2pac is a well-known Hip-hop legend, respected and admired by almost everyone who knows his music.
During the ‘90s, he served as a pillar in rap because of his talented music abilities, whether he was trying to be a party starter, trounce his enemies, or provide meaningful messages of empowerment, his works resonated deeply with listeners.
A lot of rappers and singers in the Hip-Hop sphere till date look up to him.
1. 2PAC: CALIFORNIA LOVE
Everyone knows the late rapper’s West Coast anthem ‘California Love’ which was released in 1995.
The track expresses the more mainstream side of 2pac, with its sing-along chorus that glide over the piano-driven instrumental.
California Love’s structure owes a lot to ‘Woman To Woman’ by Joe Cocker, which was released in 1972.
However, there’s no denying that ‘California Love’ is one of the late rapper’s signature track.
MUST WATCH: 2Pac Songs That Were Sampled From Other Artiste
2. 2PAC: CHANGES
This track was first released as a single from Shakur’s greatest hits compilation in 1998.
The song makes references to the war on drugs, the treatment of black people by the police, racism, the reconciliation between the black and white people in America, the perpetuation of poverty and the difficulties of life in the ghetto.
However, the piano and chorus are sampled from ‘The Way It Is’ by Bruce Hornsby and The Range, according to Bruce he became a fan of 2pac after he heard changes and he totally loved it.
MUST WATCH: 2Pac Songs That Were Sampled From Other Artiste
3. 2PAC: DO FOR LOVE
This was the second posthumously released single by 2pac from ‘R U Still Down? (Remember Me),’ which was his second posthumous album.
The vocal sample comes from blue-eyed soul legend Bobby Caldwell’s 1978 hit single ‘What You Won’t Do for Love,’ and it attained a good deal of popularity.
The song was certified Gold by RIAA and charted at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and number twelve in the UK.
MUST WATCH: 2Pac Songs That Were Sampled From Other Artiste
4. 2PAC: HOW DO YOU WANT IT
This is one of 2pac’s most known songs, which was released as the third single from ‘All Eyez On Me.’
‘How Do U Want’ samples Quincy Jones 1974 song ‘Body Heat,’ and it includes a diss towards civil rights activist and fierce rap critic C. Delores Tucker.
Although Shakur originally performed the chorus in a low-baritone voice, he wasn’t pleased with his vocals, so he asked if Dalvin of Jodeci could hop on the record.
Dalvin called up K.C. & JoJo and the rest is history. The hit single charted at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 and it became a club favourite.
MUST WATCH: 2Pac Songs That Were Sampled From Other Artiste
5. 2PAC: DEAR MAMA
Perhaps, no song in 2Pac’s catalog is celebrated more than ‘Dear Mama’ and it is for a good reason. The emotion in this song is overpowering as 2Pac pens down a love letter to his mother.
For a rapper who could evoke a variety of emotions to his listeners, 2pac never put you in your feelings more than on ‘Dear Mama’.
‘Dear Mama’ samples two songs ‘In All My Wildest Dreams’ by Joe Sample and ‘Sadie’ by the R&B group The Spinners.
As of March 2021, the song was certified three times Platinum by the RIAA. This song remains a classic and one of mother’s day song every year.
MUST WATCH: 2Pac Songs That Were Sampled From Other Artiste
See the video below!
