not only does Pac refer to the stagnated progress of the hood, but the producer reflects on the immovable death of the artist himself. It’s the sentiment of finality that makes this song feel even more poetic. The track effectively borrows from Bruce Hornsby’s 1986 song ‘The Way It Is’, which allows Pac’s ideals and peaceful protest to really power through. It means two things: firstly, that the producer of the song was truly gifted and, secondly, that Pac had rhymes for days.

However, it wasn’t a song necessarily intended to be heard as it was, in fact, the verses were largely cobbled together from pieces of recordings Pac had previously done. The song also did a lot for bridging the gap between gangster rap and pop culture. The final bars eerily predict his violent demise: “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 / Coming back after all these years / ”Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!” / That’s the way it is.”Ĭonsidering the song was released following his death, it makes the lyrics feel extra poignant. Pac is angry and frustrated at the lack of support and changes in the community.

Changes tupac original