Misogyny And Violence In Shakur's 'Dear Mama'

Whereas many rappers have exploited the hard and violent lifestyle which they have been exposed to in their music, often through the celebration of misogyny and violence, Shakur's "Dear Mama" not only pays tribute to his mother, but also to other mothers who have made sacrifices for their children. Shakur's lyrics can be taken to represent the environment in which Shakur grew up and how it affected the man he became. "Dear Mama" is a contemporary ode to Shakur's mother. Through the song's lyrics, Shakur demonstrates that he does not only want to show his appreciation in lyricism, but also through material possessions and his future actions. In "Dear Mama", Shakur does not express any ill will towards his mother despite his initial resentment for her because of things she could not control. The lyrics in the song are divided into three different verses with a chorus separating each one. The verses offer more details and are more narrative, whereas the chorus is repetitive as Shakur raps,

The primary theme in "Dear Mama" is appreciation for his mother. Shakur wants to thank his mother for everything she has done and the countless sacrifices she made in order to ensure that he and his siblings would never be lacking. Shakur remembers rear although his upbringing was difficult at times and he did not agree with his mother all the time, he still appreciates everything that she did for him. “'because 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, here alone/You're tryin' to raise two bad kids on your own/And there's no way I can pay you back" (Shakur, 1995). Throughout the song, Shakur reiterates how much he appreciates his