The hip hop song, “California Love” by Tupac Shakur (2Pac) featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman was released in 1996 in 2Pac’s album titled All Eyez on Me. It is a classic for many hip hop listeners due to its funky groove and style. After listening and further analyzing the song, it is clear that it conveys a message of California’s hip hop lifestyle. Although he was born in New York City, and later lived in Baltimore, Maryland, he soon moved to California during high school. His risky experiences while living in California for some years gives him the credibility to rap about California from his own perspective. Many of his experiences involve fights, shootings, accusations, and jail time. 2Pac made this song after his release from jail …show more content…
This line by Troutman adds to the idea of California being a place of joy and extravagance since there is nobody in California that does not know how to party. Furthermore, during Dr. Dre’s flow he raps, “The state where you never find a dance floor empty…It's all good, from Diego to the Bay. Your city is the bomb if your city makin' pay.” These lyrics imply that one is bound to live a life of enjoyment in any part of California, as well as a stress-free life due to a money making area that California is. Dr. Dre claims that it is nearly impossible to spot a night club without any dancing occurring because many people are constantly at clubs, which demonstrates how party culture is a major part of California. When listening to this part of the song, I almost forgot I live in California, and just two hours away from Los Angeles since I never experienced this sort of party lifestyle. Furthermore, when the song talks about a “city making pay,” that brings an image of California being a state where there are endless jobs. This erases from the fact that homelessness exists in California, and that there are many Californians struggling to find