2Pac Hits Vol. 2

"Dear Mama" Me Against The World 1995 When I was young me and my mama had beef Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face

Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place Suspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a fool with the big boys, breakin all the rules I shed tears with my baby sister Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids

And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama When things went wrong we'd blame mama I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell Huggin on my mama from a jail cell And who'd think in elementary?

Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day And runnin from the police, that's right Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside And even as a crack fiend, mama You always was a black queen, mama I finally understand

for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man You always was committed A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it There's no way I can pay you back But the plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated

Lady... Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady Dear mama Place no one above ya, sweet lady You are appreciated Don't cha know we love ya?

Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along

I was lookin for a father he was gone I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs They showed a young brother love I moved out and started really hangin I needed money of my own so I started slangin

I ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocks It feels good puttin money in your mailbox I love payin rent when the rent's due I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you Cause when I was low you was there for me

And never left me alone because you cared for me And I could see you comin home after work late You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate Ya just workin with the scraps you was given

And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin But now the road got rough, you're alone You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own And there's no way I can pay you back But my plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated

Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama And when it seems that I'm hopeless You say the words that can get me back in focus When I was sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did And all my childhood memories Are full of all the sweet things you did for me And even though I act craaazy I gotta thank the Lord that you made me

There are no words that can express how I feel You never kept a secret, always stayed real And I appreciate, how you raised me And all the extra love that you gave me I wish I could take the pain away

If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day Everything will be alright if ya hold on It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on And there's no way I can pay you back But my plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated

"Strugglin'" Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. 1993 Strugglin, jugglin, got it to the black man Eatin the scams like I was motherfuckin Pac Man Cops step off, you know the flavor

They fear the ruffneck niggaz with the lunatic behavior And now we gotta eat, gotta make ends meet Stabbin for a fee, it gets hard on the fuckin streets It's like a madness, fuck making gravy I rhyme and do crimes, cuz either way pays me

A little rough with a hardcore... theme Couldn't rough something rougher in your... dreams Mad rugged so you know we're gonna... rip With that roughneck nigga named 2Pacalypse Representing YG'z yo Flip Stretch Homicide and my nigga Gambino

Seek and Po can't forget Money Bags Stickin up spots and jumpin in Jags Gotta get ahead and always stay bumblin And always keep a hand on the gat Cuz a niggaz straight strugglin

I used to be on tour, but now I'm sick of strugglin I thought about bumpin, but mother-fuck jugglin I know it lasts longer, gets my pockets thicker But I'd rather use my gun cause I get the money quicker, so bust it

Look as I cut the records hard to eject A quick clip threw my body down uhh! it's another hit I got energy to blast now you want the task here Cuz of the light a motherfucker shot that ass up But rugged and rough is how I'm steppin

Mac is the weapon, and it's always kept in Eye on the Mac cause the dogg got it goin on If you come up steppin you'll be lit like a hick So you better chill, cause I got too much money to get A street thug in the motherfuckin house, I'm strugglin

Get drunk but I don't think I'm just in it for the money, don't be a punk snitch When I yank up my gun, don't run don't bitch Cause ya know if you do, you'll be layin in a ditch You'll get your stupid ass blown out the frame

Cause I'm playing to win, and survive in the game I'm strugglin

Big up, big up, got him in the frame, bang Ain't nothin changed set it off I let the brains hang Guess who's back, to put niggaz on they back Till I call back, niggaz runnin free better fall back I'm fifty niggaz deep beat sleep

with a Mossberg wrapped in my seats three deep in my Jeep chief run with the Young Gunz Strugglin and strivin, that's how the dough come Now get gunned by the one with the gun for the low goal Throw a bolo so low when I flow yo

Much too high to read the signs, I'm blind Clickin on the nine, out to get mine I go big up, big up, gotta make the room, boom Blowin motherfuckers to the moon Niggaz need to feel me a real G, home from the bumblin

See me on the block, strugglin And rollin with the roughnecks nuff checks cashed I get in niggaz ass, blast Straight strugglin

"Str8 Ballin" Thug Life 1994 I'm up before the sunrise, first to hit the block. Little bad motherfucker with a pocket full of rocks. And I'm totin' these thangs, get my skinny little ass kicked.

And niggas laugh, 'til the first motherfucker got blasted. I put the nigga in his casket, Now they coverin' the bastard in plastic. I smoke blunts on a regular buck when it counts. I'm tryin' to make a million dollars outta quarter ounce.

And gettin' lost on the five-o, fuck them hos. Got a 45 screamin' about survival. Hey nigga can I lay low? Cook some yay-yo. Hollar "one-time" when I say so. Don't want to go to the pen, I'm hittin' fences. Narcs on a nigga's back, missin' me by inches.

And they say how do you survive weighin' 165 In a city where the skinny niggas die? Tell Mama don't cry. Even when they kill me, They can never take the game from a young G. I'm st8 ballin'!

Still on parole and I'm the first nigga servin' pour some liquor on the curb for my niggas that deserve it. But if I want to make a million, gotta stay dealin'. It's kinda boomin' and today I'll make a killin'.

Dressin' down like a villian', but only on the block. It's a clever disguise to keep me runnin' from the cops. Ha, I'm gettin' high. I think I'll die if I don't get no ends. I'm in a bucket with 'em ridin' it like it's a Benz.

I hit the strip let my music bump, Drinkin' liquor, and I'm lookin' for some hoes to fuck. Rather die makin' money than live poor and legal As I slang another ounce, I wish it was a kilo. A need money in a major way.

Time to fuck my BEACH! Hey! And gettin' paid You other motherfuckers callin', But me and my motherfucking thug niggas, We st8 ballin'!!

Damned if I don't, and damned if a nigga do. So watch a young motherfucker pull a trigger just to RAISE UP! But don't let them see you cry, dry your eyes Young nigga time to do or die. I keep a pistol in my pocket,

Ready on my block. Ain't no time for a nigga to even cock shit. And now they see that motherfucker beat pain, At point blank range 'cause he slept on the game. Ain't a damned thing changed

Shakin' the dice, now roll 'em, If you can't stand pain better hold 'em. 'Cause ain't no tellin' what you might roll. You might go catch AIDS from a slight cold. Nigga. Better live your life to the fullest,

You're 'bout to kill a fool, got a pistol motherfucker better pull it. 'Cause even when they kill me, they can never take the game from a young G. We st8 ballin'!

To my niggas in the penitentiary, Locked up like a motherfucker when they mention me. 'Cause you're fuckin' with the realest motherfucker ever born, And once again it's on,

I'm bustin' on these bitches till they're gone. Who the hell can you get to stop me? I'm in the projects, parlaying with my posse. I keep my glock cocked I need it 'cause they're all shady. I finally made it

now these jealous bitches tryin' to FADE me! I ain't goin' out I'd rather blast back. I'm on the corner with my niggas watchin' cash stack. And I came up a long way from food stamps. And takin' shit from the low-life ghetto tramps.

Could you blame me if they sweat me I'm gonna open fire? What could I do? Pull my trigger or watch my nigga die. I'm representin' to the fullest givin' devil slugs.

I'm on the block slangin' drugs with the young thugs. And motherfucker, we be ballin'! All motherfucking day long, stay strong! We st8 ballin'.

In Memory Of Tupac Shakur "I Put the Mothafucka in his casket" Copyright Virgin Island Press