Analysis of Changes

4 Pages 1050 Words

There are many different kinds of music that exist in the world today, but none that are as controversial as rap music. To date, one artist has stood out above the rest. This man is Tupac Amuru Shakur. By some he is called heretic and accuse him of spreading violent lyrics and promoting drugs and crime. To others he is considered a provocative poet and a story teller. An example of one of his controversial and provocative song is “Changes”. Tupac discusses the social stresses of the black race in America, he explains how the situation of blacks in America became so bleak, and why it is so difficult to change the situation. He also uses repetition and slang to portray this.

African Americans today living in the projects live in re-occurring violence and have endured this type of lifestyle for decades. Tupac goes so far as comparing the struggle to war in the middle east. “It’s war on the streets and the war in the Middle East.” Many blacks also find themselves being harassed by other black gang members, but also by a member of the alternate gang - the police. To that extent Tupac says
But now I’m back with the blacks givin’ it back to you Don’t let ‘em jack you up ,
back you up, crack you up and pimp slap you up you gotta learn to hold ya own
hey get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone”
There are many reported instances of police brutality towards blacks. The most publicized incident was Rodney King. Tupac is informing others that they should stand up for their rights, be proud of themselves, and hold their own. This is hard because police tend to be prejudice towards all blacks based on what a small percent of them do. “But tell the cops they can’t touch this I don't trust this when they try to rush I bust this That’s the sound of my tool you say it aint cool” with this Tupac is trying to say instead of using violence to progress the black situation, one should use freedom of spee...