Top Ten Tupac Tunes

Feeling Pac inspired this evening, so going to try to work out my top ten tunes from Tupac Amaru Shakur. There are of course more than ten, so this may be a hard process.

10. It Ain't Easy (Me Against The World)

This is probably the nicest track from the album Me Against the World. It sums up the theme of the CD and is one of Pac's lesser well known tunes.



9. Pain (Above the Rim OST)

This is a great track and has been used by lot's of other MC's including Ja Rule and Lowkey.



8. Brenda's Got A Baby (2pacalypse Now)

A track from Tupac's first full album. In most people's top ten, an emotional story track that follows the trials and tribulations of a poor teenage mother.



7. How Long Will They Mourn Me ft. Nate Dogg (Thug Life)

From Pac's third album, this track epitomizes his obsession with his own demise. Featuring his group Thug Life and a nice hook from the 'King Of Hooks' Nate Dogg



6. Life Goes On (All Eyez on Me)

From the famous All Eyez on Me, the first album from Death Row Records. The album features some typical gang banging tunes but Life Goes On is again Pac talking about his own death. He beautifully and somewhat egotistically talks about his funeral.



5. Krazy (Makaveli the Don)

From the Makaveli album which came out just after his death in 1996. Krazy is another less well known track but is a great insight into the mind of Tupac. It is reflectful and displays the troubles in his minds.



4. Keep Ya Head Up (Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z.)

This tune comes from Pac's second album and is definitely worthy of being in the top 10. Pac may have been full of contradictions, with many sexist lyrics, but this is clearly a strong anti sexist anthem. He tries to convince his listeners to show more respect to women as well as sending a message to women to keep their head up with lyrics such as "when he tries to tell you, you ain't nuttin' don't believe him/ and if he can't learn to love you, you should leave him". This is Pac at his most sensitive best.



3. So Many Tears (Me Against the World)

A great use of Stevie Wonder's 'That Girl'. Beautiful song, again Pac talking about his personal suffering. The recurrent theme of death is again prevalent to show a truly tortured soul. The internal struggles within the MC are clearer than ever in So Many Tears.



2. Do 4 Love (R U Still Down Remember Me?)

A party hasn't started until Do 4 Love Comes on. Another posthumous track but without a doubt one of his greatest. Uses Bobby Caldwell on the hook nicely. He shows his intelligence with a quote from 18th Century Scottish Poet Sir Walter Scott (What a tangled web we weave). Great video too.



1. Changes (Greatest Hits)

Perhaps an obvious choice for number one but few can deny what an amazing song Changes is. Sampling Bruce Hornsby's 'The Way it is', Pac captures the struggle against racism in America in an essentially quite pessimistic tune. He talks about the Black Panthers Leader Huey Newton who was shot for standing up for resisting racism. However the final verse is a hope for the future where all races can live peacefully. A notable lyric is "Even though it seems heaven sent, we ain't ready to see a black President". One could argue this is now dated with Barak Obama being elected US President, but the point is clear. This is an anti-racist song and for me is Tupac's best. Enjoy.