An Analysis of the Songs by Tupac Essay Example

themselves from the harsh streets of the projects.

The chorus line is virtually moving in its ease. "…That's just the way it is…" is kind of a conquered way to refer to a black man. He concludes in the last verse with kind of a letter to the listeners. He slows down and tells them “…We need to change the way we think.” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). The last verse is Tupac inviting us into his world and what he encounters every day. He condemns the police officers that “smack” people around urges them to keep their strength. In addition, he amazingly shows awareness of the situation and he is quoted saying "…Always gotta worry about the payback, Some buck  that I roughed up way back, coming back after all these years,  (gunshots)" ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes").

Indeed it is a beautiful song and deserves reverence as poetry since that is what it is. Rap being a poetic expression which is largely used by black Americans articulates matters pertaining everyday life. Rap as genre of music has evolved modern rap from old school hip hop. Several rappers left legacies on such music. Rap pioneers such as ‘Niggas With Attitude (N.W.A)’ Biggie Smalls have had an influence on the trends of the genre. However these rappers expressed issues in their own unique way, Tupac being arguably the most prolific. The accuracy of Tupac’s rap, aims at talking about his “thug life”. With abundant rhyming and diction, Tupac basically befits the title of “the greatest rapper”. The hit single “Changes” is just a tip of the iceberg of Tupac’s rap success ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts"). In the song, many themes regarding

African-Americans discriminations are being voiced. Themes such as racism, poverty and racial-profiling have an impact on daily life of black Americans. In this song, Tupac has a different view at the day to day life and seems to express changes in terms of race difference and the economic classes. He as well condemns the scattering of Black-Americans about uniting to overcome racism and poverty haunting them.

Ambiguity/ascription

Tupac’s song title is “Changes” for several reasons that are obvious. He starts by stating “I see no changes”. He possibly could be referring to changes which were triggered by the African-American Civil Right Movement, in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The Movement was organised to curb poverty and racism affecting African American citizens ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts"). His song therefore contradicts the hope of eradicating miseries since he notes no changes. The unchanged social concerns that worry African-Americans in the past are still common years later. In the song, he gives an inner look at the social difficulties affecting the African-Americans, he however proposes possible remedies.

Themes/method

The first verse, he first highlights how some social problems are connected. He tries to link poverty and the colour of his skin “…I'm tired of being' poor and even worse I'm black…”("2PAC LYRICS - Changes") he further gives an explanation of how crimes are caused by poverty “…My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch…”("2PAC LYRICS - Changes") finally, he shows the connection between race and police brutality “…Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero…” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes") as a result of social issues he makes interesting conclusions as to why

Black-Americans have had worries handling these social hitches “…First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers. Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other…”("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). His remark could be understood as a scheme to significantly diminish or eliminating the African-American populace in the U. S.A Nonetheless Tupac is careful not to mention who schemes the ideas, Tupac suggests uniting African Americans to fight the social issues being faced. African-Americans ought to unite to eradicate violence, racism and poverty. “I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes")

These two verses, show that Tupac prefers the term “we” to show unity among African-American. He advertises unity as the trademark that will curb such social ills. The end of the first stanza shows how Tupac castigates how social evils cannot solve themselves if not voiced. “…I'd love to go back to when we played as kids, but things change, and that's the way it is…”("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). In the second verse, he confirms social problems that affect African-Americans noting violence: “…And only time we chill is when we kill each other...” drugs: “'…Cause mo' black than white is smokin' crack tonight...” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes") more verses make the point that change is yet to happen since there are self-centred people not ready to relinquish interests that are dear to them alone not considering the other people “…Try to show another way, but they stayin' in the dope game...” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). This stanza shows the folks have choices at their

disposal but opt for a “thug life”. What is the possibility of changing a society that is not willing to cooperate? Analysis of stanza one and two assume that the importance of unity among African Americans may overcome evils facing them like drugs, racial profiling and violence. The last stanza of the song concentrates on uniting everybody ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts"). He therefore does what suits him best.

