Top 10 2pac Songs

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996) - was an American Hip-Hop/Rap style music artist, who influenced many people in the 90's and his music is inspiring till this day. Shakur sold over 75 million albums throughout the whole world as of 2010, and the numbers are still increasing. When I was growing up Tupac was one of my favorite artist and also as was a great inspiration to me. That is why I have decided to make my list of Top 10 2pac songs.

The great thing to speak about his music, he always rapped about things that were relevant, talking about personal problems, not shying away from the problems of society, human beings. 2pac was a true poet. It is hard to choose Top 10 2pac songs, because there are so many great and wonderful songs, but I have given it my best shot and try to make up my own list of Top 10 2pac songs.

If I only had space in my MP3 player for 10 2pac songs, this would be my Top 10.

This is solely based on my individual opinion.

Hope you will enjoy!

This song is definitely in the Top 10 of best 2pac songs. Tupac here just provides incredible lyricism and great emotions to match the idea of this songs. Everything about this songs, from start to beginning just makes me want to shiver, and put it on repeat all day. You have to love the brilliance of Tupac Amaru Shakur.

"Lookin' for role models
Our father figures is bases
Some say they expect Illuminati take my body to sleep
N****s at the party with they shotties
Just as rowdy as me
Before I flee computer chips
I gotta deal wit brothas flippin
I don't see no devils bleedin'
Only black blood drippin
We can change
Whatcha now say? "

In this song Tupac shows his darker side. "Makaveli in this... Killuminati, all through your body
The blow's like a twelve gauge shotty
Uh, feel me!"

Whether this song is about how Tupac did not believe in the Illuminati existence, or his comparisons to jesus, this song is just incredible and amazing. The whole concept of the song makes you appreciate the genius of 2pac. Tupac touches many topics in this song, such as : his time in prison, his mother's concern for him, and the insanity he faces in his everyday life.

"Penitentiaries is packed with promise-makers
Never realize the precious time that bitch niggas is wasting
Instutionalized, I live my life a product made to crumble
But too hardened for a smile, we're too crazy to be humble: we ballin'
Catch me father please, cause I'm fallin' in the liquor store
Pass the Hennessy I hear ya callin', can I get some more?
Hell, 'til I reach Hell, I ain't scared
Mama checking 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"

Now I am aware of the fact that many people do not consider this song even in the Top 10. But this is my Top 10 List, and I do! This song is great when facing struggle in your life, when your sad, or feel like hit rock bottom or a down point in your life. This song, Tupac, can provide you the motivation to get up and do something. I think this song was made and the whole lyrics are directed toward ghetto kids who are living terrible lives, to give them hope. Just keep appreciating the brilliance people.

"I never had much, ran with a bad bunch
Little skinny kid sneakin weed in my bag lunch
And all through Junior High, we was just gettin by
And drivebys robbed my homies of their young lives
I never did cry, and even though I had
pain in my heart, I was hopeless from the start
They couldn't tell me nothin, they all tried to help to help me
The marijuana had my mind gone it wasn't healthy
I travelled places, caught cases, what an ill year
I felt the pain and the rain but I'm still here
Never did like the police, let the whole world know
Now I gets no peace, cause they chasin me down
And facin me now, what do I do?
These thangs that a Thug goes through
And still I rise so keep ya head up, and make ya mind strong
It's a struggle every day but you gotta hold on"

"If you don't never leave nothin, learn one thing
Hold on, and be strong
It don't stop, til the casket drop"

Let's move on the list of Top 10 2pac songs.

It is well documented that 2pac never shied away from speaking up about the troubling topics of the ghetto, never was afraid, always had the courage to step up and talk about real life problems some people were not comfortable or had the courage to speak publicly about. 2pac addresses the problems of living in the ghetto and also provides great storytelling in this song, another brilliant song by 2pac. The video of this song only helps you feel the mood of this song and enjoy it even more.

Watch closely the beginning of the video it says "Based on a true story" witch makes this song even more sad.

"Went in death to his arms, it's sad
Cause I bet Brenda doesn't even know
Just cause you're in the ghetto doesn't mean ya can't grow
But oh, that's a thought, my own revelation
Do whatever it takes to resist the temptation
Brenda got herself a boyfriend
Her boyfriend was her cousin, now lets watch the joy end
She tried to hide her pregnancy, from her family
Who didn't really care to see, or give a damn if she
Went out and had a church of kids
As long as when the check came they got first dibs"

"everyday
Now Brenda's gotta make her own way
Can't go to her family, they won't let her stay
No money no babysitter, she couldn't keep a job
She tried to sell crack, but end up getting robbed
So now what's next, there ain't nothing left to sell
So she sees sex as a way of leaving hell
It's paying the rent, so she really can't complain
Prostitute, found slain, and Brenda's her name, she's got a baby"

Second single of his Posthumous album "Loyal to the Game". 2pac adresses the war on the streets and the racial disagreements, talks about how people view people from the good. I personally prefer the original version but the real hit was the Eminem's remixed version featuring Elton John.

