Hail Mary

Tupac starts off the second track on the album by saying:

God said he should send his one begotten son
to lead the wild into the ways of the man, follow me

This sentence suggests that he believed that he was a spiritual leader. The front cover of his album does depict him as Jesus Christ. From a certain perspective, one could consider him a leader, or at least a cult leader, amongst his friends and fans.

After all, his lyrics are probably analysed with more consistency and precision than that of the Holy Bible amongst the younger generation of today. Nevertheless, much controversy surrounded these remarks and many Christian groups have attempted to censor these lyrics from future releases of the album. Tupac goes on:

I ain't a killer but don't push me
Revenge is like the sweetest joy next to gettin' pussy
Picture paragraphs unloaded; wise words bein' quoted
Peeped the weakness in the rap game and sewed it

The first two lines are self-explanatory. The second two lines are much more profound; by saying 'wise words being quoted' its as if he's saying people will analyse these lyrics much deeper, which is the whole point of this blog. The next line suggests that he saw what was wrong with rap genre and filled it with his work.

Bow down, pray to God hoping that he's listenin'
Seein' niggaz come for me, for my diamonds, when they glistenin'
Now pay attention, rest me please father
I'm a ghost in these killin' fields

Almost every lyric website which has these lyrics says that Tupac says 'rest in peace father' instead of 'rest me please father.' Of course, it's open to interpretation, however I believe he says the latter because he then says 'I'm a ghost in these killin' fields.'

Hail Mary, catch me if I go, let's go deep inside
the solitary mind of a madman who screams in the dark
Evil lurks, enemies, see me flee [or Send me pleas]

Tupac could mean two things here he says 'Hail Mary, catch me if I go.' Personally, I believe he means 'catch me if I go [insane]' and then he continues to justify the situation upon which insanity can be created.

An alternative explanation could mean, that 'if I go' would mean if he dies, and that he would want to be 'caught' and brought to heaven. The last line certainly sounds as if Tupac says 'see me flee,' which personally I believe does not really fit in with what he's trying to say here. He's attempting to justify his sins by saying that he is retaliating in the midst of a temporary insanity. Seeing him flee certainly wouldn't do that, but saying 'Enemies send me pleas' would seem to fit in.

Activate my hate, let it break, to the flame
Set trip, empty out my clip, never stop to aim

Emptying out his clip and not stopping to aim would seem to indicate that he doesn't care who dies and who lives. These lyrics would seemingly be an attempt to demonstrate 'no mercy' and him being 'heartless.'

Some say the game is all corrupted, fucked in this shit
Stuck, niggaz is lucky if we bust out this shit, plus
mama told me never stop until I bust a nut
Fuck the world if they can't adjust
It's just as well, Hail Mary

Here Tupac is using lyrics to articulate rhythmically that the World is bad; there are inherently evil things in this world and that we are 'lucky' if we are ever to live in a good world. Then he says 'mama told me never stop until I bust a nut.' This is a metaphor which implies that you never leave a job unfinished. The general job which Tupac cleverly applies this metaphor to is to fix the world. In order to fix it, he must show everyone whats wrong with it.

He concludes by saying 'Fuck the world if they can't adjust,' which means if these people take offense by the violence and the hate he embraces, and utilises for an effective delivery, then they deserve to be condemned in the evil world which we all live in. The second verse starts:

Penitentiaries is packed with promise makers
Never realisin' the precious time the bitch niggaz is wastin' institutionalised,

Perhaps here Tupac is drawing on some experiences for when he was incarcerated. Obviously, he feels that it was time wasted when he was in there and that he could have spent more time on the outside making music.

I lived my life a product made to crumble
But too hardened for a smile, we're too crazy to be humbled

Here that he is remarking perhaps on his 'past life.' If he's attempting to be 'reincarnated' as Makaveli, and that he is no longer Tupac, then perhaps this line would insinuate all his fame and accomplishments summed up to nothing either at the point which he was in jail or up to the point he chose to make this album (the album right after All Eyez On Me.)

Catch me father please, cause I'm fallin', in the liquor store
That's the Hennessey I hear ya callin', can I get some more?
Hail 'til I reach Hell, I ain't scared

Again, there's a reference to him 'falling' as he referred to it in the first verse. Perhaps he's falling into insanity or Hell, which he does make a reference to right after. He says 'Hail [Mary] until I reach Hell,' which would mean he has faith in God until he dies.

Mama checkin' in my bedroom; I ain't there
I got a head with no screws in it, what can I do
One life to live but I got nothing to lose

Again theres a reference to losing sanity and that he has no choice but to live the lifestyle he does. He also remarks that he has nothing to lose.

Just me and you
On a one way trip to prison, sellin' drugs
We all wrapped up in this livin', life as thugs
To my homeboys in Quentin max, doin' they bid
Raise hell to this real shit, and feel this
When they turn out the lights, I'll be down in the dark
Thuggin eternal through my heart, now Hail Mary nigga

Here he refers to the maximum security area of the San Quentin State Prison and the inhabitants of which must keep faith.

To conclude, it's quite easy to understand why Tupac chose this image of Jesus to portray. He had such a strong following, his fans loved everything he did and said.

He also had no real father growing up, something that Jesus and Tupac had in common. He was heavily religious demonstrated by the massive cross on his back. The mysterious nature of the album can provoke many different interpretations of Tupac's lyrics, I do not believe that everything I say is set in stone.

Bomb First (My Second Reply)

Welcome to Tupacology! This blog is dedicated to analysing Tupac's lyrics, this site is for Tupac fans who perhaps want to look deeper into the poetry in his music. If you believe that Tupac was an average MC like P. Diddy, Nas, etc. I hope these blog entries change your mind.