Tupac is depressed and he has defined everything that I encounter just that I am white. When someone is under depression they always have a feeling there is going to be no change and things all around look the same. We end up questioning life and think of suicide and being suicidal as an option. Nevertheless, despite the fact that I have not lost a person who is important to me, he is traumatised by his friend’s death that he doubts whether God exists and prompts to say "…How can the Devil take a brother if he is so close to me…" ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). He does go on rapping to why he is depressed and further tells us how the hood feels like though we may not have an experience of the same.

Illuminati started with Jay-Z. The moment you put everything into perspective, it is no longer a conspiracy but a theory. The Illuminati uses artists as dummies to persuade the crowds into having faith in ideals and personas which are not even real. One must bend a knee to be a member which shades more light on why Kid Cudi had to quit the business as soon as he got that recording deal. The entire

music business is built on control which Tupac never liked, which caused him to be very upset with himself after he had been signed ("Tupac Shakur's "Changes" Analysis"). This made him expose the likes of Quincy Jones and Dr. Dre confessing how convoluted in homosexual doings. Even though this is public place in societies that are perceived to be secret, it is harmful to a rapper’s image and might be dangerous information if it gets in the public domain. Tupac was selected for his influence and his skill. But since he declined to permit that power to be well-ordered. He became a marked man since he completely refused to keep quiet. At a certain point he fabricated not to know anything regarding illuminati secret society just to not implicate himself. Nonetheless, notice on the cover of Tupac’s cd making well-known Illuminati signs using his hands (pyramid using fingers pointing towards his brain signifying the mind enlightenment); the name of the album is called "All Eyes On Me". The communication belongs to everyone watching, comprising those that purposely make him show this signs having full knowledge of pagan and spiritual connotation behind it ("Tupac Shakur's "Changes" Analysis").

Poetry

Tupac has continuously been unique as far as rap game is concerned thanks to the poetic ability he poses despite the fact he is gangsta rapper. Tupac negotiates his more prevailing bad-boy thug side to confront African American communal issues. "..I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black, my stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch…" ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). These lyrics exemplify the number of black folks in America living in poverty and there

are no opportunities for them to do what is right so they tend to get in crime. The song is in lyrical categories. It talks about him trying to have his life changed he says how hard it is to become an adult black and poor and point out the truth that police officers seem not to predominantly care what transpires within the community of the blacks. It also indicates how he at some point considered perversity as a workable choice to the whole hell has created in his life hemmed in gangs and drugs, Anaphora is a phrase or word repeated at the beginning of a line “…I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself…" ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes").

"…I see no changes, all I see is racist faces…" Rhyme is using identical sound arrays severally in different lines. "…Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up Crack you up and pimp-smack you up…" Onomatopoeia is usage and formation of phrases to inmate echoes. "…Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat! That's the way it is…” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes")

(Gunshots) Ballad initially meant to be vocal "…That's just the way it is Things'll never be the same that’s just the way it is Aww yeah…" ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). Tupac repeats all through the track stating that he does not see any change and truthfully want his people to stand for change and change to be more vocal for them to benefit.

Allusion is referring to a different event, famous person or text “…It’s time to fight back, that’s what Huey said. Two shots in the dark, now Huey’s dead…” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). Free Verse

is where there is no recognisable meter or rhyme "…We gotta make a change It's time for us as a people to start making some changes Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live And let's change the way we treat each other You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do What we gotta do to survive…" ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes")Irony is the usage of phrases with an aim to express a meaning which is the contradictory of the factual meaning “…Give the crack to the kids, who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare….” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes"). A metaphor is a digit of speech which describes a theme by proclaiming it has on part of the comparison, being similar as that of the other. “…Devil take a brother…” “…It’s time to fight back, that’s what Huey said. Two shots in the dark, now Huey’s dead….” ("2PAC LYRICS - Changes").

