Music as Language: Music tells a story to those willing to listen. In the realm of rap and hip hop, Tupac Shakur (2Pac) remains one of the most influential and successful artists of all time. In “So Many Tears” on the album Me Against the World Through, Tupac uses masterful lyricism to reflect on his life and dive into the complexities of living as a Black man living in America. The legacy he left behind lives on forever, and has inspired many rap artists to come. Kendrick Lamar, the rap prophet of our current day and age, uses his craft to offer his own unique narrative. In his concluding track “Mortal Man” on To Pimp a Butterfly, he draws upon the stories of his predecessors to tell his own, and pays homage to Tupac at the end by featuring …show more content…
Written while in and out of prison, Tupac Shakur (2Pac) uses his song “So Many Tears” to reflect on his life. He speaks of the pain he’s endured, his own problematic behavior, and the seemingly inevitable turmoil he’s faced as a Black man living in America. Before he begins rapping, says he is ‘walking through the valley of death,’ a prelude to the never-ending cycle of senseless violence he dives into in the verse after. He describes the violence as almost inevitable; it surrounded him and his peers from the start of childhood and continues to grow, engulfing those we are unfortunate. The depth of the lyrics are complemented by Tupac’s sampling of Stevie Wonder’s timeless melody in “That Girl”, as it serves as a bridge between two different legacies, generations, and genres. Stevie Wonder has notably produced songs for political and social issues, so it’s sensible that Tupac chose him to recognize and honor his influence. Tupac uses “So Many Tears” as a cry for urgency and justice, and while his spirit and resilience through all his misery certainly shines through, I find it hard to see the positives knowing his