2Pac - Changes

This was a very instrumental and important track to Tupac Shakur's career.  He went through phases, his music reflected those phases as well. Most of the time Tupac's lyrics were crude and promoted "Thug" activity as well as violence. After being released from his first prison sentence he took a more enlightened path with the messages he conveyed through his music.

This song touches on issues within society that hit close to home for people within the black community, those who are impoverishment, and those who are unjustly treated by the government or law enforcement.
"I see no changes all I see is racist faces misplaced hate makes disgrace to races," Tupac says. ("2Pac – Changes Lyrics | Rap Genius.") There are inequalities that he addresses, deliberating on them and trying to understand why things have not changed the artist targets racism.

"I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black my stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch, cops give a damn about a negro pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero" are harsh lyrics that he uses to paint a picture of what people similar to himself have to go through on a daily basis. ("2Pac – Changes Lyrics | Rap Genius.") I think Tupac also used this song not only to shed light on what was wrong with society but to also bring about change by showing the listener the negative in hopes they would want the opposite for their futures.

The content of this song can forever remain relevant, which is what makes Tupac such a great artist and this song that much more of a reference for anyone going through the tribulations he spoke about.

Tupac has been a true inspiration throughout my entire life with everything he speaks, he calls it like he sees it and this is the product of it. We all are one together in this thing called "Life" and this new generation has to learn from the past in order to strive forward.

Take A listen and try to diversify your thinking in order to take yourself away from any form of bias or opinion. This way you will be able to get the true understanding of what change is, and why Tupac believed in it so firmly that he decided to dedicate a whole song to it. I believe this is one of his most influential songs in his catalog and it humanizes the influential rap star.

Works Cited

"2Pac – Changes Lyrics | Rap Genius." Discover the Meaning of Rap Lyrics | Rap Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013.

Nas - Daughters

Nothing can ever get in the way of the love a father has for his daughter. From the early days that she is born to her late teens, she will be known as "daddy's little girl". Its evident that Nas feels the same way about his own daughter, Destiny Jones, who was born in 1994. The song "Daughters", is off of his newest album "Life is Good", and is basically a shout out to all of the fathers with daughters. Telling the common story of raising a daughter, and how extremely hard it is to do so.

Nonetheless, its not easy to raise child in general but its the psychological aspect that makes it different to raise a girl. In the mind of males, females are thought of as vulnerable. Which is why fathers are so protective of them. They don't want anything bad to happen to them. "When he date, he straight, chip off his own papa; When she date, we wait behind the door with a sawed off." ("NAS LYRICS - Daughters.") There is a clear double standard here. Fathers are in constant worry about their daughters because they know what its like out there. They know how young men act, because they were once that young man. And they've seen women that have been victimized. They don't want that for their daughters.

The fact that Nas is a world renown rapper makes it even tougher. "Never tried to hide who I was, she was taught and raised like a princess, but while I'm on stage I can't leave her defenseless, plus she's seen me switching women, pops was on some pimp shit, she heard stories of her daddy thugging" ("NAS LYRICS - Daughters.") Nas has gained a bevy of wisdom through his rap career and experiences growing up in Queens bridge New York. But the thug part of his persona is whats distancing him from his daughter. He cant find the time to spend with her like he should. Nas simply feels that he isn't setting a good example. Which in result leads to a girl making decisions on her own without the strict but with more of the lenient father. "Although you real, plus a honest kid, don't think I'm slow I know you probably had that chronic lit" ("NAS LYRICS - Daughters.") Nas trusts his her, but doesn't want to be taken as a fool. He knows that she has smoked weed before, because alot of kids her age have. With the social networking era in full swing, it can be a dangerous outlet for people her age. As Nas has had an incident with his daughter destiny posting something on the internet that she probably shouldn't have. "She planted a box of condoms on her dresser then she Instagrammed it"

Towards the end of the song Nas even points to religion. "They say the coolest playas and foulest heart breakers in the world, god gets us back, he makes us have precious little girls" ("NAS LYRICS - Daughters.") Indirectly saying that its almost payback. All you do as a young man is brought back to by gods will you in your older days, as you have to deal with all of the stress and worrying of raising a daughter.

Works Cited

"NAS LYRICS - Daughters." A-Z Lyrics Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. Website