Calling Card
Who was Tupac Shakur?That question fascinated people during his life while he was alive, but since his death, the status of Tupac's mystery and importance has become continually elevated. From star...
Setting
Like all Tupac's other songs, "Dear Mama" is set in the streets of New York, Baltimore, and Marin City, a life in the shadow of wealth and privilege with no visible way out. Tupac grew up on t...
Songwriting
In discussions of rap music—and popular music in general—people often forget that there isn't always a direct correlation between personal experience and songwriting. Michael Eric Dyson de...