"If I could recollect before my hood days
I sit and reminisce
Thinking of bliss and the good days
I stop and stare at the younger
My heart goes to em
They tested with stress that they under
And nowadays things change
Everyone's ashamed of the youth cause the truth look, strange
And for me it's reversed
We left em a world that's cursed
And it hurts
Cause any day they'll push the button
And all come in like Malcolm X or Bobby Hutton died for nothing"

from the original version: "now I lay me down to sleep
Lord can you hear me speak?
Can you forgive me for my sins?
If I had it all to do again, I'd still play to win
I hope the lord can understand me
A man's gotta do what he can for his family
and pay the price of being hellbound
But I ratha see hell later than see hell now
and the devil ain't gt nothing on the president, cut back and keep us strapped in our residence and be like animals in cages
we can rant and rave about slavery for ages
or we can start making positive and hit 'em with a little ghetto gospel"

Woo! California knows how to party! This song is perfect for parties and used to rock in the 90's and was the biggest jam in California! Having American producer and Dr.Dre on his side, Tupac provides us with another gem.

"Out on bail fresh outta jail, California dreamin
Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearin hoochies screamin
Fiendin for money and alcohol
The life of a west side playa where cowards die and it's all ball
Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die
In L.A. we wearin Chucks not Ballies (that's right)
Dressed in Locs and khaki suits and ride is what we do
Flossin but have caution we collide with other crews
Famous cause we program worldwide"

"Bumpin and grindin like a slow jam, it's west side
So you know the row won't bow down to no man
Say what you say
But give me that bomb beat from Dre
Let me serenade the streets of L.A."

Here we are in the Top 4 of the Top 10 Best 2pac Songs. The whole album is just a masterpiece, 2pac at his lyrical best. You have to be amazed how a person produced so many quality records, that even after his death they keep growing. This album is the third solo album by Tupac and this song should be an example for what today's rappers should be making instead. The whole composition, the lyrics, the beat, the hook, this song, is the reason why I fell in love with Tupac music.

And it also contains the best Tupac verse ever:

"With all this extra stressin
The question I wonder is after death, after my last breath
When will I finally get to rest? Through this supression
They punish the people that's askin questions
And those that possess, steal from the ones without possessions
The message I stress: to make it stop study your lessons
Don't settle for less - even a genius asks-es questions
Be grateful for blessings
Don't ever change, keep your essence
The power is in the people and politics we address
Always do your best, don't let the pressure make you panic
And when you get stranded
And things don't go the way you planned it
Dreamin of riches, in a position of makin a difference
Politicians and hypocrites, they don't wanna listen
If I'm insane, it's the fame made a brother change
It wasn't nuttin like the game
It's just me against the world"

First of... This song is awesome and it deserves the fame. I mean this is almost by every rap fan regarded the best diss song of all time. Tupac unleashes his whole rage and fury and hate on Biggie, a tremendous lyrical attack.

"Now you tell me who won
I see them, they run (ha ha)
They don't wanna see us
Whole Junior Mafia clique
Dressing up trying to be us
How the f**k they gonna be the Mob?
When we always on out job
We millionaire's
Killing ain't fair
But somebody got to do it"

Romantic mood. Listening to this song people can fall in love with 2pac's music and with someone. Makaveli shows his soft side here and provides us with a wonderful song about love/cheating. The beat is awesome, accompanied as always by great lyrics.

"Now he left you with scars, tears on your pillow and you still stay
As you sit and pray, hoping the beatings'll go away
It wasn't always a hit and run relationship
It use to be love, happieness and companionship
Remember when I treated you good
I moved you up to hills, out the ills of the ghetto hood
Me and you a happy home, when it was on
I had a love to call my own
I shoulda seen you was trouble but I was lost, trapped in your eyes
Preoccupied with gettin tossed, no need to lie
You had a man and I knew it, you told me
Don't worry bout it we can do it now I'm under pressure
Make a decision cause I'm waitin, when I'm alone
I'm on the phone havin secret conversations, huh
I wanna take your misery, replace it with happiness
but I need your faith in me, I'm a sucka for love"

My number one song on the list of Top 10 2pac songs is Changes. A very touching song as Pac raps about the way people live their life and how they need to show the effort to change. Also 2pac talks about the possibility of having a black US President. The song is just awesome,touching, everything you want from a Tupac song, or any artist song.

"
And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace?
There's war on the streets and the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty,
they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do.
But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you.
Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up.
You gotta learn to hold ya own.
They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone.
But tell the cops they can't touch this.
I don't trust this, when they try to rush I bust this.
That's the sound of my tool. You say it ain't cool, but mama didn't raise no fool.
And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped and I never get to lay back.
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the payback.
Some buck that I roughed up way back... comin' back after all these years.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat. That's the way it is. uhh"