I'll start by looking at perhaps Tupac's most original album, and one of his most lyrically intense: Makaveli: The Don Killuminati: 7 Day Theory. The first track is called Bomb First (My Second Reply).

To start off there have been controversial suggestions that a voice in the background says 'Suge Shot Me.' This of course refers to Suge Knight, the Executive Producer of Tupac's record label, Death Row Records.

I'm not saying either way, in fact I'd like to hear what you think happened, but Snoop Dogg certainly seems to thing that Suge was responsible. But lets not forget, Suge was in the car at the time Tupac was shot, sitting right next to him, and was grazed in the head with a bullet.

An assassination attempt by any reasonably intelligent mobster would not include the initiator to be sitting right next to the victim, however I'm open to all suggestions.

Nevertheless, a voice certainly does seem to say this at the beginning of the song. I will skip any of the Outlawz verses as these are hardly ever relative to the insight of what Tupac was trying to say. Tupac starts off his verse by saying:

Allow me to introduce first
Makaveli the Don
Spittin' spiritual Lyrics like the Holy Koran

First let me explain for all those who don't know. Tupac took the name Makaveli, from the Italian political philosopher who wrote The Prince, which principally teaches to rule with fear instead of love. The Don is obviously the leader of an Italian mafia hierarchy. Tupac then says:

Niggas get shook like 5-0
My .45 lurks next to me when we ride
For survival

The 5-0 is the police and 'shaking' would refer to losing them and a .45 is a pistol.

Money making plans, pistol close in hands
Swollen pockets
Let me introduce the topic then we drop it
Expose snakes cause they breathe freely
See me rise
Located world wide like the art of graffiti

Here I believe Tupac is introducing the topic of 'snakes.' He cleverly only says one line about the degradation of his enemies and continues to glorify his own ambitions.

I think I'm tougher than any
My attitude shitty born in the dope fiends titty

Tupac refers here to his mother, Afeni Shakur, being a crack fiend when Tupac was young. This is an example of a deep contradiction particularly within this album which Tupac consistently portrays. Such a cold referral to his mother and his experience as a youth would indicate an unemotional leader certainly using the Machiavellian technique of fear to capture the audience. However, as we see in later songs, such as White Man's World, his lyrics suggest such a sentimental and kind aspect, with respect to women in particular.

And every city you'll find me looking for trouble
Right behind me my outlaw niggas down to die for me
(Nawhat I mean)
I hit the scene
Niggas ducking for my guillotine stare I'm right there
My every word
A fucking night mare
Getting high let me see the sun rise and fall
This is for my dogs down to die for y'all

These are purely confrontational lyrics which demonstrate an intimidating disposition. Quite common in many of Tupac's albums is a tendency to introduce with a very wicked demeanor almost as if demonstrate the pain upon which he has suffered as a youth. Obviously, there are contradictions to this, particularly with the albums that were released posthumously (more in number than when he was alive) and consequently had no influence on the organisation of the album.

Extreme Venom
No mercy when we all up in em cut em down
To hell is where we send em
My whole team
Trained to explode ride or die
Murder muthafuckas lyrically and I'm not gon' cry
Me
A born leader
Never leave the block without my heater
Two big pitts, I call them Mobb bitch nigga eaters

Another theme of showing 'no mercy' is prominent in this song, with him specifically saying 'No mercy when we all up in em' and also when he says 'Murder muthafuckas lyrically and I'm not gon' cry.' It's interesting that Tupac chose to say 'lyrically' because one would expect him to be far more callous in his approach and perhaps not worry about being too harsh, but here it shows that his cruelty is not particularly genuine. His line about 'Mobb bitch nigga eaters' is about his hatred for the rapper Mobb Deep.

And I won't whimper till I'm gone
Thug life running through my veins so I'm strong
Ha ha ha
Bye Bye bye lets get high and ride
Oh, how do we do these niggas but I'm not gonna cry

Again, an example of 'no mercy,' when he says 'but I'm not gonna cry.'

I'm a Bad Boy killa (killa)
Jay-Z die too
Looking out for Mobb Deep
Nigga when I find you
Weak muthafuckas don't deserve to breathe
How many niggas down to die for me
Yeah eh yayuh
West coast ridah comin right behind ya
Shoulda never fucked with me
I want money hoes sex and weed
I won't rest till my row dogs free

His 'Row dogs' are his Death Row fellow rappers, in some cases friends and other cases not. Skipping all the Outlawz verses.

Shoot first, look at they head burst bleeding
Didn't want no shit this evening
Believe me

This part would indicate again, that perhaps he does not 'go out looking for trouble' as the introduction would suggest, but the wrongs of his enemies force him to do so. In a reversal of suggestion, hes saying here that his intimidation and want for confrontation is due to the faults of his enemies and not due to his cruel disposition.

We, bomb first when we ride, please
Reconsider for' you die
G's, and thug niggas on the rise
Plan plot strategise
To bomb first
We, bomb first when we ride, please
Reconsider for' you die
G's, and thug niggas on the rise
Plan plot strategise
To bomb first

Perhaps ironically, Tupac is telling his enemies to reconsider their wrongdoings before he 'bombs first.' And then the last line which is truly revealing Tupac says, after a gunshot:

Lets pray my niggas
For we definitely have sinned

This is another example of the contradiction always seemingly obvious with almost aspect of Tupac. The whole point of the song really is to intimidate his enemies and 'rule with fear' which he does extremely successfully and then he ends up saying 'we definitely have sinned.'