Rhetorical aspects of hip hop

There are numerous definitions of rhetoric that have been linked to connotations that are negative like empty talk for the purpose of persuading or even limited to the mere public talking. Nonentity could be more after the truth. According to me, rhetoric is the skill of wakening to an impression and the vigor it kindles. Thereafter it finds better means of transmitting and communicating the energy and skill.
This brings out two features in rhetoric which are vital in order to comprehend the intentions of the thesis. First, “wakening of this idea” proposes that the skill has been flickered by that individual’s experiences. Then secondly is “evoking or invoking a

response” states that rhetoric also invokes a process that is continual not just end expression ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts"). Within the hip hop framework to be precise rap has since led to connotations and many a times we hear lyrics which are more personalised and personal life experience whose influence comes from the social environment like friends, family, and neighbourhood conditions and varied opportunities. The moment such influences are verbalised, there tend to emerge lyrics that are most probably going to influence other people. Now this is how rhetoric works.
More often Rhetoric is used as the catalyst to start dialogues basing varied subjects.

One of the rhetoric as a product also a social condition have been discussed by various modern theorists. From this viewpoint rhetoric has led to the provocation and have a response as a result ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts"). The meaning of this is that communal conditions which edge a speaker openly influence, and have been influenced by the rhetoric taking place in atmosphere. This changes rhetoric a responsibility position to form a passivity position. It as well becomes beyond just “empty talk,” as all of a sudden moves to paying attention to driving the rhetoric that we are bound to hear. Through comprehending this skill method from this point, we initiate seeing the dance concerning social conditions and rhetoric.

These social conditions and structures create “places and spaces” Psychologically and physically, that side-line a community. The procedure leaves the civic to lean entirely on itself. People create infrastructures so as to last under the Hegemonic ones ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts").
The African Americans image which came as a result of slavery comes as an extra

issue. The image conceptualised through media, political, legislative and communal rhetoric cast Black Americans negatively. Ultimately new personalities required to be generated so as to give a redefinition to “blackness" in USA. For a moment, hip hop recognized with these activities to place blackness that is more in the direction which is positive ("Tupac Shakur's "Changes" Analysis"). This is where we throw in a third notion called symbolic incentive. In Grammar motives there is a suggestion to form symbols can change and shape contexts which people are seen as well as the people. Symbolic inducement is discussed in three basics of social being which rhetoric aids to comprehend.

These conditions demonstrate that hip hop creates situations that create a series of reactions but not just poor reaction condition
Conceivably the most important rhetorical typical to think through is the side-lined voice. By means of hip hop, becomes a worry in two features ("Changes By 2Pac Songfacts"). Hip hop is the voice of the marginalized and it’s therefore significant not to see how history has permitted this power of speech to be such. Secondly, as this persistence of the marginalized voice increases the hip hop's association with wired capitalism the skill form the aforementioned is muted stylistically and lyrically.

Tupac’s song, Changes, has prejudiced the world for over twenty years. Many people still listen to this song and get the message from it. For instance, ‘Changes’ majorly talks about how the African Americans are oppressed and treated as less human people in the United States of America ("Tupac Shakur's "Changes" Analysis"). Tupac expresses this in his song where he basically means that racism is at its peak since the

blacks in America are not respected and are not given equal chances as compared to the whites. Tupac used his time in prison to change his personality and to express his mind about what he thought. He tried to fight for the rights of the blacks in the States.

Work Cited

1. Shakur, Tupac. Changes. Interscope Records, 1998.
2. Shakur, Tupac. "Changes 2Pac." On Greatest Hits (1998).
3. "2PAC LYRICS - Changes". Azlyrics.Com, 2016, http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/2pac/changes.html.
4. "Tupac Shakur's "Changes" Analysis". The Art Of Rap Music, 2016, http://artofrap.weebly.com/tupac-shakurs-changes-analysis.html.
5. "Changes By 2Pac Songfacts". Songfacts.Com, 2016, http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5517.