All of Tupac’s music wasn’t “explicit”, he told stories that taught lessons, especially to the youth. “But according to researchers at Florida International University, the more time African American adolescents spent watching the sexualized images in Hip Hop videos, the more likely they were to engage in sexually risky behavior themselves and endorse it in their peers." (Jackson 2015). Rap music can be effective in either a positive or negative way, but mostly negative. The content in the music is what appeals to teens and when it appeals they may want to do the things that the rappers are talking about because they want to relate. Teens eventually start to do what they here in the music, like sex. In my opinion, the story alluded to Tupac because it had to do with what Erica and Jasmine thought about sex. Music and society influenced them to think that sex is something that you must engage in to be “cool” or to be a woman. Erica reflects on a time her mother criticized her for following Tupac, “…Keep believing everything these rap stars tell you. I’m telling you, the minute a man set him up for anything, you run, because he’s about to set you up for something.” (8). In my opinion, this verifies that teens listen and mimic rapper’s
To gaze into the lyrics of both Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur is like living in the ghettos of New York City where violence never stops. Both of these artists grew up seeing and living a life filled with violence. Gunshots and drive-byes, death and murder were a daily occurrence. Although the lyrics of both artists are simply telling their life stories and how hard it was to grow up in their “hoods” they contain vulgar, hateful, and sexual verses that send the wrong message to their listeners. Whether these listeners are teens or adults, white or black, they are continually sending notions of hatred and fear through their lyrics and actions. Ultimately,
Tupac, as most of his dedicated fans already know, lead a very turbulent and troubled life which was often depicted in his music. His relation with his mother, gang culture, fixation with death and poetic realism was often depicted in his music; yet he may be considered one of the most transparent and controversial rap artist to ever grab the mic.
The book I chose to read is Tupac Shakur:The Life & Times of an American Icon. This book hasn’t been out for very long. It’s publication date was January 26, 2010 so it is a somewhat newer book. Fred and Tayannah examined very closely and did a great deal of research to write this book. They had to examine all the theories and myths about Tupac Shakur. So i’m guessing you can imagine how hard they worked to write & publish this biography.
Millions of people in the world listen to music for all different reasons. Most people all over the world listen to different genres of music in order to relax, but not too many people pay attention to the actual lyrics of a song. If you listen to the lyrics of a song you will realize that many songs have important messages or themes to them. An example of this is the lyrics of the song “Changes” by Tupac Shakur. If you listen to this song, you will realize that Tupac raps about not only the problems that African Americans face from society, but also the struggles that poor people in society have to endure and overcome. Many
Throughout his career rapper Kanye West, has been portrayed as many different things in the media based on his public appearance and the subject matter of his music. The message he relates in his music is ever changing and often showcases different ideals or stances on issues echoed among different parts of the African American community. Two such instances of this come from very different periods of Kanye’s career, and show two polar opposite opinions of how to deal with arguably the most important social issue in American history. This change in Kanye’s way of dealing with racism reflects two differing schools of thought in the African American community. Although early in Kanye’s career his music identified the racial inequality
People could really relate to his music if you were from where he grow up or not. One of Tupac’s most famous songs was called “ Dear Momma” were he talked about all the things that his mother has done for him .He also spoke about one the greatest issues of that time was black on black crime.. This horrible issue upon which Tupac spoke about is still hurting the black community today. While there were changes in the music of the times
Tupac Shakur is one of the most legendary and popular poetic/rap artists to this day. He is considered to be one of the most influential people of his time, influencing every African-American citizen in North America. Thought of as the creator of rap, Tupac has sold over seventy-five million albums worldwide although his career ended as quickly as it started. Six, is the number of years Tupac spent making rap professionally. Thirteen is the number of years Tupac spent writing poetry and rap lyrics. Twenty-five is how old Tupac was when he received four bullets to his chest causing him to pass away. In those twenty-five years, Tupac has influenced millions of people and artists
The average rapper wouldn’t be able to grace the pages of Rap Pages, VIBE, Spin, The Source, URB and Stress and go on a national tour months before their major label debut album is released. Then again Eminem isn’t the average rapper.
Tupac Shakur released the song “Keep Ya Head Up” first in 1993 on his album “Strictly for my N.I.G.G.A.Z.”, then as a single in 1994. Tupac’s “Keep Ya Head Up”, one of his most notable and recognizable singles, received acclaim upon its release and continues to do so. The record centers on the social climate in the 90’s, and Tupac’s own experiences from his youth. Around the time of the song’s release, Tupac’s indictment in a rape case colored the reception of the song although it remained mainly positive. Tupac speaks on multiple issues through his lyrics, making it effective as a critique of society; moreover, the other creative devices he uses – phrasing, rhythm changes, and samples – make the song effective as an artistic project and back up his social message.
Even though Tupac is not alive today his music still carries throughout this generation. His music talks about topics that most people are too scared to talk about. He gave people a voice that were not confident enough. He related problems to his real life. He stood up for himself through music and expressed himself through it.